There is no reliability issue on the CVT. You had a bad one, that's all. The warranty extension was for early models in the SJ series (2014-2018) and not a recall. It's been extended more as a "good will' gesture and may (or may not be) related to some failures due to limited (no) maintenance on the CVT as it was believed to be (at the time) maintenance free.

And yes, they just replace the entire unit - it's cheaper and (if you read another thread on CVTs) often is better to go this route so that you know it was properly redone and not just somebody poking around and maybe not knowing exactly what they're doing.

PS - it wasn't that big of an extension. It went to 10 years/100,000 miles from 5 years 60 (or was it 7/70?)

 

I had a 2017 XT, and I received a "Notice of Recall" informing me of the CVT warranty extension on that car. Here in Canada, it was legally handled as a recall. I'd argue that getting a "bad one" should not be a thing, but seems to be commonplace, based on internet postings.

 

Here in the US - it was not a recall - but a TSB and a notification was mailed.

And while getting a bad one should not be a thing, I'd dare say it's not really commonplace nor unheard of. Every car maker has issues - some big, some small - and sometimes you just get the target and others didn't.

Even if you only took the members of sf.org that have had an issue with their CVT (not caused by lack of maintenance) and compared that to the number of owners out here and then compared that to the numbers of CVTs in Subarus vs the number with failures and compared that to another major CVT user (such as Nissan), you'd find that it's a small percentage that have the issue.

Look, I'm not saying it's a great thing that you had an inssue with the transmission. But it happens. Life goes on.

 

Look for my 2020 Forester Limited in Magnetite Grey with 8,000kms and a brand new tranny on leasebusters. Test drove a 4runner today—time to move on to actual reliability. If I wanted to drive a car that broke down, I'd get an old Range Rover and a matching parts car—and travel in style.

 

This is my first Subaru and so far so good, is it perfect nope but I have also owned 4 Toyotas, 3 Tacomas and one 4Runner, awesome vehicles however the 4Runner was the worst out of the bunch, transmission. Just a bad apple cause I know of many others and zero issues. So there is always that bad one, in fact before this Subaru I was looking at a new Tacoma Offroad but with added gas mileage, lack luster interior it just wasn't the vehicle for me but I have nothing but good things to say about Toyota vehicles, top truck manufacturer in my opinion. The new 4Runners are beautiful, good luck with your new Toy.

 

Totally different vehicle and totally different set of issues.

Good luck.

PS - Toyotas break down too.

 

In other news, water is wet. You seem like A) you're paid to defend Subaru and B) you need the last word.

PS 4runners are bulletproof. (not literally, keyboard warrior)

 

Nope and nope. I've just had enough cars in my lifetime to know that NOBODY makes a perfect vehicle any more and - frankly - have never made a perfect car. Even Toyotas get recalled. So do Hondas and Fords and Porsche and Mercedes and Volvo and ....

Buh-bye.

 

I've owned a few cars, some from your elaborate list of makes. It's interesting—I never had a recall on any of them, and none of them ever broke down. In stark contrast, I've had 3 recalls on my 2017 Forester XT and a cooked transmission on my 2020 Forester within the first 10,000 kms. I see a pattern here.

 

Well since you joined 17 hours ago. And have decided in that period of time to buy a vehicle that's 1100 pounds heavier and 50% more expensive. It gives me pause to suggest you just dropped ion from the Toyota board. Well enjoy your less capable AWD.

 

You get what you pay for. This is my 3rd and last Forester. If anyone has a valid opinion on Foresters, it's me. It's funny how this forum is more of a fanclub than actual facts. The 4runner will be my first Toyota, and I will certainly join that forum!

 

The 4Runner is a great vehicle but to get full-time 4WD and climate control, you need to buy their (ugly gaudy trimmed) Limited model. Otherwise, you are downgraded to part-time 4WD and manual air conditioning.

I like 4Runners a lot, but they drive like trucks which is great if you want to drive a truck. In my view of the global warming issues, this is not the time to buy a gas guzzler like the 4Runner unless you have very good reason to own one. If you carry rear seat passengers, they will be fairly miserable compared to the Forester in terms of legroom, and older folks will have to climb up into the 4Runner. Load height is at chest level. But a great vehicle for escaping a zombie holocaust. If you want an even uglier V8 version of the 4Runner that uses more gas, there is also the Lexus GX460 with its inexpiable side-swinging tailgate.

 

Thanks ever so much for this potpourri of subjective commentary.
Fuel: Forester is also a very thirsty vehicle
Towing capacity: Forester = LOL
Full-time AWD: Completely unnecessary unless you're Colin McRae
Looks: If you think Subarus are the height of beauty, I can recommend a good optometrist

 

While I don't need the last word -

You've been lucky in all of your other cars. EVERY MANUFACTURER has had a recall of one type or another. While a recall in Canada is different from a recall in the US - it still happens.

And no, you don't always get what you pay for ... extra price does not mean extra reliability. Period. NOBODY makes a car that does not have a problem.

I've had my 2014 Forester (non turbo) for over 7 years... 2 recalls - a brake light switch and rear coil springs. Did I get a notification about the extended warranty on the CVT, yep. Doesn't mean it's problematic. It's just what it is.

I can tell you exactly the problems I've had on my Forester (none of them CVT related, btw) and I could list dozens of problems I've had with higher priced and lower priced vehicles in my past. I've had some with no issues and others with recurring issues. I don't hide the repairs or the issues I've had and I don't gloss them over.

So have fun in your 4Runner and hope that you never have an issue.

 

I will say, my 2007 Forester XT 2.5 (5-sp manual) was a very good car. Fasssst. Very ugly—inside and out. But fast and tight. I loved that car. I humiliated a lot of Mercs and Bimmers in that car. It now lives in the mountains in British Columbia with my brother. It's at around 300,000kms. That is a great car. If I could buy that car today, new, I would.

 

Pam, thanks so much for explaining internet trolling to me. I don't care if you believe me. Sorry, I just don't. I will get the repair receipt when I pick up the car in 7+ days. Attached is a photo of the key to the embarrassing loaner they gave me for the week. It smells like takeout and looks like a poor man's midlife crisis. When I drove BMWs they would give you a loaner that was nicer than your car. I guess that logic is wasted on Subaru owners.

 

Oh so now the loaner is bad too? Like they have control over it? Methinks you doth protest too much.

And so you compare the loaner from a BMW dealer to a loaner from a Subaru dealer ... does the term apples and banana have any meaning to you? BMW cates to a completely different market than Subaru. And that BMW will NEVER be able to do what a Subaru can offroad or during inclement weather.

Go have fun in your Toyota. Or your overpriced German taxicab.

 

It's remarkable how personally you fanboys take criticism of your precious brand. Yes, the loaner is junk and yes, the dealership experience lacks class. The car is dirty inside and out, smells of food, and has a large sideswipe scratch on the side. It's... embarrassing. I will absolutely have fun in my 4runner and I absolutely had fun in my 2 AWD BMWs. Fantastic cars, they were. I'm so sorry I've insulted your God, Subaru.

 

As for AWD not being necessary unless you're a rally driver - you are very mistaken. If AWD was just for rally entries, do you think that Audi and BMW and Mercedes and Porsche and Lamborghini and so many other manufacturers would be offering it on so many of their models and products?

AWD can help in inclement weather (just as @YoGeorge mentions) but is also very handy in dry weather for cornering without whipping the back end around the front (unless you're a pro-drifter that wishes that to happen). Intelligent AWD allows the car to fluidly apply power to the wheels that can best use the power. Acura had a great system (called SH-AWD) that they offered but was dumbed down to a simpler system because the buyers of their MDX and RDX SUVs wanted more mall crawler ride without the fancy tech. Go figure.

 

As for AWD not being necessary unless you're a rally driver - you are very mistaken. If AWD was just for rally entries, do you think that Audi and BMW and Mercedes and Porsche and Lamborghini and so many other manufacturers would be offering it on so many of their models and products?

AWD can help in inclement weather (just as @YoGeorge mentions) but is also very handy in dry weather for cornering without whipping the back end around the front (unless you're a pro-drifter that wishes that to happen). Intelligent AWD allows the car to fluidly apply power to the wheels that can best use the power. Acura had a great system (called SH-AWD) that they offered but was dumbed down to a simpler system because the buyers of their MDX and RDX SUVs wanted more mall crawler ride without the fancy tech. Go figure.

So much mansplaining I can barely keep up! Wow. This forum has some proper fanboys. I'm well aware of the benefits of AWD. My last 5 (FIVE) cars have been AWD. All the AWD tech in the World won't help a transmission with known problems. Without reliability, the Subaru brand values are a bit threadbare.

 

And Subaru is reliable .... you got a bad one.

Again, go to your 4Runner (a totally different type of vehicle) and be done with us and never again will you have to listen to us "fanboys" defending the vehicles we specifically chose and continue to drive.

Buh-bye..

 

3 recalls on my 2017 Forester XT—one of which they admitted would likely never have parts available—tells a different story. The internet is awash with stories of failing Subaru CVTs. Fact.

 

Dude... What is your problem? you are the quintessential internet troll because you just pick fight after fight after fight and your logic is flawed at best.

You make statements (usually derogatory) about the vehicle and a repair that is needed and then when somebody doesn't agree with you - they're fanboys and not worth your time. Yet you continue to post drama.

So again - Buy-bye!

 

Dude... What is your problem? you are the quintessential internet troll because you just pick fight after fight after fight and your logic is flawed at best.

You make statements (usually derogatory) about the vehicle and a repair that is needed and then when somebody doesn't agree with you - they're fanboys and not worth your time. Yet you continue to post drama.

So again - Buy-bye!

Pot, meet kettle.
My "problem", dude, is that I lease new cars for 3 years at a time so I don't have to say the word "transmission" ever. But Subaru's lack of reliability killed that.
My logic is pretty great, considering 2 of my Foresters have been problematic.
How dare I insult the God of inexpensive AWD cars with questionable styling?
LOL. Jokes. Wow.

 

And the internet is awash with sightings of UFOs, Bigfoot and Nessie... Wow. Fact. Great argument.

 

Please change the name of this forum to Subaru Fanpeople Only. Apparently you're not permitted to criticize the brand or you're labelled a troll, and are then, yourself, trolled by @FozzieBalou endlessly until he "wins" by degrading other carmakers sufficiently. Quality content here guys. To think I was just trying to help out other consumers who might have the same problem and feel ripped off by Subaru. Wow.

 

I have never "degraded other carmakers" as you seem to suggest... Never. I have mentioned that other manufacturers all have problems and some more than others. Period.

You can criticize and make a complaint about a failing part. No problems. Others have done this many times before. And when met with discussion about it, they didn't all resort to calling those that support and appreciate our vehicles with derision and dissention by calling them fanboys and that Subaru was somehow their "God"...

Personally, I've not had a transmission problem with MY Forester and many others on this site and on the internet and around the world have had problems with their CVTs. As I mentioned in another post in this thread, for each person with a CVT problem it will be a small percentage compared to those that have not had a problem.

You then state a "FACT" that the internet is awash with stories of failing Subaru CVTs... But see, that's not really factual. Maybe you don't quite understand what a FACT really is. Instead it is an OPINION. And just as you are allowed to have your opinions (which none of us have denied you the ability to have) you come and then begin to attack people and act like we're all a bunch of dithering blithering idiots.

The internet is filled with all sorts of experiences and stories and dramas - and some of them are true and some are embellished and some are blatantly false.

And you're not here to "... help out other consumers who might have the same problem and feel ripped off by Subaru. " You're here to bash the product. If you wanted to help other consumers, you'd be more logical and less emotional in your original post and your responses to others. And if you feel ripped off because your car had a problem during your ownership period, well, then you get ripped off pretty often.

So again - go buy your 4Runner and have fun. They're not comparable vehicles (beyond having 4 doors and a 2 box body and coming from Japan). And since we're all just fanboys and slaves to the God of Subaru, leave us to enjoy our lives and our vehicles and stop bashing us and Subaru because of one bad experience.

 

I have never "degraded other carmakers" as you seem to suggest... Never. I have mentioned that other manufacturers all have problems and some more than others. Period.

You can criticize and make a complaint about a failing part. No problems. Others have done this many times before. And when met with discussion about it, they didn't all resort to calling those that support and appreciate our vehicles with derision and dissention by calling them fanboys and that Subaru was somehow their "God"...

Personally, I've not had a transmission problem with MY Forester and many others on this site and on the internet and around the world have had problems with their CVTs. As I mentioned in another post in this thread, for each person with a CVT problem it will be a small percentage compared to those that have not had a problem.

You then state a "FACT" that the internet is awash with stories of failing Subaru CVTs... But see, that's not really factual. Maybe you don't quite understand what a FACT really is. Instead it is an OPINION. And just as you are allowed to have your opinions (which none of us have denied you the ability to have) you come and then begin to attack people and act like we're all a bunch of dithering blithering idiots.

The internet is filled with all sorts of experiences and stories and dramas - and some of them are true and some are embellished and some are blatantly false.

So again - go buy your 4Runner and have fun. They're not comparable vehicles (beyond having 4 doors and a 2 box body and coming from Japan). And since we're all just fanboys and slaves to the God of Subaru, leave us to enjoy our lives and our vehicles and stop bashing us and Subaru because of one bad experience.

Now watch @FozzieBalou mansplain "fact" to me. It is a fact that there are MANY stories of failing CVTs posted on the internet. That is a Fact.

Where there's smoke, there's usually fire—that is not a fact. That is an idiom, and my Opinion.

Personally, I had 3 recalls on my 2017 Forester XT, two of which were never fixed before lease end due to lack of parts. One was a significant safety issue and the recall letter stated that my passengers should sit in the back seat, not front passenger seat, for safety. These are Facts.

Personally, my CVT transmission on my 2020 Subaru Limited failed at 8,000kms. This is a Fact.

Personally, I think this forum is a fansite and not actually intended to help consumers. This is an Opinion.

Personally, I think @FozzieBalou probably has a contract with Subaru. This is an Opinion.

Thanks for the laughs.

 

exactly Sport-Ice.

 

Time to close this thread... it’s going nowhere fast...

 

Why is that? Because someone is unhappy with their Forester(s) and has something to say about it? Sure, censor me.

 

@FozzieBalou @slothman @SPORT-ICE @YoGeorge some reading on the CVT warranty extension. Not a ringing endorsement.

Maybe there's hate for the CVT because it's an inferior and unreliable product?

The "good faith" warranty extension does not inspire faith.

Facing Complaints, Subaru Offers Extended Warranties On 1.5 Million Automatic Transmissions

Subaru is extending the warranty on 1.5 million of its troubled automatic transmissions.

www.forbes.com

 

Maybe there's hate for the CVT because it's an inferior and unreliable product?

Cite the evidence. So far all we have is your wild assertions which run counter to what we see here. Time to put it up or it is just so much hot air from someone who seems have an axe to grind.

 

@ACD I think you need to go enjoy your Toyota - thread closed