2016 Subaru Forester trans won’t go into overdrive

trans does not go into overdrive…independent mechanic said to try replacing the electrical component 1st before replacing the mechanical component…have not contacted dealer

Take the vehicle to a Subaru dealer, the warranty on the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) has been extended to 10 years/100,000 miles.

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Seems like a good recommendation given the limited information provided. Electric current operated solenoids are very common in modern transmission, used to control the various modes and functions in automatic transmissions (even CVT’s I expect). Sometimes all that’s needed is to replace one of them. Don’t assume that is an inexpensive job though, the number of hours labor depends heavily on where it is located. If dealership will do this job at the same price or less than an independent, dealership is the better choice imo. If you decide use independent, ask your regular shop, auto parts store staff, anybody w/professional auto repair experience, which is the best locally-owned transmission shop in town? Don’t be surprised if you get the same answer from everybody you ask.

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I’m with Nevada. Read more here. Subarus with the CVT of that generation are covered under an extended warranty program.

Subarus of that vintage don’t have overdrive per-se. Yours has a CVT, there’s no “overdrive” for it to go into.

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Perhaps it used to be 1800rpm @60mph and now it’s 2300rpm?