2012 SUBARU OUTBACK Power Train Problems

When coming to a stop, the car shudders and often stalls just like if you didn't press in the clutch on a manual transmission. No warning lights or messages. See details in TSB- 16-90-13R. Subaru knows about this issue and it has been reported in many vehicles. My car was at a Subaru dealership at least half a dozen times during 2017-2018 when this issue came to light and no one notified us to have it checked. Fast forward to now and for the last year my car has been shuddering when coming to a stop, and about 2-3 months ago, it started stalling. This is an absolute safety issue and should be a recall. I've been in many situations where it stalls and I am vulnerable to getting rear-ended because it takes time to restart the car and get moving again. This is particularly true in traffic or situations where you need to stop suddenly and others behind you are not anticipating you being stopped in the roadway.

Vehicle stalls when stopping. This is a huge safety issue because stalling at intersections can cause accidents. Dealership diagnosed a faulty torque converter. This torque converter (it should be part number 31100AB170) issue is widely known in this production series of the Subaru outback. After hundreds of complaints were filed with the NHTSA, Subaru extended the warranty on all their automatic transmissions to avoid a recall around 2017, but closed the extended warranty in 2022. Subaru now tries to convince their customers that these vehicles are too old for the issue to be attributable to them, despite knowing that they equipped these vehicles with defective parts. See the following: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving on the highway, we were forced to brake swiftly. As a result, the known issue of the torque converter in this model of car caused the engine to stall in the middle lane of the highway and almost causing our deaths as multiple tractor-trailers had to swerve to avoid our immobilized vehicle until it could be restarted. This could've led to to the deaths of me, my family and many other road-users. I can't believe this isn't a recall when it's such a wide-spread and known problem with this model.

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated, prompting the contact to quickly exit the roadway, where the failure persisted. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the continuously variable transmission (CVT). The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

The car stalls out at stops. It shutters and them stalls like a 5 speed car. I have almost been rear-ended on a couple occasions. It is now in the shop for a torque converter replacement

Couple weeks back while driving on the highway my check engine light came on along with different lights and transmission oil warning and car immediately lost power. I was able to pull over without incident. Then I took it to my local mechanic, they changed the transmission fluid and changed some fuses. It seemed fine after the repair and I started to drive home, but again the same warning lights came on and the repair shop advised me to take it to the nearest Subaru dealer which is an hour away from my home. I paid for the diagnostics and the dealer concluded the problem as follows "Transmission Valve Body: faulty causing check engine light and at oil temp light, will need to sit overnight for sealant to dry before fluid can be added.". I did some research and found that this is a known problem for the 2012 Outback and Subaru had a 10 year/100k extended warranty for the exact problem and didn't do any recall even though so many vehicles were affected and are being affected every day. There are numerous complaints regarding this. Though as being 2nd owner and have driven just 9k miles in 2 years while performing regular maintenance this is very unfortunate and dangerous. I emailed the manufacturer to cover this since 100k was up and it should have been recalled. This was their response" Dear [XXX]: Thank you for contacting Subaru. Your vehicle did have a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty for extended transmission coverage. Regrettably, it is far outside of warranty and Subaru of America would not be in a position to consider financial assistance towards your repair. I will notate your feedback in the case for Product Development to consider when designing future models. Sincerely, David Subaru of America, Inc. Customer Advocacy Department 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) Case Number: [XXX]" They should recall the vehicle for this problem or offer free repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

When coming to a quick or hard stop, car will rumble then stall out. To confirm that the issue is transmission based I shift the car into neutral then brake quickly and the issue does not arise.

The torque converter is failing at 113,00. It has happened at red lights, but more recently while on a Texas freeway that I had to come to a hard stop which cause the engine to stall out at 40 mph. My child was in the car and on a fast paced highway my safety was placed in jeopardy. It is going to the shop to be repaired because is this. I will have proof of repair service and faulty part. .

Concerns of The torque converter - there is very low engine RPM when coming to a stop. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter causing restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. This has resulted in low engine ROM and stalling of my vehicle on dangerous intersections. My car stalled in an intersection several times due to this issue almost causing sever injuries or death. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. Yes, has been inspected by independent service center. No warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the failure. They first appeared at/around 125,000 miles.

WHEN BRAKING HARD, THE ENGINE SHUDDERS AND QUITS. WHEN CAR IS PUT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL IT CAN BE STARTED. AT TIME THE ENTIRE DASH LIGHTS ALL GO ON BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUDDERS AND QUITS WHEN BRAKING AT STOP LIGHTS. MY MECHANIS SAID IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH SUBARU 2012 MODELS. THIS COULD CAUSE MY CAR TO BE REARENDED BY ANOTHER CAR WITH THE SUDDEN ENGINE STOP. SUBARU WILL NOT RECALL THESE VEHICLES BUT DOES OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT, IN MOST CASES, THE ISSUES HAPPENS WITH MORE THAN 100,00 MILES ON THE DODMETER. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.

I own a 2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium. The vehicle has approximately 161k miles. Recently, I have noticed the car beginning to stutter when approaching an abrupt stop. There have since been several instances where the car will stall when coming to a quick stop. This happened to me in the middle of traffic one day and I had my family in the car with me. In my opinion, this issue jeopardized the safety of my family. Stalling in the middle of the road and having to restart the car each time is a huge concern for me. My wife and I are now terrified to drive the car due to the looming safety concern. Upon further research, the problem stems from a faulty torque converter on the car, confirmed by TSB 16-90-13R. Subaru has not made this a recall unfortunately, but I don't feel I should be the one to pay the cost for a repair that is in my opinion very serious. Please take action to make this needed repair a more serious concern.

Vehicle has always stuttered coming to stops but has began to start stalling. The problem was never diagnosed previously. Now that it is have found to be the torque converter I actually know what is happening. I don’t think being unable to rely on you vehicle to continue running in an emergency stop or break pump is a safety issue Subaru should take lightly. I have been faced with two Subaru known problem repairs recently that I didn’t know of at the time of purchase. The head gasket which left me stranded on a trip and a torque converter. The first was close to a 4k$ repair and the second is coming close to 2k$ repair. I am growing frustrated with Subaru ignoring how dangerous this and also how they are ignoring customer concerns. Both these issues are well documented by owners experiencing the same things I am. I would like to express this has happened since the vehicle was new but has gotten worse and is now stalling. Thank you, Joni

I own a 2012 Outback 2.5 Limited, which I purchased new from a Subaru dealer in Evanston IL in June 2012. It currently has about 76000 miles on it. In the last 6 months my car started to shudder when coming to a stop at a traffic signal, or sometimes while being stopped at the signal. The shudder is significant but typically momentary and happens randomly. From the last 2-3 weeks, the car has started to stall and the engine shuts down abruptly when coming to a stop. This is very stressful, but fortunately, so far I have been able to put the car in P and start it again every time. However, this is very dangerous and puts me and my family at grave risk of a serious accident from cars coming from behind as my car stalls abruptly. Again, this happens randomly which makes it even more dangerous and impossible to mitigate as a driver. This has now happened multiple times and I called a local Subaru dealership. They gave an estimate of over $8000 to repair this issue. They also said they will repair the car only if they are able to recreate the problem. I am afraid that they will not be able to recreate the problem as it happens randomly as mentioned earlier. As far as I know no warning lights on my dash are on and the car otherwise runs normally.

I experienced issues with the engine of my 2012 Subaru Outback shutting down at times when coming to a stop, and also stalling/idling when accelerating (such as when entering freeway). My engine light and brake light also turned on at the same time. Very concerned, I took it in to the local Subaru service center at around 112,000 miles. They inspected the car and replaced 2 spark plugs, and must have restart the computer to turn the warning lights off. Recently at 117,000 after entering the freeway at night , my car roughly idled and the stalled and would not properly accelerate, almost causing me to crash as it happened suddenly while driving on freeway. The engine light was flashing and brake light came on as well. I immediately pulled over. After the Subaru inspection the next day, I was told that this was being caused by the torque converter and is a known issue on this model. This is a very dangerous issue, I believe that if this incident would have happened the next morning while on my commute instead of at the less busy hour at night, a crash would have occurred. I believe a recall is warranted on this dangerous issue as it is known by Subaru that this issue affects certain models and they will not provide much help to customers if they are past the extended warranty. The issue can occur past the 100,000 mile mark on an otherwise good condition and well cared for vehicle. This puts the customer and other drivers at great risk. I am very concerned and upset about the danger this put myself and others in. I was personally left on the side of the freeway at night at 7 months pregnant, but the situation could have been much worse. Since Subaru is not required to let customers know of this issue, customers may experience this issue without proper remediation until a serious issue happens.

Torque Converter issue consistent with Subaru Service Bulletin 16-90-13. Although Subaru issued a service bulletin with extended warranty rather than a recall, I want to document this as an ongoing problem with the model year and still a dangerous one. 08/09/2021 the vehicle shuddered while coming to a stop at a light, like the RPMs were dropping too low. At the next light, the vehicle shuddered and stalled while coming to a stop at the light. I was able to restart the vehicle after I realized the engine was dead and I needed to put the vehicle back into park before it would turnover. I couldn't immediately identify what I needed to do to restart, since the car won't turnover in drive, so I was stalled for a cycle of the stoplight. A few days later, the vehicle again shuddered and stalled while coming to a stop at a light. I had been driving for maybe 3 minutes from a cold start. I was again able to restart the vehicle. The second stall definitely felt like a transmission issue, and matched the description of a bad torque converter (technical service bulletin 16-90-13) for this model year. I had the issue diagnosed at my local Subaru dealership, and they identified it as being consistent with a bad torque converter, possibly requiring replacement of the valve body assembly if torque converter replacement was ineffective. I had the torque converter replaced by a Subaru dealership on 09/15/2021. My vehicle is outside the extended warranty period. I've made several stops without issue since the repair. With this issue, I was concerned what would happen if I was on the freeway and needed to suddenly decelerate, or what would have happened if my first time experiencing the issue, where I was stalled for almost a minute and was unable to restart the vehicle immediately, would have occurred during a freeway slowdown. I would have been a sitting duck. Even being stalled at a busy light could have been dangerous for me.

THE VEHICLE STALLED A FEW TIMES IN 2017 AND 2018 WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE; AND WHILE COMING FROM A STOP, ON STEEP HILL, AND RELEASING BRAKE TO GET MOVING IN TRAFFIC. IT ALSO SHUDDERED RANDOMLY WHILE TRANSITIONING GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DIVE AND VICE VERSA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO WE PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY IDENTIFIED IT AS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT CAN BE RESOLVED VIA AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 70K MILES. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODY AND STRAINER IN 2018. THE CAR RANDOMLY SHUDDERS SLIGHTLY BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, BUT THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PARTS COULD NOT IDENTIFY IT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO COULD ALSO NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE IT SHOOK NOTICEABLE AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP BUT THE CAR DID NOT STALL. IN 2021, WITH THE CAR APPROACHING 97.5K IN MILES, STALLED WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ON A BUSY STREET. IT RESTARTED AFTER I PUT INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND GET OUT SAFELY. I NOTICED IT SHUDDERS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. SOMETIMES IT FEELS UNSAFE WHEN I AM TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ON A BUSY STREET OR ON A HILL. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO MADE THE WARRANTY REPAIR. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND NO CODES ON THE ECU. THEY SAID THEY FELT A SLIGHT SHUDDER BUT THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THEY SAID I COULD TAKE IT FOR A SECOND OPINION BUT I DID THAT ALREADY AT ANOTHER DEALER PREVIOUSLY. I SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR TO TRY TO GET A DIAGNOSIS BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED. IT FEELS VERY STRANGE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE AND IDENTIFY. SOMETIMES WE FEEL UNSAFE OR WORRIED THAT IT WILL STALL AT THE WRONG TIME.

Mileage: 97,380

SUBARU OUTBACK (2012), WHEN STOPPED FOR 1-2 MINUTES, WITH THE ENGINE AND IGNITION OFF, AND THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE (TO CHECK A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD) SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AS I WAS LEANING IN TO RETRIEVE MY BAG. I WAS DRAGGED ACROSS THE NORMALLY BUSY ROAD, BARELY ABLE TO HANG ON (BY BOTH HANDS GRABBING ANYTHING I COULD INSIDE THE CAR). MY LEGS SCRAPED ON THE GROUND VIOLENTLY BURNING THOUGH MY SNEAKER THEN ANKLE FLESH AND GRAZED THE BONE BADLY. MY LEGS ON THE ROAD TURNED THE 1.5 TON VEHICLE A FEW DEGREES AS IT CAREENED UNDER RAPID ACCELERATION REACHING AN ESTIMATED 8-10 MPH BUMPING OVER 2 KERBS PULLED ME EVEN FURTHER OUT OF THE CAR, BUT STILL HANGING ON. LUCKILY THE OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR ENGAGED WITH A HEDGE WHICH RIPPED THE DOOR ALMOST OFF THE CAR AND TURNED THE CAR ANOTHER 35 DEGREES OR SO, AVOIDING A VIOLENT CRASH INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. INSTEAD THE CAR GRAZED A WOODEN POST (FURTHER SLOWING IT) THEN HIT A SECOND POST WHICH BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HARD STOP. THIS PUSHED ME OUT OF THE CAR ONTO A PATCH OF GRASS, BACK TO THE CAR. AN ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT LATER REVEALED THE SHIFT-INTERLOCK HAD FAILED (INVOLVING A COUPLE OF PARTS) SO THAT THE GEAR MAY BE SHIFTED (OR SHIFT ITSELF) WHEN THE ENGINE AND IGNITION ARE OFF WITH THE KEYS STILL IN. MY INJURIES INCLUDE ANKLE (ON A LEG WITH A HIP REPLACEMENT), PTSD (DIAGNOSED AS CAUSED 100% BY THE CRASH) AND EXACERBATION OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS CAUSING DEBILITATING BOUTS OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA AND WITH ADDITIONAL BRAIN DAMAGE (PROVEN BY INCREASED LESION LOAD ON MRI SCAN). THEREFORE THE VEHICLE FAILURE ON THIS MODEL IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR. WE ALSO RESEARCHED AND FOUND ONE ALMOST IDENTICAL CASE WITH THE SAME MODEL, THE SAME ROLL-IN-PARK BUT FAR MORE SERIOUS INJURY AS THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE DOOR, APPARENTLY AS THE CAR ROLLED OVER.

Mileage: 47,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL AND HAD ASSISTANCE FROM A BYSTANDER TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED BURLINGTON SUBARU (351 SHELBURNE RD, BURLINGTON, VT 05401) OF THE FAILURE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FRACTURED REVERSE FORK SHIFT IN THE REVERSE CORD AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,450.

Mileage: 117,450

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED SUBARU OF SPOKANE (423 W 3RD AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99201) AND RAIRDON'S SUBARU OF AUBURN (3025 AUBURN WAY N, AUBURN, WA 98002) AND WAS PROVIDED ESTIMATES FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. *BF

Mileage: 130,000

VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUTTERS WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. STALLS OUT OFTEN WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS.

Mileage: 155,000

VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING/SHUDDERING WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKES COMING TO A STOP, ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF TWICE DURING THIS. NO PATTERN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED, APPEARS TO BE "RANDOM". WILL SLOW DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT AND RIGHT BEFORE THE COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUDDERS THEN COMPLETELY DIES WITH NO WARNING. ALL THE LIGHTS POP UP ON THE DASHBOARD, BRAKE/GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING UNLESS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING... DEALERSHIP STATES TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PAID FOR BY SUBARU

Mileage: 112,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WHEN STOPPED WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (HANANIA SUBARU OF ORANGE PARK 6400 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244; (855) 851-7200) WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. INVALID VIN. *LN *TR

Mileage: 166,000

VEHICLE SHUTTERS AND STALLS WHEN BRAKING ON A CITY STREET, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER (I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN THE WINTER OF 2018). ON SEPT. 13, 2020, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LURCHED FORWARD AS I PULLED OUT ON A CITY STREET AT LOWER SPEEDS. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL TEMP, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH. DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED A P0700 AND P2764 ERROR CODES INDICATING A NEED FOR A VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT. SERVICE BULLETIN 16-107-17R INDICATED THAT WHEN REPLACING THE VALVE BODY A NEWLY DESIGNED PART SHOULD BE USED BECAUSE THE OLD PART DOES NOT WORK AS WELL. WHEN I CALLED SUBRARU, THEY DISCOURAGED ME FROM REPLACING THE VALVE BODY WITH THE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED PART EVEN IF IT WAS BRAND NEW. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS REPAIR AND I FEEL THAT BECAUSE SUBRARU HAS A NEWLY DESIGNED VALVE BODY PART TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT THE RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT SHOULD BE A CONSIDERED A RECALL INSTEAD.

Mileage: 102,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS ALSO A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF SAN BERNARDINO (645 AUTO CENTER DR S, SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92408, (909) 571-5480) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WORKED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO SUBARU OF ONTARIO (1195 AUTO CENTER DR, ONTARIO, CA 91761, (909) 487-8325) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

Mileage: 87,000

INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY SUBARU 2012 OUTBACK, PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. SUBARU IS NOTORIOUS FOR DASH LIGHTS FLASHING WHEN THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR IN BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ISSUE IN ABOUT 3 INSTANCES.I DID THE FLASHING LIGHTS RESET, BUT CAME BACK ON. WHEN LIGHTS FLASH, MANY OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS CEASE, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, MANUAL GEAR FUNCTION GOES INOP, ETC. PLUS FLASHING LIGHTS DISGUISE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY BE GOING ON AS WELL (SUCH AS BRAKES), PLUS VERY SCARY IN ITSELF. HISTORICALLY, I AM TRACKING THAT SUBARU HAS HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS AND NO TIME OR REASON OF WHAT COULD CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS OR EVEN A SOLUTION FROM THEM. SUBARU FINALLY SAID I HAVE CVT ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE PIECE IT CAUSE THIS TO SLOW DOWN IN THE CAR AND CONCERNED THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT DECIDE TO GIVE THEM A CALL TRYING TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVE BUT WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY!. THERE WAS A LETTER SEND TO ME THAT EXTENDED FROM 60K MILES TO 100K JUST RECENTLY, BUT SUBARU SAID MY CAR JUST MISSED THE WARRANT WORK/RECALL BY 4K MILES WHICH I THINK IS QUITE CONCERNING SINCE IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE (RECALL). DOES THE ISSUE STOP AT 100K? *TR

Mileage: 95,000

INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY SUBARU 2012 OUTBACK, PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. SUBARU IS NOTORIOUS FOR DASH LIGHTS FLASHING WHEN THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR IN BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. FLASHING LIGHTS RESET, BUT CAME BACK ON. WHEN LIGHTS FLASH, MANY OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS CEASE, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, MANUAL GEAR FUNCTION GOES INOP, ETC. PLUS FLASHING LIGHTS DISGUISE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY BE GOING ON AS WELL (SUCH AS BRAKES), PLUS VERY DISTRACTING IN ITSELF. HISTORICALLY, I AM TRACKING SUBARU HAS HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS AND NO RHYME OR REASON OF WHAT COULD CAUSE THESE. ANYHOW, SUBARU FINALLY SAID I HAVE A POWER TRAIN ISSUE, BAD SOLENOID THAT IS CAUSING IRREGULAR SHIFTING OR NO SHIFTING TO A HIGHER GEAR. IT CAUSES A VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND CONCERNED THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT EXTENDED FROM 60K MILES TO 100K JUST RECENTLY, BUT SUBARU SAID MY CAR JUST MISSED THE WARRANT WORK/RECALL BY 14K MILES WHICH I THINK IS QUITE CONCERNING SINCE IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE (RECALL). DOES THE ISSUE STOP AT 100K? I ATTACHED THE RESPONSE FROM SUBARU. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND STALLS WHEN BRAKING HARD. IT WILL NOT STALL ON A GRADUAL STOP BUT WILL STALL IN ANY SITUATION WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY. DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PANIC STOP TO STALL, JUST HARD BRAKING. RESULTING STALL MEANS LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. HAVE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART VEHICLE. HAS NO ISSUES WHEN RUNNING OR DRIVING. ENGINE RUNS VEY SMOOTH AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AS I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND REPEATABLE IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. NO COMPUTER CODES SET FOR THIS ISSUE. YET IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THERE IS HARD BRAKING WHICH IS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO HAVE MY WIFE AND SON DRIVE IT MUCH LESS MYSELF.

Mileage: 114,000

TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER HILL SUBARU LOCATED AT (4710 MILLER TRUNK HWY, DULUTH, MN 55811, (218) 722-5337) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

TRANSMISSION JERKS. THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. TRAC CONTROL,BRAKE LOIGHT AND CRUISE LIGHT FLASHING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION!CHECKED INTERNET AND MANY YEARS AND MODELS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF PARTS ALONE OVER $900 HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING.

Mileage: 120,000

VEHICLE STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ONCE WHEN BRAKING HARD AFTER A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE SECOND WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR ALSO SHUTTERS A LITTLE WHEN IDLING. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAD A $3K TRANSMISSION REPAIR LAST YEAR. THEY SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD BE $1700. THE CAR HAS 178,000 MILES AND HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT A NEW CAR. WHAT?! I KNOW IN THE PAST THESE CARS WOULD EASILY MAKE IT TO 300K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.

Mileage: 178,000

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED YOU CAN AVOID THE STALL BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE. THE SUDDEN STALL OUT IS VERY UNSAFE AS IT TAKES PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTARTING, PUTTING IN DRIVE TO MOBILIZE THE VEHICLE AGAIN.

Mileage: 139,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REDUCING THE SPEED TO 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF GLENDALE (1308 S. BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

Mileage: 162,000

I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO SHUT OFF WHEN BRAKING. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED ISSUES WHERE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK UP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 WHO POINTED ME TO A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THE SAME ISSUES I WAS HAVING: TSB 16-90-13R, AND RECOMMENDED I GO TO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS, AND REPAIR POTENTIALLY UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID TAKE MY VEHICLE AND GET A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WHICH SEEMED TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, OR SEE ANY RELATED CODES; THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANY RECORD OF THIS ISSUE RECORDED EXCEPT FOR A RELATED WARRANTY REQUEST FOR SEAT REPAIR. NOW THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AGAIN, I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY GAVE ME THE SAME RESPONSE AND I ESCALATED TO SOA ASKING FOR HELP GETTING THIS TRANSMISSION REPAIRED. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THE SAME AS THE DEALERSHIP'S RESPONSE - THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE, AND THEY WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE FROM TIME TO TIME, AND I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE. MY WIFE PRIMARILY DRIVES THIS VEHICLE TO TAKE MY CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE LAST TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT THE GYM, AND I HAD TO DROP EVERYTHING TO GO PICK UP MY CHILD FROM SCHOOL. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, WAITING FOR A MINUTE, AND STARTING AGAIN. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO OCCUR AT LOW RPMS REGARDLESS IF IT IS PARKED, OR ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAYS.

Mileage: 70,000

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOST POWER IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO THEN STOP AGAIN. I HAD A SEMI RIGHT BEHIND ME THAT ALMOST RAN OVER THE TOP OF ME. AS I MADE IT TO MY EXIT IT BEGAN MAKING NOISE. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT INTO MY MECHANIC WHO THOROUGHLY INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED.

Mileage: 117,000

AFTER 7 YEARS OF DILIGENT CARE OF MY 2012 OUTBACK, MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN MY MAKE AND MODEL. THIS WILL COST ME $7K OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE. SUBARU CLAIMS TO HAVE 'QUALITY AS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY', BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND HAVE PUT THE BURDEN ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS MY THIRD SUBARU, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE COMPANY STOOD BEHIND THEIR WORK AND SUPPORTED THEIR CUSTOMERS

Mileage: 156,000

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IT STARTS TO SHUDDER WHEN SLOWING THEN STALLS AT STOP. SAFETY IS BECOMING AN ISSUE WHEN IN TRAFFIC, OR ON HIGHWAY IN STOP AND GO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES OR CVT TRANSMISSIONS JUST EXTENDED WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE NOT ISSUES WHEN THIS WAS EXTENDED. THIS IS ON A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK, WITH 130,000 MILES

Mileage: 130,000

ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR FROM A LOW SPEED AS WHEN MAKING A TURN OR MERGING, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND BUCKS, COMES TO A NEAR STALL AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME, MORE OFTEN 2 OR 3 TIMES IN QUICK SUCCESSION, UNTIL THE VEHICLE GAINS MORE SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AND THE SYMPTOMS SUBSIDE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NECESSITY A MAXIMUM 20 MILES ON A FEW DAYS SINCE SYMPTOMS BEGAN, CONSISTENTLY BUCKING AND NEAR STALLING IN THOSE CONDITIONS, CAUSING TRAFFIC DISTURBANCES AND ENDANGERING MY FAMILY, MYSELF, AND OTHER DRIVES ON THE ROAD. 4 DAYS LATER THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING-CHECK ENGINE, FLASHING EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, FLASHING AT TEMP OIL-I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD, BUCKING AND NEAR STALLING ALL THE WAY. CAR WAS TOWED. ODB-II CODES WERE-TRANSMISSION CONTROL MALFUNCTION, AND TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID CENTRAL CIRCUIT. MECHANIC SAYS CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR. BACKGROUND CHECKING SHOWS THAT INSTEAD OF A RECALL, A WARRANTY WAS PUT IN PLACE THEN DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS, WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED, AND SUBARU REFUSES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THIS UNSAFE, EXPENSIVE, AND KNOWN ISSUE. THERE IS ADDITIONALLY A SULEV EMISSIONS WARRANTY WHICH COVERS THIS, BUT IT ONLY GOES TO 150,000 MILES AND IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 164,000

2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH APPROX. 122,000 MILES. THE CVT TRANSMISSION BEGAN RASPING WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION. RANDOMLY, AND OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE STALLED, PARTICULARLY WHEN RAPIDLY DECELERATING UNDER BRAKING CONDITIONS. THIS REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RATHER LENGTHY HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUBARU TRANSMISSION, AND THAT SUBARU, APPARENTLY TO AVOID A RECALL, EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY ON THE 2012 OUTBACK TO JULY 31, 2018 OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, A FACT THAT SUBARU USA ON JULY 29, 2019 TACITLY ACKNOWLEDGE (THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD THAT I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED), BUT SUBARU USA SAID, DESPITE THIS, THAT THE WARRANTY DATE AND MILEAGE HAD NOW EXPIRED AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. SUBARU USA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $9500 WAS "QUITE HIGH" AND TOLD ME THAT AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE THEY WERE PREPARED TO OFFER ME $1500 CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU.

Mileage: 122,000

MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN EXITING A FREEWAY, COMING TO A STOP ON A SIDE STREET. SPEED DOES NOT PLAY A FACTOR IN THIS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND CLEARLY, IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THIS MATTER FROM SUBARU THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND STILL SHOULD BE A RECALL. FATALITIES COULD BE A RESULT OF THIS! SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND NOT JUST BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY. AGAIN THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISUUE!

Mileage: 109,000

THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WARNING. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH SUBARU IS VERY AWARE OF THIS CVT ISSUES AND HAS TAKEN A VERY POOR AND LIMITED APPROACH TO STAND BEHIND AND FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS ON MY OWN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND IT WAS A 10K FIX.

Mileage: 130,000

MY OUTBACK STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT WOULD DO IT RANDOMLY BUT NOW IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME. SUBARU WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME EXCEPT TELL ME HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO FIX THE TORCH CONVERTER WITHOUT EVEN CHECKING IT ON THEIR COMPUTER. I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CVT AND I WANT TO KNOW FOR SURE.

Mileage: 133,000

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND STALLED. THANK GOD THE CARS AROUND HER AVOIDED HITTING HER. SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 117 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I HAVE LOOKED AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH THIS VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100000 MILES BUT NOTHING OVER THIS.AND NO RECALL.THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL. THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY. IT IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX WE ARE BEING TOLD IT WILL COST 10000 DOLLARS WHICH WE CAN NOT DO. WE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS OVER 100000 MILES.

Mileage: 117,000

WHILE IN MOTION,THE CVT TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP FORWARD MOTION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, IT COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIES SAFETY ISSUE. CVT TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED UNIT, NO SERVICEABLE PARTS. CAR IS 11K OUTSIDE WARRANTY. ONLY REPAIR IS 8K REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 111,000

WHILE GETTING ON AN OFF RAMP VEHICLE STALLED GOING 45MPH DUE TO THE VALVE BODY IN TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP. SUBARU HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE AND RELEASED A BULLETIN: 16-90-13R, BUT ONLY WILL FIX IF THE ISSUE ARISES AND NOT BEFORE. THIS ISSUE DOES NOT GRADUALLY SHOW UP BUT RATHER HAPPENS ALL AT ONCE.

Mileage: 175,000

VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND WILL STALL WHEN GOING FROM STOPPED TO MOTION. SUBARU REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER 2 YEARS AGO AND TOLD US THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE AND IT DID FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW DOING THE EXACT SAME THING--STALLING OUT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SUBARU DETERMINED THAT IT WAS ONCE AGAIN A FAULTY/BAD TORQUE CONVERTER--SO THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ISSUE WITH SUBARU TORQUE CONVERTERS. THE FIRST TIME, THEY ADMITTED THEIR MISTAKE AND PAID FOR THE REPAIR. I ASKED THEM AGAIN TO COVER IT AND WAS EVEN TOLD ON THE PHONE BY A SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD THE FIRST TIME, MUCH LESS THE SECOND TIME...BUT SINCE MY MILEAGE IS OVER THEIR "GOODWILL" LIMIT FOR THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, THEY WILL NOT FULLY COVER THE REPAR/REPLACEMENT OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER A SECOND TIME (AFTER HAVING THE NEW ONE FOR 2 YEARS, ONLY 45,000 MILES.) I KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY CONSUMERS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO AND AS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THEIR TORQUE CONVERTERS AND A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE, MY HOPE IS THAT THIS WILL PROMPT A RECALL OR IN SOME WAY, HAVE SUBARU FIX THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT PUT IT OFF ON THE CONSUMER, AS IF WE JUST HAPPENED TO PURCHASE A LEMON OR SOMETHING.

Mileage: 146,000

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHILE STOPPED AT A STREET LIGHT. DEALER SAYS IT IS PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. VEHICLE HAS 135K MILES ON IT. SEEMS LIKE A LEGITIMATE SAFETY ISSUE TO ME.

Mileage: 135,000

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY URGENT SAFETY CONCERN. THIS ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE CAUSED INCONSISTENT STARTING ISSUES. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER AND STILL HAVE ISSUES. SEEMS TO BE A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS AND HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED BY SUBARU WITH AN AVAILABLE FIX IN A RECALL.

Mileage: 155,000

IN AUGUST 2018 THE CAR BEGAN STALLING RANDOMLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE CVT PROBLEM THAT PROMPTED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR OUR 200,000 MILE CAR HAD EXPIRED 7/31. THE FIX IS ALMOST $5,000 AND SUBARU WILL NOT APPLY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. EVEN THROUGH THEY ADMIT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD HAVE APPLIED TWO WEEKS EARLIER (HAD THE PROBLEM STARTED THEN), THEY HAVE REFUSED TO HELP.

Mileage: 200,000

AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF NEARLY $1800). THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE SHUDDERING AND/OR STALLING OF THE CAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS ISSUE IS, AND HAS BEEN, VERY INCONSISTENT WHICH IS WHY I NEVER BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE REVISED WARRANTY OPTION PROVIDED BY SUBARU (100,000 MILES OR 7/31/2018 CUTOFF DATE). MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THIS WHOLE MATTER HAS BEEN DEALT WITH BY SUBARU IS THAT, DESPITE THE FACT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE PRIOR TO THE MILEAGE/DATE DEADLINES, I WAS NEVER ASKED IF I WAS EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HAD THE ISSUE BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME, I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT I WAS INDEED HAVING ISSUES AND WOULD HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT SUBARU IS NOT "DEDICATED TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION." SUBARU SHOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE TO DEALING WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. IN FACT, SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHENEVER IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL THAT SUBARU AND THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE MORE TO ADDRESS THE MATTER. I GUESS IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THE PROBLEM GETS ESCALATED TO A POINT THAT THERE WILL BE A RECALL OR SUBARU VOLUNTARILY REPLACES THE TORQUE CONVERTER REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE.

Mileage: 90,000

CVT FAILURE CAUSING RANDOM ENGINE SHUT OFFS WHEN STOPPING.

Mileage: 167,000

THE CAR SHUTS OFF OR SHUDDERS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP OR WHEN ACCELERATING. THE TRANSMISSIONIS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

Mileage: 9

WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE HAS PULLED (FEELING LIKE IT IS NOT SHIFTING DOWN , FOR YEARS, THOUGHT IT WAS THE NATURE OF THE BEAST) SO HAD TO BRAKE HARDER. SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2018 THE CAR PULLS AND SOMETIMES STALLS OR ALMOST STALLS WHEN DECELERATING FAST. THIS HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY AND ALSO CITY (BETWEEN STREETLIGHTS). I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEE THAT SUBARU HAS HAD A BULLETIN SINCE 2014 KNOWING ABOUT A THRUST WASHER WEAR PROBLEM INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER . 1-27-2019 I TOOK THE OUTBACK IN FOR SERVICE AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT. ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIRS $1715.00. MY WIFE AND I NOT ONLY HAD THE STANDARD SUBARU WARRANTY BUT PAID EXTRA FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY,. ALL SERVICE WAS DONE AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP ( STANLEY SUBARU ) AND THE LAST SERVICE BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2017 I SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THE CAR TO BE GONE THOUGH WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB (AT THAT TIME WE WAS CONCERNED WITH NOISY WHEEL BEARINGS. NO MENTION OF THE BULLETIN ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS MENTIONED. *TR

Mileage: 30

MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK CVT TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AND STALLS THE ENGINE WHEN COMING TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OD AMERICA AND THEY ARE OF NO HELP.

Mileage: 126,000

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED A SHUDDERING FEELING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING AND MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 87,000 MILES, ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE AROUND 50,000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO A SUBARU DEALER IN 2017 AND THE ISSUE WAS RECREATED HOWEVER WAS NOT FIXED SINCE THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT SUBARU ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN COVERING MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION VEHICLES FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE CVT TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC AND INTERMITTENT AND EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE GOES IN TO RE-CHECK THE PROBLEM, THE TECHNICIANS CANNOT REPLICATE IT. THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ELEVATED FROM A TSB TO A RECALL IF THE ISSUE IS KNOWN. THE FEELING OF A SHUDDERING ALMOST TO A VEHICLE STALL IS NOT SAFE. WHY SUBARU HAS NOT ISSUED A FULL ON A RECALL IS A LITTLE CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SEVERAL SUBARU FORUMS INDICATING FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TALKED TO SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY WERE NOT VERY ACCOMMODATING OF THE ISSUE AND SAID IF THEY CANT RECREATE THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY WONT FIX IT. APPARENTLY THE WORD OF THOUSANDS OF SUBARU OWNERS IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH.

Mileage: 60,000

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND STALLS WHEN BRAKING/DECELERATING. ENGINE SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND ABRUPTLY WITH LITTLE TIME TO REACT. I HAVE 128,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. MECHANICS DO NOT KNOW WHAT EXACLT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 128,000

VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALMOST FELT LIKE IF I WAS COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT ENGAGING THE CLUTCH ON A STANDARD TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE DAYS AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE LETTING MY FAMILY DRIVE IT!

Mileage: 161,000

ABOUT MONTH AGO I BOUGHT A CAR. IT'S A SUBARU OUTBACK 2012 WITH 156 000 MILES. AT THE BEGINNING EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOTHING SEEMED TO BE HAPPENING. DECEMBER 10 WE DROVE AROUND SANTA FE, NM. AT FIRST I HAD STOPPED IN SOME STORES, SPENT TIME ABOUT 2 HOURS AND AFTER THAT DECIDED TO GO TO ANOTHER PLACE. AND WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AGAIN IN 5 MINUTES IT SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING A STRANGE SOUND AND COULDN'T MOVE NORMALLY, WAS JUST SHARPLY BRAKING ON A CITY ROAD. WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE ACCIDENT, BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS DRIVING WITH THE SPEED 45-50 MILES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR KEPT TO HAVE THE STRANGE SOUND AND SLOWED DOWN MORE AND MORE. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND A PARKING SPACE NEXT TO ME ON SOMEBODY'S TIRES WEELS SHOP. I TOOK A LITTLE BREAK ABOUT 40 MINUTES TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER THAT WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON IT STOPPED HAVING THE STRANGE SOUND BUT IT COULDN'T MOVE ANYMORE! I PUSHED ON A GAS PEDAL MANY TIMES BUT THE CAR JUST STAYED IN ON PLACE AND DIDN'T MOVE TO THE FRONT OR BACK. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SUBARU SERVICE CENTER. THE NEXT DAY I WAS CALLING TO THE SUBARU SERVICE CENTER SEVERAL TIMES, AND WHEN SOMEBODY ANSWERED I WAS REPLIED THAT "THE CAR HAD AN INSPECTION BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED YET" AND IT SHOULD TAKE ONE MORE DAY. I DID ONE MORE CALL THE NEXT DAY I RECEIVED AN ANSWER FROM SUBARU SERVICE CENTER THAT THE VEHICLE HAVE A BROKEN TRANSMISSION AND TO FIX IT COSTS $7600. IN THOSE DAYS I FOUND OUT THAT THE CARS 2010-2015 SUBARU OUTBACK HAVE RECALLS OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY FRIEND FROM FLORIDA HAVE A SUBARU OUTBACK 2012 WITH 168 000 MILES AND HE ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH A CAR LIKE ME ON OCTOBER 2018. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA FIXED THAT POWER TRAIN FOR FREE. BUT WHEN I TOLD WITH A SUBARU HEADQUARTER ABOUT MY AFFECTED VEHICLE THEY GAVE ME AN ANSWER THAT I HAVE ON MY CAR MORE THAN 100 000 MILES AND THEY CAN'T HELP ME AT ALL.

Mileage: 156,000

I WAS TAKING IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND LUBE. AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60-70 MPH, I CAME OFF THE FREEWAY, WENT 2 BLOCKS TO A STOPLIGHT. AS SOON AS I STOPPED, MANY WARNING LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING, AND BECAME ALARMED, WENT 3 BLOCKS TO THE LUBE SERVICE CENTER AND SOME STEAM STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE SERVICE MEN IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY REPLACED SOME COOLANT, COMPLETED THE SERVICE AND TOLD ME TO HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. I DROVE IT ABOUT A MILE TO THE NEAREST AUTO SHOP, A PLACE I'VE TAKEN MY LAST 2 CARS, AND LEFT IT. THE NEXT DAY THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED, AND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AND IT WAS READY TO PICK UP. FROM THERE I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT TO A FRIEND'S IN A CITY ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. I DROVE IT THE ENTIRE WAY ON THE FREEWAY, CAME OFF THE FREEWAY, DROVE IT ABOUT 4 BLOCKS TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE. I WEN UP HER DRIVEWAY, AND AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING PLACE, THE WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN STARTED FLASHING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SLOT AND STOPPED IT. MY FRIEND'S SON LATER WENT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD WITH ME. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF SOME SPRAY UNDER THE HOOD, BUT NOT MUCH. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I'D BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH BEFORE, AND HE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEIR SHOP, WHERE I'D LEFT IT WITH THEM FOR ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE PROGRESS, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RELEASE IT BACK TO ME UNTIL TO WAS REPAIRED. IN THE MEANTIME, MY FRIEND WHERE I WAS STAYING WHEN I HAD IT TOWED, TOLD ME SHE HAD AN IDENTICAL PROBLEM WITH HER 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK AND AFTER REPLACING HOSES, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, TJEY FINALLY REPLACED HER HEAD GASKET. MY DAUGHTER THEN REMINDED ME THE SAME HAPPENED TO HER 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK, SO I STARTED RESEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR SIMILAR ISSUES. MANY SITES, SOME WELL KNOWN SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THE 2.5L ENGINE. THIS IS A DEFECT SUBARU SHOULD RECALL.

Mileage: 63,000

: THE TRANSMISSION STARED ACTING UP RANDOMLY IN EARLY FEBRUARY OF 2017. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR WHILE SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, ACCOMPANIED WITH A HUGE BANG WHILE THE WHOLE CAR WOULD RATTLE FOR A SECOND OR SO. A VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE SCENARIO BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE YOU WERE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR. AFTERWARD, THE CAR WOULD RUN NORMALLY FOR FEW DAYS BEFORE IT REPEATS. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO RALLYSPORT ENGINEERING IN COSTA MESA, CA ON APRIL 10 WHO CONFIRMED MY COMPLAINT AND REPLACED THE VALVE COVER OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SOLVED UNTIL A MONTH LATER. AROUND JUNE, A NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM WAS APPEARING AND GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. WHEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE SLOWLY WHILE COASTING BETWEEN 3RD TO 5TH GEAR, THE CAR WOULD SHUDDER NOTICEABLY AND HESITATE FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE GOT GOING. THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE SITUATION IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID OBSTACLES ON HIGHWAY OR SURFACE STREET. IN JULY, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO RALLYSPORT ENGINEERING FOR REPAIR. IT CONFIRMED THE SHUDDERING PROBLEM BUT IT COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE SO IT REFERRED ME TO SUBARU ORANGE COAST (OC) BECAUSE IT HAS ACCESS TO TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM A DEDICATED SUBARU FACTORY 'SUPER-TECH'. SUBARU OC KEPT MY CAR FOR FOUR DAYS BEFORE RETURNING TO ME. IT COULD NOT IDENTIFY MY CAR PROBLEM, AND INSTEAD, THE MECHANIC STAFF TOLD ME I HAVE DIFFERENTIAL AND WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS. I NEED TO FIX THESE TWO PROBLEMS ($1012) BEFORE HE CAN ZERO IN ON THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING PROBLEM. I TOLD THE MECHANIC MY CAR SYMPTOM IS VERY REPEATABLE AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE AND IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT REQUIRING ME SPENDING BIG MONEY UPFRONT. HE WAS UNABLE TO HELP BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STORED DIAGNOSTIC CODE TO GUIDE HIM! I COMPLAINED AND SHARED INFORMATION WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA BUT NO AVAIL.

Mileage: 75,000

WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY, AT ABOUT 60MPH, THERE IS A NOISE IN THE ENGINE, THE SPEED SLIPS FOR A SECOND, THE RPM SCREEN BUMPS LITTLE BIT AND COMES BACK.ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, THE VEHICLE STOPPED DEAD AT THE STOP SIGNAL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DID NOT FIND ANY CODE AND SAID, BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT THIS SLIPPING HAPPENED END OF OCTOBER 2018, JUST 2-1/2 MONTHS AFTER THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED ON JULY 31,2018 FOR SUBARU'S CVT ISSUE RECALL. SUBARU SAYS, THEY WILL REPLACE CVT, BUT I NEED TO PAY LARGE AMOUNT,THEY WILL WRITE OFF ONLY 2500$. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN SUBARU OUTBACK 2012 AND SUBARU IS NOT FIXING MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 137,000

THE VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING FOLLOWING A HARD STOP AND NOW HAS ACCELERATED TO THE POINT OF STALLING OUT EVEN WITH A SOFT BRAKING. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHEN TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY REPAIR SHOP THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACED. THERE ARE 124K ON VEHICLE NOW. SUBARU APPARENTLY COVERED THIS REPAIR UP TO 100K MILES OR BY JUNE 2018 WITH UNLIMITED MILES. WHY WON'T SUBARU COVER THIS NOW? I AM RESPONSIBLE NOW FOR A LARGE REPAIR THAT IS A KNOWN SAFETY CONCERN BY SUBARU THAT THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF AS THERE IS 24K OVER THEIR WARRANTY REPLACEMENT MILEAGE. I AM DISAPPOINTED.

Mileage: 124,000

VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN STOPPING. LOCAL MECHANIC STATES IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. I AM JUST OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND OVER 110,000 MILES. IT STARTED EARLIER WHEN MY WARRANTY WOULD HAVE COVERED IT BUT SUBARU DID NOT MAKE US AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS. IT HAS CAUSED SOME CLOSE CALLS WHEN WE SUDDENLY HAVE TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND SEVERAL TIMES. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JUNE AND HAS HAPPENED ALMOST EVERY TIME WE USE THE CAR LATELY. WE ARE ELDERLY AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR JOB.

Mileage: 100,000

'WENT FOR A DRIVE TO RUN ERRANDS AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING VIOLENTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. AFTER THE THIRD RED-LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED SO HARD THAT THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ME. AFTER SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A WHILE, I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUE, AND SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. I WAS QUOTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT $8000. IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A RECALL AT ALL COSTS, SUBARU ISSUED A WARRANTY INCREASE TO 100,000 MILES INSTEAD OF 60,000 IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS 103,000 MILES SO IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, I TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU AND THEY SAID 103,000 IS OVER 100,000 SORRY. WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT UNDER THE MAINTENANCE FOR TRANSMISSION, IT SAYS NO MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED, TO NOT EVEN CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. IF YOU TELL YOUR CONSUMERS THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE, AND TELL THEM NOT TO CHANGE THEIR FLUID AREN'T YOU LIABLE IF THE TRANSMISSION FAILS?

Mileage: 103,000

THE TRANSMISSION (CVT) IS BAD (PER 2 MECHANICS WHO HAVE REVIEWED) MAKES WHINING NOISES AND CAN CAUSE CAR TO STALL. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THIS ALREADY ONLINE. SUBARU EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER MY CAR (2.5 MONTHS AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY.) THIS WILL COST ABOUT $5,000 TO FIX. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY SUBARU AND SO THE 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT, PLEASE.

Mileage: 120,000

DRIVER STARTED CAR TO COOL IT OFF BEFORE RUNNING ERRANDS. IT WAS PARKED ON THE FLAT PORTION OF THE DRIVEWAY. IT WAS IN PARK & I DID NOT TOUCH THE GEAR SHIFTER. I LEFT THE DOOR OPEN TO ASSIST IN COOLING THE INTERIOR OFF MORE QUICKLY AND WENT TO RETRIEVE AN ITEM NEEDED FOR THE ERRANDS. WHEN I HEARD A STRANG NOICE I TURNED AROUND TO FIND MY CAR MISSING. IT HAD REVERSED ITSELF 180+ DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ACROSS OUR LAWN & ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A 24'+ TREE. WHEN I REACHED THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS STILL IN PARK. INLINE TOWING HAD TO WINCH IT OUT, AND NOTED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE HAD SHIFTED IT TO NEUTRAL THE BACK UP LIGHTS WERE ENGAGED. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE AUTO BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. INSURANCE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 75,000

2012 SUBARU OUTBACK CVT ISSUE CAR WILL SHUDDER WHILE BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS (40 MPH+) DOWN TO 10-20 MPH. CAR LURCHES, SIMILAR TO A MANUAL CAR DUMPING THE CLUTCH. IN THE CASE OF A HARD STOP THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL TWICE, AND COME CLOSE TO STALLING MANY MORE TIMES. CAR STARTS UP AND RUNS FINE ONCE PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. I HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CONSCIOUS OF HOW QUICKLY I BRAKE, AS YOU CAN FEEL WHEN THE TCC DISENGAGES. IF IT DOES NOT DISENGAGE BEFORE YOU STOP, THE CAR STALLS. THIS LEADS TO POSSIBLE UNSAFE CONDITIONS, NOT KNOWING IF YOUR CAR IS GOING TO STALL OR NOT AT A CRITICAL MOMENT (TURNING LEFT IN A BUSY INTERSECTION). THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY SUBARU'S EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY OFFERED TO COVER THIS KNOWN PROBLEM (SEEMINGLY INSTEAD OF A FULL RECALL), BUT BY THE TIME MY CAR EXHIBITED THESE SYMPTOMS IT WAS WELL PAST THE ARBITRARY 100K MILE MARK AND PAST THE JULY 31ST DEADLINE (MY CAR IS AT 116K MILES, AND THIS STARTED OCCURING IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS). I DRIVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY MILES, AND RECENTLY I DO NOT FEEL SAFE COMING TO A HARD STOP IF NECESSARY. I DO NOT SEE HOW A KNOWN ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IN TRAFFIC IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NECESSITATES A RECALL.

Mileage: 115,500

ENGINE STALLS WHILE PRESSING BREAK PEDAL RAPIDLY. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT TORQUE CONVERTER IS A PROBLEM AND EXTENDED WARRANTY IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. MY CAR HAS SALVAGE TITLE RELATED TO MINOR FLOODING AND IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY. MANUFACTURER FAULTY DESIGN SHOULD RESULT I RECALL SO ALL THE CARS ARE COVERED( LIKE FAULTY AIR BAGS). THYIS IS POTENTIALLY MORE DANGER PROBLEM THEN FAULTY AIR BAGS AND I GUESS SUBARU IS WAITING FOR CAUSALITIES AS RESULT OF THIS NEGLIGIBLE APPROACH.

Mileage: 65,000

VEHICLE IN MOTION TRAVELING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE APPEARED TO LOSE POWER, ALL DASH LIGHTS FLASH, GAS PEDAL UNRESPONSIVE, COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD, WAIT 20 MINUTES, CAR STARTS BACK UP, CALLED SUBARU DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC STATES IT IS OKAY TO TRY AND DRIVE, ALL DASH LIGHTS FLASHING, NO CRUISE CONTROL, DROVE 75 + MILES BEFORE LIGHTS STOP FLASHING, SCENARIO REPEATS ITSELF X 3 MORE TIMES, LIGHTS FLASHING, NO CRUISE CONTROL, TAKE TO DEALERSHIP, SUBARU STATES, "COMPUTER RESET", HAS HAPPENED ONCE SINCE THE "RESET" BUT THE CAR DID NOT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. IT FELT LIKE IT LOST POWER FOR A SECOND BUT CAME BACK ON WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY.

Mileage: 50,000

AT TIMES, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT KIND OF SHUDDERS FIRST AND THEN JUST DIES. IF I'M ABLE TO ROLL THROUGH THE STOP, IT DOESN'T DIE, BUT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, SOMETIMES IT JUST DIES. I HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT IT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND START IT AGAIN. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ME NOT EXPECTING THAT LONG OF A STOP! I DO A LOT OF DRIVING IN TOWN AND THIS HAPPENS WHEN STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS. IT IS UNKNOWN TO ME AT THIS POINT AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 107,540

TL* THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK COMPANY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FITZGERALD SUBARU (11407 ROCKVILLE PIKE, ROCKVILLE, MD 20852, (301) 230-9000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE KNOCK SENSORS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BODY AND HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,763.

Mileage: 73,763

LETTER FROM SENATOR KLOBUCHAR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING SUBARU WARRANTY COMPLAINT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY WHILE AWAY ON VACATION. *JS

IN APRIL OF 2017, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY AND SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON I 35 SOUTHBOUND IN IOWA. (WE WERE TRAVELING AROUND 60 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED) WE HAD IT TOWED TO CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER, WHO THEN DENIED THE WARRANTY. WE WERE AT APPROXIMATELY 59,000 MILES AND 2 MONTHS SHY OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WARRANTY. EVEN AFTER THEY SENT OUT LETTERS LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES THEY HAVE CONTINUED TO DENY THE WARRANTY AND HAVE CONTINUED TO BLAME THE 3RD PARTY WHO PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE ON THE CAR. THE PARTY THAT PERFORMED THE OIL CHANGE IS A WELL ESTABLISHED ASE CERTIFIED COMPANY. THEY ONLY PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE SERVICE THEY DID NOTHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THEIR REFUSAL HAS DRAGGED ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR STRAINING OUR FINANCES. WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF LITIGATION THROUGH OUR ATTORNEY. AS A CONSUMER WE FEEL OUTMATCHED. IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THEY HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. YET THEY STILL REFUSE TO FIX OR SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN ANYWAY AND HAVE HIRED A PARTNER AT AN EXPENSIVE LAW FIRM TO CONTINUE TO DENY THE WARRANTY. HOW IS THE AVERAGE CONSUMER SUPPOSED TO HANDLE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION? I HAVE READ IN FORBES MAGAZINE THAT CONSUMER GROUPS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT I WANTED TO MAKE YOU FURTHER AWARE THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM THEY STILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT A PROBLEM FOR THE CONSUMER. THANK YOU

Mileage: 59,000

COMING TO A STOP AT STOP SIGN, CAR STALLED. NO WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS IN BUSY CITY. VEHICLE WAS BREAKING FROM 20MPH TO STOP WHEN STALLED.

Mileage: 73,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS LEANING INTO THE VEHICLE AND WAS PULLED IN REVERSE ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CURB AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR STRUCK THE HEDGE, WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE HEDGE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER HIP THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP WHERE ALL OF THE PANELS WERE REPAIRED; THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *TT *TR *BF *TR

Mileage: 47,000

VEHICLE STALLING WHILE STOPPING OR ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THERE IS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE CVT TRANSMISSION, BUT ONLY TO 100,000 MILES FROM SUBARU. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL, NOT ONLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN COLLISION WITH INJURY OR DEATH. VEHICLE STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.

Mileage: 110,000

MY TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 120K MILES. SUBARU REIMBURSED ME FOR A REPLACEMENT WHICH FAILED 9K MILES LATER. I REPLACED THAT ONE OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WITH A USED TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 35K MILES ON IT. THE THIRD TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE IN THE FAST LANE ON A MAJOR FREEWAY. WE HAD TO NAVIGATE ACROSS TRAFFIC WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO ACCELERATION. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS DO NOT PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS IN DANGER, BUT I AM ON MY FOURTH TRANSMISSION AND THE LAST ONE ALMOST CAUSED US TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH A TRACTOR-TRAILER.

Mileage: 132,000

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.

Mileage: 92,341

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.

Mileage: 70,000

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.

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.

Mileage: 69,500

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.

Mileage: 90,000

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.

Mileage: 82,511

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.

Mileage: 90,000

TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDING REPLACED AFTER ENGINE STALL AND/OR DYING AT STOP.

Mileage: 140,000

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

Mileage: 70,000

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 THE CAR, IT'S NOT WORTH THAT ON BLUEBOOK AND I DO NOT HAVE $5500 TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I FEEL THEY SHOULD FIX AS A RECALL.

Mileage: 79,500

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.

Mileage: 71,000

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.

Mileage: 35,901

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.

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 THAT AN EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO AVOID A RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE TSB, SUBARU MODIFIED PRODUCTION IN OCTOBER 2013 TO ACCOUNT FOR AND CURE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, CUSTOMERS HO WERE SOLD VEHICLES WITH THE SAFETY DEFECT HAV NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 60,000

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.

Mileage: 93,000

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.

Mileage: 113,000

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

Mileage: 20,125

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY FROM 60 MPH TO ABOUT 45 MPH IT IS LIKE THE SCAR SKIPPED A GEAR AND YOU FEEL A BIG CLUNK DURING THE EXITING AND LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BACK INJURY AND FALSE SENSE OF BREAKING. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME EXTREMELY INTERMITTENTLY AND ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. OTHER SUBARU PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU CORPORATE OF AMERICA. ALSO THE DEALER TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE CAR AND IT DID NOT WORK AND THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND NOV 27, 2013. COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING OF THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. NOTE TO NHTSA, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 13,325

THE CAR WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 20 TO 30 MINUTES, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 35 DEGREES AND WINDY. WENT AND PARKED THE CAR, RETURN TO THE CAR, AT NIGHT WHILE IT WAS STILL COLD, STARTED UP AND STARTED DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND THAT IS WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR GOES FROM 60 MPH TO 45 MPH AND IT IS COLD THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND FREEZES AND LOCKS, AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, AND IT CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF BREAKING AND CAN DEPLOY AIR BAGS. *TR

Mileage: 45

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND JUST STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING, WHEN EXITING A FREEWAY FROM 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION VERY INTERMITTENTLY WILL ALMOST FREEZE AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS IS EXITING OR DURING THE DE ACCELERATION PROCESS AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS CAN CAUSE WHIP LASH AND CAUSE SERIOUS BACK INJURY AND GIVE A PERSON A FALSE SENSE OF BRAKING ON EXITING THE HIGHWAY AS THE TRANSMISSION FREEZES FOR THE SPLIT SECOND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA CALL CENTER TOLD ME THERE ARE SEVERAL TECHNICAL BULLETINS REGARDING POWER TRAIN ISSUES AND WAS NOT SURE IF ANY WERE APPLIED TO MY CAR. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER THEY TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION AND STILL HAVE INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND SHAKING THE WHOLE, CAR, WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE MIGHT END UP GOING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN AWHILE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT, HOW, WHEN OR WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WE WISH SUBARU WOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND DO A RECALL OR TECHNICAL BULLETIN. *TR

Mileage: 13,310

WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND JUST STARTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING, WHEN EXITING A FREEWAY FROM 60 MPH THE TRANSMISSION VERY INTERMITTENTLY WILL ALMOST FREEZE AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS IS EXITING OR DURING THE DE ACCELERATION PROCESS AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT YOU IN THE BACK WITH A BASEBALL BAT. THIS CAN CAUSE WHIP LASH AND CAUSE SERIOUS BACK INJURY AND GIVE A PERSON A FALSE SENSE OF BRAKING ON EXITING THE HIGHWAY AS THE TRANSMISSION FREEZES FOR THE SPLIT SECOND THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA CALL CENTER TOLD ME THERE ARE SEVERAL TECHNICAL BULLETINS REGARDING POWER TRAIN ISSUES AND WAS NOT SURE IF ANY WERE APPLIED TO MY CAR. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER THEY TRIED TO REPROGRAM THE TRANSMISSION AND STILL HAVE INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND SHAKING THE WHOLE, CAR, WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES AND WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE MIGHT END UP GOING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE IN AWHILE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT, HOW, WHEN OR WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND IT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE THIS CAR. WE WISH SUBARU WOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND DO A RECALL OR TECHNICAL BULLETIN DEALER TRIED REPROGRAMMING TRANSMISSION CONTROL AND IT STILL HAS ISSUES AND THESE ARE EXTREMELY INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THESE INCIDENTS. *TR

Mileage: 12,700

THIS VEHICLE HAS ONE OWNER, WHICH IS ME, AND THE TRANSMISSION, DOWNSHIFTS AND SKIPS A GEAR WHEN COLD AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PEOPLE WERE ALMOST INJURED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD, AND ON A FREEWAY AND THAN EXITING, AND SLOWING DOWN TO 35 TO 45 MPH ON EXIT THE CAR TRANSMISSION KICKS AND LIKE SOMEONE IS HITTING YOU IN THE BACK, AND SKIPS A GEAR. SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND THEY NEED TO ADDRESS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT WORK. I WILL BE FILING LEMON LAW IN MY NEXT TWO VISITS IF IT IS NOT FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 13,289

THE 2012 OUTBACK WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT MOVING THE GEAR LEVER FROM DRIVE TO MANUAL. THIS HAS OCCURRED 10 TIMES IN 18 MONTHS, THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW. THE PROBLEM HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THEN, AS I ACCELERATE FROM THE STOP, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO 1ST GEAR AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPS ACCELERATING BECAUSE IT IS STUCK IN 1ST GEAR. THE GEAR LEVER IS ALWAYS IN DRIVE WHEN THIS OCCURS, BUT THE DASH DISPLAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN 1ST GEAR. TO RESOLVE IT, I HAVE MOVED THE GEAR LEVER FROM DRIVE TO MANUAL AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE WHICH PUTS THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO DRIVE. ON ONE OCCASION, LEAVING A STOP SIGN TO ENTER A FREEWAY RAMP, THE TRANSMISSION WENT INTO 2ND GEAR. AGAIN, THE GEAR LEVER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BREAKS AND JUST BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ON-RAMP, I WITNESSED THE "2" ON THE DASH DISPLAY CHANGE TO "D" AND THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AGAIN - WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GEAR LEVER. SUBARU FIRST SAID THAT THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE, NOW THEY SAY THEY CANNOT VERIFY IT. THIS IS A VERY INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND SO FAR CANNOT BE MADE TO OCCUR. THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM SHOULD ANOTHER DRIVER NOT SEE THAT MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND COLLIDE WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 1,500

2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED INTO THE 40'S AND LOWER. SUBARU OF AMERICA DECLARED THE NOISE AS NORMAL WITHOUT EVEN EXAMINING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER, HOWEVER, DID HEAR THE NOISE, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OR THE DRIVE MECHANISM.

DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40MPH, NO ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. CAR WITHOUT WARNING SUDDENLY STOPPED, AS IF IT HAD SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND I HAD SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. WHEN I PRESSED ON GAS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE BUT DID MAKE REVVING SOUNDS. I LOOKED AT GEAR SHIFT AND IT WAS NO LONGER IN DRIVE. I THINK IT WAS IN MANUAL. I DOUBT I HAD ACCIDENTALLY MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT BECAUSE I WAS NOT MOVING AROUND IN MY SEAT AND I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, NOT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC (CVT). I'VE ONLY DRIVEN TWO MILES SINCE BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE NOW. *TR

Mileage: 7,019

SITUATION: TRAVELING AT 60MPH UP A STEEP HILL ON I70 WEST BOUND IN LEFT PASSING LANE. CARS FOLLOWING CLOSE, AND CARS IN THE RIGHT LANE. FOR THE FIRST TIME (NEW CAR) I USED THE DOWNSHIFT PADDLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO DOWNSHIFT TO ACCELERATE. I TAPPED IT TO DOWNSHIFT ONE GEAR. IT INSTANTLY DROPPED TO 1ST GEAR. THE ENGINE RPMS WENT TO RED LINE OR ABOVE. THE CAR DECELERATED DRAMATICALLY, AND I WAS TOSSED FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO UPSHIFT USING THE RIGHT PADDLE BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, AND THE CAR REMAINED IN FIRST GEAR. THE CAR BEHIND NEARLY HIT ME. THE ONLY USEFUL CONTROL THAT I HAD WAS THE STEERING WHEEL (BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR USELESS). FURTHER, I ASSUMED THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT LIT. DUE TO THE ALERTNESS OF THE DRIVER BEHIND AND THE DRIVERS TO MY RIGHT AS I SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AND GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE LIT, BRAKE LIGHT FLASHING, ETC. CAR WAS TOWED TO FLATIRONS SUBARU IN BOULDER, CO. THERE THE COMPUTER DATA LOGGING CONFIRMED BOTH MY SPEED AND THE RPMS AT REDLINE OR ABOVE. THEY WERE UNABLE EITHER TO REPRODUCE THIS BEHAVIOR, OR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY WERE TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN, AND THEN TOLD TO REINITIALIZE THE "ADAPTIVE" PORTION OF THE COMPUTER, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY DID. OVERALL, I WAS TOLD THAT "THIS COULDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE WERE SAFETY LOCKS TO PREVENT IT". WHEN THE RECORDED DATA CONFIRMED MY DESCRIPTION, I THINK THE MECHANICS WERE VERY SURPRISED, AND DID TRY HARD TO UNDERSTAND THIS. I WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE VEHICLE BACK BECAUSE I AM OF THE OPINION THAT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHY SOMETHING HAPPENED, YOU CAN'T BE SURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 100

IN EARLY DECEMBER OF 2011 MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, CVT TRANSMISSION. WE HAD TO WAIT A DAY FOR OUR OUTBACK BECAUSE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED DO TO A BRAKE SYSTEM RECALL. EVER SINCE PURCHASING THE OUTBACK WE HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN USING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP. WHEN THE TACH SLOWS TO ABOUT 1100 RPM IN FIRST OR SECOND GEAR THE ENGINE THEN ACCELERATES TO UP TO 2500 RPM, SLOWING DOWN AND THEN SPEEDING UP AGAIN THEN REPEATING THE CYCLE OVER EVEN IF YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUST RUN AT 2500 RPM UNTIL YOU BRAKED TO A STOP. I TOOK THE OUTBACK TO OUR DEALER AND THE SUBARU SERVICE ADVISOR WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN I DROVE IT TO DEMONSTRATE THE VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. IT DID EXACTLY AS I HAVE DESCRIBED AND EVEN STAYED AT 2500 RPM. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND WHO I PRESUME WAS THE OVERALL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE WITHOUT ME. WHEN THEY RETURNED I WAS TOLD THAT THE WAY IT OPERATED WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. I STATED I DID NOT REALLY BELIEVE THAT EXCUSE AND LEFT. SINCE THAT FIRST VISIT, THE OUTBACK HAS STARTED DOING THE VERY SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUE ALSO IN AUTOMATIC DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS. I RETURNED ON JULY 19, 2012 TO GET MY FIRST SERVICE DONE. I LEFT THE CAR FOR THE SERVICE AND TESTED AN EXACT (EXCEPT FOR COLOR) 2012 OUTBACK. THIS OUTBACK HAD NONE OF THE VERY SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUES THAT MY OUTBACK HAS. WHEN RETURNING TO PICKUP MY OUTBACK I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISOR OF THIS OUTCOME AND HE STATED I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT SUBARU OF AMERICA TO ELEVATE THE ISSUE. RESPOND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS TO WHERE I CAN TAKE THE OUTBACK FOR REPAIR OF THIS VERY SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUE. MY WIFE AND I WILL BE TRAVELING VIA THE OUTBACK VERY SOON AND NEED THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE RESOLVED BEFORE WE LEAVE. *TR

Mileage: 3,750

I WAS SETTING THE HOMELINK MIRROR ON MY CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PARTICULAR GARAGE DOOR OPENER. THE MIRROR IS POWERED SO I NEEDED TO LEAVE THE CAR IDLING. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BEGAN THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS. THE LAST STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO ENGAGE THE GARAGE DOOR OPENER FROM THE MOTOR HEAD. TO PREPARE TO DO THIS, I EXITED THE CAR AND MOVED ON FOOT INTO THE GARAGE TO LOOK FOR A STEP LADDER. AS I WAS SEARCHING FOR A STEP LADDER AND AFTER A PERIOD OF AT LEAST ONE FULL MINUTE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO "DRIVE" AT WHICH POINT THE UNOCCUPIED CAR DROVE INTO THE GARAGE AND HIT THE REAR WALL. *TR

Mileage: 5,692