dealer just called and said that they just recieved the transmission. I dropped my car off to get the transmission replace. they told me that its a 2 day job.

same things here
 

Same things they schedule me for the 12 august 2 days job too.

Just to keep this thread going, I am bringing mine in today to replace the tranny also.
After the Tech. reviewed it and I filled out a Toyota questionnaire, they checked the fluid and observed small metal debris (they showed it to me also).

So today they will fix it and I should get it back in a couple days.
Good news is that this doesn't seem like a widespread problem.

FYI, problem happened around 15-16,000km.

It is a very, very widespread problem.

Really?
To have constant gear grinding every single time you downshift?
If that many people are having that problem, it is a big deal for sure.

Yup!

Sounds like its time for a poll...

Maybe.. Too many are in denial.

Mine started recently with the same symptoms in 5th gear and it seems to be getting worse. A couple of weeks ago it was only changing down into 5th at 100kph+ but now it's also changing up at speed into 5th.
I can double clutch and rev match and get it smooth. Also take my time and get it smooth but there's something wrong compared to the other gears and I think the 1-2 shift is also going back to where it was new.
I think it's a syncro problem.

It had it's first service today, 12,000km and I mentioned the transmission and got them to change the oil for fully synthetic but it's still the same.

Not happy!

Could this problem be isolated to early build models? Anyone with cars produced this year getting this issue?

Mine's a June '13 build, and so far so good....no grinds. Hope it stays that way!

How exactly do you get the grind? I have less than 1000 vin bought at release (June 2012), don't seem to have this problem although I admit since 5th is a relatively high speed i don't have much experience with it.

I generally shift to 5th accelerating at 33mph and then to 6th at 45+

I downshift to 5th if im coasting down to a traffic area and reach between 33 and 45 mph while in 6th.

The only time I actually shift into 5th at speed is if I max out 4th gear at full throttle. Not often but from memory I don't have any grinding. I'll have to check in the next few days, and either way I doubt subaru would warranty that if I said it grinds at 7k shifting 4th to 5th lol

Mine has been perfect, apart from 1st to 2nd cold, until recently.
I get the grind above 80kph[50mph] and the higher the speed the worse it is. When overtaking traffic travelling at 90-100kph I often change down to 4th from 6th and up into 5th at about 130kph, then into 6th and let it slow to the 110kph limit. It's always been sweet but now it crunches unless I do a slow change.
I rarely change down into 5th at those speeds but now it crunches if I do unless it's very slow or rev matched with a double de-clutch.
I would add I never rip it through the gears and always use some feel.

130kph is about 5500rpm in 4th and when I change gear near the rpm limit I expect it to shift without any dramas.

I never get 5th gear grinding (1-2, sometimes 2-3 while cold but that's another thread) while up shifting. I'll get a slight rough shift while downshifting 6-5 at highway speed.