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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 58

#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.

#525 of 580 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6...Serious Transmission issue by toasted2

Jan 20, 2012 (6:34 pm)

My wife and I recently bought a brand new Subaru Outback with pretty much every option we could think of....Unfortunately, within a very short period of time, we began to experience a very significant "clunk" in the transmission when accelerating from a rolling stop. I can't tell you how our hearts sank as we looked at one another...Since then it has happened a number of times over the past few weeks, but due to our busy schedules and being out of town much of the time we have not yet had the opportunity to get it into the dealership. When I spoke to the service guy at Subaru, he claimed it was normal...I can honestly tell you having owned vehicles for 25 years...I have never felt this type of a clunk in a transmission downshift ever...
 
Long story short...They said to bring it in and that they would check it out and make it right...Hopefully, I get a chance to get it in in the next couple of weeks...I'll let you know how it works out...This is our first Subaru, having recently changed from an Acura MDX...and thus far, I hate to say it...The vehicle has not lived up to its reputation.

#526 of 580 Re: 2012 Subaru Outback 3.6...Serious Transmission issue [toasted2] by tgl3

Jan 21, 2012 (12:04 pm)

Replying to: toasted2 (Jan 20, 2012 6:34 pm)
i had the same exact problem. i heard about "Service Bulletin # 11-104-11" on this thread. (it's an updated set of computer settings that they can flash onto your car's computer). it solved my problem completely. Ask you dealer if the flash ROM on Service Bulletin # 11-104-11 is appropriate for your car.

#528 of 580 2011 3.6 Legacy Transmission Issue by sobolol1

Jan 23, 2012 (8:02 pm)

I have 3500 miles on my 2011 Legacy 3.6 automatic, I am having what I believe is a transmission issue. When slowing down, then accelerating the car feels like it is getting hit from behind! I have had cars before with transmission issues and thats what it felt like, but when I take to the dealer they say its fine and cant feel what I am talking about. From reading some of these posts I see some people have the same issue, but how can I get it fixed, when the dealer wont even help me? Thanks in advance

#529 of 580 2012 3.6R limited by dinoman

Jan 28, 2012 (12:11 pm)

We bought a 2012 3.6R limited 4 months ago. We first noticed the same transmission issue at 1500 miles. The dealer reset the computer and it was good for a few months. The car has 6000 miles on it and it just started doing it again. My wife and I are very busy, so we are going to trade it for something else. I'm done with Subaru forever...which is sad because we really love this car.

#530 of 580 Re: Subaru Outback transmission problem [dianesnow] by tranny_pain

Feb 01, 2012 (10:15 am)

Replying to: dianesnow (Jan 04, 2012 8:38 am)
Are you satisfied now?

Messages Page 53 of 58

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