What 649 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness

HEAD GASKET BLEW, OUT OF NOWHERE, NO ISSUES LEADING UP TO THIS. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. IT HAD AROUND 108,000 MILES. COST CLOSE TO 2,800 TO REPAIR, NOT WORTH IT. DEALER SEEMED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO CHASE IN GASKET PLATE STARTING IN 2012, BUT DOESN'T HELP PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. NO RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT, WHICH IS SAD.

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WHEN AM DRIVING AND I NEED TO STOP FOR ANY EMERGENCY AND I HIT THE BRAKES THE ENGINE WILL STALL DUE A FAILURE TORQUE CONVERTER MANUFACTURE, IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS AND AFTER A SUDDEN STOP I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY AND I WAS ABOUT TO INVOLVE IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS STALLING ISSUE.

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NOVEMBER 2019, AT 115,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD BY SUBARU OF AMERICA CORPORATE THAT "SUBARU DOESN'T HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS." THERE IS A LOT OF EVIDENCE OUT THERE TO THE CONTRARY. MAY OF 2020 THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARUS. A $28,000 2011 AUTO IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LAST 120,000 MILES?

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6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION - WHEN COMING TO STOP QUICKLY FROM HIGH SPEED, CLUTCH IS FULLY DEPRESSED (AND EVEN SOMETIMES IN NEUTRAL), THE ENGINE RPMS DROP VERY LOW CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUDDER. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY FOR OVER 1 YEAR BUT DEALERSHIP HAS CLAIMED THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING DUE TO THE FACT THE ENGINE COULD STALL CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SYMPTOMS OF A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AS RECALLED ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER, OBVIOUSLY THIS CAN'T BE THE CASE FOR A MT. *TR

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I HAVE BEEN REPORTING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SINCE 2012 TO MY REGULAR DEALERSHIP, STAR SUBARU WHEN THE CAR HAD JUST 23,472 MILES ON IT. AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE. THEN AGAIN, IN 2017, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, I BROUGHT MY OUTBACK TO STAR SUBARU COMPLAINING THAT WHILE DRIVING SLOW, THE CAR TENDS TO 'JUMP' MID-DRIVE, ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED YOU. THE CAR AT THIS POINT WAS AT ABOUT 94,467 MILES, UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY LIMIT. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I FINALLY RECEIVED A TEST DRIVE WITH A SUBARU MECHANIC AT STAR SUBARU IN BAYSIDE, QUEENS, NY. HE CONCLUDED THAT IT NEEDED TRANSMISSION PARTS, A TORQUE CONVERTER/VALVE BODY. AT THAT POINT I WAS SET TO HAVE IT REPLACED ONCE THE PARTS CAME IN. WEEKS WENT BY AND I HEARD NOTHING. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA WHO WAS ABLE TO SET ME UP WITH EAST HILLS SUBARU. THE SOA PERSON WAS VERY HELPFUL WITH THE TRANSITION. THEY PERFORMED THEIR OWN DIAGNOSTIC, AND THE CONDITION AT THE TIME WOULD NOT REPLICATE. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THIS 'JUMP/SLAM' HAPPENS, IT DOES SPONTANEOUSLY. WE CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN, NOR DO WE EVEN KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT WAS ALWAYS VERY SPORADIC. SOMETIMES IT WOULD HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65, OR SOMETIMES LESS THAN 5MPH. ON A LONG TRIP BACK FROM VERMONT, THERE WOULD BE A LARGE REVVING SOUND, AND THEN IT FELT AS IF SOMEONE HIT US FROM BEHIND. ONCE AGAIN, I TOOK THE CAR TO SUBARU, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY SIMPLY COULDN'T 'REPLICATE THE PROBLEM', AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP US. ON APRIL 3RD 2019, I BRING MY CAR IN AGAIN TO EAST HILL SUBARU. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THEY DO RECALL. THEY ALSO TROUBLESHOOT THE CHECK ENGINE CODE, WHICH NOW COMES UP CLEARLY AS P1710 TORQUE CONVERTER TURBINE 2 SPEED SIGNAL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. NOW IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.THE PRICE TAG IS VERY HIGH, ALMOST $6,000! *TR

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IM APPALLED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAS NOT BEEN CONSIDERED A RECALL CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS FILED ON IT. I WAS QUOTED $1900 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED ! THIS IS ABSURD AND I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS REPAIR AND BELIEVE SUBARU SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS. NOW I RISK ACCIDENT EVERYTIME NEED TO GO OUT .CAR STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP . *TR

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NO INCIDENT WHILE DRIVING....YET. WANT TO REPORT A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S, THE HEAD GASKET. DEALER JUST QUOTED ME $2000 ON THIS, AND MOST FOLKS KNOW THIS IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR STOPS DUE TO OIL AND COOLANT ISSUES WHILE TRAVELING FAST. *TR

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THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL WHEN DECELERATING QUICKLY. THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE ISSUE BUT WILL WAIT FOR THE DEFECT TO OCCUR RATHER THAN FIXING THE TRANSMISSION.

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DUE TO A WELL-KNOWN DESIGN FLAW THE ENGINE HAD A SEVERE HEAD GASKET LEAK. THE LEAK LEAD TO A FOAMING OF THE COOLANT AND A PRESSURE BREAK IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR. THE CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY AND COULD HAVE LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED THE PREVIOUS AUGUST BY A DEALER. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ANSWER MY DIRECT QUESTION IF THEY DID A FLUSHING OF THE SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO THE DAMAGE BUT, IT IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE SUBARU 4 CYLINDER 2.5 L ENGINE HAS HAD A SEVERE FLAW IN ITS DESIGN. *TR

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CAR STALLS OUT WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, ESPECIALLY IF I HAVE TO STOP SHORT DUE TO BEING CUT OFF. CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC, SO THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE COMING BEHIND ME. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THUS NO DIAGNOSIS. AFTER READING ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM TO SUBARU WITH A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER.

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THE HEAD GASKET BLEW WITH ONLY 61,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL ROAD IN OREGON AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH.

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MY VEHICLE ACCUMULATES A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. THESE ARE EASY AND UNSTRENUOUS TO AND FROM WORK. OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS I HAD MY VEHICLE MISDIAGNOSED THREE TIMES WHEN I WAS COMPLAINING OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AS I HAVE JUST BROKEN 125,000 MILES MY VEHICLE GETS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A NEW HEAD GASKET AND A NEW TRANSMISSION. COSTING EASILY MORE THAN THE VEHICLE IS WORTH. SUBARU IT NOT WILLING TO BACK THEIR VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE LASTING WELL PAST 125,000 WITHOUT MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS LIKE THESE THAT COULD HAVE ENDED IN SERIOUS INJURY. AT THIS POINT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN UNSAFE SITUATION HAD I NOT CONTINUALLY PROMPTED THEM TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS DUE TO THESE ISSUES.

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COOLANT IS LEAKING ONTO TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK IN TWO PLACES. IT LOOKS TO BE LEAKING WHERE THE COOLANT CROSSOVER PIPE CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE BOTH SIDES.

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THE CAR ENGINE CUTS OFF WHEN SUDDENLY DECELERATING. MY WIFE AND CHILD STALLED TWICE ALREADY IN TRAFFIC, ONCE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. ALSO WATER LEAKS INTO THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK.

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WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH SUBARU AMERICA, BUT THEY DON'T RESPOND. 2011 PURCHASED NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. ALL REQUIRED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE & SERVICES PERFORMED ON TIME AT AUTHORIZED PROVIDER. 2019 THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED PER MFG STDS. DEALER ADDED COOLANT & BLED THE SYSTEM. 3 MONTHS LATER THE RADIATOR BLEW. A CHEMICAL BLOCK WAS DONE & ALL WAS FINE PER DEALER. 3 MONTHS LATER ENGINE OVERHEATED. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET & CAT WERE CRACKED WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER. SUBARUS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HEAD GASKET & COOLANT SYSTEM ISSUES FROM 100,000 ' 120,000 MILES. SUBARU SLIGHTLY REDESIGNED THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS AWARE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET, CAT AND RADIATOR ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET FOR 1990 TO 2011 MODELS. ISSUE STEMS FROM MANAGEMENT DECISION TO UTILIZE A COMPOSITE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD GASKET TO SAVE MONEY; HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF HEAT ON COMPOSITE METAL PRODUCTS WOULD SURMISE THIS WOULD LEAD TO WARPING, CRACKING OR OTHER RELATED PRODUCT FAILURES. THE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBARU HEAD GASKET WAS INEPT AT BEST. THE DEVICE FEATURES A MULTI-LAYER STEEL SHIM COATED WITH A GRAPHITE LAYER. IT WAS NOT UP-TO-THE-MARK & ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE EXHAUST PRESSURE &/OR COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THERE WAS NO SUBARU HEAD GASKET RECALL BUT THE COMPANY REDESIGNED THE CYLINDER HEADS & CONFIGURATIONS OF THE CAMSHAFT. HOWEVER, IT ONLY LED TO THE COOLANT A&ND OIL LEAK AT THE EXTERNAL HEAD GASKET. THIS SYSTEM DEFECT ADDS TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE NOTED. WE REQUEST SUBARU AMERICA REIMBURSE US FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT & HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT $4,013.80. PLUS OTHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE BREAKDOWNS AT $1,236.20 FOR A TOTAL OF $5,250.00

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THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM (KNOWN BY REPAIR TECHS FOR YEARS, ALTHOUGH NOT DISCLOSED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA). THEIR HEADGASKETS FAIL UNNECESSARILY. IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM LASTING 16 OR MORE YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERING SUCH FAILURES, NOR A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES A PROBLEM IS IMMINENT EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY OVERHEATS AND "BLOWS." THE DANGER INVOLVED IS SERIOUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

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NOTICED THAT DOME/MAP LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND FRONT TIME CLOCK OUT. THEN WHEN GOING TO PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND RAN INTO A FENCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. PARKING BREAK HAS NOT WORKED FOR SOME TIME EITHER.

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ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITH OUT WARNING DUE TO FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH NOT MUCH CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE PART IS FAULTY UNTIL IT'S TO LATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SUBARU SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH CERTAIN MAKE AND MODELS AND I AM SURPRISED THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AT FAULT FOR INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WHERE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS OCCURRED

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AROUND 130,000 MILES CAR BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SHUDDERING - WILL SOMETIMES SHUDDER AND STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AND IN TRAFFIC. CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT- BEING HIT OR STALLING IN THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS THAT SUBARU OUTBACKS FROM 2010-2015 ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS NOR ANY WARRANTIES TO COVER REPAIRS. REPAIRS TO TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH - WHICH IS INDICATED BY MY DEALERSHIP CAN RUN UPWARDS OF $1500.

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2011 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTO.

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I WAS DRIVING HOME TONIGHT AND THE CAR STALLED EVERYTHING QUIT WORKING, THE CAR JUMPED A FEW TIMES AND TURNED BACK ON. I LOST BRAKES AND NO STEERING COMING DOWN A 8 % GRADE. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT KEPT DOING IT. I WAS OUT OF CELL SERVICE RANGE SO I COULD NOT CALL FOR HELP. IT WAS SCARY. I GOT HOME AND I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THAT RECALL RANGE AT 100000 MILES. I JUST PAID 11,000 FOR THIS CAR. I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHUTTER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. HARLEY SWAIN SUBARU (1915 N 1ST ST, HERMINSTON, OR) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

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DRIVING UP A GRADUAL HILL ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE WARNING AND MULTIPLE OTHER LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. COASTED OVER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND STOP. TURNED OFF ENGINE. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND IT WOULD NOT. SUBARU OUTBACK HAD 125,000 MILES AND ONE OWNER WHO HAD ALL MAINTENANCE SERVICES DONE, AT SUBARU DEALER, BY THE BOOK. HAD DRIVEN DOWN INTERSTATE AN HOUR BEFORE WITH NO INDICATION OF ANY CONCERN. I AM TOLD IT HAD THREE VALVE FAILURES.

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ENGINE OVERHEATING/LOW COOLANT LIGHT BEGAN ON HIGHWAY AT 86,000 MILES. REPAIRS NEEDED STATED IT WAS A CRACKED RADIATOR. AFTER REPAIR OF RADIATOR AT 800 MILES LATER, SAME LOW COOLANT LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING IN CITY ON SIDESTREETS AND ENGINE BEGAN MAKING 'SLOSHING' SOUND. REPAIRS NEEDED STATED IT WAS A DAMAGED WATER PUMP. AFTER REPAIR OF DAMAGED WATER PUMP, ENGINE STILL MADE 'SLOSHING' SOUND. FINAL REPAIR RECOMMENDATION WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WITH POSSIBLE ENGINE RE-WORK REQUIRED AS ENGINE HAD PROBABLY OVERHEATED.

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ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON MY DASH. THE CAR HAS 114,000 MILES. IT IS A FAULTY VALVE BODY AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT. THERE ARE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. SUBARU QUOTED ME $7000 TO FIX IT. THE CARS NOT EVEN WORTH $5000. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM DONE WITH SUBARUS.

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