2018 Subaru Outback Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Had my recalls completed and started having jerking on my way home from the dealership. Didn’t have any issues prior and I drove 2 hours to the closest Subaru dealership. Had transmission serviced and still doing it. Read the fuel update and head unit updated could take a bit longer to learn and could cause jerking but still happening 3 weeks later. Transmission was serviced last week. The shop to do it stated didn’t notice metal shavings nor sounds in the transmission or the oil and suggested it be the computer problem with the recall fixes.

CVT Transmission failed and shut off engine. 2018 Subaru Outback Limited with only 56,500 miles. On 5/19/24 at approximately 11:30PM, my family and I (5 members) were driving northbound on an interstate highway, when all of a sudden, the engine and transmission completely shut off with all warning lights flashing on the dashboard, while travelling at speeds of 65 miles per hour. When pressing on the accelerator, vehicle would not accelerate, rather the vehicle was decelerating. Fortunately, not many vehicles were on the highway at that time and our vehicle had enough momentum to move right towards the shoulder of the highway and came to a complete stop. When engine turned on and shift to D or R, vehicle does not move. Vehicle is at Subaru dealership being inspected and hopefully being repaired under warranty, which was extended by Subaru of America. SUBARU NEED TO FIX THIS, IT IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT.

After driving for approximately 10 min from cold start, attempted to pass another car at WOT (wide open throttle) at approx 40-50 mph. The car began to accelerate normally, then abruptly stopped accelerating while the engine revved up to the rev limiter and bounced off it for 3-4 seconds. It seemed as though the CVT had been shifted into neutral (though it was still in drive), and almost caused an accident. I had to quickly move back out of the passing lane. The car operated normally after this singular incident - I was not able to reproduce the issue. The car was immediately brought into the Subaru dealer we originally purchased it from. After performing diagnostics, they told me that since the issue could not be duplicated, there was nothing they could do. I filed a case with Subaru of America, and they had the same response. We have only put about 5,000 miles on the car since purchasing it used in 3/2023 with 69k. We also found out that the CVT had been replaced under warranty just prior to our purchase of the car, though that was not disclosed at the time of purchase. Subaru of America confirmed that this CVT is still covered by the 10yr/100k extended warranty per [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

About 8 months ago I was turning into a space in the parking lot of a large store (Kohls) the car lunged forward on it's own when I took my foot off the accelerator. I was able to stop the car with the brake pedal before ramming a lamp post. I did not report it to a dealership. Nothing like it has happened in the 8 months/3000 miles of driving since. It took me completely by surprise without any indication of system failure.

I bought a new 2018 Subaru Outback in June 2018. It has been a very good vehicle except for the CVT which Subaru has had issues with for years. The CVT hesitates and shudders and detracts from the performance and safety of the vehicle. I have spoken with the dealer as well as Subaru of America They have extended the CVT warranty to 10 years 100k miles but only if the CVT breaks to the point where the vehicle will not operate. I do all my service at the dealer and have asked if Subaru would replace the CVT to make it run better and safely. They said that Subaru will only do that if and when the CVT breaks and does not operate. I would hope that NHTSA can get Subaru to replace the CVT if it operates in an inferior way.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE REVVED, AND WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WENT OVER THE PARKING CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT IN ANOTHER PARKING LOT. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT AN UNKNOWN LIGHT THAT ONCE FLASHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT DID NOT STAY ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BUT WAS NOT TOTALED. THERE WAS NO INJURY AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE (ANDERSON SUBARU LOCATED AT 7050 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505), WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE TECHNICIAN OFFERED TO HAVE AN ENGINEER EVALUATE THE FAILURE BUT WARNED THAT IT WOULD TAKE THREE TO FOUR MONTHS TO BE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000. *DT*JB

CVT TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK, 47,000 MILES. CAR ONLY 18 MONTHS OLD. WIFE AND KIDS IN THE CAR IT WAS VERY SCARY MOMENT. THE CAR STARED TO SHUTTERED ACCELERATING FORM A STOP. THEN AT 40 TO 50 MPH, THE RPMS BECAME ERRATIC SHIFTING UP DOWN, TO MAINTAIN SPEED. IT LIKE IT WAS CONFUSED, WHICH GEAR TO BE IN. THEN CAME TO A STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, CAR SHUTTERED AND LOUD BANG, NO GEARS. CAR WOULD NOT GO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, SUBARU NEED TO FIX THIS, IT DANGEROUS DEFECT AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR.

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH 1/8TH OF A TANK OF GAS REMAINING. GAS LIGHT CAME ON ONLY A FEW MILES PRIOR. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A GAS STATION. CAR STARTED AFTER TURNING OFF AND BACK ON. ONLY TOOK 16.9 GALLONS TO TOP OFF. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE PREVIOUS TIME THE MILES TO EMPTY WAS SHOWING 50 WHEN IT STALLED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE CURRENT RECALL.

THE PROPRIETARY SUBARU LINEARTRONIC CVT ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DELIVERY IN JUNE 2018. IT SHUDDERS, LURCHES, BALKS AND CREATES NEAR STALL CONDITIONS ON BOTH ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE SUBARU DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FOUR + TIMES SINCE JUNE 2018. THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND NOW SUBARU OF AMERICA TELLS ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND KNOW THAT MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED TO NHTSA AS WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHERN STATES SUBARU OF RALEIGH (2511 WAKE FOREST RD, RALEIGH, NC 27609, 888-439-5154), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT A SPECIALIST TO ASSIST THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10.

VEHICLE IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 30-40 MPH IN REGULAR STREET DRIVING. THE CAR HAS FELT AS IF THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO STALL OR AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SEIZING UP. THIS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES. A BIT UNNERVING BECAUSE IT HAPPENED WITH MOVING TRAFFIC BEHIND, IN FRONT AND TO THE SIDES.

I WAS DRIVING MY CHILD TO SCHOOL ON A RAINY MORNING IN TRAFFIC,20-30MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. THE CAR STALLED AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. (I AM LUCKY I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED; OTHERWISE I WOULD BE IN THE HOSPITAL GETTING MY CHILD CHECKED OUT.) ROLLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; AS CLOSE AS I COULD GET.. SHIFTED INTO PARK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. STARTED RIGHT UP. I HAD A QUARTER TANK OF GAS AND DROVE THREE MILES AFTER THAT AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH TO GET TO A GAS STATION; SO IT IS NOT A FUEL SUPPLY ISSUE. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! THIS IS A NEW CAR PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO!!! CALLED THE DEALER'S SERVICE REP AND ASKED IF THIS COULD BE PART OF THE ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH FUEL ECONOMY. I AM AVERAGING 16.1 MPG. MY 2007 MERCURY MILLAN PREMIER AWD AVERAGED AROUND 22.8MPG: 10 YEARS OLDER AND LARGER ENGINE (3.0 VS 2.5). I ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR IS FIGHTING AS IF IN THE WRONG GEAR AND LOW TORQUE. ALSO THERE IS NOT A SMOOTH COAST, IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS BRAKING BY BEING IN THE WRONG GEAR. I HAVE HAD A TOYOTA, DODGE, FORD, MERCURY, HONDA, AND HYUNDAI IN THE FAMILY AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THIS IS NOT SAFE!!! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!! THIS IS A NEW CAR PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO!!! I ALSO ASKED HIM IF THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE HEAD UNIT WHICH IS RIDDLED WITH PROBLEMS. HOW DID SUBARU LET A CAR LIKE THIS OFF THE LINE? I NOW FEAR USING THIS CAR. I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A FATAL ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT WANT TO INTRODUCE FATAL RISKS TO MY FAMILY. I AM TOLD THAT IF THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE REPRODUCED AT THE DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. TRANSLATION: CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM, CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, I AM STUCK WITH A DEATH TRAP.

VEHICLE USES COOLANT AT AN ALARMING RATE WHICH HAS NEARLY LEAD TO OVERHEATING AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO PASS MAKING THE MANEUVER UNSAFE. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO LOOK AT CAR AGAIN, ALREADY BEEN IN SHOP 4 TIMES.

2018 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS 12000 MILES ON THE CAR. HESITATION WANDERING,BUCKS,SHAKE,SOLW DOWN VERY QUICK WHEN COASTING. WENT TO DEALER 3 TIMES DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.