What 638 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Subaru Outback Wilderness

My 2016 Subaru Outback CVT transmission has exhibited an intermittent jerking and grabbing sensation when accelerating from a stop, worse when cold, since at least February 2023. This is a known defect covered under Subaru warranty extension bulletin 16-115-18. February 2023 — An authorized Subaru dealer documented the complaint in writing. The technician stated the vehicle never warmed up during the test drive and dismissed the concern. The CVT issue was never repaired. I was never informed of Subaru's CVT warranty extension program. February 17 2026 — seven days before my warranty expiration — the same authorized Subaru dealer physically identified and documented a CVT oil pump cover leak. The same jerking complaint was again documented in writing. No repairs were made and the warranty expired one week later. The CVT defect has been physically confirmed by an authorized Subaru dealer within the warranty period and Subaru of America has denied my warranty claim in writing. This issue presents a safety concern. The unpredictable jerking and hesitation when accelerating from a stop creates dangerous situations in traffic, particularly at intersections and when merging. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Subaru chose to handle this known widespread defect as a quiet warranty extension rather than a mandatory recall despite hundreds of owners reporting identical symptoms.

NHTSA ODI 11727074

As I was pulling slowly into a parking spot in a busy lot that serves a lot of small businesses, my Subaru suddenly accelerated forward, over the concrete parking bumper and raised sidewalk area, and into the side of the building. While I was uninjured and had no passengers in the vehicle, the car sustained damage to the apron and tire area on front passenger side of the car. The airbag did not inflate. Tiling on the exterior of the building was impacted, but not greatly damaged, and I had been able to avoid the plate glass entry to the business. A few customers were greatly alarmed by the Subaru's proximity to their lunch tables by the windows. I was able to put the vehicle into reverse and carefully move it off the sidewalk. I exited the car and went in to share my insurance information with the empathetic employees and manager of the business. I was able to drive my vehicle about two blocks to a larger lot, so that the towing company my husband contacted could access it, but not for several hours. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop where it remains until they are finished with it. The claims people seem to have reached the conclusion that since I was driving, I must be at fault in this accident. I immediately, and still, continue to think over that incident, trying to determine how parking carefully and without distraction could turn into such a collision. I believe that I am not to blame. In reading the reports that have been made to your agency on Subarus of this vintage, there are marked similarities to the narratives on sudden unintended acceleration caused by Subaru equipment faults. I have lost confidence in what has been my favorite car. I'm hoping that some clear path exists for me to drive it again without anxiety.

NHTSA ODI 11544150

I was in a parking lot at a near-complete stop. I needed to nose the car about 18 inches to move it all the way into the spot. I lightly touched the accelerator to inch the car forward, and it shot forward as if some outside force had stomped on the accelerator. The car jumped the sidewalk and slammed into the wall of the building. The car inner body bent and the car is totaled. The airbags did not inflate. The passenger in the passenger seat sustained a fractured sternum and two broken ribs from going into the seatbelt. The driver sustained a sore neck and dizziness.

NHTSA ODI 11503955

This incident occurred on Friday July 29, 2022 @ 5pm. I was pulling into a parking space while my foot was on the brake I proceeded to put the car in park when the car suddenly lunged forward into the concrete patio of the Market/Store. I was in disbelief at what just happened. I would happily make my car available for inspection. I want to find out what is wrong with the car. I believe this could happen again and I am fearful for my life and the lives of others. I was so lucky that the table and chairs were roped off that evening for some reason. People could have been sitting or walking there at the time of this incident. This incident has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer or independent service center. I brought the car to the Subaru dealer for them to do a diagnostic test and any other things needed to give me some answers & repairs. I was told no issues were found. They also told me they would like to have my car for a week so they could drive it & do more test. I asked for a loaner and they said they could not do that. I can’t afford to rent a car for a week. And I feel they will come back to me with the same answer of not being able to find an issue. I have had this car for almost 3 years and I park by putting my foot on the brake and then shift into park. There was a malfunction! What it was I don’t know. But I do know something went very wrong with the vehicle. There was never any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to this failure.

NHTSA ODI 11477046

on 2/8/22 I brought my car in for service to an independent repair shop. The service was for the 120k standard service. I had been noticing exhaust smells. They checked the exhaust and found "exhaust leak from center exhaust flange, and exhaust leave from exhaust manifold". They recommended a complete replacement of the exhaust manifold "under Subaru recall". They printed the recall for me. It is WUJ-95. Which recalls 2015-2016 outbacks for this issue. When I contacted the dealer they indicated my vehicle was not under this recall. Subaru Customer care indicated the same as did your website. Subaru said that the recall was initiated by NHTSA and that until NHTSA indicated my vehicle was included in the recall they would not repair it. My vehicle has exactly the same issue as what was found for the recall. The only thing I can assume is that my actual 2016 Subaru outback was manufactured after 9/30/15. I cannot find the exact date of manufacture so cannot tell if that is the issue. However, that actual manufacture date should not be controlling as my 2016 outback has exactly the same issue as the recall. If 2016 outbacks manufactured after 9/30/15 have this same issue they should be included in this recall. I am asking you to review this issue and include my vehicle in the recall.

NHTSA ODI 11451505

WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED UP ON A COLD MORNING IT IDLES TOO FAST AND LURCHES DANGEROUSLY WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. I HAVE TO HOLD THE CAR BACK WITH FIRM BRAKING. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2016 OUTBACK 3.6 R WITH A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11363155

ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65-75 MPH WITH NO WARNING THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING TO INPUTS. WHILE MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD THROUGH TRAFFIC THE ENGINE SHUTOFF. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND ON THE SECOND OCCASION IT WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AND RAN WITH NO ISSUES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE EVER DISPLAYED. THE BATTERY WAS WORKING FINE AND FULLY CHARGED. THE CAR IS IN PERFECT MECHANICAL SHAPE WITH ALL REGULAR SERVICE PERFORMED. THE GAS REMAINING AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TANK FULL. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN TO ME.

NHTSA ODI 11164684

AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE BUT THERE WAS A LONG HESITATION FOLLOWED BY A SURGE OF POWER. THIS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS. I HAD THE SALES MAN DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND ALSO THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE IT FOR 1 WEEK - NEITHER TIMES DID THIS ISSUE REPEAT ITSELF. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I REFUSED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER IN BERLIN, CT.

NHTSA ODI 11111266

1ST OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928153

LESS THAN 1 WEEK LATER, 2ND OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST FORWARD MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT NOT ENGAGING ENOUGH TO PROPEL VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER REPAIRED PILOT PIN IN TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928154

3RD OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE JERKED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST MOVEMENT WITH RESISTANCE. TOWED TO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928155

I DESCEND A STEEP, CROOKED COUNTRY ROAD TO REACH MY HOUSE AND LOCK MY TRANSMISSION IN SECOND GEAR TO AVOID HAVING TO APPLY BRAKES. IN LOW IDLE, THE VEHICLE SPEED IS WELL CONTROLLED BUT WHEN THE FUEL CONTROL SHIFTS TO HIGH IDLE THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASES FROM 2000 TO ABOUT 3500 RPM WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED WHICH REQUIRES RAPID, SHARP BRAKE APPLICATION. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS IS ONLY MILDLY IRRITATING BUT WHEN THE ROADS ARE COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW THIS WINTER SUDDEN BRAKE APPLICATION WILL BECOME VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE SHARP CURVES AND STEEP DROP-OFFS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH IDLE SETTINGS IS EXCESSIVE AND SUBARU SHOULD BE FORCED TO CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFICIENCY. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS LOCATION FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS AND DRIVEN THIS ROAD WITH ABOUT SIX OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT DIFFICULTY BUT I DREAD THE APPROACH OF THIS WINTER. THE DEALER ADMITS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT BUT BEYOND THEIR CONTROL BECAUSE IT IS GOVERNED BY A COMPUTER IN THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 10906222