Stuck in Snow and Wheels Won't Spin!

[Novablue]

Originally Posted by photodude

Thanks Jake2c, that's good news. The promotional material indicates the CVT was redesigned for 2013. I'm aware of some 2010 and 2011's having the problem, but donno about 2012s.

No problem in 2012, for me.

6" curb, backed up with car @ 90* till it stopped and took my foot off the gas, waited a moment, gave some gas and backed over it no issue. Didn't push any buttons, just drove up and did the test.

I really think this sorta thing is a reflection of something wrong with that car, not a design flaw.

[photodude]

Originally Posted by Novablue

No problem in 2012, for me. I really think this sorta thing is a reflection of something wrong with that car, not a design flaw.

It's impossible to determine, from the info found here, if this is a design flaw--a statistically relevant sample size, historical service data, and a solid definition of "design flaw" would be necessary.

One might instead call this a "design limitation", but if that limitation causes abnormal behavior as is the consensus on this thread, then is it a "design flaw"? If Subaru engineers have to limit the engine-power applied to the CVT because it cannot handle the stresses of normal back-road start/stop situations, is it a design flaw? Rhetorical questions.

Since my last post:
(1) I called SOA customer support and opened a case # for my problem.
(2) I made a service appointment with the local dealer. The Subaru mechanic found no problem, but I don't know how he tested it, so I took the service manager for a ride and quickly showed him the issue in a nearby parking lot and had him to document his observations on the service report.
(3) I emailed SOA and attached the report. Subsequently they spoke with the service manager.
(4) An excerpt of a subsequent SOA email reply to me reads:
"... there is not a fix for this issue. Your vehicle is working as designed."

I'm uncertain how to proceed. Useful/insightful advice is welcome.

A car marketed as an "Outback" with almost 9" of ground clearance shouldn't "give up" so easily when encountering relatively minor back-road situations. If I wanted a street car I'da bought a Legacy or similar.

[Samirr76]

The vehicle is operating as designed. CVT is not designed for this. It just doesnt have the guts. Ground clearance doesnt make up for the CVT. Its still a street car, not a truck.

Next time, get a manual transmission or a traditional Automatic. I made sure I got a manual trans so I have control, not some computer or a weak CVT gearbox.

Sorry, I don't think there is anything more you can do about it. I have 6 years at Subaru of America under my belt.

[subiesailor]

I have two early 2010's with the CVT one tows trailers has had to back the boat back up a rutted dirt road "wrong turn with no where to go" no issues with it. Lots of trips to Sierras where we measure snow in FEET not inches. No issues as long as the traction control is turned off - putting it in Manual mode 1st gear has enabled us to blast through some pretty nasty stuff.

Lived with a MT 5spd Subaru for 180,000 miles - great car but no where near the climbing ability the CVT has due to the lack of gearing and the CVT is far better at keeping the rear end behind the front end with a novice driving vs the old MT would step out almost every time a slick down hill section was driven.

[AWDFTW]

Originally Posted by Samirr76

The vehicle is operating as designed. CVT is not designed for this. It just doesnt have the guts. Ground clearance doesnt make up for the CVT. Its still a street car, not a truck.

Next time, get a manual transmission or a traditional Automatic. I made sure I got a manual trans so I have control, not some computer or a weak CVT gearbox.

Sorry, I don't think there is anything more you can do about it. I have 6 years at Subaru of America under my belt.

If that is the case, then why do some seemingly identical CVT cars function "normally" and some seem "gutless" in reverse?

[photodude]

Originally Posted by Samirr76

The vehicle is operating as designed. CVT is not designed for this. It just doesnt have the guts. Ground clearance doesnt make up for the CVT. Its still a street car, not a truck.

If the design is inadequate, then it is indeed performing as designed. Outbacks exhibiting this problem have less "guts" than most street cars in similar situations. Here's one video:
Reverse power problem - YouTube

The Subaru Outback is not marketed as a street car, see the attached screen shot from their website. Crossover.

As a consumer I demand drive-train performance to be on-par with previous AT designs, and I demand a car that won't leave me stranded in the "Outback".

[Euchre]

Originally Posted by photodude

If the design is inadequate, then it is indeed performing as designed. Outbacks exhibiting this problem have less "guts" than most street cars in similar situations. Here's one video:
Reverse power problem - YouTube

Gee, a high centered outback can't back up any further. Not familiar with the dash lights on the current gen. cars, but is the VDC on or off in that video?

The Subaru Outback is not marketed as a street car, see the attached screen shot from their website. Crossover.

The term 'crossover' is a joke. Has no specific meaning other than a marketing scheme not to sound too much like an SUV.

As a consumer I demand drive-train performance to be on-par with previous AT designs, and I demand a car that won't leave me stranded in the "Outback".

So, you want a completely new theory of design, engineered completely differently, but to behave exactly the same. There's an old saying, paraphrased and put as politely as I can: "You can poo in one hand and demand in another, see which fills up first." Or as Scotty might say "You cannot change the laws of physics."

I'm seeing a consistent pattern here of not wanting to think, and expecting miracles from the vehicle. My brother tried to tell me our old 4 wheeler could climb a vertical embankment - until it fell on him and almost broke his arm.

[Cobalt]

Originally Posted by Euchre

Gee, a high centered outback can't back up any further. Not familiar with the dash lights on the current gen. cars, but is the VDC on or off in that video?

I don't think it is due to being high centered, any vehicle I have high centered the wheels spun freely and could not get enough traction to push it off the whatever it was hung up on, in the video you can only hear the engine rev but doesn't sound like any wheels are spinning

[1 Lucky Texan]

granted, they don't test them high-centered, but, they do well enough in this video;

Live demonstration of Subaru Forester and Outback's 4x4 symmetrical all wheel drive system - YouTube

Live demonstration of Subaru Forester and Outback's 4x4 symmetrical all wheel drive system - YouTube

[Soon2bSubaru]

Originally Posted by photodude

Thanks Jake2c, that's good news. The promotional material indicates the CVT was redesigned for 2013. I'm aware of some 2010 and 2011's having the problem, but donno about 2012s.

I have a 2012 CVT and have the same problem. No go over the curb in reverse. Sucks.