Daughter was on her way to our house when she called me and said the AT oil temperature too high notice came on about 2 miles from our house. Of course, check engine and all the other dash lights illuminated. I gingerly drove it to the Subaru place in Mobile, avoiding interstates, and they told her that it needed a new CVT, and they were going through the approval process with Subaru. I knew when that warning came on that the CVT was likely toast at 73k miles. The good thing is Subaru extended the CVT warranty to 10 years and 100,000 miles, and she also has the extended Subaru warranty.
Daughter's 2018 Subaru Forester needs new CVT
- Thread starter rainman49
- Start date
Another 30,000 miles and they would have sold another car.
My younger sister has a 2017 Impreza. She has owned it since new and it's been dealer maintained. I recommended she have the dealer change the CVT fluid at 40K which she did. The CVT failed out of warranty @ 66K but Subaru replaced it at no cost. I made a thread on it years ago. Other than that, her car has been very reliable.
In Canada they wanted a fluid change at 60k miles to qualify for the extended warranty, but I think in the states they didn't require any fluid change to qualify.
Early maintenance with approved fluids --- sleep easy.
I wouldn’t buy a CVT equipped car unless it came with an extra transmission-they’re designed to fail spectacularly, often without warning, & can cost as much as the car is worth.
To be fair, Subaru says if it doesn't see their definition of "severe service," then never change the fluid.
I agree it makes zero sense, but as an owner/consumer you can't really be faulted for following their reco -- at least while under warranty.
And the subject gets more confusing as their definition of severe service arguably could apply to anyone -- or no one.
Here at 2:00 he lists Subaru's definition, at which point it inexplicably jumps from NEVER SERVICE to SERVICE EVERY 25K MILES. Because those two extremes make sense.....
Neighbor's 14 Forester's CVT has been on its last legs for the last few years. Terrible shudder upon take off once warmed up. It either needs a valve body or a torque converter, or both.
Serviced once at 90K by me, currently at 130K+.
Serviced once at 90K by me, currently at 130K+.
UPDATE: Subaru told the dealer to service the transmission and perform test drives instead of replacing the CVT. They're going to drive it 25 miles and see if the check engine light comes back on. I didn't have any trouble driving it to the dealer but I stayed off the interstate and didn't push it.
Annual CVT pan drops to inspect & clean the magnets (and pan). Once the fluid & magnets stay clean you can extend your service intervals.
Do it once a year during an oil change, etc.
Do it once a year during an oil change, etc.
