NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
CAR STALLS AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. *KB
ENGINE IDLE DROPS 200 RPM BELOW NORMAL UNDER BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THIS RESULTS IN AN ENGINE STALL IN TRAFFIC. SUBARU OF AMERICA SUGGESTED A TRANSMISSION "RETRAINING" WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CURED THE ISSUE. *TT
THE ENGINE STALLS WHILE AT A STOP OR COMING TO A STOP. THE RPMS SUDDENLY DROP AND THE ENGINE STOPS. CAR WILL RESTART AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR A WHILE BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTENT AND IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO US. THE NEXT DAY, IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING A TURN AND EXPERIENCING A STALL, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, AND ACCELERATION. *TR
THE 'FRONT PASSENGER'S FRONTAL AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR' REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHILE MY WIFE (WHO WEIGHS MORE THAN 100 POUNDS) RIDES IN THIS SEAT. (I.E., THE AIRBAG IS NOT ARMED.) AT BEST, THE INDICATOR (AND THE AIR BAG) IS INTERMITTENT, GOING ON AND OFF WHILE WE DRIVE. DEALER HAS REPEATEDLY TESTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM AND STATES IT'S WORKING WITHIN SPECIFICATION. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN, NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR
MY HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) BURN OUT AT A VERY FREQUENT RATE. I HAVE CHANGED THEM AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. I USE GLOVES AND NEVER TOUCH THE BULB. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT IN APRIL 2011 AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SOME LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR OR MORE TIMES. SOME HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN A WEEK AFTER THEY ARE REPLACED.
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK EXHIBITS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. AND POOR LANE TRACKING (WANDERING). *TR
THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES ON SMOOTH ROADS (RECENTLY REPAVED ROAD) AND IT TENDS TO PERSIST WHETHER YOU ARE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. PREVIOUSLY TOOK CAR IN FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED IT WAS A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. THEY ROTATED MY WHEELS, STATED THEY BALANCED THE WHEELS AND ALSO STATED THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF WEAR LEFT ON THE TIRES. THE ISSUE NEVER WENT AWAY ON THE SHAKING FRONT END OF MY CAR AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE TODAY. *TR
BOUGHT NEW, MAY 2010. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED FLASHING- BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CRUISE, OIL LIGHT, ETC. UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL ONLY ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE STILL ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, MY AUTO IMPORTS IN MUSKEGON MI, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES IN THE PAST. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IT IS GOING BACK IN TOMORROW AFTER THE FLASHING DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR 6 DAYS. THE STALLING HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN ACCELERATING TO ACCOMMODATE A TURN OR START UP FROM A STOP SIGN/SIGNAL. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5. 9.5K AT SPEEDS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 65MPH SEVER VIBRATION OF STEERING WHEEL (STEERING WHEEL DEFLECTION ABOUT 1/8 INCH BACK AND FORTH). SPEEDOMETER HAND SEEMED TO VIBRATE - BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDS, ARMS, HEAD, EYES ABSORBING THE RAPID WHEEL VIBRATION). NEVER HAPPENED ON INFREQUENT HIGH SPEED ROAD TRIPS. COULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOT FELT. DEALER DID ROAD FORCE TEST ON THE ORIGINAL CONTINENTAL BRAND POWERS. TWO FAILED AND REPLACED. FAILED TIRES WHERE IN DIAGONAL POSITIONS. ASKED MANAGER ABOUT THE OTHER TWO TIRES - HE SAID TIRES WERE EITHER GOOD OR BAD. NOT CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCE. DID NOT HAVE VIBRATION WELL INTO THE MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR. SO TIRES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BAD AT THE BEGINNING OR IT WAS NOT JUST THE TIRES. *TR
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2010 2.5I OUTBACK WITH THE CVT I NOTICED A SWAY ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN TRAVELING AROUND 80 MPH. THE CAR FEELS TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE (ALMOST SNAKE LIKE) WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT. I ASKED THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT IF THEY WERE AWARE OF ANY ISSUES AND THEY SAID NO, BUT WOULD TAKE A LOOK. THEY FOUND NOTHING TO BE INCORRECT YET THE CAR CONTINUES TO SWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT FEELS AS IF IT WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN UPGRADED FRONT AND REAR SWAY BAR TO TIE THE LENGTHIER VEHICLE TOGETHER A BIT MORE. I WOULD PURCHASE THESE MYSELF BUT DON'T WANT TO VOID THE LEASE WARRANTY AND REALLY FEEL THAT SUBARU SHOULD PROVIDE AND INSTALL THESE FOR FREE SINCE MULTIPLE PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THE WHEELS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY BECOME CLOGGED WITH DEBRIS OR SNOW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FAILURE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE YET THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, SHE WOULD NEED TO WASH THE DEBRIS AWAY FROM THE WHEELS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
SUBARU OUTBACK STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND VIBRATION. I PURCHASED MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK NEW IN OCTOBER OF 2010. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND SPENDING A FEW MILES GETTING USED TO THE FEEL AND SENSATION OF A NEW CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE RIDE OF THE CAR WAS SOMEWHAT UNSETTLED, VIBRATING AND SHAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE NEW TIRES AND SLIGHTLY OVERLY INFLATED TIRE PRESSURE. I PRECISELY ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND SPENT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WAITING FOR THE TIRES TO "SETTLE IN" AND SMOOTH OUT. MY WIFE STARTED DRIVING THE CAR REGULARLY AND DID NOT MENTION ANY ISSUE ABOUT THE RIDE. I DROVE THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AFTERWARDS AND ON EACH TRIP FOUND THE CAR VERY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THE RIDE IS NOTICEABLE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY BUT IS MOST APPARENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MOST ESPECIALLY IN LOW POWER SITUATIONS LIKE COASTING DOWN DESCENTS AT GREATER THAN 60MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY IN THIS SITUATION. THINKING THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SHAKING WAS THE OEM TIRES, I REMOVED THE CONTI CONTISPORT TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN DEFENDER XT'S FROM COSTCO. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE NO SMOOTHER THAN THE OEM'S. I HAD COSTCO REMOVE AND REBALANCE THE TIRES. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AND VIBRATION REMAINED EVEN AFTER THE REBALANCE. I WAS ABOUT TO RETURN THE CAR TO COSTCO WHEN I FOUND THE LINK ON THE SUBARU FORUM ABOUT "SHAKY SUBARUS" AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO WIDESPREAD THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) HAD BEEN ISSUED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, MANDATING THAT MAJOR MODIFICATIONS BE MADE TO THE CAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY SOA ABOUT THE TSB. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEFECT WAS A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE FAILING EVERY 6 MONTHS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
CONSTANT LOW BEAM BURNOUT I NOW HAVE 49,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND AM ON MY SEVENTH HEAD LIGHT. *TR
WE BOUGHT A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN JULY 2010. IT HAS STALLED TWICE (ONCE IN SEPTEMBER AND ONCE IN OCTOBER) WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED AND MAKING A LEFTHAND TURN INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IN BOTH INSTANCES OF STALLING, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCLINE IN THE HILL. SINCE I WAS TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR STARTED UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. I AM BRINGING IN THIS CAR FOR SERVICE THIS UPCOMING WEEK. THE SUBARU DEALER I JUST SPOKE WITH SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO SERVICE MULTIPLE CARS WITH THIS STALLING ISSUE FOR THE 2010 MODEL. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE FIX BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HURT OR DIE--PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT ALREADY? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED ONE OF THE TWO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON ACTIVATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE WHERE THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO REPLACED NUMEROUS HEADLIGHT BULBS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
I HAVE A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK PZEV 6-SP MANUAL. THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES STALL (4 TIMES AND COUNTING, IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS) WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. ALSO AT TIMES THE ENGINE WILL STUMBLE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED FOR UPSHIFTS (NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE MONTHS). THE PROBLEM IS AGGRAVATED WHEN THE A/C IS ON. THIS STALL PROBLEM CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, MOST NOTABLY AT 70KPH IN 4TH GEAR - SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THE ORANGE AND RED DASH LIGHTS WILL COME ON, STEERING AND BRAKING BECOME HEAVY, THE A/C SHUTS OFF WHILE THE FAN CONTINUES TO RUN AND A RESTART WITH THE KEY IS NECESSARY. THANK GOD THIS HAS NOT YET HAPPENED ON AN ON-RAMP OR OFF-RAMP. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK AUTOMATIC,2.5I, IN FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP NOTICED VEHICLE WANTED TO STALL WHEN I SLOWED DOWN OR STOPPED. HAVE HAD FOR 4 MONTHS VEHICLE IS WORSE, RPM'S DROP TO NEAR ZERO, CAR WILL THEN IDLE FAST TO COMPENSATE...IN THE LAST MONTH VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE SHUDDER, ON TOP OF THE NEAR STALLING...WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT SUBARU HAS FIXED PROBLEM ON MANUALS BUT IS STILL WAITING FOR SOFTWARE FOR AUTOMATICS TO REFLASH COMPUTER. CAR IS VERY SHAKY AFTER THE NEAR STALLS UPON ACCELERATION. CAR ALSO ACCELERATES WHEN I HAVE FOOT ON BRAKE AND RELEASE TO INCH FORWARD (WAITING IN TRAFFIC) AS THOUGH IT HAS A VERY FAST IDLE. I WAS TOLD BY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS TODAY, THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATICS..JUST MANUALS???? MY DEALER DISAGREES AND STATED TODAY THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM WAITING FOR A SOLUTION. *TR
WHILE AT A STOP LITE OR STANDING THE CAR SEND A VIBRATION THROW THE DOOR PANELS BRAKE PEDAL, BACK OF DRIVER SEAT HAD IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY RAN CHECK ON IT AND CAME UP WITH NORMAL I THINK THEY ARE WRONG IT SCARES ME THAT IT COULD START ON FIRE. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLING AND CHOKING OFF. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AT THIS TIME. CAR PUT IN SHOP 2X SO FAR WITH NO SOLUTION. CAR STALLED OR CUT OFF 2 TO 3 TIMES A DAY. NO TREND. WE FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. THE DEALER LOANED US A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, AND THIS CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WE OWN IS APPROX. 4/5 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROX. 13000 MILES ON CAR. THE LOANER WE HAVE HAS 3500 MILES ON CAR AT THIS TIME. WE DON'T FEEL THIS IS RELATED TO JUST OUR CAR BEING THE LOANER WE ARE DRIVING HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
THE 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 4 CYLINDER, STANDARD, HAS A SIGNIFICANT STALL FLAW. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. THIS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE ACCELERATING ON THE ONRAMP. AT 50 MPH WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE STALLED RESULTING IN NO POWER STEERING. A TRACTOR TRAILER BARELY AVOIDED HITTING THIS CAR AS WE MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE. THE ENGINE STARTED UP PROMPTLY. THIS IS THE 10TH TIME THE CAR HAS STALLED AND THE MOST SERIOUS TO DATE. OTHER INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN AT LOWER SPEEDS WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED: 20 MPH, LEFT TURNS, AND DECELERATING. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED THE CAR 3 TIMES, BUT HAS NOT DUPLICATED THE ISSUE. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OF OUR 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK WILL INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE'VE BROUGHT THE CAR TO TWO SUBARU DEALERS AND THEY BOTH HAVE TOLD US THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNLESS THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN WHEN WE BRING THE CAR TO THE SHOP BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T SHOW A FAULT CODE. *TR
I HAVE A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES STALL. THE STALLING HAS OCCURRED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES IN THREE MONTHS. THE ENGINE TRIES TO STALL UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME, I.E. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON, AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR AND FAN CUT OFF. THE PROBLEM OCCURS PRIMARILY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON, AND THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 85 DEGREES. A MONTH AGO, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TWO RECALLS, AND TWO OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDING THIS ONE. THE MECHANIC STATED SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT HIS COMPUTER HAD NOT BEEN UPGRADED TO REFLASH THE ECU. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY WOULD CALL WHEN THE ECU UPGRADE (FLASH) WAS AVAILABLE. ONE MONTH LATER, THEY STILL HAD NOT CALLED. I CALLED THE DEALER TODAY, AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FRIDAY (8/27/10) TO HAVE THE ECU UPGRADED. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE LOST RESULTING IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEARS WOULD SHIFT INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SEVEN TIMES IN THE PAST WHICH THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 14,011. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
ALMOST EVERY TIME I SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT COME ON AT FIRST. I AM A 5'2", 120LB WOMAN. I HAVE TO WIGGLE AND SET ON ONE CHEEK JUST RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT, SOMETIMES LIFT MYSELF UP AND THEN SIT BACK DOWN AGAIN TO GET THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TO SHOW ON. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THERE IS NOTHING UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT AS THE DEALERSHIP HAS BLAMED IT ON THAT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS RE-CALIBRATED THE SENSOR BUT I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. HEAVIER PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *KB
VEHICLE STALLS AND HAS A SEVERE HESITATION. HAVE NEARLY BEEN REAR ENDED 2 TIMES WHEN THIS OCCURS. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, 6 SPD MT WITH 2,521 MILES. CAR HAS NEARLY STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN SLOWING OR DOWNSHIFTING WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED AND WITH AC ON. MORE NOTICEABLE DURING HOT WEATHER (90+ DEGREES). LOCAL DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE, ONLY ACKNOWLEDGED COLD ENGINE STALLING AND THEY DON'T THINK THAT "FIX" APPLIES BUT WILL CHECK TO SEE IF CAR COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THAT ISSUE. POTENTIAL FOR BEING REAR ENDED (AND POSSIBLY PUSHED IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC) IS HIGH IF CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKE AND STEERING CONTROL. *TR
THE INCIDENT INVOLVES A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK AND DEALS WITH SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM. WE WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL SHUT OFF. THEN THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH WILL COME ON. READING THE OWNERS MANUAL THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IT MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. WE ARE SUPPOSE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER IMMEDIATELY BUT EVERYTIME IT HAS OCCURRED WE HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSE TO A DEALER OR THEY ARE CLOSED. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND IT HAS OCCURRED 5 OR 6 TIMES SO FAR. THE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO AWAY WHEN IT IS SHUT OFF AND SETS OVERNIGHT. THE COMPUTER HAS NEVER RECORDED A ERROR CODE UNTIL THIS LAST TIME. THE ERROR CODE THAT THE DEALER RETRIEVED WAS CODE 29 ODS FAULT. THEY CHECKED OUT THE AIRBAG COMPONENTS AND SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT OK. THEY OPENED A CASE WITH THE TECH LINE AND ALL THEY SEEM TO WANT TO DO AT THIS TIME IS CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND MY CONCERNS WITH THE SAFETY OF THE CAR TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT IS BE HANDLED BY A SENIOR REP. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SUBARU SWITCHED FROM A WEIGHT SENSOR TO A GEL PACK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I AM AWARE OF ONE OTHER 2010 OUTBACK THAT HAS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT NOT SURE IF IT WAS RESOLVED YET OR NOT. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON MAY 2010. WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IS UPON FULLY DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH TO EITHER SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND/OR BRING THE CAR TO A COAST THE ENGINE RPMS DROPS RATHER RAPIDLY WHICH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE BORDERLINE STALLING BEFORE THE ENGINE COMPUTER COMPENSATES BY INCREASING THE IDLE SLIGHTLY WHILE COASTING OR SLOWING DOWN WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. THIS IS FAR MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. TODAY (SUN 7/25) I WAS APPROACHING A RIGHT TURN, THE A/C WAS RUNNING. I STARTED THE PROCESS OF SLOWING DOWN THE CAR BY FULLY DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH AND BRAKING. WHEN I STARTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENTER THE TURN I BARELY COULD DO SO. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE ENGINE THIS TIME STALLED. GENERALLY YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE SHUDDER BEFORE A STALL, IN THIS CASE IT DID NOT. IT ALMOST RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A POLE WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN INSIDE. THE CAR RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY AND I WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS SAME DAY ON AT LEAST TWO MORE OCCASION I FULLY DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO EITHER SLOW THE CAR OR COAST AND THE CAR SHUDDER INDICATING A POTENTIAL STALL BUT THE CAR COMPENSATED. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP BECAUSE IT WILL RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR
SUBARU OUTBACK 2010 WITH CVT TRANSMISSION BOUGHT NEW. NUMEROUS FAILURES. THE TRANSMISSION FIRST FAILED DUE TO A SOLENOID OPEN CIRCUIT THAT DISABLED THE CAR. CODE P2762 ( LAST WEEK IN MARCH, ABOUT 2,600 MILES). THAT WAS FIXED. AFTER THIS EVENT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ON OCCASION DISENGAGE WHILE STILL ON DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY AND AFTER APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD BE DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE WOULD ROAR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RE-ENGAGE AFTER SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME THIS EVENT WAS REPORTED TO THE SUBARU DEALER A NUMBER OF CODES CAME UP; C0057, C0045, C0231, C0232, C0282. SUBARU TOLD THE DEALER TO ERASE THE CODES AND RE-PROGRAM THE SOFTWARE. THIS EVENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE THEN (LAST WEEK OF JULY 2010, ABOUT 9,000 MILES). THE NEXT TIME WAS LAST WEEK IN AUGUST, ABOUT 10,200 MILES. SINCE THE SOFTWARE WAS RE-PROGRAMMED NO CODES APPEAR EVEN THOUGH THE EVENTS ARE IDENTICAL. THIS EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN IN DECEMBER 2010. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER (1/27/11). NO CODES WERE FOUND. DEALER SAYS THAT IF THERE ARE NO CODES AND THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE EVENT THEN IT DOES NOT EXIST AS FAR AS THEY ARE CONCERNED. THE EVENT OCCURRED AGAIN IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2010.TO BE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION AND PRESS THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THE CAR IS ON DRIVE WITH NOTHING HAPPENING OTHER THEN HIGH ENGINE REVS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CONSIDER BEING IN A LEFT TURN SITUATION. WE HAVE NO SYMPATHY FROM SUBARU. *TR
WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO TURN OR WHEN SLOWING TO STOP, THE ENGINE REGULARLY SPUTTERS AND HAS DIED TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. IT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHILE I WAS TURNING LEFT INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD. LUCKILY THE CAR HAD ENOUGH RESIDUAL SPEED TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND NO TRAFFIC WAS APPROACHING. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE ANY ISSUE RESTARTING AFTER IT HAPPENS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING, 26 JULY 2010. AFTER 2 HOURS, THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT "DOWNLOAD THE FIX". *TR
MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS STALLED ON MY MULTIPLE TIMES. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF THE CAR RUNNING. IT HAS STALLED BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR SPOT SIGN, SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE BOTH A RIGHT AND A LEFT HAND TURN, AND IT HAS ALSO STALLED GOING ABOUT 35MPH DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. EVERY TIME IT HAS STALLED THE A/C WAS ON. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I AUTOMATIC WITH 1,900 MILES STALLS WHEN COMING TO A FULL STOP. THE POWER RIGHT OFF THE LINE ALSO FLUTTERS. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK, 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS STALLED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN WITH BOTH CLUTCH AND BRAKE PRESSED TO GROUND. NOTIFIED DEALER. DEALER LOOKED AT CAR AND SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE ISSUE AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. SUGGESTED I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG TO MAKE IT STALL. *TR
(1)UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, (2)THE ENGINE STALLS APPROACHING A STOP WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, IT ALMOST STALLS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT WHENEVER APPROACHING A STOP. IT HAS ONLY STALLED ONCE IN THE TWO WEEKS I HAVE OWNED IT. POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE A COLLISION DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND DISTRACTION.(3)CONTACTED DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEMS IN FOR OVER A MONTH WITH NO FIX AVAILABLE YET. I WAS OFFERED A LOANER VEHICLE, BUT I DECLINED IT. VEHICLE IS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, NOT A 2010. *TR
MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FRONT END SHAKING, AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH, 1 TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT LOWER SPEEDS. *TR
THE ENGINE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP WHILE THE AIR CONDITION IS ON. THE EVENT OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, GETTING READY TO DOWN SHIFT. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED IN, THE ENGINE STOPS BEFORE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPETE STOP. THE ISSUE IS NOT REPEATABLE. IT HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE OTHER THAN THE AIR CONDITIONING BEING ON. THE ISSUE HAS NEVER HAPPENED WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS SWITCHED OFF. *TR
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLS WHEN IN NEUTRAL OR BETWEEN GEARS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THE STALLING OCCURS NEARLY DAILY WITHIN THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF DRIVING AND LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER STEERING AND VERY LIMITED BRAKING. THE PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. TWO NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE CONDITION AS THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE CAR HAS STALLED UNLESS YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND WATCH FOR THEM ALL TO LIGHT UP AND THE TACHOMETER TO ZERO. SUBARU HAS STATED THAT NO SOLUTION EXISTS BUT THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. NUMEROUS INCONCLUSIVE TESTS DONE ON THE CAR. *TR
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT INDICATE 'ON' PREDICTABLY WHEN I AM SEATED. I AM A 125LB WOMAN. THE AIRBAG SENSOR SOMETIMES COMES ON. OTHER TIMES IT REMAINS OFF. BEING AN ENGINEER, I SPEND TIME MOVING MY WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, SEAT BACK POSITION, PICKING MY WEIGHT UP AND RESEATING MYSELF, AND OTHER FACTORS TRYING TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO TURN ON DURING LONG CAR TRIPS. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS, BUT IT IS UNPREDICTABLE. ON THE LAST CAR TRIP THE AIRBAG REMAINED OFF FOR OUR 4 HOUR DRIVE EVEN THOUGH I TRIED VARIOUS POSITIONS. IT SCARES ME TO THINK THAT THE AIRBAG IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WORK IF WE ARE EVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THE AIRBAG IS WORKING PROPERLY. *TR
I PURCHASED MY NEW 2011 2.5 PREMIUM 6MT (NON-PZEV) SUBARU OUTBACK ON JUNE 25TH, 2010. JUST A FEW DAYS LATER, WITH ONLY 50 MILES ON THE CAR AND MY FIRST TIME DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST NEAR-STALL ENGINE SHUDDER WHILE COMING TO A STOP. AS OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES HAVE GONE UP LATELY, SO HAS MY USE OF A/C, AND SO HAVE MY OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE STALLS AND NEAR-STALL SHUDDERS. THE REVS WILL DROP BELOW 500RPM, THE HVAC FAN SPEED WILL AUDIBLY SLOW, SOMETIMES THE "BATTERY/ALTERNATOR" WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM. THE SHUDDER IS SOMETIMES QUITE VIOLENT, AND SHAKES THE CAR. A FEW TIMES, THE CAR HAS ACTUALLY STALLED OUT. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AS POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE LOST DURING AN ENGINE STALL. I'M 33 YEARS OLD. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MANUALS SINCE 17. THIS IS MY 3RD SUBARU AND MY 6TH CAR ' ALL MANUALS. I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE GOT MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND DRIVING STICK. THE SHUDDERS AND STALLS WILL OCCUR EVEN IF THE GEAR STICK IS IN NEUTRAL, SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR IMPROPER USE OF THE CLUTCH. THE SECOND ISSUE I'VE BEEN HAVING WITH MY NEW OUTBACK IS A SLIGHT SHAKE OR SHUDDER IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
VEHICLE HAS REPEATEDLY STALLED DURING DECELERATION ONCE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED OR TAKEN OUT OF GEAR. OTHER TIMES IT WILL REV DOWN TO ABOUT 400 RPM AND THEN CATCH ITSELF PRIOR TO STALLING, BUT MOMENTARILY REMOVING ALL POWER ASSISTS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER ONCE, PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED AND ECM WAS REPROGRAMMED, PROBLEM HAS BEEN BETTER SINCE, BUT NOT RESOLVED. *TR
SUDDEN ACCELERATION DISABLING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN HITTING THE RESUME BUTTON CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE . THE RPM INCREASED FROM 2000 TO 6000 RPM. THIS OCCURS WHENEVER THE SET SPEED IS 20MPH GREATER THAN THE CURRENT SPEED. THE DEALER COULD NOT CORRECT THIS, CLAIMING THAT THE FULL ACCELERATION IS BY DESIGN. WIDE OPEN THROTTLE IS NOT A GOOD PRACTICE SINCE IT MAKES THE CAR HARD TO CONTROL. WHAT BELONGS ON A RACE TRACK NOT ON A HIGHWAY. *TR
I BOUGHT MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2010 IN EARLY APR. WHILE I AM FAIRLY SATISFIED WITH THE VEHICLE, I ENCOUNTERED 4 TIMES TOTALLY THAT THE ENGINE SHUT OFF ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NORMALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND SOMETIMES SWITCHING LANES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I HAVE TO RESTART ENGINE QUICKLY TO HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SINCE WHEN ENGINE IS OFF, POWER BREAK AND STEERING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. I HAD TO USE PARKING BREAK TO STOP THE CAR FROM ROLLING THE FIRST TWO TIMES SINCE I WAS NERVOUS, AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE ENGINE WAS OFF. 2 WEEKS AGO, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK. DEALER TECHNICIAN JUST THOUGHT WHAT I SAID DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL. THEY DIDN'T THINK IT COULD HAPPEN AT ALL. (THEY STILL DON'T, NOT SURE WHY THEY HAVE SO MUCH CONFIDENCE). ANYWAY, DEALER SCANNED THE COMPUTER CODE AND NOTHING FOUND. SO, THEY RETURNED CAR TO ME AND TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG, IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR 2 WEEKS, THEN IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES. I HAVE CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, BUT I DOUBT THEY CAN FIND ANYTHING EITHER THIS TIME. THEY JUST DON'T THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET, AND I DID FIND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW I FEEL MAYBE SUBARU CAN BELIEVE OUR PROBLEM IS REAL NOW? THANKS. *TR
I HAVE A SEVERE WATER LEAK IN MY BRAND NEW SUBARU 2010 OUTBACK, THAT RESULTED IN MOLD ON THE PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER FLOOR MATS. WHEN I TURNED A CORNER A LITTLE FLOOD POURED ONTO MY GRANDDAUGHTER ANKLE AND FOOT. IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD POURED A BUCKET INTO MY CAR. MY GRANDCHILDREN HAD TO SHOPVAC THE WATER OUT OF THE CAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER LEAVES HAD PLUGGED THE DRAIN TUBE. UPDATED IVOQ 09/27/10 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN BRAKING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, OR WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT STATED THE FAILURE WOULD USUALLY OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED IN SOME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,100.
2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5L CVT. ENGINE HESITATES OR STALLS WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP OR LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY IF UPHILL. USUALLY BEFORE ENGINE IS FULLY WARMED UP BUT ALSO WHEN WARM. NO DIFFERENCE WITH OR WITHOUT A/C. OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE DAILY. PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 5000 MILES ON ODOMETER. SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHEN TRYING TO CROSS TRAFFIC. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX. BUT SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH SAME YEAR MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBARU'S HAS A FIX INVOLVING THE ECU. *TR
2010 SUBURU OUTBACK 2.5I 6 SPEED STANDARD TRANSMISSION. CAR STALLS WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING TO STOP OR SLOWING DOWN. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026