I believe those are known for CVT chain cover leaks. User @TTiimm had his fixed.

 

So I guess it's common? Searching found this thread. I am sure there are a ton more.

https://www.subaruforester.org/threads/2016-brief-tale-of-cvt-leaking-issue-updated.663674/

 

Yes. My 2015 XT had the infamous and very common pump chain cover and input shaft oil seal leak. My puddle of shame is below.

TSB 16-103-16R covers the topic. The transmission has to come out.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10164446-0001.pdf​

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I was watching it leak for a long time. CVT drain & fill were performed every 30,000 miles and so the fluid was being topped off and it never got low enough to cause a problem. When the torque converter solenoid failed and the valve body needed to be replaced, I decided to get the chain pump seal addressed as well. It made sense to do both at the same time.

User @BlackMarket had a transmission failure and mentioned that it may have been low on fluid due to this leak. I'm not sure the circumstances, how long it had gone on or how fast it was leaking. Mentioning this because you don't want the same to happen.

The extended warranty on that transmission is 10 years or 100,000 miles. You are past on both. The dealership or Subaru of America may have some leniency because you are not much past expiration.

 

Yessir. The CVT oil pump cover was definitely a factor. Inside of Bell housing and underneath were soaked by the time it went.

Oh and with that picture the oil pump is on he other end behind the torque converter

 

Front pump chain cover usually leaks further forward all over the differential drain plug. Possible from the pan? I'd clean it off and monitor it.

 

I checked and yeah, that's covered as well. The diff drain plug and the entire diff housing is. It also looks like it has been there for a while. I had my last oil change at 100,500 and nobody said a thing to me. Before that was around 93K and nobody said a thing.

 

Ah yep, probably the front pump chain cover then. Engine out or transmission out job as it lies behind the torque converter. I have an 18 Outback H6 in for the same concern currently.

Do you bring the vehicle in to a dealer?

 

Always to a Subaru dealer shop.

 

Ya that's where it would be. Granted mine graneded it's self. But mine was a whole lot more wet there.

 

I had mine redone 3x because or recurrent leakages. OK now. The good thing was the CVT fluid was also replaced as part of the repair.

 

Always to a Subaru dealer shop.

Unfortunate. Classic case of "I didn't see it because it might be under warranty."

I would reach out to Subaru Customer Advocacy and start a case with them expressing your concern with how much it's been leaking and the fact it wasn't discovered during routine inspections while at the dealership for service. You will have to bring it in for diagnosis. Unsure if Subaru will help or not, since that's going to be up to customer service.

 

I've reached out to Subaru of America and a case has been opened. Will see how well this goes.

Thank you everyone for your help and guidance on this! I'll follow up with an update for sure.

 

Update: Subaru of America Customer Advocacy called and said they won't cover it because it's past both the time and mileage of the 3 "free" warranty periods. They did encourage me to take it for diagnosis to confirm if it's related to the TSB....smh.

So much for "advocacy". I have scheduled to take it in next week so local Subaru dealership can diagnose.

 

In that case, I would spray some brake cleaner to dry up everything and then keep an eye on where exactly is the origin of the leak before you take it in to the shop.

 

That makes sense but I was getting ready to go buy 2 gallons of CVT-HT fluid to change the CVT fluid for the first time. That needed to be done ASAP. But if there is a leak and the repair of the leak they would change the fluid anyway, it would be wasted money to do the fluid change and still have a leak. Right?

I'm prepared to bite the bullet on this cost since I intend to put another 100K on this Forester. But just overall disappointed with Subaru of America's response. "Free" warranties my butt...

 

But if there is a leak and the repair of the leak they would change the fluid anyway, it would be wasted money to do the fluid change and still have a leak. Right?

Yes.