Subaru Legacy slipping problems

Filed Mar 10, 2026 · Transmission · MA

2015 Subaru Legacy 2.5i, approximately 48,000 miles. CVT transmission failed suddenly with no prior warning signs. Vehicle was exclusively dealer-serviced for its entire life. While driving, the transmission began shuddering, slipping, and making metallic grinding noises. Vehicle could barely climb a small ramp and was locked in limp mode, making it unsafe to operate in traffic. Diagnostic codes P0841, P0700, and C1431 were stored. Authorized Subaru dealer confirmed the failure. Technician stated the valve body likely failed first — a known defect per Subaru TSB 16-107-17R — which then caused the CVT chain to slip. Dealer quoted $11,000 for a remanufactured CVT replacement. Service representative stated she had never seen a transmission need replacement at such low mileage. No warning lamps or symptoms existed prior to sudden onset. CVT fluid was never changed, consistent with the manufacturer's U.S. maintenance schedule. This vehicle falls under Subaru's CVT Warranty Extension covering 2010-2015 Legacy models due to known defects. Vehicle is well under the 100,000-mile limit but approximately 13 months past the 10-year time limit. I opened a case with Subaru of America Customer Advocacy. My dealer informed me that Subaru Corporate contacted them and communicated a decision regarding my case, but Subaru has never communicated any decision to me directly. Multiple emails, a voicemail, and a request for escalation have gone unanswered over several days. This failure poses a safety risk as the transmission can fail suddenly and without warning while in motion, potentially with passengers including children.

Filed Jul 9, 2025 · Transmission · IA

CVT failed at 85,000 miles. It started slipping and squealing and had to be replaced by the dealership. The car was never driven rough, in mountainous terrain, etc. Very disappointing.

Filed Dec 14, 2022 · Transmission · NJ

I had a transmission failure on my 2016 Subaru Legacy and there were no warning signs before this incident occurred. I was on a road trip driving at highway speeds and suddenly without warning I heard a loud bang. Then the "at oil temp" light came on, then the "check engine light", smelled something burning and also felt some slipping in the transmission. I pulled over as soon as I could. I towed it to the nearest dealer and they diagnosed the problem as being a bad valve body based on the code "P0712: Transmission Temperature Sensor Circuit Low" without test driving the vehicle. The valve body was replaced. Since my car's mileage was outside the extended warranty for this issue, Subaru only contributed half the cost of the repair. After the completion of the repair, the dealer told me they heard loud transmission noises and they recommended that my transmission may have to be replaced I test drove the vehicle with the service manager, except for the noise, the car had no warning lights and the car was shifting smoothly and was reassured that the car would not stall. After leaving the dealership, I drove 25 miles before the car started jerking and violently shaking. Then at a stop light on a highway, the car stalled. When I press the accelerator, the engine would rev but the car would not move. The vehicle was towed home, my car still would not move when I pressed the accelerator and the check engine light came on. I towed it to my local dealer, they checked the vehicle and said the transmission had an internal failure and replaced the transmission. The bad transmission was sent back to Subaru per their policy. Subaru did a goodwill warranty repair that covered a significant portion of the cost. This sudden transmission failure was a huge safety risk to myself and others. I could have rear-ended both times my car stalled.

Filed Oct 9, 2022 · Transmission · MI

Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) chain may slip and/or break. the federal safety agency recall 21V955000 Subaru recall WRK21 A software issue in the transmission control unit (TCU) may allow the continuously variable transmission to engage before the drive chain is properly secured, the automaker says. This could result in the chain slipping and breaking, leading to a loss of power and a risk of a crash. Component has not been inspected by the manufacturer. the federal safety agency reported this recall Dec. 9th, 2021. Received Subaru recall notice in mail Feb. 2022, stating the remedy is expected to be available in April 2022. I have contacted the Subaru dealer 3 times since April 2022 and each time they say "waiting for parts, we will notify you". It is now Oct. 9th, 2022 with no response or resolve. Driving 10 months since the federal safety agency reported this issue should be considered a huge safety violation by the manufacturer.

Filed Apr 25, 2021 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · NJ

First the vehicle started with a screeching noise and the RPM's would spike. Apparently if the CVT transmission slipping. I took the vehicle in variations occasions to the dealer. Reached out subaru USA. Sent video of the occurrence and they indicated they could not classify the occurrence and found it inconclusive. I notice it would occur in temperatures lower then 45 degrees fahrenheit. Months later the vehicle started flashing various warning lights such as check engine, cruise control, vehicle dynamics control. Took the car to local dealer and was diagnosed as a oxygen sensor. But what started occurring after the repair was startling and dangerous. The vehicle now started stalling out when I pressed on the brakes to stop. On long drives this would not occur. It often happens when driving locally and stopping at intersections. What I learned to and implemented was as the stalling was starting to occur you would get a jittering from the vehicle I would shift the car to neutral and the car would not stall. This is neither the norm or safe, but safer then stalling in an intersection with vehicles coming at you. This issue still continues to occur. I have not bothered with the dealer nor subaru because my last issue with the transmission was never resolved, I'm able to counter the stalling but my wife who has to go out with my 1yr old son and 10 yr daughter is scared to use the vehicle because if it was to stall in an intersection as she is trying to cross in the vehicle a major accident can occur. Please help and investigate this issue that I am sure it is happening to other subaru owners. Thank you

Filed Mar 20, 2020 · Transmission · 113,243 miles · TN

When driving my vehicle on a highway once reaching the acceleration speed of 65-75 the car sounds as if the gears are slipping and squeal once it kicks in. Stopped at dealership on our way back to our home state. They tested and recommended replacing the CVT. This apparently had an extended warranty in 2017. Will my car still be covered. We have 113k on the car.

Filed Mar 17, 2020 · Transmission · 126,000 miles · CA

I was pulling out of the parking lot onto a main street and when I started to step on the gas the car didn't want to go so well and the rpms what are getting pretty high and the clutch was slipping the fluid was a little bit low so we added the recommended fluid the dextron 111.. We were able to drive about 5 miles on the freeway about 60 miles an hour back to our house the next morning we got up to leave the car would barely move forward the clutch slipping really bad and also is doing the same in reverse.. I have owned by subarus and I was also the sales and finance manager for nader subaru in eureka california in 2005 to 2010

Filed Oct 26, 2018 · Transmission · 162,000 miles · IN

Takara recall my transmission slips from 5th to 6th gear I have spoken with manufacturer about but because my car is past their extended warranty that did for the issue and did not inform me I found out after the deadline for it subaru just informed me that if I want it done I have to $5000 dollars to get it replaced because I should have known about the deadline beforehand but could not confirm if a letter got sent out for that VIN number

Filed Aug 12, 2018 · Transmission · 104,000 miles · NC

I purchased my 2011 subaru legacy 2.5i limited in april 2018 with 99,110 miles. It was driving fine until about 104,000 miles when there started to be some stalling and slipping problems. I had a p2096 code and assumed it was a vacuum or brake booster leak. I had bad shaking coming from around the torque converter and stalling at stop lights. By the time my mechanic and I were able to realize it was a transmission problem I had already missed the window for subaru's extended powertrain warranty on my vehicle. I never received a notice of the recall. I have a CVT transmission that subaru claims never has to be serviced, but now I am stuck with a failing transmission on a car with only 106,000 miles with all regular maintenance done. My car will stall of or slip in the transmission when traveling on the interstate or while breaking at stoplights and once caused me to rear end another vehicle in hickory, nc because my transmission slipped while coming to a stop at a stop light. Nobody was injured, but it made me fear for my safety in my car.

Filed Nov 21, 2017 · Body, Transmission · MA

Transmission slips, gas cap does not close/open properly and "sticks." constant buzzing sound from windows even after they were replaced and the moonroof will not close properly when pressing the button for the first time. The moonroof will close and then open again.