What 649 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness

When coming to a stop, the transmission's torque converter does not disengage, causing the engine to stall. This was diagnosed by two independent repair shops and there is an open TSB from Subaru that addresses this problem. However, when slowing down at an intersection, the sudden stop can be dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11443107

I have a 2011 Subaru Outback with ~`40k miles. After buying the vehicle in late 2020 I began to notice the vehicle shuttering and shaking when coming to a complete stop or when I begin to reverse and when the vehicle shutters there is a significant RPM drop. The shuttering issue occurs randomly and is concerning but the bigger issue is that the vehicle has also stalled after coming to a hard stop twice in the last year. When braking hard from 60 mph to avoid vehicle the vehicles engine stalled out. When this occurred I had to place the vehicle in park then restart the engine. As of today I have never seen a warning message or anything that would let me know that there was an issue. When researching the topic I found that this is a known issue by Subaru related to a faulty thrust washer in the CVT and a TSB, 16-90-13r was issued but was not directly communicated to the customer. The warranty was extended to 100k miles but the vehicle was purchased at 128k miles and I was told that the repair would not be covered since it fell outside the extended warranty. Thankfully when the car stalled there was not a vehicle behind me and I was visible on the road but this issue poses great risk to safety since one loses power to the vehicle. Also, the symptoms of the failure would leave the average driver to think it was a more common issue ( pad, caliper, tire balance) which would be misdiagnosed.

NHTSA ODI 11439878

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and then had her brother-in-law continue driving manually to an independent mechanic. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a faulty transmission and torque converters. The mechanic replaced the transmission with a used transmission with lower miles. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11431467

Torque Converter failure. When trying to stop, the car would stall out (not safe in busy intersections or when cars are behind you). No warning came up except momentarily when the stalling occurred. I have taken my car in to Subaru for all recommended servicing and repairs and directed based on mileage and service team recommendations. My vehicle was taken to my local Subaru service facility (Bruce Titus Subaru of Tacoma) for inspection after the stalling issue. Dealer confirmed the problem prior to repair (torque converter failure necessitating replacement). Torque converter failure is an all too common problem with the year and make of my car (2011 Subaru Outback) and Subaru of America put out an extended warranty coverage to rectify the complaints I presume. This was extended out to 10 yrs past the manufacture date or up to 100,000 miles. By car is ~ 7 months past the 10 year mark but still under 100,000 miles. Subaru of Americal is only willing to repay me $1000 back as a good will gesture (total pre tax was $2,321). This is a problem with so many of the Subaru's out there with CVTs. This was frightening to have happen and is beyond frustrating that people are having to pay out of pocket for issues that Subaru is well aware of but only willing to fix if a car has a failure in there extended warranty time frame. This SHOULD have been a recall for all cars due to safety!!!

NHTSA ODI 11428397

I was driving at 65mph on highway in a like new 2011 Subaru Outback with 146,000 miles when the transmission valve body crapped out. This caused a severe shutter and loss of power like a missed gear, but thankfully I was able to coast off the highway without using the gas or without crashing. The drivetrain lost power unexpectedly again pulling into the parking lot off the highway. This action appears to be a major safety issue. I believe there is a manufacturing defect in one of the closed system parts that caused this perfectly maintained & repaired, vehicle in immaculate baby'd condition to fail. Vehicle is in perfect condition, and all maintenance in manual have been done as outlined by Subaru. My concern is the safety. Warning Lights were: Blinking Park Light Blinking AT Oil Temp Blinking Cruise Solid Check Engine Solid Traction Control The codes that were pulled were: P0700, P2764, C0057, C0054 Subaru of America has been notified of the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11428418

When coming to a stop the motor almost dies. When I went to start going into a roundabout the engine stalled and chugged like I wasnt in the right gear. It is an automatic... No warning lights or anything.

NHTSA ODI 11427474

Transmission was repaired with a new valve body at 119,000 miles. This was as a result of the TSB 16-90-13R released by subaru. The car now has 137K miles on it, and in researching the issue, the torque converter was not replaced when the work was done. Now the torque converter has fully failed and has damaged the transmission to where it needs replaced. The vehicle cannot be repaired under warranty despite the release;atively recent partial warranty repair. This car was stalling multiple times before it finally failed. We were quoted $6936 to replace transmission, but this is more than the car is worth.

NHTSA ODI 11426617

This past week, I purchased a 2011 Subaru Outback for my daughter to have what I have always understood as a safe car. The car is nearly stalling on occasions when you come to a complete stop and at times when you are nearly stopped. The major incident is the engine shut off with me when I had to stopped quickly, nearly causing an accident when I had to put the car in neutral to start it back up. I was able to replicate it several times since then in places like empty parking lots....going as slow as 10 mph before putting on the brakes. No warning lights associated with this issue. I have not been to a dealer, but through research, I have seen that there is a faulty design in the transmission/torque converter (thrust bushing). I understand there is a TSB showing that Subaru would fix this problem, but only for vehicles under 100k miles (extended warranty). Our vehicle has 156k, but I don't see why mileage has to determine if a faulty design from the factory is replaced or not. It appears the original owner (I don't know them) either didn't have it fixed before 100k, it was fixed and has reoccured again, or the problem didn't manifest itself until after 100k and they decided to just sell/trade it. Nonetheless, this is not an acceptable problem for a car to have...especially for new drivers. I don't want to have to sell this car, because I really like Subaru's products, but I cannot have my children driving/riding in a car with this potential for causing a preventable accident. Thank you for your time.

NHTSA ODI 11423478

2010-15 Legacy/ Outback 2.5L CVT Garavel Subaru dealer expensive fixing and some cars have recalls.

NHTSA ODI 11419836

THE INSTALLED CVT TRANSMISSION HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK AT 115,000 MILES OR LESS. THE ONLY SOLUTION OFFERED BY SUBARU AS A MEANS TO REPAIR THE SEAL LEAK IS TO INSTALL AND ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $7,000. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT BAD - THE SEAL IS. THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION SPECIFICALLY DUE TO THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CVT TRANSMISSION AND MODEL YEAR - AND WE ARE ONLY JUST OUT OF THE COVERED PERIOD. THE CVT WAS INCORRECTLY DESIGNED INITIALLY, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE IS HIGH. SUBARU HAS NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTION AT THIS POINT, AND HAS SUGGESTED THAT WE 'BUY ANOTHER MODEL'. THANKS FOR NOTHING. A POWERTRAIN ON A SUBARU SHOULD LAST - AND IS REPUTED TO LAST - UPWARDS OF 200,000 MILES. WE GOT A LEMON.

NHTSA ODI 11415297

OUR 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD A RADIATOR LEAK WITH NO WARNING SIGNAL. THE CAR OVERHEATED, THE RADIATOR CRACKED, AND WE BLEW THE HEADGASKET. ONLY AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE DID A WARNING LIGHT COME ON. THE CAR ONLY HAS 100K MILES AND HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED.

NHTSA ODI 11414882

MY VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND STALLS IN TRAFFIC WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON A CITY STREET. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN SUBARUS MADE AROUND THIS YEAR. SUBARU IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE CVT BECAUSE OF SO MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE BUT HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND STALLING IN TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA ODI 11405635

VEHICLE ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN WHEN I BRAKE AT INTERSECTIONS/LIGHTS. I HAVE TO PUT CAR IN P-ARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING WITHIN LAST TWO MONTHS AND IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY; CAR NOW HAS 121 000 MILES. IT IS A VERY UNNERVING EXPERIENCE AND RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAVE SCHEDULED A SERVICE CALL WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOMORROW BUT NOTICED ON SUBARU'S SITE SIMILAR CONCERNS FROM OTHER DRIVERS.

NHTSA ODI 11403247

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH CVT TRANSMISSION STALLS WHEN COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP. SUBARU HAS A TSB AND KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTERS IN THESE CARS. THE VEHICLE STALLED COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED VIA RECALL OF CVT MODEL 2011 OUTBACKS.

NHTSA ODI 11399481

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH APPROACHING AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED WHILE DRIVING TO HER RESIDENCE. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BOWSER AUTOMOTIVE - POWER OF BOWSER (1001 CLAIRTON BLVD, PLEASANT HILLS, PA 15236) AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11398733

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDERED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER GLANZMANN SUBARU LOCATED AT 95 OLD YORK RD B, JENKINTOWN, PA 19046 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V326000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11396593

WHEN DRIVING THE 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE AND/OR SHUDDER AND WILL OFTENTIMES STALL OUT. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE THE ENGINE AND REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE 2011 OUTBACK AND THERE HAS BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT SAFE AS THIS CAN HAPPEN ON HILLS OR IN WINTER ON SNOWY/ICY ROADS SO SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL. NOT TOO MENTION THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS OUTSIDE THE REALM OF REALISM AND LANDS IN THE ZONE OF CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11394484

WHEN TURNING SHARPLY OR COMING TO A QUICK STOP, THE CAR SHUDDERS AND STALLS. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM ONCE AND REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, BUT THE PROBLEM IS BACK AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY FURTHER REPAIRS FOR THIS ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING. IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE CAR STALL SUDDENLY!

NHTSA ODI 11390007

VEHICLE REPEATEDLY STALLS ABRUPTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR TURNING. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER TRAIN HAD A FAILED PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11388185

OCCASIONALLY, PERHAPS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO 'DRIVE', THE ENGINE ENGAGES AND LURCHES FORWARD. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE CAR WITH TAKE OFF FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11386714

DURNING HARD/QUICK STOPS THE CAR WILL SHAKE JUST BEFORE STOPPING AS IF THE ENGINE WANTS TO STALL. MORE THEN HALF OF THE TIME THE CAR WILL STALL. IT WILL START RIGHT BACK UP BUT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE HAVING YOUR CALL STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN 16-90-13R FOR THIS ISSUE. BASICALLY THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY ALSO EXTENDED THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO 100,000MI FROM 60,000MI. CARS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR ANY NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM SUBARU FOR A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. MY LOCAL SABARU DEALER JUST QUOTED ME $2500 TO FIX A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE ESTIMATED 1.5 MILLION SUBARU'S THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSES.

NHTSA ODI 11382882

WHEN STOPPING THE CAR STALLS AND DIES ON STREETS, HIGHWAYS, ETC. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED AND IT EVEN DIED WHILE OBSTRUCTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SUBARU ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN (TSB 16-90-13R) WHICH DESCRIBES THE ISSUE PERFECTLY, HOWEVER DUE TO MILAGE (40K OVER 100K) THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE BAD PART, WHICH IS NO LONGER EVEN AVAILAABLE TO PURCHASE THROUGH THEM! PART # 31100AB170. THE NEW PART 31100AB171 AND 31100AB172 SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALL 2010-2012 OUTBACK OWNERS AS A RECALL. IF THEY WILL NOT EVEN SELL THE ORIGINAL PART ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT IS GARBAGE AND THEN PLAY THE FEEL GOOD BEST CAR EVER COMMERCIALS, THAT IS MISLEADING AND FRAUDULENT. HELP NHTSA, YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE.

NHTSA ODI 11366521

I PURCHASED THIS AS A USED VEHICLE AS IS WITH 130,000 MILES. IT WAS WITHIN A COUPLES WEEKS THAT I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE EVERY TIME I WOULD BRAKE AT AN INTERSECTION OR STOP SIGN/LIGHT. THANKFULLY, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN, BUT DO OCCASIONALLY TRAVEL TO LARGER CITIES. AS YOU COULD IMAGINE, THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS!!! I JUST RECENTLY HIT 135,000 MILES AND NOW HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE! AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE, THE RPM GAUGE JUMPS UP AND IT MAKES A SCREECHING NOISE. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT BOTH ISSUES. THEY ARE BOTH CAUSED BY A PROBLEM WITH THE CVT AND THAT SUBARU HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE? I AM A MIDDLE-CLASS CONSUMER AND CAN NOT AFFORD A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, SO WHEN I DO PURCHASE A USED VEHICLE, I TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT HAS A HISTORY OF BEING RELIABLE AND LONG-LASTING. THIS VEHICLE IS NEITHER!!!

NHTSA ODI 11366535

WHILE ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, UPON BREAKING THE SUBARU UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED OUT. WE WERE VERY STARTLED BECAUSE THE CAR BEHIND US HONKED THE HORN FOR US TO MOVE ON. WE FEEL VERY UNSAFE NOW WITH OUR EVERYDAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11352606

THE RANDOMLY STALLS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND HAS LEFT ME AND MY SON STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ON A FEW OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASSION, WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY A CAR ENTERING THE INTERSECTION. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE AT OIL LIGHTS UP WHENEVER TRAVELING LONGER DISTANCES. THE MECHANIC HAS SAID THE CAR HAS A FAILING TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED SOA DUE TO THE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEY HAVE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR MEETS THE 10 YEAR TIME-FRAME OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THEY WILL NOT HONOR THE EXTENSION BECAUSE OF THE MILES WHICH WERE 132,000. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR PUT MAYBE $1000 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GIVING US PROBLEMS. THERE IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE SUBARU 2011 CVT THAT REQUIRES A RECALL, NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. LOOK ALL OF THE INTERNET ON CUSTOMERS HAVING THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION FAIL AT JUST OVER 100,000 MILES AND BEING STUCK WITH $7000 REPAIR BILLS.

NHTSA ODI 11343944