My 2010 Subaru Forester has a clunk shifting to third or fourth
This is a bit of a known problem in the six-speed manual (which I assume is the transmission you’re talking about) in this model Forester. Some examples of this model were manufactured with a missing oil passageway. Over time, this can lead to poor lubrication of the third and fourth gears, leading to failure.
The noise and clunk that you’re hearing now might be the start of this failure. The good news is that Subaru actually recalled affected vehicles to fix this problem, so you need to contact a Subaru dealership to see if your car was one of the affected ones and what can be done about it now.
It’s worth remembering that this recall was issued back in the day (2010) but if the problem is the one identified in the recall, that shouldn’t matter as Australian vehicle recalls don’t have an expiry date.
My 1991 Subaru Brumby has a knocking noise coming from the left-hand front driveshaft area
You could have a missing tooth on the differential or some other problem that is leading to the clunking noise. But don’t rule out something like a broken or worn engine or transmission mount, either. These mounts control the movement of the driveline relative to the chassis and wear in them can allow excess movement that can sometimes be heard as a clunk or knock.
You may also have a problem with the suspension. This is a very common source of knocking sounds, caused when something worn or loose has develops enough movement to contact another part of the car or suspension. You could start by checking the suspension struts, ball-joints and bushes for wear and play.
Would towing a 750kg caravan pop-top wear the transmission prematurely in a 2026 Subaru Outback.
That said, logic suggests that towing any sort of decent load – especially at high speeds or in hot weather – must have some impact on wear and tear, including that of a CVT transmission. However, the Subaru CVT seems a bit tougher than some similar units out there, and if not abused, there should be no problem with what you have planned.
Regular maintenance and sensible driving will be the key to the CVT’s survival, as it is with any aspect of a modern car.
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The Japanese carmaker chose to follow a different path from its rivals by its use of boxer engines and all-wheel drive across all models. The company is renowned and respected for its innovation, technology, and participation in motor sport. Subaru offers the small Impreza hatch and sedan, medium Liberty sedan, the high riding Liberty-based Outback crossover wagon, XV and Forester SUVs, BRZ sports coupe, and rally-bred WRX and WRX STi hatches.
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