10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
29,150 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
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problem #2

May 282016

Outback

  • CVT transmission
  • 40,275 miles

5/28/16 stopped vehicle on a slight grade to make a left turn onto the highway. Depressed accelerator - no response from vehicle. Engine did not rev up. Car just sat there. After depressing the accelerator 3 or 4 times, car finally moved forward. Serious safety issue.

- Carol S., Kittanning, PA, US

problem #1

Mar 242016

Outback Premium 2.5i

  • CVT transmission
  • 18,000 miles

The hesitation has happened at least 5 times and always from a stop. I was about to turn left , waited for on coming traffic to allow me enough time to make my turn, pressed on the accelerator and it was as if it wasnt connected to the throttle anymore. The engine idled as it put me in front of on coming traffic. I pumped the accelerator 3 times , nothing happened, just idling. I finally get to the parking lot and it finally allowed fuel to be sent to the pistons and accelerated at around 2200 rpm. Luckily , no cars hit me but its just a matter of time and circumstances that this car will get me killed.

There are several components that are involved with CVTs and one is the brake overide system which could be erroneously sending signals to keep the ECM from processing the throttle signal. Or it could be the ECM is faulty but they do not replace it , they just reprogram it as if that is supposed to make everything all better. It doesnt. I saw that someone with a 2015 had the same problem so going new may not get away from the problem.

It will take a class action law suit to get this fixed since Subaru has ignored the issue and has no plans to do much about it except to say its a generic CVT problem. I plan to write a few letters but I have very low expectations of seeing any action on their part. It may be true that CVTs for some reason will hesitate for a brief second but usually a second pump on the accelerator would clear the problem. The Subaru version of this hesitation is NOT a brief second, but up to 10 seconds which if you are turning in front of cars moving at 60 mph would put them in your drivers side door from 1600 feet away. So if you have to wait to make sure no cars are within 1600 feet every time you make a left turn, you will probably get a traffic ticket for holding up trafffic.

I plan to trade this car in as soon as I am no longer upside down on it. My life may not mean much to Subaru but to me its another example of corporate greed vs the common people. How many tractor trailers have to run over innocent families in 2014 Outbacks before they do something about it? Thats just sad.

- outbk14, Austin, TX, US