2011 Subaru Outback: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 23, 2025 · Transmission · VA

My CVT Transmission started having problems with the Valve Body inside the transmission. On acceleration from a complete stop my vehicle would start "bucking" hard causing a violent back and forth rocking or "jerking" of the drive train and vehicle. I did not request a inspection of the failed Valve Body when I paid to have it replaced. The life and safety of myself and others are at severe risk of injury or death resulting from a complete failure of the Valve Body component when driving on highways or other roads because without any warning the vehicle will come to a complete stop which would cause a rear end collision possibly at highway speeds. Also I'm concerned about the Torque Converter having a failure because of the intense pressure from the failed Valve Body with the constant "bucking" on acceleration. I took my vehicle to both a independent transmission shop and a Subaru Service Center and the Independent Transmission Shop told me I needed a new transmission and the Subaru Service Department kept telling me they didn't know what was causing my vehicle symptoms. Subaru of America extended the warranty on my vehicle to 100,000 miles because of the problems with their CVT Transmissions but because I bought my vehicle used with over 100,000 miles on it they refused to either pay for 50% or 100% of the replacement cost. No warning Lights came on but when the Valve Body completely fails then the warning lights will illuminate. My Subaru Case Number that was DENIED is (Case# 250820-1801058) for Subaru extended warranty for CVT Transmission.

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · 75,000 miles · OR

Occasionally, perhaps 4 times in the last year, when I put my car into 'drive', the engine engages and lurches forward. It feels as though the car with take off forward at a high speed.

Filed Dec 27, 2019 · Transmission · 114,000 miles · FL

The car jumps and jerks, similar to a manual transmission stalling. This has occurred during acceleration from a stop at a red light, to deceleration in highway traffic!! Upon taking it in for service at the subaru schumacher in west palm beach, fl. The service manager informed me it's a common problem. Subaru is well aware of it, yet there is no recall. Sudden stalling of the vehicle is a serious safety issue! Apparently someone must die for action to be taken! The dealer says to replace the valve body at a cost of $2345 + tax. Then mentions they will test drive the car, and if not resolved, they must replace the torque converter at $3500 +tax!!! Any online search will tell you this car with 114,000 miles is not worth that! Subaru knows about this serious problem, and continues to place these faulty CVT transmissions in service. Problem persists up to 2017 models, simply because 2018/19 models haven't reached the mileage yet for failure. This statement came from the service manager himself. Thank you arnaud for being honest. Goodbye forever subaru, you've lost a customer and hopefully you don't get anyone killed over this!

Filed Nov 6, 2019 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · CA

I was 40 miles from home after coming down a steep curvy mountain road in manual when subaru began shifting with big jerks and shudders in early sept 2019, had trouble shifting from one gear to next. Hanlee's subaru evaluated, replaced valve body and serpentine belt. A few days later in rush hour traffic at a rr crossing it shuddered to a stop and died during which there was a loud clanking sound under and behind me. I started it up again but was terrified of causing an accident. Returned to hanlee's where they had it for a week and could not reproduce the symptoms.since I picked it up it still has a "bump" when I slow down. Then 0n 11/4/19 it did the same shuddering stop when I braked in traffic(going 35 MPH) five miles from my house, dying completely. I restarted it and took it to subaru. They say it might be a torque converter. I'm worried for my safety. I also see that both the CVT and torque converter had extended warranties issued for these reasons. When these problems began the car had 110k miles. This is my third subaru and have never experienced such poor , dangerous performance on a car that should run well for at least 200k miles with good service. I am waiting to hear from hanlee's on the second day they have had my car.

Filed Aug 4, 2019 · Transmission · 180,000 miles · PA

Car would shudder when coming to a stop occasionally and feel like it was going to stall. I brought it to a mechanic who couldn't replicate the problem. After months of this happening randomly, the car suddenly lit up with all these dash warning lights, I tried turning the car off and back on but the lights remained on, afterwards the car would suddenly lose power. As it was late in the evening, I drove home, with the car alternating between lurching forward and losing power. The next morning the problems continued. I took my car to my mechanic who said it was a transmission issue and I needed a transmission shop. My car has been there for over 2 weeks. They said that there was damage to the transmission and that this is a common problem with these cars, I have yet to receive an estimate for repairs. The day before the issues started I had to drive an hour and a half away, should these issues had happened on the highway, the car could have stalled out doing highway speeds and caused a major accident. Furthermore, I was never notified of the warranty extension. I purchased the car in december 2017, the shuddering occured at random since I purchased it, I known the shuddering was a symptom of a impending large, catastrophic issue, I would have been able to bring it to a dealer to have it repaired as the warranty extension expired july 2018.

Filed Jun 19, 2019 · Transmission · 170,000 miles · CA

My vehicle will stall and turn off when coming to a stop. This has happened many times while on the city streets and when on the highway once during traffic. This could of been a deadly situation. The car also stalls and slips gears when going from 1st gear to 2nd causing a jerking motion like an manual transmission would do.

Filed May 14, 2019 · Transmission · 114,000 miles · ME

A few weeks ago, my car started stalling out at low speeds while trying to accelerate. The car loses power and forward momentum and then catches up again. Starting from a stop light and entering an intersection, the car lurches unexpectedly, causing a disruption in forward momentum-- which is very alarming for me and the cars behind me. I took it to the subaru dealership for service and was told it needed a valve body replacement for the CVT. I asked specifically if the codes that came back said it needed a valve body replacement and was told, yes.

Filed Feb 15, 2019 · Transmission · 125,000 miles · GA

Automobile @ 125,000 mile attempts to stall at low rpms and stops. Jerking motions happen when attempting to accelerate the automobile from a stop. Dealer reports valve body needs repair. I understand a recall without admitting any fault by subaru, yet the recall had an expiration date. This date need to be extended for those who are experiencing the problem since the recall expiration date.

Filed Sep 29, 2018 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · CA

Today I took in my subaru outback 3.6r for an oil change while coming home I had experienced something like someone had hit me from behind. What had happen was when I come to a stop or slow traffic and begin to accelerate I get a maybe a late/or a delay in shifting causing the car to jerk or a bang. This really concern me so I'm taking it in today.

Filed Oct 21, 2017 · Engine · 143,000 miles · NC

For the last few weeks, car has dropped rpms at hard stops. It would jerk like coming to a full stop in a manual transmission car without pressing the clutch. My car is an automatic with a CVT. Then it started just stalling out at hard stops or turns with significant decreased speed. That is not safe. It has been very scary. My mechanic connected my car to the computer and no codes matched the problem. Then I started doing research online and saw so many others have had the same problem. That took me to a service bulletin put out by subaru in july 2017 for this very CVT problem caused by a faulty torque converter. I have that service bulletin but nowhere on there does it describe these symptoms so I never would have known this was the same issue. I took my car to the dealer and was told it would be covered by the extended warranty on the service bulletin. Hours later I was told it would cost me $1500 in a parts and $1060 in labor (plus tax). Subaru is not covering this clearly dangerous problem. I can't drive my car without fear. I maintain my car and am very careful with it. Subaru professes to be about safety and taking care of customers. This is not right.

Filed Apr 23, 2013 · Transmission · 33,400 miles · IL

The issue started at around 25,000 miles. My 2011 subaru outback, upon shifting from reverse to drive or from park to drive from a cold start, the transmission would pause for a second or two then would exhibit a loud bang/clunk and the car would lurch forward. Warming the car for several minutes (~5-10 minutes) did not solve the issue. I read others who had the same issue so at 28,622 miles (~1.5 months from the first incident) I brought the car to the subaru service/dealer. Unfortunately they could not replicate the issue, likely due to the fact that they did a transmission relearn before trying to test the transmission. The car was fine for about 2 days after receipt from service, but then the bang/clunk/lurch began again, on and off, under the same conditions mentioned earlier (I.e., cold start, shifting into drive, etc.) until its failure on april 22 (mileage ~33,400, ~3 months after bringing the car to the subaru service/dealer noted above). The transmission failed while I was driving 45 MPH, after I heard a bang from under the vehicle. The vehicle was still controllable, but only first gear worked. The car today (april 23) is at the service station to determine if it is a transmission issue or a computer issue.

Filed Feb 11, 2012 · Transmission · 3,750 miles · NC

Car was brand new and the transmission was jerking when I slowed down for a red light and then had to start again before the car came to a full stop. This was a constant issue and also did the same thing when car was downshifting during traffic.