2015 Subaru Outback Transmission Problems

On three separate occasions, most recently on 01/06/22 , my Subaru Outback began to accelerate without touching the gas pedal. My wife and myself were both fortunate to have a foot covering the brake pedal when this occurred . We fortunately avoided the potential collision hazard.

My subaru has 51,000 miles on it and has had 6 wheel bearings replaced as follows. 3-22-17 @ 29k miles replace both rear wheel bearings and front right wheel bearing. 11-12-18 @45k miles replaced both front wheel bearings (2nd time for front right) 7-12-19 @ 51k miles replaced front left wheel bearing (2nd time for front left) the vehicle has had 6 wheel bearings replaced in the last 23 months.

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AFTER PARKING, JUMP CURB INTO TREE, CAUSING $7,000 IN DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BOTH MYSELF AND PASSENGER HIT KNEES ON DASH, EVEN WITH OUR SEAT BELTS STILL ON. HAD OTHER COMPUTER ISSUES EARLIER THAT DAY, BACK UP SENSORS DIDN'T WORK WHILE BACKING CAR RIGHT BEHIND MINE. CAR HAS NOW BEEN AT SUBARU FOR A MONTH, WAITING FOR ENGINEERS RESULTS AFTER THEIR INSPECTION 2/14/2018

.of us as traffic was causing it to speed up and slow down. With no warning, our car suddenly lurched ahead as if I had stepped hard on the gas pedal, throwing us back in our seats. After a few seconds, it hit brakes and threw us forward.

I took the car into paul moak subaru on 10/14. The car was bucking under light acceleration. When pulling thru a stop light, or moving from a stopped position, the car kicks back and forth and I don't know if its going to keep going or stall.

Received subaru recall (wuj-95) on aug,3.2020 pertaining to exhaust pipe bellow failure. The recall includes replacement of the exhaust y-pipe that is installed from engine to tale pipe. This exhaust pipe in my understanding was installed under a stress manufacturing process where the pipe and fastener system has to be forced in to install.

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru outback. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate, lost power, and the check automotive transmission and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the continuously variable transmission failed.

I was getting gas at a station.

After a transmission replacement performed by Bud Clary Chevrolet, Inc. in Longview, WA on September 9, 2025, my vehicle was returned to me with critical components left unsecured. On November 19, 2025, an independent mechanic discovered loose suspension bolts connecting the ball joints to the spindles on both front wheels.

A transmission that was replaced in July of 2023 went bad un December of 2024 and dealership won't give reasons why transmission went bad or what caused a almost brand new transmission with less than 50,000 miles on it went bad. They are demanding we pay $5000.00 dollars on a transmission that was replaced under the extended warranty on CVT transmission from subaru.

The continuously variable transmission failed at 114,000 miles. The unexpected lack of proper shifting on the roadway causes impediment to traffic expecting a continual flow of traffic. This causes the vehicle and drivers sharing the rode to have to make sudden braking or lane shifts without sufficient notice.

Transmission fluid leak

Continuous variable transmission (CVT). The vehicle stopped while making a left turn suddenly motionless, engine revved up at 3500 RPM but the CVT remained unresponsive. Paced shift gear to park position then to drive gear then the vehicle moved-up very slow then it pulled forward to a normal driveable condition.

I was going 55 MPH on a straight flat surface when all of a sudden the RPM's shot up to around 4000 but the car was not accelerating. It was like it went into neutral. I pulled over to the side of the road and the car proceeded to die.

THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN COASTING TO A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN A FEW TIMES AND HAVE BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND CAN'T REPLICATED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND CAN CAUSE AN UNSAFE AND HUGE ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY. THE CAR WOULD DIE WHILE IN DRIVE AND SOMETIMES CAN'T BE RESTARTED. IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THE DEALER WILL SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S RELATED TO IDLE BEING LOW OR THE CVT ACTING UP WHEN TAKING THE FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A DEAD STOP OR COASTING TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES DURING FACTORY WARRANTY WINDOW.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MODELS WITH THEIR ORIGINAL CVT TRANSMISSION, BUT RATHER THAN ISSUE A RECALL, THEY'RE EXTENDING WARRANTIES AND FIXING AS THEY BREAK. THIS LEFT ME WITH NO POWER ON A STATE HIGHWAY THAT HAD SPEED LIMITS OF 75MPH. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER TO BE STRANDED FOR AN HOUR WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND IF IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, I'M NOT SURE WHY THEY'RE NOT PREVENTING THESE SCENARIOS. I WAS GOING ABOUT 70MPH IN THE CENTER LANE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR JERKED AND THEN WOULDNT ACCELERATE.

SUBJECT 2015 OUTBACK CVT TRANSMISSION LURCHES AND BOGS DURING ACCELERATION, WE HAVE TRIED WORKING WITH SUBARU FOR REPAIR HOWEVER, THEY CONSIDER THE UNIT AS WORKING TO WITHIN STANDARD AND WILL NOT REPLACE UNLESS IT FAILS COMPLETELY.

AFTER 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP ON MY BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK 2015, I HAVE NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAKY SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN I START MY CAR AFTER IT RAINED/SNOWED. THE SOUND WOULD GO AWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES, HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T SEEM NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT IS PERFECTLY FINE. HOWEVER, THE SQUEAKY NOISE STILL OCCURS AFTER RAIN/SNOW. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WATER IS LEAKING INTO A BELT WHEN IT'S NOT SUPPOSE TO AND IT IS CAUSING THE NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED. SUBARU NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS AFTER IT RAINS/SNOWS AND CANNOT BE REPLICATED WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEREFORE, IT IS HARD TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED.

LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 40,293 MILES IN MAY 2016 LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED AT 76.699 MILES IN FEB 2018 THIS IS A DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED

WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 75 MPH, TRANSMISSION MADE TWO CLUNKING SOUNDS, AND SPEED DECREASED - RPMS INCREASED. WE COULD SMELL OIL BURNING SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE OR LEAKS. WE WERE APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES OUTSIDE OF LAS VEGAS AND 22 MILES INTO OUR TRIP. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO DECREASE IN SPEED OR OTHER SIGNS PRIOR TO THE CLUNKS/CLANKS. VEHICLE TOWED TO SUBARU OF LAS VEGAS. FIRST SUBARU TRIED TO SAY REAR DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED. PLEASE SEE DAN'S DRIVELINE INVOICE. NEXT THEY TRIED TO SAY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED. I CHALLENGED - HOW CAN A FUNCTIONING DIFFERENTIAL CAUSE A TRANSMISSION TO BECOME TOAST? NEXT STEP IS SUBARU HQ TECH TO TEAR DOWN TRANSMISSION. I'VE INCLUDED DOCUMENTS FROM AUTO LAB (DID 30K MILE SERVICE), SUBARU INVOICE, SUBARU EMAIL SAYING FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CAUSED,

THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JAN 2015. ONE DEALER TOLD US THERE WAS NO LEAK AND FINALLY DECIDED IT WAS THE RIGHT DIFFERENTIAL AND REPAIRED THAT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKED. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHERE BOUGHT, THEY FOUND LEAK AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT IT IS STILL DRIPPING. PLAN ON TAKING IT BACK TO THEM NEXT WEEK. WE KEEP CLEAN CARDBOARD UNDER THE AREA WHERE THE LEAK IS TO PROTECT THE GARAGE FLOOR AND DOCUMENT THE LEAK. LAST REPAIR JULY 25 OF 2017.

INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED MORE AND MORE, THE CAR FINALLY LURCHES FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF BACKING UP) AND THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE SLAMMED ON.

EXTREME ENGINE HESITATION (CVT) FROM IDLE STOP MAKING A TURN, IE CENTER TURNING LANE. DRIVER CANNOT RELY ON NORMAL OPPOSING TRAFFIC BREAKS TO COMPLETE A TURN. YOU MUST INCREASE THAT DISTANCE BY AT LEAST 5 TIMES, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL KICK BACK IN! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! DEALER: "THAT'S THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK!??? THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES!

LEFT HAND WHEEL BEARINGS (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 17,000 MILES. RIGHT HAND WHEEL BEARING (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 32,000 MILES.

AFTER MOVING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN NEUTRAL UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED ALLOWING CAR TO ROLL BACKWARD IF ON AN INCLINE. THERE IS THEN A SURGE FORWARD WHEN IT DOES ENGAGE. ALSO, ON A COLD START WHEN TEMP. IS BELOW 0 TRANS WILL STAY 1-2 GEARS LOWER THAN IT SHOULD FOR > 5 MILES ALLOWING FOR EXCESSIVE ENGINE RPMS. AFTER TAKING CAR TO DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THESE CONDITIONS WERE NORMAL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION.

I HAVE A SURGING ISSUE WITH MY 3.6R AFTER COLD STARTS. UPON START-UP, THE IDLE WILL BE ~1800 AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT WILL DROP TO 800-1000RPM. THEN, AS I SLOWLY PULL INTO THE GARAGE, OR PULL INTO A STOPPED LINE OF TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE WILL SURGE BACK TO THE HIGHER RPM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THIS RETURN TO HIGH IDLE OCCUR AFTER I HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PUSH THROUGH THE APPLIED BRAKES AND REQUIRING ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD IT OCCUR WHEN SLOWLY ROLLING FORWARD. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION THAT COULD RESULT IN DAMAGED PROPERTY AND/OR INJURY. I SEE THAT THERE IS AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL NHTSA COMPLAINT FOR THIS ISSUE, WHICH SUBARU DEEMED "NORMAL" OPERATION. I DID CONTACT MY DEALER REQUESTING A FIRMWARE UPDATE, IF ONE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT ONE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/23/2015 AND THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE NEW, BUT IT MORE COMMON IN COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE 18K MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM THE NHTSA (CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 15V502 - TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK). I CONTACTED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. WHO IS RIGHT?

I had stopped to disembark myself and passengers. I turned off the engine. I did not realize it was not in park.

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 subaru outback. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician informed that the vehicle was functioning as designed.

When shifted into drive or reverse, with brakes applied, and after initial start the vehicle will surge forward or reverse with force enough to overcome standard braking.

local mechanic doing standard maintenence at 62,861 miles, checking high rpms at startup, noticed that the crankshaft pully was moving up and down , slight variance , when it should be straight. apparently a recall issue on 2016 outbacks.

When I change gears from p( parking) in to d(drive) it take around 2 seconds to start the car driving I think that is bad for transmission, another problem is with taching screen it doesn't work properly many times especially when I'm driving in r(rearverse) and the gear lights in dashboard do not turn on .

At 65000 miles I had to replace a wheel bearing. I have never had a vehicle need a wheel bearing with this low millage. I am told others have had the same problem.

When the engine is cold, the idle speed is 1600 RPM when started. When placed in reverse or drive it reduces to a nominal 900-1000 RPM. When the vehicle starts to move it suddenly drops to 600 RPM.