Subaru Impreza shudder problems

Filed Apr 3, 2025 · Suspension · 235,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and hard braking, the vehicle started shuddering violently and the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at 20 MPH. The contact then inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the front driver's side control arm had fractured. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.

Filed Nov 5, 2023 · Transmission · NY

I was on the highway in mixed traffic for a couple hours. There was a burning smell in the cabin and then the warning lights came on including a check engine light and transmission light. The car started to jerk erratically when I accelerated and ultimately it would not accelerate. I pulled over and turned the car off as recommended in the owner's manualAfter following the manual's instructions to let the engine cool down, I attempted to turn the car on and put it in gear. It would not move when I put it in reverse or drive. The transmission failed entirely. Previous to my taking the car on this trip, I brought the car to my Subaru Dealership because I smelled the same burning in the cabin along with a strange whirring sound and the transmission light came on then too. At that time, I pulled over and read the owner's manual and did what it recommended. The car started working again after 10 minutes of cooling. This is why I brought the car to the Subaru dealership to have this issue inspected. At the time they recommended that I change the CVT fluid and that the issue would then go away. The issue did not go away. When I informed them that the car was unsafe and dangerous to drive because of the jerking and violent shuddering, they told me that I should trade the car in or pay for a new transmission. They did not tell me that the 2012 version of the car had a history of issues with its CVT, and that some of the repairs were covered under warranty.

Filed Oct 14, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · CA

To whom this may concern, My name is [XXX] . I purchased my 2014 Subaru on December 13th, 2013. My car has 57,000 miles on it. It has loss of acceleration when entering a freeway. I push on the gas pedal harder and harder to try to get my car to obtain 60 mph. The car does not respond until minutes go by. The CVT transmission was replaced in June 2022. The car has not performed any better after the transmission replacement. I am the original owner of my car. Initially, my car performed very well, quick response to acceleration for the first 35-40 thousand miles. Then, it began to have lack of acceleration. The transmission was replaced by Subaru of America in June 2022 at around 48,000 miles. I brought my car to Elk Grove Subaru approximately 4 times since the transmission was replaced, each time I paid for their hourly diagnostic fee; between $165.00 to $195.00. Each time the service advisor said they found nothing wrong with my car. I took my car to two independent mechanics (One of them is a transmission repair shop) they each stated in writing that my transmission is slipping and has loss of power. I feel unsafe driving my car on the street as if shakes, shudders and jerks. I do not want to be a statistic in an accident on the freeway due to the lack of power trying to obtain speed while entering freeway and trying to keep my vehicle speed at a speed of barely 60 mph. My vehicle is still within the extended CVT warranty. I feel that the Subaru dealership is purposely avoiding acknowledgement of the failing transmission. Subaru is a big corporation. Many Subaru owners believe there needs to be an actual recall on their Subaru CVT transmissions. I do not feel safe driving my car. With 57,000 miles on a vehicle that's a potential safety hazard, Subaru needs to take more responsibility for their vehicles as people's lives are much more precious than their profit margins. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 18, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · OR

After the coil pack recall was done, our car began shuddering, hesitating and stalling. Went to the dealership 4-5 times. ECM and Prindle valve were replaced but still doing it. then engine exploded going up a hill, stranding us for 2.5 hours on the freeway. Engine replaced under warranty (which expired while in shop for two months). No warranty on new motor. Same issues still going on and shop now charges us to "look at it." It stalled last week in heavy traffic, so it definitely is dangerous. We don't want to sell the car and pass the problem on to someone else.

Filed Sep 19, 2022 · Brakes · VT

Suspected defective and/or faulty brake booster or brake hose on the front left tire. Car starts violently shaking/shuddering when easing onto the brakes (once the brakes have warmed up for my daily commute to work). Resulting vibrations travel up the steering column to the steering wheel, and into the cabin. The car will then pitch its nose in various directions; it feels as though the front left brake is being grabbed and not properly released. Taken to a Subaru dealership multiple times. New brakes and rotors installed in July 2022; other components of the brake (calipers, pistons) were inspected in Aug. 2022 and appeared fine. However, on inspection (08/2022) the newly replaced rotor on the front left tire was already showing visible wear/damage (white scalding) due to excessive heat generated while braking. I have taken the car to be serviced at a dealership multiple times & have been told the shaking "couldn't be replicated." I recreate it every day I drive to work (350 miles every week). *Please* see the video linked to a third-party website: https://imgur.com/a/wFvLV0A Other symptoms: The engine starts and runs roughly despite recent oil changes. OBDII code P0300 (Random/multiple cylinder misfire detected) was detected by a personal OBDII scanner, although I don’t know if that issue is related. Ignition timing advance for the 1st cylinder is near red zone. Please help..

Filed Jun 20, 2021 · Transmission · 102,926 miles · MA

Two instances of CVT Transmission failure. First: Occurred at 102,926 miles, car only 8 years old. While driving, suddenly many warning lights came on and the car started shuddering. The lights were Check Engine, Oil Temp, Cruise Control, vehicle dynamics, and ABS. I drove my car to a transmission shop, who read the codes 2764 and and 0700. He replaced the TCC Solenoid and valve body on 11/18/2020. I drove the car for 6 more months to ~106,000 miles successfully, until... The Second Issue: On 6/6/21 while driving my car, it stopped accelerating. I couldn't go above 18 mph! This was a huge safety issue. I had to drive on major roads with a speed limit of 50mph going only 18mph, with my hazard lights on. I'm so fortunate it happened to be at 10pm on a Sunday night, or I could have gotten in an accident. Once I got home, I called AAA and had them tow my car back to my transmission mechanic (because I couldn't get to my mechanic without getting on the highway, which would obviously be unsafe at 18mph). My mechanic said it was an issue with the same solenoid again having shorted out, which means that it's actually a deeper issue with the CVT transmission burning through solenoids. The solenoid is just a symptom, not the root problem. Then, I finally googled Subaru solenoid issues, and I discovered this is a well documented problem, that has already been reported to your office, and yet Subaru has not yet issued a recall. Only an extended warranty, which only goes up to 100,000 miles so it doesn't help me!! My transmission wore out at 102,000 miles. Do you think it's a coincidence that Subaru made their warranty for 100,000? I'm lodging this complaint in hopes that your office sees the CVT transmissions are still a safety issue, and the warranty hasn't solved the problem. Please get Subaru to issue a recall! This is unacceptable behavior from a car manufacturer. Thank you.

Filed Dec 19, 2018 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · CA

While driving about 60 miles an hour, in the second from the left lane on a busy, four-lane freeway ascending a slight hill, my car shuddered violently and came to a complete stop. We were almost rear-ended several times; cars were swerving around us; it was terrifying and quite dangerous. We waited close to 10 minutes for the chp to stop traffic. Subaru has identified the problem as the CVT transmission and is in the process of replacing it under the warranty. This is a safety issue and I think a recall is more appropriate than an extended warranty.

Filed Feb 11, 2013 · Engine · NC

2008 subaru impreza. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle engine shuts down after pressing down on accelerator. *smd the consumer stated when her husband adjusted his pant leg, it caused him to press down on the accelerator. When that happened, the vehicle let out a loud shuddering and immediately shut the engine down. All the lights stayed on and the vehicle started right back up. The consumer stated the incident happened twice. The dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. However, they did find a valve was leaking oil, which was covered under warranty.

Filed Sep 17, 2011 · Suspension · 196,950 miles · CT

As I pulled into my driveway after work, everything seemed normal. The car had driven fine all the way home, including on the highway. A few hours later when I went out to the car to leave, is when I found the problem. As I began to back up the car began making a shuddering sound, and backed up crooked. It felt like something in the drivetrain was binding severely. I got out to check underneath with a flashlight, and I noticed the drivers side front lower control arm had separated into two pieces. This occurred where the front control arm bushing is attached to the rest of the control arm. Comparing side to side, the front wheels are not even close to parallel now. Luckily this did not result in an accident, as only a few miles prior I was cruising down the highway at 65 MPH! I'm assuming the small bump at the end of my driveway is what finally caused the failure, but it just as easily could have been a bump or pothole on the highway.

Filed Feb 12, 2007 · Brakes, Engine · 119,330 miles · MD

Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 subaru impreza wr,x and stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel, and there was a raw fuel smell coming from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The fuel smell was stronger when the vehicle was running and the temperature was below 32 degrees. The contact currently has the vehicle at the dealership. The failure and current mileage were 119330.*ak the vehicle also had a coolant lead. The drivers side door regulator was inopertive, the clutch had a judder, there was problem with the ABS. Updated