2013 Subaru Outback: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Outback report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 11 owner complaints, average mileage 113,350 miles.
NHTSA has 60 owner complaints for the 2013 Outback in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11765336 (filed 09/18/2026): “The cvt transmission in my 2013 subaru outback failed at approximately 93,000 miles. approximately three weeks prior to the failure, i noticed an unusual sound while driving, but no other symptoms were apparent at that time, so i continued monitoring it. on t…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11750991 (filed 07/17/2026): “Please contact carvana and make them take that vehicle off the market. i purchased it and by chance found out that bottom parts like subframe and exhaust pipe were inadequately installed . the mechanic said eventually i was going to flip over myself on the hig…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (10 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $6,500 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .