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.
Transmission shudders intensely when coming to a stop around 5 mph. Also shudders when stopped, rpms dip to about 500. Car stalled twice in the last few days.
The torque converter on the 2011 Subaru Outback is defective when it reaches higher mileage and causes the vehicle to stall out when stopping abruptly (hard braking). I was driving approximately 30-40mph in Suburban traffic when I needed to abruptly brake. My vehicle stalled out twice in traffic after hard braking, both times while driving straight. This is dangerous in traffic as you must restart the vehicle from the stall out and could be hit by other vehicles while doing so. For safety, it is necessary to replace this defective part, which is ridiculously expensive for the owner. Owners are loosing out; Subaru should recall this part and replace free of charge.
Car stalls at when coming to a hard stop (sometimes this happens in traffic which is really dangerous). After the stall, the car starts up fine. But then stalls when coming to a hard stop.
My 2011 Subaru Outback is experiencing shuddering & stalls when coming to a stop resulting in the engine shutting off. It occurs randomly, and nearly got in accidents with drivers behind me having to react to the sudden full stops. The vehicle is at a Subaru dealership now for repairs to the torque converter as well as the valve box and value box wiring harness. There is a Subaru technical bulletin #16-90-13R regarding a known problem with the torque converter: "2010-12 my legacy and Outback models equipped with cvt transmission", subject "design change to lock-up type torque converter". given the danger of random stalling events, the number of reported incidents, and the ~$4400 repair expense being put on me for a known design problem, I would think this should be strongly considered for a recall.
My 2011 Subaru Outback is experiencing shuddering & stalls when coming to a stop resulting in the engine shutting off. It occurs randomly, and nearly got in accidents with drivers behind me having to react to the sudden full stops. The vehicle is at a Subaru dealership now for repairs. There is a Subaru technical bulletin #16-90-13R regarding a known problem with the torque converter: "2010-12 my legacy and Outback models equipped with cvt transmission", subject "design change to lock-up type torque converter". given the danger of random stalling events, the number of reported incidents, and the ~$1500 repair expense being put on the consumer for a known design problem, this should be strongly considered for a recall.
- Union Grove, NC, USA
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I had notified you about my Subaru Outback and the stalling problem we were having whenever we would come to a quick stop. Subaru mechanic said that the transmission needed to be replaced at a cost of $11,000. We had a local transmission shop look at it and they said it was the torque converter. They replaced the converter at a much cheaper cost and the vehicle so far has performed well. I have talked to other owners that are experiencing the stutter problem whenever they come to a stop but the vehicle has not stalled. I am confident that it will in time just as ours did. Should Subaru issue a recall on these converters?
Torque converter is malfunctioning. This is a known Subaru defect, I believe. The car dies if I make a sudden stop- definitely a safety hazard. This happens on highways and surface streets.
The torque converter locks up at low rpms and causes the car to stall. This is problematic at intersections and in traffic (which we experience a lot of in austin, Texas). It is an ongoing problem that started recently.
Engine stalls when the car comes to a quick stop. Similar to when you fail to push in the clutch on a standard transmission, but in this case, this is car has an automatic transmission.
My car stalls regularly when braking quickly, like when someone stops suddenly in front of me. It also stalls while applying the brake to stop at a light on a hill. This fault has placed me in several hazardous situations, including stalling on railroad tracks, and in busy intersections. When I first complained about it two years ago, Subaru told me that it was an oxygen/fuel mixture issue and wanted to charge me $1200 to fix it. But when I searched on line, other Subaru owners were complaining of the same issue and the oxygen/fuel fix didn't work for them after spending all the money to fix it. After living with this fault for nearly two years, I went to another repair shop who told me about this tsb: Date: 01/06/14 revised: 05/07/14 applicability: 2010-12 my legacy and Outback models equipped with cvt transmission subject: Design change to lock-up type torque converter introduction this bulletin announces the availability of a countermeasure torque converter assembly to address a customer concern of very low engine RPM 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. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter can cause restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. The result is either a delayed (momentary low engine RPM) or no lock-up pressure release. The thrust washer has been changed from a solid bushing-type to a needle bearing type. Subaru wants $1500 for this torque converter assembly to be replaced. If you search on line, you'll discover that this is a common issue. This needs to be upgraded to a vehicle recall, not just a tsb. This is a fault in Subaru's cvt transmission design that is a danger to everyone driving one. Please help us in enforcing this recall. Thank you.
Our 2011 Outback would stutter at a stop, Subaru said this was the way it was designed to conserve fuel. The vehicle now stalls, always starts back up but this is not comforting especially when my wife is driving by herself. This began sometime in January 2017 Subaru tech said need to replace the entire transmission at a cost of $11,000. That's crazy. Was referred by a friend to a transmission shop in baytown, says it is the torque converter and can either be rebuilt or replaced. I took it in yesterday and hopefully will pick it up Friday. I have made several trips to the Subaru dealer and called the headquarters. I am not pleased with my first Subaru. Should have stayed with a Toyota which I have had great success with. Our family of 4 had 4 Camry's and got a combined total of over 1,200,000 miles on them.
I have experienced a driver safety concern that can easily cause a collision to occur. When coming to a stop the automatic transmission does not go to neutral and the engine halts. I have to restart the car. This is dangerous as it may cause a rear end collision and has almost done so on numerous occasions. This is related to bulletin number 16-90-13R that has already been opened with Subaru on 01/06/2014. The remedy is to replace torque converter thrust washer from a solid bushing-type to a needle bearing type. I strongly believe this should be a recall issue and not be passed onto to the customer. This can easily escalate to a class action law suit if a serious collision were to happen. Here is the complaint presented to Subaru bulletin number 16-90-13R; date: 01/06/14 revised: 05/07/14 applicability: 2010-12 my legacy and Outback models equipped with cvt transmission subject: Design change to lock-up type torque converter introduction this bulletin announces the availability of a countermeasure torque converter assembly to address a customer concern of very low engine RPM 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. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter can cause restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. The result is either a delayed (momentary low engine RPM) or no lock-up pressure release. The thrust washer has been changed from a solid bushing-type to a needle bearing type.
Car transmission shudders on deceleration; occasionally killing the engine altogether. Feels like clutching mechanism within the automatic transmission is not functioning properly. Dealer prescribed a new transmission. Subsequently I researched multiple instances of similar situation/symptoms in same model year, but my VIN was excluded from the NHTSA safety recall tsb no. 16-101-16. This situation is too coincidental; the recall needs to be expanded.
2011 Subaru Outback worn torque converter thrust washer tech services bulletin #16-90-13R. Engine shudders and stalls on quick stops like at stop light or at stop at top of an incline like exiting a parking garage. Issue was diagnosed at my authorized Subaru services dept yesterday that it was torque converter and I'd be responsible for repair cost. Service tech and service dept manager confirmed that they did agree with my input when presenting the car. I was the one who diagnosed the problem -- which they confirmed. Bulletin states the availability of a countermeasure torque converter assembly thrust washer changed from solid brushing type to needle bearing type. I have read extensive complaints from other owners experiencing this problem. This is a very serious issue that if not resolved can result in injury or death. I was almost in an accident because of this defect last week. Subaru acknowledges the defect...but has done nothing about it. This needs to be a safety recall before someone gets killed!!! in some cases this defect has caused a fire in the engine. Consumers have documented this serious defect on NHTSA, car talk, cars.com. Subaru needs to recall these vehicles!!!!
Multiple transmission solenoids have failed and the transmission valve body needs to be replaced on this vehicle with a cvt transmission with 80,000 miles.
When coming to a complete stop, vehicle will run rough and/or stall just before coming to a complete stop. This is well documented on Subaru web forums. Subaru needs to creat a recall. Per Subaru dealer diagnostic it is a bad torque converter, per bulletin # 16-90-13R.
My complaint is that the car stalls when you stop quick. It acts like you are stoping and not stepping on the clutch. But the transmission is a cvt. It started in December 2016. 102K miles. Dealer is saying I need a new torque converter.
The car shudders and dies while in the process of coming to a hard stop. You have to put the car in neutral or park to start it again. This has happened multiple times, once in an intersection. Very dangerous! there is a tsb (16-90-13R) out on this problem (failed thrust washer). This should be a recall! Subaru wants over $1800 to replace the failed part. My car has 93,000 miles on it. Seems to be happening on Outbacks starting around 80,000 miles....updated 04/27/17
Torque converter judder. Recommended torque converter replacement after the back up duty solenoid malfunction. Car was towed to dealer after the at oil temp light as flashing while driving. Dealer said to not drive it and have it towed. Code P2764 was retrieved and solenoid was replaced. After test driving during the inspection, technician felt shuttering at 40mph and recommended replacing consistent with tsb 16-90-13R.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Waltham, MA, USA