Wilderness transmission issues? Burning smell?

[Weshallsee]

I just purchased a brand new 2025 wilderness. I have about 1300 miles on it so far. I have noticed when I'm going up a grade it shifts really hard, and in close succession, up and down. The car can't seem to find a gear that it likes. Yes I'm steady on the pedal. The main thing is that it shifts really hard, abruptly enough to bounce the car a bit, and it is unnerving. Running 91 octane fuel.

Also, I have noticed a burning smell when I garage the car after driving. In fact the other day when I started up the car with the garage door open it set off the smoke alarm.

Yes I'm getting it serviced, but I am curious if anyone else has had issues?

Thanks in advance.

 

[mosovich]

I just purchased a brand new 2025 wilderness. I have about 1300 miles on it so far. I have noticed when I'm going up a grade it shifts really hard, and in close succession, up and down. The car can't seem to find a gear that it likes. Yes I'm steady on the pedal. The main thing is that it shifts really hard, abruptly enough to bounce the car a bit, and it is unnerving. Running 91 octane fuel.

Also, I have noticed a burning smell when I garage the car after driving. In fact the other day when I started up the car with the garage door open it set off the smoke alarm.

Yes I'm getting it serviced, but I am curious if anyone else has had issues?

Thanks in advance.

I am with you 100%.. My post on another Outback forum. The smell went away after a week of fdriving. I’m at 2800 miles, it’s just taken me this long to get the dealer to return my calls.

I have a 2025 Outback Wilderness. When I hit about 2100-2300 rpm I can feel what can best described as like a shudder from the transmission. It’s like the care is gonna stall, but it’s a split second thing but will do it a few times as it passes through that RPM range. When in the interstate you can really notice is as the engine will go through this rpm zone many times. I put the car in manual and shifted through the gears and no issues. Engine runs smooth through all the gears and rpms. When it’s in auto though you can feel it. Thoughts? Some guys on reddit recommended a “wobble bushing” but I can’t really find out anywhere where someone has said I felt X and this fixed it. Then someone also mentioned there’s a service bulletin out as well. I’m taking it in Monday and hope it will do it like it always does when the service tech is driving it.

 

[Weshallsee]

I am with you 100%.. My post on another Outback forum. The smell went away after a week of fdriving. I’m at 2800 miles, it’s just taken me this long to get the dealer to return my calls.

I have a 2025 Outback Wilderness. When I hit about 2100-2300 rpm I can feel what can best described as like a shudder from the transmission. It’s like the care is gonna stall, but it’s a split second thing but will do it a few times as it passes through that RPM range. When in the interstate you can really notice is as the engine will go through this rpm zone many times. I put the car in manual and shifted through the gears and no issues. Engine runs smooth through all the gears and rpms. When it’s in auto though you can feel it. Thoughts? Some guys on reddit recommended a “wobble bushing” but I can’t really find out anywhere where someone has said I felt X and this fixed it. Then someone also mentioned there’s a service bulletin out as well. I’m taking it in Monday and hope it will do it like it always does when the service tech is driving it.

Well, the service bulletin turned out to be bunk. At the dealership they drove it and drove it and said they felt nothing.

Then I drove it with an independent certified Subaru technician and he felt it right away, but he doesn't work at the dealership so I have to start over with them. Unfortunately they are over an hour and a half away from me and the weather has been bad so I haven't made it back down there.

I'd recommended going IN THE CAR WITH THE TECH, and you drive if they can't feel it. And keep going until the car does it.

So frustrating!

 

[mosovich]

Went to dealer today and we drove it and tech said "yep, that's about how all of them feel..". He did say however that they were going to keep it overnight and drive it with some computer on it to send to Subaru. Mine ends with an E, so it should be fine. He said all the XTs are this way with the transmission they put in them. He said it's the particular transmission they put in the Ascents and the XTs with that engine. They did however give me a loaner XT Touring to drive and it doesn't feel as harsh as mine is. He said it's just looking for the right gear but I told him I still don't think it should be that noticeable. He didn't deny it. The guy is a lead tech at the local dealer and he was very patient and answered all my questions. He said they'd replaced numerous transmissions. The transmission is the same that has been used since the XTs came out. So, we'll see. I'm hoping there is some kinda update or something they can do.. Stay tuned..

 

[Weshallsee]

Went to dealer today and we drove it and tech said "yep, that's about how all of them feel..". He did say however that they were going to keep it overnight and drive it with some computer on it to send to Subaru. Mine ends with an E, so it should be fine. He said all the XTs are this way with the transmission they put in them. He said it's the particular transmission they put in the Ascents and the XTs with that engine. They did however give me a loaner XT Touring to drive and it doesn't feel as harsh as mine is. He said it's just looking for the right gear but I told him I still don't think it should be that noticeable. He didn't deny it. The guy is a lead tech at the local dealer and he was very patient and answered all my questions. He said they'd replaced numerous transmissions. The transmission is the same that has been used since the XTs came out. So, we'll see. I'm hoping there is some kinda update or something they can do.. Stay tuned..

Thanks for the update and any upcoming further information you may receive. Apparently they did that computer reading thing with mine too and sent it in to Subaru.
The fact that your guy said they'd replaced numerous transmissions inspires me to follow through getting this fixed ASAP.
I'm remembering that when I test drove several cars including the Ascent, the Outback Wilderness, and the Outback Touring XT, none of them did the weird abrupt shifting back and forth thing. If they had, I wouldn't have ordered and purchased the car.

 

[mosovich]

Well Subaru said everything seemed fine. I drove a 24 XT Touring and it did it some as well, so maybe it is what it is.

 

[Weshallsee]

Well Subaru said everything seemed fine. I drove a 24 XT Touring and it did it some as well, so maybe it is what it is.

I dropped my car off a couple of days ago and the technician totally felt what was happening. They did the computer thing again and sent it off to Subaru. Here's the latest from this afternoon:

" they did take some pictures with a camera probe in the transmission
and inspected the cvt chain, and submitted everything to the engineers for review..."

I'll keep you posted.