What 290 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Subaru Outback

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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