2012 Subaru Impreza Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Hello car just stopped on the Fla turnpike because bad valve body on transmission seem subaru knows about this problem and offered a extended warranty 10 yr or 100k but they did this during covid with stay at home orders and never sent any type of Notification my wife was almost killed when this happened to her our car has only 70k I feel they should have sent us letter we had the car since new this is a very dangerous situation for anyone owning a Subaru imprezza from 2010 to 2015 and many other Subaru have this problem as well

I was on the highway in mixed traffic for a couple hours. There was a burning smell in the cabin and then the warning lights came on including a check engine light and transmission light. The car started to jerk erratically when I accelerated and ultimately it would not accelerate. I pulled over and turned the car off as recommended in the owner's manualAfter following the manual's instructions to let the engine cool down, I attempted to turn the car on and put it in gear. It would not move when I put it in reverse or drive. The transmission failed entirely. Previous to my taking the car on this trip, I brought the car to my Subaru Dealership because I smelled the same burning in the cabin along with a strange whirring sound and the transmission light came on then too. At that time, I pulled over and read the owner's manual and did what it recommended. The car started working again after 10 minutes of cooling. This is why I brought the car to the Subaru dealership to have this issue inspected. At the time they recommended that I change the CVT fluid and that the issue would then go away. The issue did not go away. When I informed them that the car was unsafe and dangerous to drive because of the jerking and violent shuddering, they told me that I should trade the car in or pay for a new transmission. They did not tell me that the 2012 version of the car had a history of issues with its CVT, and that some of the repairs were covered under warranty.

The car will not allow me to turn it off and remove the key from the ignition. This is apparently caused by a known issue with the gear box/transmission stick not making proper contact with a metal plate within the box.

Transmission valve body failure causing dangerous erratic shifting while driving.

Two instances of CVT Transmission failure. First: Occurred at 102,926 miles, car only 8 years old. While driving, suddenly many warning lights came on and the car started shuddering. The lights were Check Engine, Oil Temp, Cruise Control, vehicle dynamics, and ABS. I drove my car to a transmission shop, who read the codes 2764 and and 0700. He replaced the TCC Solenoid and valve body on 11/18/2020. I drove the car for 6 more months to ~106,000 miles successfully, until... The Second Issue: On 6/6/21 while driving my car, it stopped accelerating. I couldn't go above 18 mph! This was a huge safety issue. I had to drive on major roads with a speed limit of 50mph going only 18mph, with my hazard lights on. I'm so fortunate it happened to be at 10pm on a Sunday night, or I could have gotten in an accident. Once I got home, I called AAA and had them tow my car back to my transmission mechanic (because I couldn't get to my mechanic without getting on the highway, which would obviously be unsafe at 18mph). My mechanic said it was an issue with the same solenoid again having shorted out, which means that it's actually a deeper issue with the CVT transmission burning through solenoids. The solenoid is just a symptom, not the root problem. Then, I finally googled Subaru solenoid issues, and I discovered this is a well documented problem, that has already been reported to your office, and yet Subaru has not yet issued a recall. Only an extended warranty, which only goes up to 100,000 miles so it doesn't help me!! My transmission wore out at 102,000 miles. Do you think it's a coincidence that Subaru made their warranty for 100,000? I'm lodging this complaint in hopes that your office sees the CVT transmissions are still a safety issue, and the warranty hasn't solved the problem. Please get Subaru to issue a recall! This is unacceptable behavior from a car manufacturer. Thank you.

WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED AND BUNCH OF LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. TROUBLE CODES PULLED ON SCAN TOOL WERE P2764 AND P0700, THESE CODES INDICATED BAD SOLENOID ON CVT TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY THEREFORE HAD TO REPLACE THE CVT VALVE BODY. CAR HAS 146,000 MILES HOWEVER CVT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND CVT FLUID REPLACED EVERY 30,000. SUBARU IS HIDING THE ISSUES WITH THE CVT MODEL TR-580 AND PURPOSELY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ONLY UP TO 100,000. I BELIEVE THEY KNOW THE CVT WILL FAIL AFTER 100K AND DON'T WANT TO PUT OUT THE MONEY TO ISSUE A PROPER RECALL. THE OPTIONS TO FIX THE ISSUE ARE EITHER CVT VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT OR FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WHICH ARE BOTH VERY COSTLY. SUBARU NEEDS TO ISSUE A PROPER RECALL BECAUSE I WORRY THAT MY REPLACEMENT OF VALVE BODY COULD MEAN I STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CVT TRANSMISSION IF SOMETHING ELSE FAILS ON THE INTERNALS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

TRANSMISSION WENT AT 154000 MILES EXTENDED WARRANTY NOT SURE IF I WAS TAKEN CARE OR AND NEEDED TO BY NEW ONE. IF IT IS GONNA BE A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT BACK THE YEARS WITH THE CVT ISSUE. YOU CAN PUT INTO DRIVE REVERSE AND PARK BUT WON'T SWITCH GEARS AND JUST REVS

SUBARU CVT - KNOWN ISSUE MY 2012 SUBARU'S CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION AT 60MPH DRIVING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF A BUSY INTERSTATE. THE CAR/ENGINE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE AS DIRECTED BY THE MAKER, HOWEVER WITHOUT WARNING THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PUTTING THE DRIVER AND THREE PASSENGER'S LIVES AT RISK. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ISSUES WITH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION WHEN POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE SIGNS THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL. SUBARU SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE FAILING CVT TRANSMISSIONS.

MY VEHICLE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SLIPPING AND THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME AT 103,923 MILES THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS 3,923 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A KNOWN TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THE QUOTE I WAS GIVEN TO REPLACE IS $8,900 (MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR). I NOTIFIED SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. THE SAID THEY WOULD ONLY PAY $3,500 AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REST. THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I HAVE A SMALL CHILD AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IN THE CAR WITH HIM NOW.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STOPPED/STALLED SUDDENLY WHILE IN MOTION, THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, DRIVERS BEHIND ME HAD TO REACT TO MY SUDDEN/FULL STOP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, IT STALLED, THE ENGINE SHOOK, AND THE RPMS WENT UP AND DOWN. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

2012 IMPREZA SPORT WITH 71,000 MILES, ONE OWNER, ALL MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. MECHANIC NOTICED INCREASED NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE DOING TEST DRIVE AFTER PERFORMING MAINTENANCE. REPORTED REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AFTER INSPECTION REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF BEARINGS.

HIT A BUMP AND DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH SENSOR LIGHTS. SUBARU REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED WITH CODES AND SAID I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY FOR $1700. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS ENDED JULY 2018, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OR FROM MY SUBARU DEALER REGARDING THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CVT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED RYE SUBARU (LOCATED AT 1175 BOSTON POST RD, RYE, NY 10580, (914) 967-6300) AND STAMFORD SUBARU (LOCATED AT 198 BAXTER AVE, STAMFORD, CT 06902, (203) 252-2222) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,777. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRY SUBARU, 3040 E MAIN STREET, CORTLAND, NY 10567) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO STOHLMANS SUBARU (8435 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VIRGINIA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE STRUTS, MUFFLER, AND REAR BRAKE PADS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 1-35452451016. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

CAR WON'T SHIFT INTO PROPER GEAR HAS A JERKY FEEL CVT WON'T ALLOW TO MANUAL SHIFT ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER IS ON INCLUDING THE CHECK ENGINE.

MY 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA IS EXPERIENCING CONSISTENT PEDAL SQUEAK/CREAKING COMING FROM THE PRESSING OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE SOUND IS HEARD FROM INSIDE THE CABIN AS WELL AS FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

TRANSAXEL/TRANSMISSION FAILURE

MY SON'S 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA, WAS BOUGHT USED, WITH 59,000. MILES, WITH HOPE OF OWNING A RELIABLE, SAFE VEHICLE ON 2/11/16. ON 6/26/16 HE WENT FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WITHIN ONE WEEK THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED. HE WAS DRIVING HOME, NO WARNING LIGHTS, OR ANYTHING JUST MADE A LOUD SOUND THEN HE WAS JUST BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY 3 LANE ROAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AT THE TIME, WE WORRIED THAT THE OIL CHANGE MAY HAVE BEEN DONE IMPROPERLY AND CAUSED THE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED THE BUSINESS, WHO THEN HAD A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC/INSPECTOR VERIFY THAT IT WAS NOT THE OIL CHANGE BUT AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. WE THEN HAD TOWED IT AGAIN TO SUBARU DEALER THAT WAS 7/12/16. THEN WE BEGAN CALLING- DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY; TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND EMAILING TO CORPORATE SUBARU- ASKING WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS CAR? WHY DID IT HAPPEN? WHAT CAN BE DONE? WHAT WILL IT COST? FINALLY, ON 8/22/16, WE HEARD FROM SUBARU SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY -BUT WILL AUTHORIZE A $2,000. TOWARD REPAIR OR NEW CAR. WE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN BECAUSE WE STILL HAD NOT HEARD OR RECEIVED A REASON/QUOTE OF REPAIR. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS DAMAGE TO A PISTON AND IT WOULD COST AT LEAST $10,000. AND THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND IT; BETTER TO TALK TO SALES. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 60,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS ON THE POWERTRAIN, WE ARE AT 67,000 MILES AND 4 YEARS. SO NOW WE STILL OWE $8,000. AND HAVE $10,000. REPAIR, AND THEY ARE OFFERING $2,000. MONEY VS SAFETY AND NOW VS TRUST WE WANT A SAFE RELIABLE CAR, FROM A COMPANY THAT WE COULD TRUST. WE THOUGHT THAT WAS SUBARU.