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Subaru Legacy/Outback Transmission Problems

580 messages,  Last post on May 14, 2013 at 12:13 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Transmission, Sedan, Wagon


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Messages Page 53 of 59

#515 of 580 Re: Subaru Outback transmission problem [molderb] by dianesnow

Jan 04, 2012 (8:38 am)

Replying to: molderb (Nov 13, 2011 4:40 am)
Hi! I have had the same issue with my 2011 Outback 3.6. It is in the shop right now for the 3rd time. When I come to a rolling stop then turn, or if something runs across the street and I need to slow down to almost a complete stop, then hit the gas, the car jerks forward. The 1st time the dealership wasn't sure what to do about it, so they did a computer reset. Didn't work. It gradually started doing it again. Started out minor and very infrequent to more often and harsher jerking after a month. I took it again and they completely wiped the computer and downloaded a new program onto it hoping that would fix it. Well.. 3 months later it's doing it again. I read up on colorado lemon laws and if the same problem persists after 4 attempts and cannot be fixed within a year, then you need to proceed with negotiating with subaru. I bring my car to Shortline Subaru in Aurora, Co and they have been great. They are actually ordering a computer monitor from Subaru that is going to record all data from my car, so they can see what is causing it and possibly how to fix it. I spoke with them about what will happen if they can't fix it and they didn't act surprised or defensive. I spoke to the service manager and neither one of us mentioned lemon law, but we both knew what each other was implying. My impression from the conversation was that Subaru is going to do everything they can to fix the problem before pursuing other avenues, but if it comes down being unfixable, Shortline is going to do the honorable thing.

#516 of 580 2011 3.6R Transmission by subyturtle

Jan 04, 2012 (9:25 am)

Hi Diane,
 
Luckily for me with my 2011 3.6R the transmission completely stopped working within 2 months of buying it and under 2,000 miles. It had been doing the jerk thing when you slow down on a ramp and then speed up and it made a huge clunking sound upon reverse. One day I could not reverse so I had it towed to the dealer who confirmed that I had no transmission. Subaru worked with the dealer and gave me a brand new car.

#517 of 580 3.6 transmission issue by carteach

Jan 06, 2012 (11:08 pm)

I've been all set to buy the 3.6 Limited, but am getting gun shine reading all these posts. I was thinking of buying the 3.6 because of all the head gasket problems the 2.5 have.
 
Are those of you who've had problems (3.6) sorry you got your car? I'm getting cold feet despite the fact that the Outback is the right car size wise for me.
 
BTW... have a Legacy Outback ('95) with 218,000 miles on it and no transmission problems whatsoever.

#518 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [carteach] by saedave

Jan 08, 2012 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: carteach (Jan 06, 2012 11:08 pm)
The Forester has almost the same interior passenger room as the Outback: 1/4 inch narrower, but 1/4 inch more fore and aft. The 2011 Forester 2.5i has the new engine designed to eliminate the head gasket problem. The Forester XT has a different, stronger cylinder block that also does not have the problem.
 
You could save about $5,000 with the most expensive Forester over the 3.6 Limited. The Forester XT has in-town performance about the same as the 3.6.
 
I went from a 2005 3.0 VDC six Outback to the 2010 Forester XT. The Forester's back seat spacing is better.

#519 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [carteach] by poodog13

Jan 10, 2012 (10:25 am)

Replying to: carteach (Jan 06, 2012 11:08 pm)
Take a look at how many V6 engines Subaru sells in a year as a percentage of its cars and then ask yourself if buying one is a great idea.

#520 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [poodog13] by xwesx

Jan 10, 2012 (10:46 am)

Replying to: poodog13 (Jan 10, 2012 10:25 am)
Take a look at how many V6 engines Subaru sells in a year
 
That would be exactly zero; definitely not a good idea to buy a V6 from Subaru.
 
Hahaha; I jest.

#521 of 580 Re: Subaru Outback transmission problem [dianesnow] by joeinco

Jan 10, 2012 (11:27 am)

Replying to: dianesnow (Jan 04, 2012 8:38 am)
Six months ago I purchased an Outback 3.6 Ltd. because for the money I thought the car was a very good value. In my opinion the car is good looking, has AWD that is fantastic and the 3.6 engine was quick and smooth. Shortly after owning it I noticed it was very difficult to drive straight so I took it in to have the alignment checked, I was told it was out but they did not provide any details. I still felt like the car was a lot of work to drive but I thought I would just keep until the warranty was over then I would have someone else align the car to make it drive straight. In addition to this problem my wife and I both noticed transmission problems people have described as "lurching" or jerking. After discussing the problem we decided to take it in to be checked. After we picked the car up we were told that everything seemed to be fine and that it was operating as it should. It took the service writer 10-15 minutes of "BS" to finally admit there wasn't a fix at this point from Subaru. My wife and I could not believe we were having a problem with a brand new car. Finally we decided we would get rid of it losing both money and confidence in Subaru.
 
Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy whatever you end up doing either keeping it or getting something new, life’s too short to be unhappy!
 
Last week we bought a 2012 Toyota 4runner SR5 and life is good again!

#522 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [poodog13] by almatti

Jan 11, 2012 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: poodog13 (Jan 10, 2012 10:25 am)
Notwithstanding this transmission jerking issue I read here, which appears to affect the 3.6R models (Outbacks - Legacy too?), to correct poodog13, it is not a V-6 engine, but rather a Flat 6 similar to the 2.5 4 cylinder engine (Boxer design which Porche uses as well). The Tranny in the 3.6 is a 5 speed Auto Tranny, the 2.5i uses the CVT {I have a 2010 Legacy 2.5i}.
 
I look at a Subaru forum - Legacygt.org, I like to read the comments and various posts from the members. But I can't say I saw any complaints related to this problem. A big issue seems to be a car Shimmy issue which some members experience and others don't. From reading about that issue, I still have not been able to pinpoint from the posts whether the Shimmy afflicts both cars - 2.5 or 3.6 versions and/or cars with 16" or 17" wheels..

#523 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [almatti] by poodog13

Jan 12, 2012 (10:16 am)

Replying to: almatti (Jan 11, 2012 3:43 pm)
Semantics as it relates to the crux of my earlier point, which is to say that as a general rule if the vast majority of the cars that a manufacturer makes falls under one powertrain configuration, you may want to stay away from the other small minority alternative.

#524 of 580 Re: 3.6 transmission issue [poodog13] by desertnomad

Jan 18, 2012 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: poodog13 (Jan 12, 2012 10:16 am)
Our 2012 3.6R Outback is doing the same thing... slow down to about 10mph then accelerate and it lurches while finding a gear. Found this and am going to the dealer Friday:
 
Service Bulletin # 11-104-11
Pages: 1
 
Bulletin Description: This is to announce that TCM reprogramming files are now available to rectify a harsh downshift on 3-2 downshift while slowing to 12-14 mph and then accelerating. Note: TCM reprogramming files were sent to all SDS users in the October 2011 SSMIII Update version 1.28.42.7
 
The tech note (which I found on another forum) says this was applied to production cars starting: 10/17/2011 VIN C2217396 for the Outback and10/12/2011 VIN C2008348 for the Legacy).
 
Hopefully that will fix it as it is rather discomforting and surely can't be good for the transmission in the long run.

Messages Page 53 of 59

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