16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Deaths

This Problem Across All Years

All Power Train Complaints

Showing 16 of 16
Aug 2, 2025

When I parked my vehicle in the garage, I smelled an odor coming from the engine compartment. I found that the front right inner axle boot had leaked grease. I then saw that the grease covered the catalytic converter. I am not sure when this started to be a problem, but my main concern was it could have started a fire.

Aug 2, 2025

When I parked my vehicle in the garage, I smelled an odor coming from the engine compartment. I found that the front right inner axle boot had leaked grease. I then saw that the grease covered the catalytic converter. I am not sure when this started to be a problem, but my main concern was it could have started a fire.

Oct 17, 2016 75,000 mi

BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT USED. 18 MONTHS LATER, I'M HAVING THE CURRENT ISSUE. THOUGHT IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS USING WHITE LITHIUM GREASE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAK IN THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT IS PART OF THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING, THE SUBARU DEALER SHIP ALSO CLAIMS THE NOISE TRANSFERS THROUGH THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FROM THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN PUSHING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH AND IS DRIVING ME MAD. MUSCATELL SUBARU INFORMED ME IT WILL MAKE THIS NOISE AND EVENTUALLY BREAK AND MY CLUTCH WILL THEN BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THIS TO OCCUR AND ITS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THATS JUST ANNOYING AT THE MOMENT. BUT APPARENTLY THEY'LL HAVE TO LIFT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE AREA WHERE THE REPAIR WOULD OCCUR. I'VE SEEN EARLIER YEARS OF THIS MODEL HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SUPPOSEDLY 2009 MODELS HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED, BUT IT SEEMS THAT MY 2009 IS HAVING THIS ISSUE... *TR

Oct 17, 2016 75,000 mi

BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT USED. 18 MONTHS LATER, I'M HAVING THE CURRENT ISSUE. THOUGHT IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS USING WHITE LITHIUM GREASE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAK IN THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT IS PART OF THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING, THE SUBARU DEALER SHIP ALSO CLAIMS THE NOISE TRANSFERS THROUGH THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FROM THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN PUSHING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH AND IS DRIVING ME MAD. MUSCATELL SUBARU INFORMED ME IT WILL MAKE THIS NOISE AND EVENTUALLY BREAK AND MY CLUTCH WILL THEN BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THIS TO OCCUR AND ITS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THATS JUST ANNOYING AT THE MOMENT. BUT APPARENTLY THEY'LL HAVE TO LIFT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE AREA WHERE THE REPAIR WOULD OCCUR. I'VE SEEN EARLIER YEARS OF THIS MODEL HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SUPPOSEDLY 2009 MODELS HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED, BUT IT SEEMS THAT MY 2009 IS HAVING THIS ISSUE... *TR

Aug 12, 2016 37,457 mi

AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES.

Aug 12, 2016 37,457 mi

AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES.

Feb 4, 2013 4,500 mi

THE VEHICLE IS A STATION WAGON WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DRIVEN ONLY BY MY WIFE AND I. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE 3 YEAR, 30,000 LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD, BECAUSE IT OCCURRED INFREQUENTLY, AND DID NOT APPEAR TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, IT'S SUBARU'S POLICY, AS STATED BY THE DEALER MOYER SUBARU, TO NOT ACT UNTIL A PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED, AND TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMER IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. HOWEVER, THE 5-YEAR, 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, AND A SUBARU GOLD PLUS, 7-YEAR, 70,000 MILE WARRANTY, ARE STILL IN EFFECT. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES, WHICH IS NECESSARY ON ROADS SLICK FROM RAIN, SNOW OR ICE, OR WHEN THERE IS SOME OTHER HAZARD THAT WARRANTS SLOW SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT TO NEUTRAL, THERE IS AN ALARMING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND YOU MUST BRAKE HARD TO ARREST THE ACCELERATION, WHICH IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SKIDDING AND SLIDING. I ESTIMATE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN PAST TWO MONTHS OF WINTER WEATHER. LAST WEEK (1/30/13), I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MOYER SUBARU WHO TOLD ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS, AND WOULD NOT DO A ROAD TEST UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY THE COST IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. I AM UNWILLING TO DO THAT, SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN; ONLY THAT IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND LIKELY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INSTEAD, I REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON SUBARU WEBSITE, AND THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT (SR # 1-3193753102), BUT MADE NO OFFER TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU IMPREZA OWNER'S GROUP REPORTS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS IMPREZAS, AND SOME OUTBACKS. WE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON A 2002 OUTBACK THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY AFTER IT PROGRESSED TO HIGHER GEARS.

Feb 4, 2013 4,500 mi

THE VEHICLE IS A STATION WAGON WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DRIVEN ONLY BY MY WIFE AND I. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE 3 YEAR, 30,000 LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD, BECAUSE IT OCCURRED INFREQUENTLY, AND DID NOT APPEAR TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, IT'S SUBARU'S POLICY, AS STATED BY THE DEALER MOYER SUBARU, TO NOT ACT UNTIL A PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED, AND TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMER IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. HOWEVER, THE 5-YEAR, 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, AND A SUBARU GOLD PLUS, 7-YEAR, 70,000 MILE WARRANTY, ARE STILL IN EFFECT. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES, WHICH IS NECESSARY ON ROADS SLICK FROM RAIN, SNOW OR ICE, OR WHEN THERE IS SOME OTHER HAZARD THAT WARRANTS SLOW SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT TO NEUTRAL, THERE IS AN ALARMING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND YOU MUST BRAKE HARD TO ARREST THE ACCELERATION, WHICH IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SKIDDING AND SLIDING. I ESTIMATE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN PAST TWO MONTHS OF WINTER WEATHER. LAST WEEK (1/30/13), I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MOYER SUBARU WHO TOLD ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS, AND WOULD NOT DO A ROAD TEST UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY THE COST IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. I AM UNWILLING TO DO THAT, SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN; ONLY THAT IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND LIKELY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INSTEAD, I REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON SUBARU WEBSITE, AND THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT (SR # 1-3193753102), BUT MADE NO OFFER TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU IMPREZA OWNER'S GROUP REPORTS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS IMPREZAS, AND SOME OUTBACKS. WE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON A 2002 OUTBACK THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY AFTER IT PROGRESSED TO HIGHER GEARS.

May 24, 2011

ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE - I PUT THE TRANS IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO MOVE WHEN I REACHED OVER TO OPEN THE GLOVE BOX. AS I REACHED MY CUFF CAUGHT ON THE TRANSMISSION KNOB AND PULLED SELECTOR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE BUT THERE'S NO LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR HANDLE. THE OLDER CARS USED TO REQUIRE YOU TO PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP ON THE KNOB AND /OR PULL UP ON AN INTERLOCK HANDLE. LOOKS LIKE I WAS LUCKY GOING SO SLOW.

May 24, 2011

ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE - I PUT THE TRANS IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO MOVE WHEN I REACHED OVER TO OPEN THE GLOVE BOX. AS I REACHED MY CUFF CAUGHT ON THE TRANSMISSION KNOB AND PULLED SELECTOR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE BUT THERE'S NO LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR HANDLE. THE OLDER CARS USED TO REQUIRE YOU TO PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP ON THE KNOB AND /OR PULL UP ON AN INTERLOCK HANDLE. LOOKS LIKE I WAS LUCKY GOING SO SLOW.

May 12, 2011 32,000 mi

ABOUT A MONTH AGO (APRIL 2011) WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH I REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX AND MY SHIRT CUFF CAUGHT THE SHIFT HANDLE AND THRU THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE NO BUILT IN SAFETY LOCKS OR MECHANISMS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO MANUAL SHIFT OPTION. ACTUALLY YOU CAN SHIFT ANYWHERE FROM REVERSE TO MANUAL AUTO BY BUMPING OR PULLING THE SHIFT HANDLE WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IS THERE A RECALL AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. EVERY AMERICAN MADE CAR I'VE OWNED HAD A BUILT IN MECHANISM THAT REQUIRED THAT YOU PUSH DOWN / PULL UP AND PUSH FORWARD OR PULL BACKWARDS AT THE SAME TIME THRU SOME TYPE OF MANUAL LOCKING MECHANISM...... THANKS I'M STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION IS UNKNOWN. *TR

May 12, 2011 32,000 mi

ABOUT A MONTH AGO (APRIL 2011) WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH I REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX AND MY SHIRT CUFF CAUGHT THE SHIFT HANDLE AND THRU THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE NO BUILT IN SAFETY LOCKS OR MECHANISMS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO MANUAL SHIFT OPTION. ACTUALLY YOU CAN SHIFT ANYWHERE FROM REVERSE TO MANUAL AUTO BY BUMPING OR PULLING THE SHIFT HANDLE WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IS THERE A RECALL AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. EVERY AMERICAN MADE CAR I'VE OWNED HAD A BUILT IN MECHANISM THAT REQUIRED THAT YOU PUSH DOWN / PULL UP AND PUSH FORWARD OR PULL BACKWARDS AT THE SAME TIME THRU SOME TYPE OF MANUAL LOCKING MECHANISM...... THANKS I'M STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION IS UNKNOWN. *TR

Feb 18, 2011 46,000 mi

THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, PULLING ONTO MAIN TWO-WAY ROAD, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, CAR JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS 50 MPH CARS AND TRUCKS WERE COMING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT US - WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, SCREAMING THEIR HEADS OFF. I MANAGED TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART AND PULL OVER, GOT VEHICLE TOWED. CURRY SUBARU COMPUTER COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING. SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED 02/17/2011, MAKING A LEFT ONTO A MAIN ROAD. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE KILLED, THE CAR DASH LIGHTS FLASHED AND CAR DIED. I MANAGED TO RESTART AND JERK FORWARD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH-TRAP. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS OTHERS WITH SAME EXACT SITUATION. I BROUGHT CAR TO MY DEALER - BILL KOLB - WITH NO SATISFACTION. CAR REVVS FORWARD AT TIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING. SITING MANY ON LINE COMPLAINTS, SUBARU MUST BE WELL AWARE OF THE DANGER THIS SITUATION PRESENTS, I CANNOT OPERATE THIS CAR - MY CHILDREN ARE TERRIFIED AFTER TWO INCIDENTS OF NEAR COLLISIONS.

Feb 18, 2011 46,000 mi

THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, PULLING ONTO MAIN TWO-WAY ROAD, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, CAR JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS 50 MPH CARS AND TRUCKS WERE COMING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT US - WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, SCREAMING THEIR HEADS OFF. I MANAGED TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART AND PULL OVER, GOT VEHICLE TOWED. CURRY SUBARU COMPUTER COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING. SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED 02/17/2011, MAKING A LEFT ONTO A MAIN ROAD. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE KILLED, THE CAR DASH LIGHTS FLASHED AND CAR DIED. I MANAGED TO RESTART AND JERK FORWARD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH-TRAP. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS OTHERS WITH SAME EXACT SITUATION. I BROUGHT CAR TO MY DEALER - BILL KOLB - WITH NO SATISFACTION. CAR REVVS FORWARD AT TIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING. SITING MANY ON LINE COMPLAINTS, SUBARU MUST BE WELL AWARE OF THE DANGER THIS SITUATION PRESENTS, I CANNOT OPERATE THIS CAR - MY CHILDREN ARE TERRIFIED AFTER TWO INCIDENTS OF NEAR COLLISIONS.

Jul 29, 2010 13,357 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN EVERY SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SPEED SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. TWO HOURS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE ANOTHER REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,357 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,800.

Jul 29, 2010 13,357 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH WHEN EVERY SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY WHILE CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SPEED SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. TWO HOURS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE ANOTHER REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,357 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,800.