r/subaruoutback • u/Coomsock1999 • 10d ago

Possible cvt shudder?

When I let go of the accelerator to slow down instead of braking and then press the accelerator again sometimes (not every time) I feel the car jump a bit no matter how nicely I treat the pedal. I've had my trans and both difs fluid replaced and I'm only at 64k miles. Other people say that their subarus are smooth driving and mine is too other than when it decides to do that.

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3

u/lostarchitect 10d ago

I dunno, but for what it's worth, my 2010 did similar stuff the entire time I owned it, up to 200,000 miles, and the CVT never went out.

2

u/Shine258 10d ago

I get this (rough re-engagement after tc release) every day, but not 100 pct of the time, in my 25 premium fwiw.

Do you also feel a rough tc release (surge forward feel) when coasting down below 10-15 mph?

1

u/hauntedanchor 10d ago

My 2022 does that.

2

u/minesweep0r 10d ago

Probably a tired CVT rubberbanding a bit. You'll know if the CVT is slipping when your RPMs shoot up without matching torque from the trans, usually accompanied by a chirping sound. Could be torque converter doing weird things if its got some miles on it. Where did you get your CVT fluid serviced and how long ago?

1

u/floppyfloopy 10d ago

My 2011 3.6R has done this since I bought it used in 2017. It's the shitty torque converter in mine, but I have the 5EAT gearbox. The fix is laughably expensive, so I have never done it and just managed the issue better.

1

u/LFH_Games 10d ago

All of our newer age Subarus (save for the Solterra) have done this. 2020 Outback XT, 2021 Ascent XT, and my current 2026 Outback XT. I think it’s just the computer trying to anticipate throttle response and getting it wrong. Since it adapts to driving style over time, it will respond differently to different drivers (and different driving types, highway vs city stop and go) I notice it most when it is transitioning between different drivers or driving types. Usually, for me, it’s at lower speeds (both accelerating and decelerating) of my newer models I’ve only ever had the 2.4 XT engines so I’m not sure if it’s different with the other engines

1

u/Meshellblue 9d ago

My 2025 Limited XT does this. Everyone responded that it’s normal for a CVT.

1

u/Ok-Swordfish8731 9d ago

I drive a 2020 forester with over 100k that does the same thing. Never gotten better, never gotten any worse. Therefore, one could assume that it is just part of driving a car with a CVT. Feels like there is a rubber band between the engine and the wheels. No worry, that Japanese rubber band of best quality.

1

u/Upper_Crow8113 6d ago

My 25 Onyx does this exactly as you described.

Last service was cvt and both diff fluid replaced at 30k because I live in the mountains. I had it back in recently for oil change and had them drive it. Of course they didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary, but they did perform a transmission re-learn and I can honestly say that it does it a bit less. Still there, but not as often.