VERY LOW ENGINE RPM, OR COMPLETE ENGINE QUIT WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CONDITION IS SIMILAR TO COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND IS MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE UNTIL IT HAPPENS WHEN I MIGHT NEED TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AGAIN. SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN # 16-90-13 DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER PERTAINS, BUT SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. MAYBE THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE FIRST.
2012 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 2012 record →
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN THE DRIVER COMES TO A QUICK/HARD STOP. THE RPM'S DROP, THE VEHICLE MAKES A SHUTTERING SOUND/MOTION, THEN THE ENGINE STOPS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE BUT IS MOST DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
MY CAR WOULD STALL WITH A HARD STOP AT AN INTERSECTION OR GOING UPHILL SUBARU REPORTED THAT IT WAS A BAD TORQUE CONVERTE, A BULLETIN NOTICE WAS DONE FOR THIS BY SUBARU.I FEEL THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE ANY RECALLS SHOULD BE DONE, DUE TO A THE CAR STALLING WITH A DROP IN RPM AND A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR WHILE TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF MARCH AND MAY WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD VACUUM HOSES CHECKED I HAVE HAD ENGINE SPARK PLUGS CLEANED OUT AND IT WAS AT THIS POINT GENERATE 112,000 MILE TUNEUP THAT THEY INFORMED ME THE PROM WAS THE TOUR CONVERTER AND THEY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE.
PURCHASED USED WITH 150,000 MILES ON IT. IT STARTED STALLING AND CUTTING OFF WHEN BRAKING AT INTERSECTIONS OR SUDDEN STOPS BUT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME. HAS STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC WHEN STOPPED SUDDENLY AND HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK, START THE ENGINE AGAIN, PUT IN DRIVE AND GO BEFORE BEING REAR ENDED. IT HAS STALLED AT STOP SIGNS ON INCLINES OR DECLINES, ON A GRAVEL DRIVE WAY THAT GOES UPHILL, BEHIND CARS THAT BRAKE SUDDENLY TO WHERE I HAVE TO QUICKLY STOP, OR EVEN MOVING SLOWLY IN A CAR LINE AND THEN COMING TO A STOP. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS FROM 2010-2012 AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NOT A SAFETY RECALL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS ANYWHERE FROM $1400 ON UP. IF IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY LIKE MINE, THEY DO NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH PRICE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN YOU VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
CAR IS STALLING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT STOPS. ENGINE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY STALLS WHEN STOPPING. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CAUSED AT STOPLIGHT BECAUSE OF STALLING.
VEHICLE STALLS AT RED LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. IT ALSO HESITATES ON ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN HAVING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STALLS WHEN COMING TO A RAPID STOP, SUCH AS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR BRAKING TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR AHEAD. WHEN MY CARS STALLS, I LOSE CONTROL WHICH COULD VERY WELL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
FAILURE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND REQUIRED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL AT 82511. I WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN BY THE DEALERSHIP.
SUBARU OUTBACK 2012 HAS BEEN STALLING OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON AN INCLINE OR AT A FAST STOP, DOES NOT DO IT EVERY TIME VEHICLE STOPS BUT DOES IT ENOUGH TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER AND ALSO TOLD ME I HAVE TO HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED DUE TO METAL SHARDS FALLING INTO IT FROM THE TORQUE CONVERTER.
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY TURNED ON EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. THERE WAS NO WAY TO TURN THEM OFF EXCEPT TO PULL THE FUSE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS CREATES A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. LEAVING THE WIPERS RUNNING ON A DRY WINDSHIELD ALSO CAN DAMAGE THE WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD. I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM SUBARU (ATTACHED) THAT DESCRIBES A SWITCH WHERE MOISTURE AND GREASE CAUSED THE SWITCH TO SHORT. THE SWITCH HAD BEEN REDESIGNED. I PAID 150.00 TO HAVE THE SWITCH REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.
TAKATA RECALL -DEALER SAYS UNABLE TO REPAIR/REPLACE UNTIL DECEMBER 2017. WE WERE ADVISED TO NOT USE PASSENGER SEAT FOR THE NEXT 9 MONTHS UNTIL FIXED. HOW DO WE TRANSPORT FAMILY AND TAKE OUR PLANNED VACATIONS? OTHER VEHICLE HAS 210,000 MILES AND NOT TRUSTED FOR OUT OF TOWN TRIPS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
I CALLED PRESTIGE SUBARU, IN ASHEVILLE, NC IN JANUARY, 2017 AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO REPLACE THE "WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BOTTOM COVER" AT THAT TIME; THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. OKAY. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS IN ADVANCE, FOR THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9TH. A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THAT, A LADY FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED TO SAY THE PART DID NOT COME IN, SO THERE WAS NO NEED TO COME FOR THE APPOINTMENT; AND SHE WOULD CALL US FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WHEN IT DID COME IN. I GUESS I LEARNED THAT IT TAKES SUBARU DEALERS A LONG TIME TO GET PARTS, BECAUSE AS OF MARCH 20TH, 2017, THE DAY I WRITE THIS, SHE NOR ANYONE ELSE HAS CALLED TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. TWO OR THREE WEEKS PASSED AND I PHONED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ASKED FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER'S NAME AND PHONE NUMBER. I PHONED HIS NUMBER AND HAD TO LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR HIM TO PHONE ME BACK AT MY PHONE NUMBER, WHICH HE HAS NOT DONE TO THIS CURRENT DATE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NOT TAKE MY CAR TO PRESTIGE SUBARU FOR ANY KIND OF SERVICE. EXCUSES OF, I DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE, OR, I LOST HIS NUMBER, OR, WE HAVE NO RECORD HIM CALLING, ETC., WILL NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR HONEST TRUTHFULNESS. JUST NOW THAT I HAVE ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE ON ANOTHER PART, I WILL SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP.
TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDING REPLACED AFTER ENGINE STALL AND/OR DYING AT STOP.
TAKATA RECALL: LETTER OF RECALL ARRIVED 18 MARCH 2017. CALLED SUBARU OF KENNESAW AND FIRST RESPONSE WAS NO PARTS AND NO INFO ON POSSIBLE TIME TO RECEIVE AND NO ALTERNATIVE. SECOND CALL RESPONSE WAS MORE SPECIFIC AS TO NO ALTERNATIVE AND POSSIBLE TWO MONTHS FOR PARTS. MUCH OF MY VEHICLE USE INVOLVES PASSENGERS AND I NEED SOME RELIEF.
I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SUBARU THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND THAT I AM NOT TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT UNTIL THE PART IS AVAILABLE, WHICH THEY SAY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BY DECEMBER 2017. I NEED TO USE THIS CAR TO ITS FULL PASSENGER CAPACITY AND FEEL THAT THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT. SUBARU SHOULD PROVIDE ME WITH A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE UNTIL THEY CAN FIX MY CAR.
TAKATA RECALL: THE NOTICE FROM SUBARU STATES THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL REPLACEMENT IS POSSIBLE. THE DATE GIVEN FOR REPLACEMENT IS DECEMBER 2017. THAT IS NINE MONTHS FROM NOW. THIS CREATES AN EXTREME HARDSHIP ON OUR FAMILY.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BOTH BURNED OUT. SUBARU SAID THE ISSUE ONLY AFFECTED SOME OF THE OUTBACKS BUT OBVIOUSLY IT AFFECTS MINE AND WAS NOT COVERED.
LEARNED OF AIRBAG RECALL VIA INTERNET AND STILL NO NOTICE VIA SUBARU
IN LESS THAN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE FOUR DIFFERENT DIRECTIONAL/RUNNING/HEAD LIGHTS. THIS IS EXCESSIVE, EXPENSIVE, AND AWKWARD TO DO. (THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS REQUIRE REMOVAL OF THE FRONT TIRES TO REACH THE ACCESS PANEL!) I KNOW THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH EARLIER YEAR'S OF OUTBACKS.
TAKATA RECALL THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN A AUTO SHOP SINCE 12/7/16 AND AFTER DIAGNOSTICS THE MECHANIC IS STILL UNABLE TO REPAIR. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON. BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS, BOTH SIDE IMPACT SENSORS, AND THE AIR BAG MODULE WERE REPLACED. THE CODES ARE F2-SIDE SENSOR BUS LH COMMUNICATION ERROR. EA-SIDE SENSOR BUS RH COMMUNICATION. 41-SIDE AIR BAG RH FAILURE. 27 ODS COMMUNICATION ERROR. CANNOT CLEAR ANY CODES STILL. THEN INSTALLED TEST HARNESSES AT AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND ODS AND RIGHT SEAT AIR BAG MODULE. PERFORMED OHM TEST - NEED TO START WITH ODS AND BOTH SIDE AIRBAG MODULES. STILL DID NOT CLEAR AIR BAG LIGHT. SO THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE INSPECT THIS VEHICLE ASAP THIS IS COSTING A FORTUNE. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD ANY THING OR I WOULD TRY.
MY SUBARU OUTBACK (2012) IS STALLING WHEN I NORMALLY OR A LITTLE HARDER USE THE BRAKE.I HAVE TO ROLL IN AND STOP VERY SLOWLY. SOMETIMES IT'S EVEN STALL WHEN I'M GOING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE OR JUST STARTING UP AT A GREEN LIGHT. IT'S STALLING EVERY DAY FOR THE LAS 3 WEEKS. (TODAY IS, FEBRUARY 23, 2017).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THE LEFT/RIGHT HEADLIGHTS, FRONT/REAR RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE BURN OUT AT A VERY RAPID RATE. TO DATE, I HAVE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY NON-LED LIGHT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AT LEAST ONCE. BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE (FOUR BULBS). COMPLICATING MATTERS, SUBARU CHARGES OVER $150 DO CHANGE A SINGLE HEADLIGHT IN THEIR SHOP. THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE REQUIRES COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY OF THE FRONT END TO ACCESS THE HEADLIGHTS. LIGHTS THAT BURN OUT SO FREQUENTLY ARE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING THE WINTER IS NOT THE TIME FOR BULBS TO BURN OUT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARUS--THE 2011 OUTBACK HAS LIFETIME BULB REPLACEMENT. WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU ABOUT MY ISSUES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE 2012 MODEL YEAR. THESE ISSUES HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2011. I HAVE SELECTED A GENERIC DATE THIS MONTH BELOW.
HIGH AND LOW BEAM BULBS CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS AND I REPLACE A LIGHT BUILD IN THE HEADLAMPS EVERY 4-6 MONTHS. USUALLY WHEN ONE GOES OUT ANOTHER WILL FOLLOW. EXAMPLE I REPLACED HIGH BEAM THEN 4 DAYS LATER THE LOW BEAM. GREAT VEHICLE BUT I HAVE REPLACED MORE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR THAN THE LAST 4 PAST OWNED VEHICLES COMBINED. BULBS USUALLY BURN OUT WHEN GOING FROM LOW TO HIGH OR VICE VERSUS. DEALER CLAIMS EVERYONE WITH SAME MODEL SPANNING DIFFERENT YEARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT DOES NOT MATTER BRAND OF BULB. I PURCHASED EXPENSIVE BULBS WITH A 1 YR WARRANTY FREE REPLACEMENT IF THEY BURN OUT KNOWING I WILL ONLY GET A FEW MONTHS OUT OF THEM. I WILL STILL HAVE THE HASSLE OF REPLACING THEM BUT ATLEAST I'M DONE BUYING THEM. SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. WITH ALL THE AIRBAG RECALLS I DOUBT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT HEADLIGHTS. NHTSA PLEASE HELP US DEALERS SHOULD FIX THESE VEHICLES BEFORE RESELLING THESE FAULTY VEHICLES!'
AT 70,000 MILES MY CAR STARTED STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN. SHUDDERS AND STALLS AS I COME TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS AS IT HAS STALLED WHEN I AM DRIVING UP A HILL, COMING OFF A FREEWAY, IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED PAINS TO THE NECK, CHIN, AND COLLAR BONE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
PURCHASED A USED 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK AND ABOUT ONE YEAR INTO OWNING IT, IT STARTED TO STUTTER WHEN COMING TO A STOP - AS IF IT WERE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND YOU DID NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. IT WILL STUTTER AND THEN COMPLETELY DIE AND YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK OR NEUTRAL TO START AGAIN. IF BRAKING QUICK OR HARD, IT WILL ALWAYS DIE. GRADUAL STOPS ARE BETTER, BUT IN THE EVENT YOU NEEDED TO STOP FAST AND GET OUT OF THE WAY - YOU CANNOT. SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY OR ANYONE THAT WOULD HIT ME BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED, HOWEVER, WHEN CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY DO NOT FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE AND WANT ME TO PAY OVER $8000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES ON IT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2010-2012 MODELS AND SUBARU ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #16-90-13 DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTOR - SO THEY KNOW THERE IS AN ISSUE BUT DID NOT MAKE IT A RECALL - THOUGH THEY ALSO STATE THEY CHANGED THE ASSEMBLY AFTER 2012 BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSIONS. ALSO WHEN RESEARCHING, MANY OTHER AFFECTED OWNERS STATE ONLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AND WERE CHARGED ANYWHERE FROM $1300 TO $1800 TO ONLY REPLACE THAT - AND SOME STATED SUBARU PAID FOR IT ENTIRELY, OTHER SAY THEY REFUSED TO PAY - THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON I SPOKE WITH AT SUBARU STATED THEY WOULD ONLY DO A 'GOOD WILL GESTURE OF $2500 TOWARDS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. I OWE $15,000 ON
MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY OUTBACK ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER OF 2015 AND I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS 9 TIMES. I LIVE IN ALASKA WITH VERY LITTLE DAY LIGHT AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON, REGARDLESS OF WHERE I LIVE. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOT HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR THIS YET BUT I CAN SEE IT HAPPENING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. PLEASE HELP.
ENGINE SHUDDERS AND OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHEN COMING TO A HARD STOP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER, AND IS IDENTIFIED IN SUBARU TECHNICAL BULLETIN NUMBER 16-90-13R. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
ACCELERATION SHUDDER IN DRIVETRAIN BETWEEN 50 - 60 MPH ON LIGHT ACCELERATION. STARTED AROUND 16,000 MILES. SEE ATTACHED LETTER TO DEALER. DEALER, MANUFACTURER DID NOT FIX. SUBARU SUPPORT LINE SENT ME BACK TO DEALER. ALL THEY DID WAS ROTATE TIRES AND RE-FLASH TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. ON - GOING PROBLEM. HAVE LOST ALL FAITH IN SUBARU.
I HAVE A FAILING TORGUE CONVERTER. THE CAR STALLS OUT WHEN I AM COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE RPMS STAY NORMAL BUT THE CAR STOPS WHILE IN GEAR.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT ON MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, APPROXIMATELY EVERY 3-6 MONTHS OR 3,000-6,000 MILES. ONE SIDE BURNS OUT RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER. I CANNOT SAY IF THE HEADLIGHT BULBS BURN OUT WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY; I DRIVE MOSTLY IN DAYLIGHT THEN NOTICE THE OUTAGE AT NIGHT. REPLACING THE BULB INVOLVES REMOVING THE TIRE AND HAVING A MECHANIC OR DEALERSHIP PERFORM THE WORK. WHAT SHOULD BE AN INFREQUENT SIMPLE TASK IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE! I AM PRIMARILY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS THE BULBS COULD EASILY BOTH BURN OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT.
WHEN I SLOW AND STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT MY CAR RANDOMLY STOPS. IT WILL RESTART BUT THIS HAS CAUSED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS THIS IS USUALLY UNEXPECTED. I HAVE NOTICED IT GETTING WORSE AND THUS FAR I CAN'T ISOLATE THE ISSUE OTHER THEN READING BULLETINS ( BULLETIN NUMBER 16-90-13R ). MY LOCAL FIX IT SHOP AND SUBARU DON'T SEEM TO GIVE US A REASON.
2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. TWO SEPARATE ISSUES. FIRST: BOTH HIGH BEAMS INOPERATIVE. CAUSE: DEFECTIVE DLR MODULE. SECOND: CONTINUAL HEAD LIGHT BULB FAILURES. LEFT AND RIGHT, HIGH AND LOW. NO CAUSE OR CURE FOUND BY OUR LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT, WOULD YOU BELIEVE, NIGHT.
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND VERY QUICKLY ENGOLFED THE ENTIRE CAR - BUMPER TO BUMPER.
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND THE CAR COMES TO A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ('STALLS WHEN IDLING OR SLOWING DOWN'). THE VEHICLE THEN MUST BE PUT INTO 'PARK' MODE IN ORDER TO RE-START. THIS OCCURS NEARLY EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK, AND HAS CREATED MANY, MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR US AND THE DRIVERS AROUND US. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MAY CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN THIS WEEK, AND THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE TSB WAS APPARENTLY ISSUED IN JAN 2014, BUT CUSTOMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEFECT POSES DIRE SAFTEY RISKS. WE ARE BEWILDERED GIVEN THAT THIS ITEM IS CLEARLY A RECALL-WORTHY DEFECT THAT PLACES THE VEHICLE OWNER, AND THE CARS AROUND THEM, IN FORESEEABLE AND CONSIDERABLE DANGER. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER THAT THERE IS 'NOTHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLE' IN SPITE OF THE TSB ISSUED IN JAN '14. A CYNICAL PERSON MIGHT CONCLUDE THAT AN EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO OBFUSCATE THIS SAFETY DEFECT UNTIL CUSTOMER'S WARRANTIES RUN OUT. SIMILARLY, THE MANUFACTURERS TSB LANGUAGE APPEARS TO OBFUSCATE THE DEFECT WITH EUPHEMISTIC LANGUAGE. TO BE CLEAR --- THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT WOULD APPEAR
2012 OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED WITH 93K MILES STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN PLACED IN PARK THE VEHICLE WILL START RIGHT UP AND RUNS FINE. THERE IS NO HESITATION OR ENGINE MISSING WHEN IN MOTION, ONLY WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP. YESTERDAY IT STALLED 3 TIMES DURING A 6 MILE ROUND TRIP TO THE POST OFFICE. I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL STALL WHILE I'M IN AN INTERSECTION WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND AM VULNERABLE TO CROSS TRAFFIC WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES. I'M TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALER TOMORROW AND HOPING THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIX IT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I UNDERSTAND THAT TSB 16-90-13 ADDRESSES THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, APPARENTLY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER.
I PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW, OVER THE COURSE OF 4 YEARS HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL BRAKE MASTER WENT BAD AFTER 2 AND A HALF YEARS, OIL NOT LASTING UNTIL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE AND FINALLY THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE'S A/C DIED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, HE FOUND THE COMPRESSOR HAD GONE. WE ORDERED A NEW ONE. TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT THE NEXT DAY TO RETURN IT TO MECHANIC AND IN ROUTE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING PROFUSELY AND DIED ON THE ROAD 2 MINUTES AFTER IT BEGAN SMOKING. THE VEHICLE IS THEN TOWED TO MECHANIC TO FIND THAT THE OIL AND COOLANT WERE MIXING, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED HEAD GASKET. THIS MAKE & MODEL HAS ALSO BEEN FOUND TO HAVE ISSUES WITH "FAULTY BRAKE MASTERS & LEAKING OIL LEADING TO COOLANT AND HEAD GASKET" ISSUES. NO RECALL, SAFETY OR ADVISEMENT INFORMATION HAS EVER BEEN SENT OR CORRESPONDED TO US REGARDING THIS MATTER. THERE IS HOWEVER AN OPEN CLASS ACTION SUIT IN NEW JERSEY FOR THE ISSUE OF LEAKING OIL AND COOLING ISSUES.
2012 SUBARU OUTBACK LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURE. OUR 2012 OUTBACK BLOWS HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY. THEY LAST APPROX. 3 TO 5 MONTHS BEFORE THEY FAIL. ON A LONG TRIP WE LOST BOTH LOW BEAMS LIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME AND HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS AND FOG LIGHTS ONLY!!! ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FINE. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION!!! MANY OWNERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF THIS FOR YEARS. NHTSA PLEASE DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS!!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND CAUSED THE GLASS TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
ON MAY 15TH, WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING "BRAKE" AND "CHECK ENGINE". TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALER IN BERLIN CT WHO FOUND THE FOLLOWING: "TROUBLE CODE P0171/SYSTEM TO LEAN BANK 1, FAULT TRACED AND FOUND VACUUM LEAK AROUND BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE. VACUUM VALVE CRACKED. RECOMMEND REPLACING BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY". THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 39,120 MILES. THIS PART IS WELL PROTECTED WITHIN THE ENGINE AREA. SERVICE REPAIR DESCRIBED THE PART AS A SMALL PLASTIC PIECE AND STATED HE'S NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. TO MY WAY OF THINKING, THE PART HAD TO BE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS BUILT. CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED BY SUBARU DEALERS. COST IS A LITTLE OVER $700.00. I HAVE THE WORK ORDER IF YOU NEED IT; BUT THE WORDING ABOVE IS DIRECTLY FROM THE ORDER. IS THERE A WAY TO START AN INVESTIGATION SHOWING THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS FAULT? IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN FORCE SUBARU TO PAY FOR THIS?
RE: SERVICE BULLETIN NO.: SB-15-159-13 COMPONENT(S): STRUCTURE NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10051619 RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEEMS TO BE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE MUD/SPLASH GUARD AND MAKING A NOISE WHEN GOING IN REVERSE AND WITH THE WHEEL TURNED TO THE FAR RIGHT. BODY SHOP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THIS. THIS STILL CONTINUES TO OCCUR SINCE EARLY JANUARY, 2015. PROBLEM REPLICATES THE ABOVE SB # AND NHTSA ID#.
IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES. ON THE 4 CARS I OWNED/LEASED PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT EVER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND HESITATED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MASTER CYLINDER WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
CAR HAD FIRE AT STARTER WITH LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION AND ALTERNATOR .VEHILCE HAD BEEN HAVING SHIFTING ISSUES AND TRACTION FROM ALL WHEEL DRIVE NOT WORKING. I HAD VEHICLE TAKEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERS BUT NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM UNTIL THE DAY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH TOLD THEM WHICH PARTS WHERE AT FAULT. MY VEHICLE IS TRUELY A LEMON, FOR IT HAS BEEN ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS
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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 2012 Subaru Outback → · Every Outback year → · How the figures are calculated →