NHTSA Complaint #11694910 — 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA

I am filing a complaint regarding a known issue with the CVT transmission in my 2014 Subaru Impreza, currently at approximately 80,000 miles. The CVT has started making a loud whining noise while driving. A licensed, independent repair shop diagnosed this as a likely early sign of internal CVT failure, advising that failure is imminent without repair or replacement. After researching the issue, I discovered that Subaru issued an extended warranty (WQA-86) specifically covering this known CVT defect. However, I was never notified of this extension or any service campaign. I learned about it only after experiencing symptoms and conducting my own research. By that time, the extended warranty had expired in February 2024 , only a few months before I began experiencing problems, despite my vehicle being well under the mileage limit for coverage. I maintain a service history with full documentation from licensed repair facilities. I submitted a goodwill assistance request to Subaru to cover the inspection and repair or replacement of the CVT based on this known defect and the professional assessment from my mechanic. Subaru denied the request solely because the extended warranty had expired by time, despite the fact that: I was never notified of the warranty extension or technical service bulletin (TSB). The issue is well documented and acknowledged by Subaru. My vehicle is still under the mileage limit. A qualified mechanic has confirmed early signs of failure. This is a serious safety concern, as CVT failure can lead to sudden loss of power or acceleration while driving. Subaru should be held accountable for notifying all affected owners about extended coverage related to known defects. I am requesting that Subaru be required to provide goodwill coverage or cost assistance for this repair, as the failure is directly related to a known manufacturer defect and the lack of notification prevented me from taking timely action.