This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
My car has been consuming oil to the point where it has a D minus according to the dealership but has not fixed the problem and it keeps happening. The first time they said it was almost an F. I have about 3000 miles on it when it needs oil.
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. While driving 60 mph, the brakes seized without warning. Last week, the transmission seized while in traffic on the golden gate bridge. On both occasions, the contact had to pull the vehicle over to prevent a crash. The transmission warning indicator was illuminated. The vehicle was towed three times to marin Subaru (595 francisco blvd E, san rafael, ca 94901, (415) 454-9240) where it was diagnosed that a new transmission was needed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was repaired five additional times, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and did not assist. The failure mileage was 250,000.
At 107K miles my transmission failed. Only certain VIN #'s are recalled. Mine not being one of them. Although there is a known transmission problem with 2013 Subaru Outbacks. I have to replace the transmission.
The transmission jerks and stutters and while in traffic the car lost power for approximately 5 seconds and I was almost hit. It happens at low and high speeds. It has happened on city streets and the latest was on the highway. I have also had it stall completely at low speeds. I've had it in the dealership 3 times and they say they can't replicate it. I have had the transmission flushed. It still continues. It feels unsafe to drive.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
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I was driving early in the morning when the car, a 2013 Subaru Outback, started to act unpredictably;revving and jumpy. I was scared to continue driving it in that state and pulled into a parking lot. It seemed clear it would not make it up the 8 % grade hill that was 1/4 mile or so further down the road. I had to be towed out of the lot to the local Subaru dealer. I understand such total failure transmission events are a known Subaru issue for my model and year. I am very upset that there was no recall and now Subaru is saying their voluntary extension of the warranty expired and they won't pay for the new transmission. They have offered $2500 in a gesture of good will, but that will not come close to covering the cost of replacing this defective transmission. Subaru should issue a recall for these defective transmissions that were included in the "customer satisfaction" extended warranty before something disastrous occurs.
Grinding coming from transmission. The vehicle stalls or delays in the transmission when taking off from stops. In one particular instance, the car had such a delay in heavy traffic that we could have had an serious accident if husband had not pulled over to get out of the way. Another time it delayed for over 20 seconds at a stop light and someone nearly rear ended us. 2 separate technicians from two separate dealerships recommended replacement of transmission. During their test drive both felt a shudder around 25 mph and reported a noisy transmission. Other diagnosis was performed finding no other issues. The issue started 120,000 miles but technician seen unit at 128,572 miles in which he stated repairs for the replacement of the transmission would be between 8,000 and 10,000. This is our main vehicle and is unsafe and unreliable to continue to use.
Noise coming from underneath vehicle when accelerating that I noticed in Feb 2017. Took the car in to Subaru dealer and all they did was replace the differential fluid and said "noise will go away with time." Like any car issue, it did not go away on its own. Oct 2018 took the car in to local mechanic and they said it needed a new cvt transmission. Also said that my car could stall at any time so I did not drive it. Took it to Subaru for a second opinion and they agreed, new cvt transmission. They also informed me that there was an extended warranty on the transmission that ended July 2018, but I was never informed of the extended warranty. Subaru offered to pay 50% of a $10,000 repair so we paid $5,000. Still a very unacceptable amount of money for a car only worth $10,000. This part should be recalled as it can cause stalling at any time. Very disappointed in Subaru at this time.
For several months, Subaru of America was made aware of our vehicle's dangerous performance. Stalling while coming to a stop, turning as well as a noticeable whining noise from the cvt. The vehicle was taken into gillman Subaru sw due to these issues in July, 2018, before the end of the "extended warranty". the vehicle was misdiagnosed as having bad wheel bearings and possibly bad spark plugs. Both ended up turning out to be wrong. Wheel bearings were changed, spark plugs as well. In effect, the dealership stalled and soa effectively took advantage of this to deny the claim. Should the NHTSA care to have audio recordings of various calls that demonstrate this, please feel free to contact us. We are now forced to seek legal recourse as soa has decided to act in bad faith with a very dangerous symptom. A recall, that forces the manufacturer to act in good faith is needed. We're fortunate to have recorded conversations, texts, E-mails that hopefully will serve us well. However, the idea that legal recourse is required in an effort to motivate or force a manufacturer to perform in good faith is unreasonable and entirely unsafe. How many others do not have the pertinent conversations on tape? a recall is warranted. An automatic transmission that dies while turning need not be the standard of what's appropriate on the road.
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled and vibrated. Numerous unknown warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. Periodically, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The dealer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. While driving various speeds, the transmission failed. The contact stated that all four wheels seized intermittently and the vehicle made a loud grinding noise prior to the failure. Sendell Subaru (5085 us-30, greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601, (724) 837-1600) replaced the transmission. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided the contact with case number: Sr#: 1-35673914925. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
I am the original owner of this vehicle. The transmission failed at around 71,000 miles with a 60,000 mile warranty. Subaru offered to assist with the cost of the repair in the amount of $3,600. Much later Subaru reimbursed the full amount of the repair. I believe this action was to avoid a recall. The vehicle is now at around 131,000 miles and the transmission has failed again. Subaru has offered a $1,000 credit on a new Subaru as compensation. I expected at least a 60,000 mile warranty on my 2nd transmission but Subaru informed me that the warranty was only for 24 months or 24,000 miles. I believe that Subaru knows that these transmissions are defective and should be recalled. In my opinion the original repair by Subaru was nothing more than a temporary patch job and not an actual fix for the transmission. On both occasions the transmission became very loud while driving and appeared to be in imminent danger of complete failure.
While driving the transmission light starts flashing along with the brake lights many warning lights and I drove it right to the dealer just a couple miles away they tested it said the transmission is no longer functioning properly the car was making a low pitched rumbling sound for a few weeks before that and for a long time there was a delay while putting the shifter in to park before that for over year and a half while I was driving when I would slow down to a stop the engine would slow down where it seem like it was going to stall out dealer checked it and said the transmission was ok that was over a year ago now one month out of the extended warrantee it conks out completely and Subaru does not want to do anything about it I wondered if you are still talking about doing a recall on the transmission because Subaru got around it before by doing this extended warranty? there should be a recall on this faulty transmission that they used in this 2013 Subaru vehicle thanks
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle would downshift to a lower gear without warning. The failure intermittently recurred. The vehicle was taken to capitol Subaru (located at 920 capitol expressway auto mall, san jose, ca 95136, (408) 763-4024) where diagnostic testing was completed; however, a failure code could not be found. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 17,000. Consumer stated loses power suddenly.
This 2013 Subaru Outback was purchased in Dec. 2013. The original warranty was for 60,000 miles. At some point, due to issues with this make and models transmission, the warranty of these vehicles was extended to 10 years or 100,000 miles. This car now is 5 years old and has 130,000 miles and the Subaru dealership is saying that the transmission needs to be replaced at a price tag of $10,000. Subaru usa is offering to apply $1500 towards the transmission replacement or apply towards a new Subaru. Subaru usa knows that these transmissions were defective or they would not have extended the warranty. Extending the warranty does not absolve Subaru usa from the responsibility of installing defective transmissions. This 5-year old automobile with 130,000 miles is now virtually worthless. Subaru usa installed defective transmissions and should be liable for replacement of the transmission. There was no accident involved with this complaint.
We have owned the vehicle for about a year. A few weeks ago the transmission started making a horrendous noise and the car is now a very expensive lawn ornament. I have heard from a mechanic friend that the Subaru cvt transmissions are known to have issues. My husband had just picked up our kids from daycare and when he went to leave the car didn't want to go in gear and made a grinding noise that it continued to make. We parked it to prevent further damage.
While driving at very low speeds between 10-20 mph, usually in front of a school in session, the speed surges from the current speed to a lower speed back to the same speed. It is not consistent but it occurs at least 3-5 times per week. This has been going on for almost a year but overtime it is taken in to the Subaru dealer, they are unable to duplicate the issue and always state that they have found nothing wrong. After investigating on the internet concerning this issue, other individuals have a similar experience, some even worst and they all state that the dealer always tells them the same thing: They find no issues.
Sabaru has a problem with their automatic transmissions in 2010 tho 2015 vehicles. I have 2013. It has been determined that my transmission needs to be replace. I've been waiting for over a month now and parts ( a new transmission} are still not available. I'm complaining so it is noted that sabaru is dragging their feet on getting this problem resolved. The least sabaru could do is inform the customer as to a date when the parts will available. I need to use the car.
Vehicle was in motion at at a consistent speed of around 15 mph, the vehicle stalled and suddenly stopped. The gas pedal was unresponsive and the vehicle would not move. Had to stop, put the transmission back in park, restart the vehicle, at which point the vehicle began to move again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- West Lafayette, IN, USA