Is there a problem with the CVT transmission in the 2012 Outback?

Asked by Guru61TVR Mar 23, 2020 at 08:13 PM about the 2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I am interested in buying a 2012 Subaru Outback used. It has 109K miles on it.
Am I buying trouble with the transmission? The car has had one owner and
seems to have been well-maintained, but the transmission has not been
serviced previously.

1 Answer
49,000

TheSubaruGuruBoston answered 4 years ago

Yes. All CVTs can either fail electrically via inoperative solenoids in the valve body ($800+ labor), or actually wear out internally (not rebuildable). By far the biggest reason 2010-2014 OBs are retired is because of a needed CVT replacement. "Servicing" it is a non-event, as fluid changes don't affect longevity. Good luck.

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