23 month old car with only 40,000K on clock. Serviced with full clutch check three months prior that showed no issues. Regularly serviced. Car is not raced or used in the wrong conditions. It does not tow anything and has never been overloaded and with only ever two drivers.
The issue. The car suddenly started to show on the dashboard gear indicator that it was in a lower gear than the car gear stick was in. Generally on acceleration post in gear 2- 4 post leaving a stop sign or red lights. Though in this acceleration mode the accelerated normally. Solution on driving was to engage clutch and put car back into its gear. Basically a back and forth motion. Once in a higher gear the car stayed good.
Occurred on short commutes intermittently for three days before a road trip through a hilly region. On this trip the issue went into overdrive. In this half hour there was clearly a problem with the gears, with slow speed engagement on the lower gears, enhanced revs and a horrible smell. Found a safe space to stop. And got towed. Clutch totally shredded. As in mashed up.
Apparently all our fault. But I have never had an issue nor has my wife in 60 years combined driving manuals including Subaru (AWD, front, back wheel drive, 4 wheel drive, petrol, turbo). Often for far greater mileage over tougher terrain and with more city driving (Most cars changed out at 100,000K+) and never (never as in none) with a clutch issue.
I have noticed one or two people with similar problems. I just am wondering has anyone else had this and what the solution was. Or is there a peculiarity about the outback turbo diesel that means specific attention needs to be paid to how it works. Sure cars are made differently today and the new outback turbo diesel uses a type of clutch that reduces noise but is less reliable than older solid 6 speed pull clutch.
Please note the signs of clutch wear such as did not occur
. Clutch taking up near the end of the pedal travel
. Loss of power under load, caused by slight clutch slip
. Difficulty engaging gears (though in the very late advanced state this was an issue)
. An increase in fuel consumption
. Sticky clutch pedal, no spring back immediately on release
. Pedal feels hard
. Difficulty in changing gears and crunching noises
I can accept that my driving could have been a contributing factor. That an experienced driver with mechanical knowledge would have identified an issue earlier and therefor sought advice quicker. But I relied on the car in particularly as it was low mileage, clutch checked 3 thousand k earlier, serviced regularly, never had these issues before, etc etc.
Subaru has denied any problem with the car and have washed their hands of the issue and have stated that a clutch issue is always a driver issue. And reading the warranty fine print the clutch is not covered anyway. I agree it may not be a systemic build issue either but what causes it, why only intermittently and well why!!!
Any and all guidance gratefully received. Thanks. A very frustrated and disappointed Subaru owner. (My last one that is for sure!)
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
23 month old car with only 40,000K on clock. Serviced with full clutch check three months prior that showed no issues. Regularly serviced. Car is not raced or used in the wrong conditions. It does not tow anything and has never been overloaded and with only ever two drivers.
The issue. The car suddenly started to show on the dashboard gear indicator that it was in a lower gear than the car gear stick was in. Generally on acceleration post in gear 2- 4 post leaving a stop sign or red lights. Though in this acceleration mode the accelerated normally. Solution on driving was to engage clutch and put car back into its gear. Basically a back and forth motion. Once in a higher gear the car stayed good.
Occurred on short commutes intermittently for three days before a road trip through a hilly region. On this trip the issue went into overdrive. In this half hour there was clearly a problem with the gears, with slow speed engagement on the lower gears, enhanced revs and a horrible smell. Found a safe space to stop. And got towed. Clutch totally shredded. As in mashed up.
Apparently all our fault. But I have never had an issue nor has my wife in 60 years combined driving manuals including Subaru (AWD, front, back wheel drive, 4 wheel drive, petrol, turbo). Often for far greater mileage over tougher terrain and with more city driving (Most cars changed out at 100,000K+) and never (never as in none) with a clutch issue.
I have noticed one or two people with similar problems. I just am wondering has anyone else had this and what the solution was. Or is there a peculiarity about the outback turbo diesel that means specific attention needs to be paid to how it works. Sure cars are made differently today and the new outback turbo diesel uses a type of clutch that reduces noise but is less reliable than older solid 6 speed pull clutch.
Please note the signs of clutch wear such as did not occur
. Clutch taking up near the end of the pedal travel . Loss of power under load, caused by slight clutch slip . Difficulty engaging gears (though in the very late advanced state this was an issue) . An increase in fuel consumption . Sticky clutch pedal, no spring back immediately on release . Pedal feels hard . Difficulty in changing gears and crunching noises
I can accept that my driving could have been a contributing factor. That an experienced driver with mechanical knowledge would have identified an issue earlier and therefor sought advice quicker. But I relied on the car in particularly as it was low mileage, clutch checked 3 thousand k earlier, serviced regularly, never had these issues before, etc etc.
Subaru has denied any problem with the car and have washed their hands of the issue and have stated that a clutch issue is always a driver issue. And reading the warranty fine print the clutch is not covered anyway. I agree it may not be a systemic build issue either but what causes it, why only intermittently and well why!!!
Any and all guidance gratefully received. Thanks. A very frustrated and disappointed Subaru owner. (My last one that is for sure!)
- Nick T., Sydney, Australia