Subaru continuously variable transmissions are considered some of the most reliable and rugged designs in use among current manufacturers, according to AutoGuide.com; however, some CVTs used in early 2010-era Subarus did require replacement of certain parts to address issues with fluid leakage or difficulties getting affected vehicles out of park.
Subaru's Lineartronic CVT design uses a chain rather than a cable to join the two pulleys of the CVT system as in most other CVT designs. The use of a chain allows the CVT to have more room to adjust the system's effective gear ratio to match current conditions, and it also improves the overall durability of the transmission as compared to using a cable.
