Gen 6 – 2020-2022 Outback 2.4L Turbo: Vibration &…
Here’s a new one for the turbo models… vibration/judder during acceleration on turns. Replacement of the multi-plate transfer clutch… the instructions are to test drive the car, if the condition is noted, using the subaru select monitor, switch the AWD mode off (front drive only) and see…
www.subaruoutback.org
which first resulted in a clutch pack replacement that only helped temporarily and then led to a complete replacement of the CVT may now have dropped the last shoe. Since the CVT replacement the car had driven wonderfully, as smooth and quiet as a new car. But this weekend my wife drove from Maryland to Ohio and back. On the way back on the highway apparently all the warning lights came on and the car decelerated spontaneously. Fortunately she was able to find a safe area to pull off and call me. I had her turn everything off, get out of the vehicle, shut the door, get back in and wait 10-15 minutes to restart it. We then were able to locate a Subaru dealer about 20 miles from where she was and were making ready to call roadside assistance to have it towed. But after starting the car back up the warning lights went out in a minute or two and the car was able to accelerate normally.
She made it home safely but said the transmission doesn’t feel “right”. She said that if she takes her foot off the pedal the rpms are held at a higher level for a short time before dropping to the appropriate level and the shifting doesn’t feel smooth. A major change since just last week. We dropped it off at our local dealer this afternoon but understandably she has no confidence in the vehicle and it’s likely, depending upon what they find, that we’ll get rid of it and look at another vehicle. But I will strongly urge her to just leave Subaru behind, after more than 20 years it’s time. And I would also strongly recommend that she not accept any car with a CVT unless there are no acceptable alternatives. This will cost us money we had not planned for but she frequently takes such trips and this is not a car that is trustworthy.
My personal experience has been quite good; my 2020 Legacy has had no such issues but I have less than half the mileage she has. Hers is at about 36K currently. However this situation leaves me feeling uneasy about what will occur as my mileage accumulates. Having learned a lesson I won’t waste time looking at another Subaru if similar problems develop. Our last Subarus were driven for almost 15 years with no major issues until the very end but those days seem to be well past now.
