Are you looking to by the Legacy or the OB. You also mentioned sedan. Apologies. I am confused as to what info you are looking for?

 

As I mentioned in my thread, I have on order a 2024 Legacy (sedan) Touring XT 2.4L turbo that is scheduled for deliver next month. I'm asking questions on this Outback Forum because the powertrain(s) of the Outback and Legacy are the same and this forum appears to have the most information.

 

If you are worried about the Legacy sedan's performance, I think you should go test drive one (either at your dealership or elsewhere). That test drive should help you decide if you like 'how things work.' But a Touring Sedan and a Touring Outback are not going to perform the same... I would not expect.

 

You're going to end up with all the same quirks and problems you'll see on an OB.

 

Everything seems to be crap nowadays, and that goes for all brands, so not sure we'll find reliability on our '24 T-XTs. Just read the myriad of CVT failures on very recent vehicles, including a lot of '24s, especially the Wilderness model. That's ridiculous. Hope mine turns reliable, but already heard noises the other day that sounded similar to what others reported needing a transmission replacement, so we'll see. All I ask is that the damn thing doesn't leave me stranded. That's how low I set the bar nowadays. If on this last year of the Gen6 iteration my OB turns unreliable, it'd be my first and last Subaru. Really hope that's not the case.

 

Quite honestly, If I was in the market for an AWD Sedan, I would have skipped Subaru and went to Toyota a bought a Camry. Better engine and tranny. More options.

 

Well, if RWD or FWD, then I agree. But Toyota doesn't make that many AWD non-truck vehicles, so Subaru should in theory be more reliable, since all of their vehicles are AWD. But I also agree they're not as reliable as they used to be by a long shot. And I'm just talking mechanical reliability, since with so much electronic crap, they have to be less reliable now than 10 years ago, when Eyesight didn't exist. By the way, I had several issues with Lexus vehicles ( I bought every V8 model), and stop buying them. But if something happens to my OB, I'd probably go back to Lexus (Toyotas are ugly and spartan as hell), and give them another chance. We'll see.

 

Camry and Avalon has had AWD options since 2020.

 

To try and answer the original question posted by @subeout there have been a few reports of CVT problems in the 2023 and the new 2024 Outback. The problems seem to be more evident in the vehicles with a turbo engine and the high torque TR690 CVT. From memory all reported problems have had the same symptoms so it appears there may have been a manufacturing problem with the TR690 transmissions.

The main issue from my point of view is how the manufacturer responds when faced with a warranty repair. Forum members have reported that Subaru have been easy to deal with and arrange a replacement transmission to be installed as soon as one is available.

The other two major problems with the 2020 to 2023 models are the “electronic thermo control valve“ (which replaced the mechanical thermostat) and Eyesight in the 2023 and later models. Both of these systems have been reported by numerous forum members as having faults and some of the repairs are still ongoing due to the lack of available replacement parts.

I believe all the new vehicles now being manufactured have the upgraded electronic thermo control valve.

As far as I know the fix for the eyesight problem has not yet been finalised unless this has happened in the last few weeks.

I am unsure of the status of the failing TR690 transmissions, what the cause was and/or when vehicles will be fitted with an upgraded transmission that does not have the problem. Having said this I believe the percentage of TR690’s that are failing is a low number compared to the number of transmissions that are being installed in vehicles (I believe the TR690 is used in the Outback/Legacy vehicles with turbo engines and the Ascent).

Hope this helps.

Seagrass

 

I believe all the new vehicles now being manufactured have the upgraded electronic thermo control valve.

Fortunately for us XT owners, that is NOT the case. My XT does not have that system. Only the NA 2.5 engines do, so at least we got it better in that respect. Ha ha. But we got the crappier CVT version; that's for sure. Hope mine doesn't crap out. It's making some strange noises, but nothing worrisome yet.

Camry and Avalon has had AWD options since 2020.

Yeah, I know, but how many they've made vs Subaru. THAT was my point.

 

If you are concerned about powertrain reliability, you could price the subaru extended warranty into the purchase price equation.

There's typically a U shaped curve where there are early failures due to manufacturing defect (e.g. a bad solenoid in the valve body) then a quiescent stage where all parts function normally, then an end-stage where things fail from wear and tear or lack of maintenance.

You can buy the genuine subaru extended warranty any time before your original 3/36 warranty expires.

You can also pay the dealership to do a drain and fill of your transmission and differentials a month or 6k miles before your 3/36 warranty would expire, and if they detect signs of abnormal wear (e.g. metal in the fluid) they may replace the entire transmission. You'll still be eligible to buy an extended warranty at that point, or decide if you want to keep the vehicle.

If you wait until near the limit of the powertrain 5/60 warranty you might not be eligible to buy the extended warranty.

 

If you are concerned about powertrain reliability, you could price the subaru extended warranty into the purchase price equation.

SNIP

There was an entire thread on this recently....but for me...this is a "don't even think for a second" to do otherwise. I know others have had varying experience...but I have done this on two Subes and recouped every penny and then some.

 

295,201 Camry vs 22,605 Legacy in 2022. Granted, I needed a wagon, not a sedan.

 

The more I read the more I find. Even the all mighty bullet proof Toyota has transmission problems.
Just read an article on Motor Biscuit about the class action lawsuit against Toyota back in 2020 for their 8 speed auto. trany involving 1 million vehicles.

 

My 2020 Outback XT is my first CVT so I have been studying the reliability issue for the past 3 years and my take-away is that like many transmissions, some of them are lemons. Some people have early failure, most don't. For those that don't have an early failure (like within the warranty) then it seems to be a reliable transmission for maybe 10 years and 200k miles. After that any automatic transmission may have issues. Some will keep chugging along for 15 years and 300k miles.

If you plan on keeping the car past 10 years I would ignore the "lifetime fluid" maintenance schedule for CVT fluid and at least do a drain and fill every 50k miles. Severe service is a drain and fill every 25k miles.

 

On the topic of the OP, I agree with the above. We just sold our 2016 OB with 134k and had no issues with the CVT. I have heard of one person who had an issue with their Crosstrek's CVT (but they have had that same issue on their current Crosstrek so either they drive different, are OCD, or something, as their Crosstrek still drives fine in my book). Subaru isn't the only mobile with a CVT setup either.

On the topic of dealing with a dealer, that a bummer. That's not professional sounding and perhaps their fleet manager would be interested in that information.

 

You can buy the genuine subaru extended warranty any time before your original 3/36 warranty expires.

For the first time in my life, I plan to do exactly that (the 10/100/0 plan). And the main reason is I've never kept a vehicle past warranty for the last 4 decades. But probably not going to waste money on the CVT fluid change, since I'd have around 30K miles at that time... and it'd still be covered for another 7 years, and/or 70K miles. There is a lot of crap that can go wrong with vehicles nowadays, especially the top trim, so that plan is money well spent IMO (especially bought at a good discount). But if it's super expensive by then, might just keep it until the powertrain warranty expires. Or just self-insure it if it has been a reliable vehicle. We'll see, I guess. I'm just getting used to the noises the CVT makes, and so far, I haven't been scared by any of them. The one I heard the other day was strange, but could be normal. We'll see. Ha ha. Thanks for the help. Heading back home tomorrow from San Diego to El Paso; hope all goes well.

 

Did you have anything in writing or an email stating that price??

 

we were texting,,,,next day i went to the dealership in person ,,,,took me in mangers office and right away they agreed to price they quoted ,,,,no problem ,,,,i believe it was a super deal,,,,i think they figured to take a chance and try to get more money

 

Subaru Tech here weighing in on this conversation. CVT reliability has improved over the long run. The originals had issues with Valve bodies (older crosstreks and foresters) where almost always the torque converter solenoid would crap out. The newer have been quite reliable. Have seen a few leaking at the pump cover in the bell housing which just requires a reseal. Don't get all that much that have fully crapped the bed. If we do its usually on a vehicle that wasn't maintained well or abused. I have a 24 Outback Wilderness on order so tells ya I have faith in the product.