What 290 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Outback Wilderness

VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE/POTENTIAL ACCELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. THIS HAPPENED IN RAINY CONDITIONS, WHICH MY WIFE HAD NOTICED MANY WEEKS BEFORE. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE FOUND THESE RECALLS: AND LAWSUIT HTTPS://CARS.USNEWS.COM/CARS-TRUCKS/SUBARU/OUTBACK/2012/RELIABILITY HTTPS://WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG/NEWS/CLASS-ACTION-CLAIMS-SUBARU-CONCEALED-SUDDEN-ACCELERATION-DEFECT-IN-FORESTER-LEGACY-OUTBACK-MODELS#:~:TEXT=NEW%20JERSEY-,SUBARU%20OF%20AMERICA%2C%20INC.,FROM%20A%20SUDDEN%20ACCELERATION%20DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI 11352327

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, THE ENGINE DIES. I'M AFRAID I WILL BE REAR ENDED. THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LOW BATTERY SO I REPLACED IT AND IT STILL DOES A STUTTER THEN DIES. IF I LET OFF OF THE BREAK, SOMETIMES THAT KEEPS IT FROM STALLING. VERY CONCERNING IN TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 6 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11352357

LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE ON ALL THE TIME BRAKES TRACTION ABS (ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM)ABOUT THE SAME TIME MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11351702

BATTERY DRAIN VEHICLE MAY SIT 2 DAYS AND BATTERY IS DEAD EVERYTHING IS OFF IN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT AND CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS AND HAVE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11350828

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

NHTSA ODI 11327561

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE SUDDENLY CHANGED ON ME, WHICH REQUIRED ME TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE CAR. VERY ALARMING AT THE TIME AND IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ISSUE. THE ISSUE RESOLVED ITSELF BRIEFLY BUT HAS NOW REMAINED IN IT CURRENT STATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE WHAT BRAKE PRESSURE TO APPLY -- A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. UNTIL I CAN GET THIS ISSUE FIXED, I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS. SHOP SAID THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE FAILING. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS UNDER A SUBARU RECALL, HOWEVER, WHEN ASKING A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER, THEY SAID THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY. I FOUND THAT TROUBLING SINCE THE RECALL AFFECTS 2012 SUBARU MODELS AND IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED. (NOTE: I UPLOADED THE RECALL PRINTOUT THAT OUTLINES THE ISSUE). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327076

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

NHTSA ODI 11327088

BRAKE LINE NEAR REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LINE IS LEAKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON OLDER MODELS BUT THIS YEAR DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326605

REAR BRAKE LINE ON PASSENGER SIDE IS CORRODED AND LEAKING BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326542

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS IN THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

NHTSA ODI 11326323

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.

NHTSA ODI 11326372

WHEN I BE DRIVING, AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, OR A STOP. MY CAR STALLS OUT. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, WHEN A DO A QUICK STOP. I BEGAN,NOTICING THIS CONDITION ABOUT A FEW MONTHS AGO,,APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2020. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323875

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.

NHTSA ODI 11320635

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.

NHTSA ODI 11318816

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.

NHTSA ODI 11316811

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN LIGHTS ON DASH STARTED FLASHING ON & OFF, CRUISE, BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WAS FLASHING BLUE & RED. I PULLED OVER TO MAKE SURE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND CHECKED GAS CAP WAS TIGHT AS I HAD GOOGLED WHY IT MIGHT BE FLASHING. I CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER MILE AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING CLICKING NOISE WHEN I PRESSED GAS. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, CAR LIGHTS WERE STILL FLASHING AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER HOOD. SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND WE GOT OUT IMMEDIATELY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11303050

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.

NHTSA ODI 11298557

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.

NHTSA ODI 11297350

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.

NHTSA ODI 11288928

MY CAR OFTEN GETS STUCK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND I CANNOT MOVE THE CAR FORWARD OR BACKWARD. MOST TIMES I HAVE A CARLOAD OF GROCERIES AND NEED TO GET THEM TO THE FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR. COMPUTER ENGINE ANALYSIS...... ABS C0054 BRAKE SWITCH ON MALFUNCTION C0057 ECM CONTROL...... EPB C0252 MOTOR MALFUNCTION DETAIL CODE 50A0 ..... C0234 VDC FAILURE DETAIL CODE C111..... C0242 POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE FAILURE DETAIL CODE. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES, REPLACED TIRES, CHECKED FLUID, CHECKED FUSES, ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11288603

BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THIS IS A KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE, BUT RECALLS HAVE NOT AFFECTED THE 2012 OUTBACK AS OF YET; WANTED TO REPORT THIS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS IN A SNOWY REGION BUT ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REGULARLY TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA ODI 11280018

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.

NHTSA ODI 11279924

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.

NHTSA ODI 11277821

KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. VEHICLE HAS TO BE RE-STARTED, MOVED BACK AND FORTH 3-4 TIMES BEFORE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY SUBARUS, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF QUICK-FIX VIDEOS ONLINE AND COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS IN AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS. SUBARU IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11269521

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

NHTSA ODI 11268393