Artist's Depiction of My Afternoon

"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
08/27/2019 at 23:09 • Filed to: Subaru, CVT

According to my wife it started shaking at a red light less than a minute after a cold start and then the transmission overheat light came on followed a few seconds later by basically every other warning light on the dash blinking. I’m assuming something wore out in the notoriously failure prone Outback CVT . Spent $300 on a rollback to the nearest Subaru over an hour away. Hopefully it is something covered by the warranty that was extended to 10 years/100,000 miles on these - especially since we’ re over 90k...

DISCUSSION (39)

shop-teacher > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:14

Well that sucks!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:16

Sorry, curious to see the diagnosis. When I bought my car I drove b oth the CVT and standard and bought the stick because it was $750 cheaper and slightly more engaging to drive.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:18

Damn this sucks....stuff like this makes me sorry about CVT reliability...

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:36

Passat owners call that a normal Tuesday.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
08/27/2019 at 23:41

The tow driver was the recommended guy by the Subaru dealer. Says he would never buy a Subaru with how many newer ones he’s towed in. Wonder what his attitude would be after towing for the VW dealer for a few weeks.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/27/2019 at 23:47

I don’t think they are all so bad but the first generation Subaru one is pretty notorious along with early Nissan CVTs. That being said, there are plenty of unreliable conventional automatics - Honda has a bad reputation there - I think we need some more time and data to see how the CVTs are holding up in a few years now that just about all automakers are using them in some of their models.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/27/2019 at 23:50

I’m curious too. I’m pretty sure there is something wrong in the transmission but I’m interested to hear exactly what it is. My Forester is a manual but it needed a long block replacement. Switching to Volvo is getting more and more tempting. To be fair, though, this is the first time since 2015 when we went to all Subarus that one has stranded us.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:51

He might as well have a rewards program where if you’ve been towed to the dealership five times in a mon th , your sixth tow is free if he ever works for VW roadside assistance .

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/27/2019 at 23:58

Chevy aerostar.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 00:07

I had to have my V60 towed Sunday because I clipped the edge of the pavement in a construction area and slashed both right tires. Fortunately my excellent tire guy was able to get exact replacements and had it fixed by the next afternoon.

gettingoldercarguy > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 00:12

Didn’t they extend the warranty to 120k for these? Or am I drunk remembering things?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gettingoldercarguy
08/28/2019 at 00:19

I’m pretty sure its 100k - I have a letter somewhere that I could check but a quick Google search made it sound like 100. Maybe Nissan was 120k?

NKato > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/28/2019 at 00:20

Uhhh...

smobgirl > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 00:42

That sucks :( hopefully the warranty works out.

(Also, every time I’ve called that a “rollback” people have looked at me like I’m insane, so I’m glad that’s actually a term I didn’t just make up)

gettingoldercarguy > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 00:52

I dunno, I thought it was 120k, but I’ve been wrong on so much lately. I’ve changed my cvt fluid every 10k miles and it seems pretty solid. Pan drop and change is 40% new fluid, so I work out to the schedule that subaru advises for Europe (better maintenance schedules/oil recommendations).

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > NKato
08/28/2019 at 00:54

Ford Grand caravan?

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
08/28/2019 at 01:05

Thanks! I guess flatbed is the more common term but it’s a catchall that includes fixed beds with separate ramps. I’ve always heard rollback when the whole bed tilts but the word probably just reminds most people of Walmart.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 01:27

Sorry to hear about your troubles and hope warranty covers it.

Stuff like this reminds me that Subaru is less reliable than their reputation suggests. Personal experience with them has lead me to refer to them at Stupidrus. Can't stand them.

smobgirl > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 03:20

I hadn’t even considered Walmart and now I’ll never forget.

pip bip - choose Corrour > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 03:56

solve the problem next time and buy a manual

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 08:02

Sounds like the symptoms of when the torque converter fails on these. I believe there is a recall on that or at least a TSB.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/28/2019 at 08:36

Subaru extended the warranty for all owners. It’s not forever but I am still under it.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > pip bip - choose Corrour
08/28/2019 at 08:39

Well I bought a manual Subaru for myself and it needed a new engine at 50,000 miles. I still would do that again over the CVT but my wife prefers the CVT so that’s what we got and probably will again for her next car... hopefully new ones are getting more durable.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2019 at 08:42

Thanks. Depends on what exactly is wrong for the warranty but the symptoms point to something that is covered. I don’t really know where they get the durability reputation. Maybe because there are so many old ones still on the road but I think that’s more a function of owners love them enough to keep fixing them rather than being problem free.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 08:54

That’s a good theory. As far as I can tell they're about as reliable as an old Range Rover. But people still love those.

Ilikeredcars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2019 at 09:52

Sort of, I’d say Subarus have a very Russian understanding of reliability. It may break, but it’ll be easy to fix* .

* U nless its sparkplugs or head gaskets

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > smobgirl
08/28/2019 at 10:17

Our term is tilt tray...

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 10:23

I do sincerely wonder if this is a North American specific issue or whether it is a RoW problem as well. Because they don’t have anywhere near the grumpy reputation here that they appear to there...

That said though... we've decided not to bother with replacing our owned since new 2000 Forester with a new one, primarily because it is no longer available to us with a manual gearbox.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Ilikeredcars
08/28/2019 at 15:28

Everything except the common stuff is really easy!

NKato > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/28/2019 at 15:29

Go Home. You're drunk.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
08/28/2019 at 15:35

Ooh I like that one. Better than American English!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/28/2019 at 15:36

Torque converter and valve body. All under warranty. Recommend more frequent CVT oil flushes after the repair.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 15:38

Great news!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2019 at 15:50

Modern Subaru engine bays are interesting places. There is a lot of room in there (NA 4-cylinder models anyway) and a lot of stuff is really easy to get to - the oil filter is on top, alternator is super easy to pull out for instance. But the boxer design makes the heads hard to get at. The head gaskets are mostly a nonissue for the NA/NB series of engines but the plugs still need changed every 60k and that’s not really possible to do in the driveway.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel
08/28/2019 at 15:50

Just got the call. Torque converter and valve body. Or as the service manager called it a “Terk Converter”. No cost to me under the warranty Subaru extended on these.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 15:53

And the upside down oil filters like to spill, right? A lot of things are easy to get to, but a lot of things are not. They're poorly packaged.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
08/28/2019 at 15:54

It sounds from other comments that the service schedule for every where else recommends CVT flushes prettying often but in the US it claims to be lifetime fluid which could be the issue. I’m pretty annoyed the new Forester has no manual option and no turbo option. I might be holding on to my 2014 manual 2.5i for a long time.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/28/2019 at 15:59

They actually have a spill tray under the oil filter now but I will agree that the packaging could be improved.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
08/28/2019 at 16:03

Bandage on a shit design.