WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 60 MPH ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED INTO HUNDREDS OF BITS OF GLASS. FORTUNATELY, THE SHADE WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS CAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE, AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER FULL CONTROL. THIS OCCURRED DURING DAYTIME HOURS ON JANUARY 17, 2020. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 37 DEGREES. NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME THAT MAY HAVE THROWN UP ANY ROCKS, SO THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THIS GLASS FAILURE TO OCCUR.
2011 Subaru Outback complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2011 record →
I HAVE READ OTHER OWNERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TORQUE CONVERTERS CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT AND DIE. NOW I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN MY CAR. THIS WILL CAUSE DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SUBARU WILL BE SUED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PERFORM A RECALL
THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD IN OREGON AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH.
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT BURNS OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT THAT EASY. THIS IS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR LAST EIGHT PLUS YEARS. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IT REIMBURSES THE COST OF THE NEW BULBS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE REPLACED. LOW BEAM LIGHTS BURNED OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.
MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK STARTED TO STALL OUT WHEN COMING TO A SLOW STOP. IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WAITING IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS WHICH WAS VERY TERRIFYING ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY, ON-COMING TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES IT WOULD COMPLETELY STALL AND THE ENGINE WOULD STOP WHICH I WOULD THEN HAVE TO QUICKLY RESTART. IT WAS TAKEN TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAILING. AFTER GOOGLING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND OUT THAT IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SUBARU HAS ADMITTED TO IT AND OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (UP TO 100,000 MILES) ON SOME 1.5 MILLION OF THEIR CARS. WELL, MY CAR WAS JUST OVER THE 100K MILE MARK SO I WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF LUCK. OF COURSE THIS IS A $4,000+ REPAIR DONE AT THE DEALER. AND IF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CVT TRANSMISSION THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE CVT REPLACED AT A COST OF $8,000! THE DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION TO SEE IF ANY METAL FLAKES ARE IN THE FLUID. IF THERE ARE THEN YOU'LL NEED TO GET A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION. WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUBARU AGAIN AFTER ALL THEIR ISSUES AND SIGNIFICANT RECALLS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NOT A SERIOUS RECALL!
TSB WAS ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER. ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED, BUT VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY EXTENSION. SUBARU DENIED MY REQUEST TO FIX THEIR DESIGN FLAW AS DOCUMENTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN # 16-90-13R. THE CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES - THUS CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY, WITHOUT WARNING OR INCIDENT, SOMETIMES BOTH WITHIN A WEEK. CAR IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 10K MILES PER YEAR, YET ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ANNUALLY ON AVERAGE. BULBS ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO REPLACE AND MUST BE DONE BY GARAGE OR DEALERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO GET BULBS REPLACED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
THE CAR JUMPS AND JERKS, SIMILAR TO A MANUAL TRANSMISSION STALLING. THIS HAS OCCURRED DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, TO DECELERATION IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC!! UPON TAKING IT IN FOR SERVICE AT THE SUBARU SCHUMACHER IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL. THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF IT, YET THERE IS NO RECALL. SUDDEN STALLING OF THE VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! APPARENTLY SOMEONE MUST DIE FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN! THE DEALER SAYS TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT A COST OF $2345 + TAX. THEN MENTIONS THEY WILL TEST DRIVE THE CAR, AND IF NOT RESOLVED, THEY MUST REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AT $3500 +TAX!!! ANY ONLINE SEARCH WILL TELL YOU THIS CAR WITH 114,000 MILES IS NOT WORTH THAT! SUBARU KNOWS ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND CONTINUES TO PLACE THESE FAULTY CVT TRANSMISSIONS IN SERVICE. PROBLEM PERSISTS UP TO 2017 MODELS, SIMPLY BECAUSE 2018/19 MODELS HAVEN'T REACHED THE MILEAGE YET FOR FAILURE. THIS STATEMENT CAME FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER HIMSELF. THANK YOU ARNAUD FOR BEING HONEST. GOODBYE FOREVER SUBARU, YOU'VE LOST A CUSTOMER AND HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T GET ANYONE KILLED OVER THIS!
AUTOMOBILE STALLING COMPLETELY AFTER BRAKING TO COMPLETE STOP AT STOP LIGHT AND STOP SIGNS ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. SHUDDERING AND SHAKING OR AUTOMOBILE OBSERVED. TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED IN ORDER TO SOLVE PROBLEM. NOT KNOWN WHETHER OR NOT PROBLEM IS COMPLETELY FIXED.
WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR EVEN SLOWING DOWN, THE CAR STALLS. AT TIMES, THIS IS AN ANNOYANCE. OTHER TIMES, IT IS VERY UNSAFE AS CARS BEHIND ME HAVE TO REACT TO A SUDDEN STOP (ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC). SUBARU ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT ASSIGNED AN ARBITRARY 100K MILEAGE LIMITATION. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT SUBARU'S EXPENSE, REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE THAT THE IMMINENT FAILURE OCCURS. THE DESIGN FLAW WAS ACKNOWLEDGED AS SUCH BY SUBARU THEMSELVES, IN A SERVICE BULLETIN #16-90-13R
2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKE PEDAL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A CRASH. THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. *JS
MY VEHICLE ACCUMULATES A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. THESE ARE EASY AND UNSTRENUOUS TO AND FROM WORK. OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAD MY VEHICLE MISDIAGNOSED THREE TIMES WHEN I WAS COMPLAINING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AS I HAVE JUST BROKEN 125,000 MILES MY VEHICLE GETS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A NEW HEAD GASKET AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. COSTING EASILY MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. SUBARU IT NOT WILLING TO BACK THEIR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE LASTING WELL PAST 125,000 WITHOUT MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS LIKE THESE THAT COULD HAVE ENDED IN SERIOUS INJURY. AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN UNSAFE SITUATION HAD I NOT CONTINUALLY PROMPTED THEM TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS DUE TO THESE ISSUES.
MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK ABRUPTLY STALLS WHEN I STOP. THIS OCCURRS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS SUCH AS STOPPING AT INTERSECTIONS, IN TRAFFIC, AND EVERY OTHER SITUATION THAT REQUIRES BRAKING WHILE DRIVING. IT IS SIMILAR TO STALLING A MANUAL VEHICLE BY BRAKING WITHOUT THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED
I ACCEPTED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BY THE DEALER EVENSTON SUBARU, 3340 OAKTON STR, SKOKIE, ILL, 60076; AFTER THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED, MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THE PASSENGER WINDOW DID NOT OPPERATE FROM THE COMMEND BUTTON OF THE SAME DOOR AND THE POWER OUTLET FROM THE MIDDLE CONSOLE DID NOT HAVE POWER. THE DEALER THAT PRODUCED THESE TROUBLES REFUSE TO SUPPORT THE COST OF REPAIR.
HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT TOO QUICKLY. I AM REPLACING MY HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12,000 MILES.
I WAS 40 MILES FROM HOME AFTER COMING DOWN A STEEP CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD IN MANUAL WHEN SUBARU BEGAN SHIFTING WITH BIG JERKS AND SHUDDERS IN EARLY SEPT 2019, HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO NEXT. HANLEE'S SUBARU EVALUATED, REPLACED VALVE BODY AND SERPENTINE BELT. A FEW DAYS LATER IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT A RR CROSSING IT SHUDDERED TO A STOP AND DIED DURING WHICH THERE WAS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND UNDER AND BEHIND ME. I STARTED IT UP AGAIN BUT WAS TERRIFIED OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. RETURNED TO HANLEE'S WHERE THEY HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SYMPTOMS.SINCE I PICKED IT UP IT STILL HAS A "BUMP" WHEN I SLOW DOWN. THEN 0N 11/4/19 IT DID THE SAME SHUDDERING STOP WHEN I BRAKED IN TRAFFIC(GOING 35 MPH) FIVE MILES FROM MY HOUSE, DYING COMPLETELY. I RESTARTED IT AND TOOK IT TO SUBARU. THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE A TORQUE CONVERTER. I'M WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY. I ALSO SEE THAT BOTH THE CVT AND TORQUE CONVERTER HAD EXTENDED WARRANTIES ISSUED FOR THESE REASONS. WHEN THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN THE CAR HAD 110K MILES. THIS IS MY THIRD SUBARU AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH POOR , DANGEROUS PERFORMANCE ON A CAR THAT SHOULD RUN WELL FOR AT LEAST 200K MILES WITH GOOD SERVICE. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM HANLEE'S ON THE SECOND DAY THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR.
THE REAR BRAKE LINES ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED AT THE REAR BLOCK, NECESSITATING A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. IT APPEARS THAT OTHER MODELS OF THIS SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE OUTBACK. SURELY THEY HAVE THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEMS.
COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK IN TWO PLACES. IT LOOKS TO BE LEAKING WHERE THE COOLANT CROSSOVER PIPE CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE BOTH SIDES.
A SQUEAKING NOISE WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE MAY BE DUE TO A FAULTY RING GEAR ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER.
MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES THIS SUMMER, BUT THE EVENT THAT I CAN RECALL MOST OBJECTIVELY FOR REPORTING PURPOSES OCCURRED ON AUGUST 17, 2019 WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED COMPLETELY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES SUDDENLY TO STOP DUE TO BEING FLAGGED BY AN ONCOMING DRIVER ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD ROAD WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH. I HAD TO TURN OVER IGNITION SWITCH TO GET THE VEHICLE GOING AGAIN. WHEN I REACHED HOME, I RESEARCHED ONLINE FOR CAUSES OF STALLING IN 2011 SUBARU OUTBACKS, AND I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME ISSUE. ACCORDING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THEIR VEHICLES REPAIRED IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. SUBARU ISSUED AN EXTENSION TO THE VEHICLE WARRANTY TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR UP TO 100,000 MILES WHICH DOES ME NO GOOD BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS WELL OVER THE 100,000 MILES. COST OF THE REPAIRS ON AVERAGE IS $2200.00. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE WHERE DRIVER/OCCUPANT SAFETY IS AT RISK, THE CAR MANUFACTURER HAS TO RECALL THE PRODUCT. I WOULD THINK A CAR STALLING COMPLETELY WHILE IN OPERATION/MOTION IN TRAFFIC/ ROAD TRAVEL WOULD QUALIFY AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD.
THE CAR ENGINE CUTS OFF WHEN SUDDENLY DECELERATING. MY WIFE AND CHILD STALLED TWICE ALREADY IN TRAFFIC, ONCE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. ALSO WATER LEAKS INTO THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK.
MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK SOMETIMES SHUDDERS WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND HAS STARTED STALLING OUT AT STOPS. I FEEL THIS IS QUITE UNSAFE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDS A TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY QUOTED $1459.45 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MAN AT SUBARU TOLD ME IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AS IT MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
BETWEEN 2011 AND 2019 WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR A SECOND TIME. THE ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS LASTED ABOUT 31K MILES AND WERE REPLACED IN 2015. NOW IN 2019 THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE DRIVEN FROM 2015 TO 2019 IS 19K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 5 DAYS A WEEK AND SINCE MAY OF 2019, SIX DAYS A WEEK. THIS IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS. BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP, WENT TO THE FLOOR FASTER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE. THAT WAS WHEN I SET THE APPOINTMENT TO FIND OUT WHY.
WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH SUBARU AMERICA, BUT THEY DON'T RESPOND. 2011 PURCHASED NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. ALL REQUIRED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE & SERVICES PERFORMED ON TIME AT AUTHORIZED PROVIDER. 2019 THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED PER MFG STDS. DEALER ADDED COOLANT & BLED THE SYSTEM. 3 MONTHS LATER THE RADIATOR BLEW. A CHEMICAL BLOCK WAS DONE & ALL WAS FINE PER DEALER. 3 MONTHS LATER ENGINE OVERHEATED. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET & CAT WERE CRACKED WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER. SUBARUS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HEAD GASKET & COOLANT SYSTEM ISSUES FROM 100,000 ' 120,000 MILES. SUBARU SLIGHTLY REDESIGNED THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS AWARE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET, CAT AND RADIATOR ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET FOR 1990 TO 2011 MODELS. ISSUE STEMS FROM MANAGEMENT DECISION TO UTILIZE A COMPOSITE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD GASKET TO SAVE MONEY; HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF HEAT ON COMPOSITE METAL PRODUCTS WOULD SURMISE THIS WOULD LEAD TO WARPING, CRACKING OR OTHER RELATED PRODUCT FAILURES. THE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBARU HEAD GASKET WAS INEPT AT BEST. THE DEVICE FEATURES A MULTI-LAYER STEEL SHIM COATED WITH A GRAPHITE LAYER. IT WAS NOT UP-TO-THE-MARK & ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE EXHAUST PRESSURE &/OR COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THERE WAS NO SUBARU HEAD GASKET RECALL BUT THE COMPANY REDESIGNED THE CYLINDER HEADS & CONFIGURATIONS OF THE C
THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM (KNOWN BY REPAIR TECHS FOR YEARS, ALTHOUGH NOT DISCLOSED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA). THEIR HEADGASKETS FAIL UNNECESSARILY. IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM LASTING 16 OR MORE YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERING SUCH FAILURES, NOR A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES A PROBLEM IS IMMINENT EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY OVERHEATS AND "BLOWS." THE DANGER INVOLVED IS SERIOUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
I PURCHASED MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK AT 75,000 MILES FROM HANSEL SUBARU IN SANTA ROSA,CA IN APRIL OF 2017 FROM A SALESMAN NAMED ANDRE. A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING IT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY (COMPLAINING OF HARD SHIFTING). AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY ASKED ME IF THIS WAS MY FIRST CVT AND I SAID YES, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS SO THEY DID A 'RE-LEARN' ON THE CVT WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET. AT THIS TIME I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE CVT TRANSMISSION THE SUBARU RELEASED IN 2014. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE INSPECTION THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CVT ACCORDING TO THEY SERVICE BULLETIN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I'M DRIVING HOME FROM VENTURA AT NIGHT, TRAVELING 70MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND OUT OF NOWHERE ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS START FLASHING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO REAR-END ME. THE VEHICLE IS AT 125,000 MILES (JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY) AND SUBARU IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A REPAIR BILL OF $8000 ON A VEHICLE I STILL OWE $10,000 ON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, THE PASSENGER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN A FREEWAY PILEUP.
MAIN HEADLAMPS BURN OUT EVERY 9 TO 10 MONTHS CAUSING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. REPLACEMENT OF THESE BULBS IS UNNECESSARILY CUMBERSOME FOR THE OWNER AND SUBARU DEALERS CHARGE $150 TO REPLACE A $15 DOLLAR BULB. IF NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY YOU RISK A FIRE HAZARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE OF REASON, AND A POOR DESIGN THAT RISKS LIVES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF AWAY FROM HOME WITH NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES NOW.
SHUTTERS WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE. ALSO, WILL SHUTTER AND STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT!! 123,000 MILES, SO NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, BUT SUBARU HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM! WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AS WE CANNOT AFFORD BRAND NEW CAR PAYMENTS AND WERE TOLD BY MANY THAT SUBARU IS A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE. WILL DEFINITELY NOT BY ANOTHER SUBARU AND WILL DISCOURAGE ANYONE ELSE FROM DOING SO!!
CAR HAS BEEN EXHIBITING INTERMITTENT LOW IDLING WHILE PARKED OR WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGNS. ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO, ON THREE SEPARATE TRIPS MY OUTBACK SHUDDERED AND SHAKED QUITE VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUDDER AND STALLED AMIDST THE THREE LANE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND GENTLY DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO HOBBLE MY WAY INTO A PARKING LOT. I MADE MY WAY BACK HOME FULLY AWARE OF HOW THE CAR BEHAVED TO AVOID INCIDENT, BUT ALSO LEAVING ME AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPT AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE CAR DIDN'T EXHIBIT ANY OF THE PREVIOUS ISSUES ON MY DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER AGREEING TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS FEE, THE SERVICE REP EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER $2000. I FELT LIKE I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR, SO I DID. AFTER LEAVING MY CAR AT THE SHOP TO RETURN HOME I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT SOME QUICK RESEARCH ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AS IT PERTAINS TO MY MODEL YEAR CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED TO NHTSA AND SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY OUTBACK USED (SECOND OWNER) AT 145,000 MILES IN LATE MAY 2019. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS UPON MY PURCHASE. BUT SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY
MY CAR STALLS WHEN I BRAKE SUDDENLY. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED BE TO BE INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. JUST THIS MORNING MY CAR DIED AFTER BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED.
AROUND 12PM ON 8/28/19, MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING TO A FAST STOP TO ALLOW AN APPROACHING AMBULANCE TO TURN. I COULD NOT RESTART MY CAR BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF THE INTERSECTION, UNSURE WHETHER TO CONTINUE THROUGH AGAINST THE RED LIGHT OR STAY PUT AS CARS DROVE BY FROM BOTH SIDES, A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE THAT LEFT ME SHAKEN. AS MY SAFETY WAS THREATENED BY THIS INCIDENT, I NOTIFIED SUBARU OF AMERICA BY PHONE ON 9/6/19. I WAS CONTACTED BY ANTOINE LAVAL (CUSTOMER/RETAILER SERVICES DEPT.) AND WILL HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT 1PM ON 9/13/19 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION EVALUATED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SHUDDERING/STALLING INTERMITTENTLY FOR MONTHS, AND IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE FAULTY CVT ISSUE REFERENCED IN THE LETTER SENT TO ME JUNE 2017. ALTHOUGH THE LETTER STATES THAT "FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS OLD OR HAVE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (100,000) MILES, INSPECTIONS OR REPAIRS UNDER THIS ONE YEAR COVERAGE PERIOD MUST BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2018," I AM PETITIONING SUBARU OF AMERICA TO FULLY COVER THE COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN MY SUBARU AS COMPENSATION FOR BEING PLACED IN THE DANGEROUS SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IN CROSS TRAFFIC.
WHEN BRAKING THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND THEN STALLS. YOU THEN NEED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART. IF YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND FEEL THE CAR SHAKING, SOMETIMES LETTING OFF OF THE BRAKE IT WILL KEEP IT FROM STALLING. IT IS STILL AN UNSAFE SITUATION.
THIS IS A NEW COMPLAINT AFTER SUBARU AGREED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT NO COST TO US, THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THE CAR WAS DROPPED FOR DIAGNOSIS ON 7/29-TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSIONS, PARTS ORDERED, AND SERVICE SCHEDULED. SUBARU HAD THE CAR FOR JUST OVER TWO WEEKS. PICKED UP ON 8/13 AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES THAT WE HAD PRIOR TO DROPPING IT OFF. HESITATION AND STALLING, ETC. SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. NOW THEY WANT US TO DROP IT OFF FOR SERVICE AGAIN.
THE CAR STALLS WHEN COMING TO A FAST STOP AND SOMETIMES SHUDDERS LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS WAS HORRIBLE ON THE FREEWAY DURING TRAFFIC AS I HAD TO RESTART MY CAR NUMEROUS TIME. GOT CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED A FEW TIMES. I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD OF DOING A RECALL THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES. MY CAR NOW HAS 103425 AND NOT COVERED. IT STARTED AROUND 102250 MILES WHILE IN CALIFORNIA ON MY WAY BACK HOME. I HAD TO PAY $2490.59 TO HAVE A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSMISSION STALLING WHILE DRIVING. HOW IS IT EVEN LEGAL THAT THIS ISN'T A RECALL.
NOTICED THAT DOME/MAP LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND FRONT TIME CLOCK OUT. THEN WHEN GOING TO PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND RAN INTO A FENCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. PARKING BREAK HAS NOT WORKED FOR SOME TIME EITHER.
WITHIN OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHUDDERING WHEN COMING TO ABRUPT STOPS. THIS CONTINUED AND BY APPROXIMATELY 11 MONTHS, THE SHUDDERING HAD BECOME MORE COMMON IN LESS ABRUPT STOPS AND IN SOME CASES WOULD STALL THE CAR. THE ISSUE REMAINS PERSISTENT, HOWEVER INTERMITTENT. THE MOST RECENT TIME OF IT STALLING WAS TWO DAYS AGO, APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS INTO OWNING THE CAR. I'VE HELD UP TRAFFIC NUMEROUS TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE WHILE HAVING TO RESTART THE CAR, HOWEVER THIS MOST RECENT TIME, IT OCCURRED ON A STEEPER HILL AND, HAD I NOT REACTED QUICKLY WITH THE BRAKES, I COULD HAVE ROLLED BACK INTO A CAR AND POTENTIALLY INJURED THE OCCUPANTS AND MYSELF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY DIAGNOSED AT HERITAGE SUBARU OWINGS MILLS (LOCATED AT 9808 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (866) 738-1475); HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
P0420 CODE O2 SENSORS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM BACK IN 2017. CRUISE, SKID CONTROL, BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. SUBARU SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, 02 SENSORS AND ASSOCIATED PIPING. SUBARU REPLACED IT FOR FREE IN 2017. NOT EVEN 2 YEARS LATER 8/2019, I AM DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. SAME DIAGNOSES. I HAVE SEEN A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. SAW A REPORT OF A RECALL FOR THE FRONT 02 SENSOR ON REPAIRPAL BUT IT IS NOT LISTED ON SUBARU'S WEBSITE. SUBARU WANTS TO CHARGE 1900 TO FIX AND MAKE ME PAY 500.00 FOR A REPAIR THAT'S SHOULD NOT NEED TO HAPPEN IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS TIME!
CAR WOULD SHUDDER WHEN COMING TO A STOP OCCASIONALLY AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER MONTHS OF THIS HAPPENING RANDOMLY, THE CAR SUDDENLY LIT UP WITH ALL THESE DASH WARNING LIGHTS, I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON BUT THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON, AFTERWARDS THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. AS IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING, I DROVE HOME, WITH THE CAR ALTERNATING BETWEEN LURCHING FORWARD AND LOSING POWER. THE NEXT MORNING THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION SHOP. MY CAR HAS BEEN THERE FOR OVER 2 WEEKS. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS. THE DAY BEFORE THE ISSUES STARTED I HAD TO DRIVE AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY, SHOULD THESE ISSUES HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR COULD HAVE STALLED OUT DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2017, THE SHUDDERING OCCURED AT RANDOM SINCE I PURCHASED IT, I KNOWN THE SHUDDERING WAS A SYMPTOM OF A IMPENDING LARGE, CATASTROPHIC ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS THE WARRANTY EXTENSION EXPIRED JULY 2018.
ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITH OUT WARNING DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NOT MUCH CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE PART IS FAULTY UNTIL IT'S TO LATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MAKE AND MODELS AND I AM SURPRISED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AT FAULT FOR INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WHERE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED
WHEN COMING TO SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE STALLS. IT'S DUE TO A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER.
CAR HESITATED WHILE DRIVING, RPMS SOARED. LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHTS AS WELL AS OTHER LIGHTS. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CODE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES, HE RESET CODE AND ASKED US TO DRIVE FOR A FEW DAYS TO SEE IF IT WOULD COME ON AGAIN. IT DID. SAME CODE. CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA WHO ADVISED IT WOULD NEED TO GO TO A "AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALER" FOR DIAGNOSIS BEFORE THEY COULD HELP US. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT SUBARU EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM TO 10 YEARS, 100,000 MILES. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO AT SUBARU, MARTINA BROWN INDICATED THAT ONCE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE CLAIM AND HELP US OUT, SO WE DROVE THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. CAR WAS DRIVING FINE WHEN IT WAS DROPPED THERE. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO IT AT NO COST. IN FACT, THEY OFFERED US 1K TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. WHAT A JOKE, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THEY WOULD HAVE THE AUDACITY TO MAKE AN OFFER LIKE THAT. WE'D ALREADY BEEN OFFERED WAY MORE THAN THAT AS A TRADE FOR A NEW VEHICLE ELSEWHERE, BUT DIDN'T TAKE THE OFFER BECAUSE WE WERE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SUBARU WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX IT. THE CAR IS UNDER THE 10 YEARS, BUT OVER THE 100,000 MILES. I FEEL THAT SUBARU SHOULD FIX IT AT NO COST SINCE THEY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A SA
WHEN DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE PARKING BREAK LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. LATELY I'VE NOTED THE VEHICLE SHUTTERING WHEN SLOWING AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. THIS IS AT STOP LIGHTS/STOP SIGNS OR DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THEY CONFIRMED THE VALVE BODY NEEDED REPLACEMENT...AND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH OVER 1.5 MILLION SUBARUS AFFECTED. COULD ALSO BE A TORQUE CONVERTED ISSUES, HOWEVER, MY DEALER DIDN'T MENTION THIS. I'VE CONTACTED SUBARU AS THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100K MILES HOWEVER, MY CAR HAS JUST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND CREATES ANXIETY TO DRIVE IN TRAFFIC NOT KNOWING IF YOUR CAR WILL SIMPLY STALL OUT AND HAVE SOMEONE HIT YOU. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF TIME (MAYBE 6 MONTHS?) WITH NO LIGHTS SHOWING ISSUES. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED CONSISTENTLY AND ON TIME SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW.
AROUND 130,000 MILES CAR BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SHUDDERING - WILL SOMETIMES SHUDDER AND STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AND IN TRAFFIC. CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT- BEING HIT OR STALLING IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT SUBARU OUTBACKS FROM 2010-2015 ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS NOR ANY WARRANTIES TO COVER REPAIRS. REPAIRS TO TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH - WHICH IS INDICATED BY MY DEALERSHIP CAN RUN UPWARDS OF $1500.
ENGINE WILL ABRUPTLY STALL DUE TO LOW IDLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A STOP. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, VEHICLE WILL SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING. DTC CODES 2762, 2764, AND 0700 ARE PRESENT INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE UNLOCKING OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER. VEHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE CAR STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO SUBARU, AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED!
DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY AND NEEDED TO STOP AND SWITCH REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND HIT GARAGE WALL.
TRANSMISSION FAILED - LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING
2011 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTO.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2011 Subaru Outback → · Every Outback year → · How the figures are calculated →