2015 Subaru Forester Power Train

SUDDEN ONSET OF RUBBING NOISE FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL, WORSE WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT, VARIED DIRECTLY WITH SPEED. INSPECTION BY SUBARU CONFIRMED BAD WHEEL BEARING.

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXHIBITING A LOW RPM WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP(IE RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN) AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND ALMOST STALLS, AND ONCE ACTUALLY STALLING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUES. I HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION IN THE MAIL FROM SOA IN JULY 2017 CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND OTHER KNOW ISSUES WITH THE THE CVT TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED IN THE VEHICLE STATING THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE A SOLID BUSHING IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING THE CONVERTER CLUTCH TO STAYED LOCKED UP AND NOT RELEASE PRESSURE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT A CASE HAS BEEN STARTED WITH THEIR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUBARU OF AMERICA, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DATA(IE RECORDED STALLS OR DTC) TO APPROVE A REPAIR ON MY VEHICLE FOR SAID ISSUE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO HAVE A STALL EVENT FOR ANY FUTHER REPAIRS. BEING A FULLY CERTIFIED ASE AUTOMOTIVE MASTER TECHNICIAN, I DID MY OWN CHECKING AND FOUND TSB 16-107-17 WHICH COVERS MY VEHICLE AND OUTLINES THAT THEY HAVE A EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE VEHICLE/CVT TRANSMISSION FOR SEVERAL ISSUES, WHICH OUTLINED IN THE BULLETIN, SHOWS MULTIPLE ISSUES OUTLINED IN BULLETINS FOR DIAGNOSTIC REFERENCE AND THE FIRST(16-90-13R) IS REGARDING A DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TORQUE CONVERTER- CUSTOMER MAY EXPERIENCE SENSATION LIKE COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED VEHICLE AND FAILING TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH. AFTER OBTAINING AND READING TSB 16-90-13R, WHICH IN NO WAY STATES THAT A STALL EVENT IS REQUIRED AND ONLY LOW RPM AT STOPS, I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP AS SUCH AND WAS TOLD THAT A STALL EVEN WAS REQUIRED. I ASKED FOR THAT TO RECORDED ON MY REPAIR ORDER AND HAVE YET TO PICK MY VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT S.O.A. FOR HIDING A KNOWN ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE A STALL EVENT WHICH CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD GENERATE A NATIONWIDE RECALL.

VEHICLE IN MOTION FROM A STOP ON CITY STREETS IS EXPERIENCING HESITATION, SLIPPAGE, FAULTY ACCELERATION FROM 0-25 MPH. AFRAID OF MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC AND A POSSIBLE STALL. PROBLEM IS EXAGGERATED ON ANY GRADE OF INCLINE. CALLED SERVICE COMPANY WHO SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT MAY BE COVERED BY A RECENT TRANSMISSION RECALL. IT APPEARS MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAVING THE SAME REPORTED PROBLEMS.

NOVEMBER 28, 2017 ' A SUBARU TRANSMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 2010-2015 LEGACY AND OUTBACK, 2012-2015 IMPREZA, 2013-2015 CROSSTREK, 2014-2015 CROSSTREK HYBRID, 2014-2015 FORESTER AND 2015 WRX VEHICLES, ALL EQUIPPED WITH CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSIONS (CVTS) DUE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS. I BOUGHT MY CAR USED IN SEPTEMBER 2017. I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WERE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION PERFORMANCE AND FAILURES. A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A HIGHWAY COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. AND YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. I HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO NOTICE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION- JERKING WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AND DELAYED TURNOVER BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR. CONSUMERS WERE NOT INFORMED OF THIS I FOUND IT ONLINE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE MODELS ABOVE AND MY CAR IS INCLUDED. WHEN I ASKED FOR PAPERWORK THE DEALER SERVICE REP SAID NONE WAS SENT TO ANYONE, BUT THE WARRANTY FOLLOWS THE VEHICLE BY VIN #. SO, THERE ARE POTENTIALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVING AROUND WITH TRANSMISSIONS THAT COULD FAIL, BUT WHO ARE UNAWARE. SUBARU DID THIS QUIETLY TO NOT DRAWN ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL. TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A HIGHWAY COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. AGAIN I FEEL "JERKING" EVERY TIME I TRY TO BREAK. IT'S LIKE THE CAR IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE INSTEAD OF COMING TO A STOP. IT HAS STOPPED SO FAR, BUT WHAT IF IT DOESN'T NEXT TIME? THIS PROBLEM IS CONSTANT. I THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO COLD BUT I ALWAYS WARM UP MY CAR UNTIL THE INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS TRANSMISSION IS WARM. AND THE WEATHER HAS BEEN WARM FOR A FEW DAYS NOW AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING. I HAVE REPORTED OTHER PROBLEMS TO THE DEALER THAT ARE NOT SAFETY RELATED AND THEY JUST BLOW IT OFF SUCH AS THE COMPUTER IS NOT RECORDING AVERAGE MPG AND AVERAGE MPH CORRECTLY. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

CAR HESITATES WHEN STARTING TO MOVE. HAVE HAD NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN MOVING OUT FOR A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET. CAR JUST SITS THERE FOR 2 - 3 SECONDS. NOT A LONG DELAY BUT CRITICAL IN CITY DRIVING. PROBLEM IS ONGOING. CAR HAS 98000 MILES. IT HAS A CVT TRANSMISSION.

WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FORM REVERSE OR PARK THE CVT TRANSMISSION CAN TAKE APPROX. 3 SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND FOR THE CAR TO START MOVING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY LONG TIME WHEN YOU ARE BACKING INTO A SPACE OR BACKING FROM A DRIVEWAY ONTO A BUSY ROAD. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS "NORMAL" ON A SUBARU CVT TRANSMISSION. I INSISTED THAT THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. CHECK MY CAR AND VERIFY. THIS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, I WILL HAVE IT RECORDED. I WILL UPDATE THIS AFTER THE DEALER LOOKS AT THE ISSUE.

TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 5-22-17 UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. ASSURED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN WORKING ORDER WE DROVE UP TO MAMMOTH LAKES CA THAT FRIDAY (5-26-17). 2 HOURS INTO THE DRIVE, JUST INSIDE THE MOJAVE DESERT, WE EXPERIENCED A ABRUPT STALLING/LUNGING SENSATION. LETTING OFF THE GAS FOR A MOMENT, I THEN GAVE THE CAR A BIT MORE GAS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME SENSATION AGAIN. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SMELT A CHEMICAL/OVERHEATING SMELL. SHUT THE CAR OFF, POPPED THE HOOD AND NO SMOKE. I THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER LIGHT WAS ON. I THEN PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND PROCEEDED. THE RPM'S WENT TO ABOUT 4K BUT THE CAR WAS NOT EXHILARATING. I DROVE THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 1/4 MILE INTO A GAS STATION. AT 11PM I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY $600 TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO LADIN SUBARU OF THOUSAND OAKS. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING YET ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS. NOT SURE I FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY IF IT PUTS ME AT RISK OF BEING REAR ENDED ON A HIGHWAY. NOT TO MENTION THE ISSUE OCCURRED JUST 4 DAYS AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED! SUBARU COULD POTENTIALLY BE IN THE HOLE FOR $16K AS THE CAR IS STILL UNDER ITS EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOT SURE I EVEN FEEL CONFIDENT THEY CAN RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE LEFT WHEEL BOUNCES AND MY ENGINE RPM INCREASE, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AS WELL AS THE FRONT END. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING A ROAD WHICH CURVES TO THE RIGHT. IT MAKES THE CAR DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CV JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT IT MAKES GRINDING OR PULSING SOUND. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I RECENTLY HAD A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND THE CAR DOES STOP STRAIGHT WITH NO PROBLEM AT ANY SPEED. I FEEL AS IF THE WHOLE FRONT LEFT IS GOING TO COME OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

WE WERE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2016. THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE AND JERK AND WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. WE PULLED ONTO THE BERM AS SOON AS WE COULD AND WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. WE KNEW IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION PLACED IN THE CAR. WE HAD THE CAR BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER WERE COMPLETELY REPLACED FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S. SUBARU HAS NOTIFIED US THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER PLUS 4 NEW TIRES ARE BEING PLACED IN THE CAR NOW CURRENTLY BACK AT THE DEALER IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THE TIRES WERE RUINED BY THE BURNING TREAD AS THEY LOCKED UP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AT THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NO LONGER JUST A WARRANTY ISSUE IT IS NOW A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR'S TIRES WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED WHEN IT WAS BEING TAKEN OFF THE TOW TRUCK. IT HAD TO BE JACKED UP AND SLID OFF THE BACK OF THE FLAT BED RAMP.

WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE FORWARD ( NORMAL SPEED ) FROM A STOP -WENT ABOUT FIFTY FEET. I HEARD A CLUNK. THAN THE SUV ROLLED TO A STOP. I THAN TRIED TO PUT IT IN REVERSE - WOULD NOT MOVE. I THAN PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE - IT DID NOT MOVE. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING - IT WAS. I CALLED MY EMERGENCY HOT LINE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE CHAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION ( OR SOME PLACE IN THE DRIVE MECHANISM ) HAD BROKEN. STILL WAITING FOR IT TO BE FIXED - 11 DAYS HAVE PASSED SO FAR.

CAR WAS IN PARK. LEFT RUNNING TO COME BACK & GET SOMETHING IN HOUSE. WHEN WENT BACK TO CAR, OPENED DOOR & VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. BY TIME I WAS ABLE GET IN, THE CAR ROLLED IN DITCH & DAMAGED DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. HAPPENED IN A MATTER OF 3 MINUTES TOPS. BOTTOM OF DRIVER'S DOOR WAS FOULED IN ON SIDE OF BANK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU FORESTER. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.