NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE VEHICLE STALLED A FEW TIMES IN 2017 AND 2018 WHILE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE; AND WHILE COMING FROM A STOP, ON STEEP HILL, AND RELEASING BRAKE TO GET MOVING IN TRAFFIC. IT ALSO SHUDDERED RANDOMLY WHILE TRANSITIONING GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE/DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DIVE AND VICE VERSA. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO WE PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY IDENTIFIED IT AS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT CAN BE RESOLVED VIA AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 70K MILES. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, VALVE BODY AND STRAINER IN 2018. THE CAR RANDOMLY SHUDDERS SLIGHTLY BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, BUT THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PARTS COULD NOT IDENTIFY IT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO COULD ALSO NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THERE WAS ONE TIME WHERE IT SHOOK NOTICEABLE AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP BUT THE CAR DID NOT STALL. IN 2021, WITH THE CAR APPROACHING 97.5K IN MILES, STALLED WHEN I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ON A BUSY STREET. IT RESTARTED AFTER I PUT INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS AND GET OUT SAFELY. I NOTICED IT SHUDDERS WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. SOMETIMES IT FEELS UNSAFE WHEN I AM TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ON A BUSY STREET OR ON A HILL. I TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO MADE THE WARRANTY REPAIR. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND NO CODES ON THE ECU. THEY SAID THEY FELT A SLIGHT SHUDDER BUT THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THEY SAID I COULD TAKE IT FOR A SECOND OPINION BUT I DID THAT ALREADY AT ANOTHER DEALER PREVIOUSLY. I SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR TO TRY TO GET A DIAGNOSIS BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED. IT FEELS VERY STRANGE THAT THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE AND IDENTIFY. SOMETIMES WE FEEL UNSAFE OR WORRIED THAT IT WILL STALL AT THE WRONG TIME.
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that vehicle was consistently burning out the headlight bulbs. The contact stated that within 3-years he had replaced the driver's and the passenger’s side headlight bulbs 7 times, and following one failure the passenger’s side headlight housing was replaced. The contact stated that the bulb in the new housing was blown. The contact stated that a headlight bulb had blown while driving at night at an undisclosed speed. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who determined that the wiring and electrical system was working as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO NEUTRAL AND HAD ASSISTANCE FROM A BYSTANDER TO PUSH THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED BURLINGTON SUBARU (351 SHELBURNE RD, BURLINGTON, VT 05401) OF THE FAILURE, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FRACTURED REVERSE FORK SHIFT IN THE REVERSE CORD AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,450.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTER ACTIVATING THE HORN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS, THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO METROWEST SUBARU (948 WORCESTER ST, NATICK, MA 01760, (508)651-2000) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
ON 28 DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH 3 PEOPLE IN 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK, THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. NO ONE WAS HURT DURING THE INCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE SENT ME A COUPON FOR $200 TOWARDS REPAIR. THOUGHT THIS WAS A ONE-TIME ANOMALY, BUT ON 07 JANUARY (10 DAYS LATER) THE WINDOW ON DRIVER'S DOOR SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITH TWO OF US IN THE CAR WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60MPH. NEITHER OF US WERE HURT. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP AND SUBARU HAS OFFERED $150 TOWARDS REPAIR COSTS. ONCE AGAIN NO RECALLS ARE IN EFFECT.
THE VEHICLE STALLS COMPLETELY UPON SLOWING DOWN. THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AT STOP SIGNS, LIGHTS AND WHILE CROSSING A MAJOR ROAD AND WAITING HALFWAY ACROSS TO JOIN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. SUBARU DEALER SAYS IT IS A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT NO LONGER COVERED BY THE CVT WARRANTY EXTENSION. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO COST TO VEHICLE OWNER.
CAR KEEPS OVERHEATING. NEEDED HEAD GASKETS - TWO TIMES WITHIN 2 1/2 YEARS! THAT PART SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED ONCE NEVER MIND TWICE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SPONGY WHILE BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. GANLEY WESTSIDE SUBARU (25730 LORAIN RD, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070) (888) 798-5035) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V562000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
Concerns of The torque converter - there is very low engine RPM when coming to a stop. Thrust washer wear inside the torque converter causing restriction of the oil passage used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure. This has resulted in low engine ROM and stalling of my vehicle on dangerous intersections. My car stalled in an intersection several times due to this issue almost causing sever injuries or death. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. Yes, has been inspected by independent service center. No warning lamps or other symptoms prior to the failure. They first appeared at/around 125,000 miles.
MY 2012 SUBARU IS HAVING NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS - ALL DASH LIGHTS COME ON: IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BRIDGES OR SPEED BUMPS. STARTED ON 8/8/16 WHEN CAR BOGGED DOWN AND DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY. 360. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR SUBARU AUTHORIZED REPAIR PLACE ' CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ON SUBLET RD. IN ARLINGTON. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS BROKEN EGR (EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION) SYSTEM. I HAPPENED AGAIN & I TOOK IT BACK. THE FINAL REPAIR FOR THAT PROBLEM WAS 'REPLACE MASS FLOW SENSOR & MAJOR FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. THE DASH LIGHTS CONTINUED TO COME ON BUT THE CAR DIDN'T BOG DOWN ANYMORE. I TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE WHO RAN THE FREE DIAGNOSTIC. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS. THEY CHARGED ME $99 TO RUN A MORE DETAILED DIAGNOSTIC & STILL SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE WAS NO TEST OF THE EMISSIONS OTHER THAN THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC. I WAITED A LONG TIME & THE FIRST CODE THAT CAME UP WAS FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I SUSPECTED THAT THEY JUST DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO RESET THE LIGHTS) THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT HILEY SUBARU 4/5/17 (FOR 60 K INSPECTION AND OIL CHANGE DATE). I ASKED THEM ABOUT THE DASH LIGHT PROBLEM. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE NOT ON THAT DAY BECAUSE I HAD LEARNED TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BUT THEY MENTIONED THAT THE 2012 OUTBACK RESEARCH INDICATED THAT 'REPOSITIONING THE BRAKE LINE' MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF OCCURRENCES HAPPENING WHEN CROSSING BRIDGES. THEY DID THAT, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED ' NOT EVERY TIME I CROSSED THE BRIDGES, THOUGH. I TOOK IT TO 5 STAR SUBARU FOR THE 90 K INSPECTION 4/10/18 AND MENTIONED THE NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. THEY INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAUSE OF THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC. NEITHER DEALERSHIP WOULD GUARANTEE THAT REPLACING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS BUT THERE IS NO REAL EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS.
ON OCTOBER 16TH, 2020 WHILE DRIVING OUR 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND AND I PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE NEAR THE RADIATOR. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND THE TECH STATED BOTH HEAD GASKETS WERE FAILING. THE VEHICLE HAD 156,000 MILES ON IT AND WE ENDED UP PAYING OVER $2500 IN REPAIR COSTS. BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE CAR, I DID NOT PLAN TO SUBMIT A REPOT TO THE NHTSA. HOWEVER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY A RELATIVE TODAY THAT HER 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES JUST EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED HER $4500 IN REPAIR. I HAVE ENCOURAGED HER TO SUBMIT THE ISSUE THROUGH NHTSA FOR FURTHER TRENDING PURPOSES AS I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH SUBARUS.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING/SHUDDERING WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKES COMING TO A STOP, ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF TWICE DURING THIS. NO PATTERN HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED, APPEARS TO BE "RANDOM". WILL SLOW DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT AND RIGHT BEFORE THE COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUDDERS THEN COMPLETELY DIES WITH NO WARNING. ALL THE LIGHTS POP UP ON THE DASHBOARD, BRAKE/GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING UNLESS I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING... DEALERSHIP STATES TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PAID FOR BY SUBARU
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON (A02) FAULTY OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSORS IN RIGHT FRONT SEAT. BOTTOM SEAT FRAME WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO RESOLVE ISSUES
FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT AND EBRAKE IS NOT ENGAGING. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A STUCK DRUM BRAKE BY JACKING UP AND ROTATING BOTH REAR ROTORS. BOTH ROTORS MOVE FREELY. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE WAS RECALL ON 2012 MODELS BUT NOT ON MINE (2012 OUTBACK, 3.6 LIMITED. IT IS DRIVING OKAY BUT I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ON HIGHWAYS. LAST YEAR BRAKE LINING THICKNESS ON ALL FOUR TIRES WERE 7MM (SUBARU DEALERSHIP) AND I ONLY DROVE A MAXIMUM OF 10000 MILES. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT OTHER USERS FACE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH EBRAKE SYSTEM TOO.
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, THE ENGINE DIES. I'M AFRAID I WILL BE REAR ENDED. THE DEALERSHIP THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A LOW BATTERY SO I REPLACED IT AND IT STILL DOES A STUTTER THEN DIES. IF I LET OFF OF THE BREAK, SOMETIMES THAT KEEPS IT FROM STALLING. VERY CONCERNING IN TRAFFIC. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 6 MONTHS.
BATTERY DRAIN VEHICLE MAY SIT 2 DAYS AND BATTERY IS DEAD EVERYTHING IS OFF IN THE VEHICLE AND HAVE CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT AND CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS AND HAVE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.
VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE/POTENTIAL ACCELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH. THIS HAPPENED IN RAINY CONDITIONS, WHICH MY WIFE HAD NOTICED MANY WEEKS BEFORE. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE FOUND THESE RECALLS: AND LAWSUIT HTTPS://CARS.USNEWS.COM/CARS-TRUCKS/SUBARU/OUTBACK/2012/RELIABILITY HTTPS://WWW.CLASSACTION.ORG/NEWS/CLASS-ACTION-CLAIMS-SUBARU-CONCEALED-SUDDEN-ACCELERATION-DEFECT-IN-FORESTER-LEGACY-OUTBACK-MODELS#:~:TEXT=NEW%20JERSEY-,SUBARU%20OF%20AMERICA%2C%20INC.,FROM%20A%20SUDDEN%20ACCELERATION%20DEFECT.
LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ARE ON ALL THE TIME BRAKES TRACTION ABS (ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM)ABOUT THE SAME TIME MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING
REAR BRAKE LINE ON PASSENGER SIDE IS CORRODED AND LEAKING BADLY. *TR
BRAKE LINE NEAR REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL HAS CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE THE LINE IS LEAKING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON OLDER MODELS BUT THIS YEAR DOES NOT HAVE THE RECALL ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE SUDDENLY CHANGED ON ME, WHICH REQUIRED ME TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO STOP THE CAR. VERY ALARMING AT THE TIME AND IF I WERE NOT AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ISSUE. THE ISSUE RESOLVED ITSELF BRIEFLY BUT HAS NOW REMAINED IN IT CURRENT STATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO JUDGE WHAT BRAKE PRESSURE TO APPLY -- A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. UNTIL I CAN GET THIS ISSUE FIXED, I HAD TO KEEP THE CAR PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS. SHOP SAID THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE FAILING. THEY ALSO ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS UNDER A SUBARU RECALL, HOWEVER, WHEN ASKING A NEARBY SUBARU DEALER, THEY SAID THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY. I FOUND THAT TROUBLING SINCE THE RECALL AFFECTS 2012 SUBARU MODELS AND IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT RESOLVED. (NOTE: I UPLOADED THE RECALL PRINTOUT THAT OUTLINES THE ISSUE). *TR
INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY SUBARU 2012 OUTBACK, PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. SUBARU IS NOTORIOUS FOR DASH LIGHTS FLASHING WHEN THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR IN BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ISSUE. FLASHING LIGHTS RESET, BUT CAME BACK ON. WHEN LIGHTS FLASH, MANY OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS CEASE, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, MANUAL GEAR FUNCTION GOES INOP, ETC. PLUS FLASHING LIGHTS DISGUISE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY BE GOING ON AS WELL (SUCH AS BRAKES), PLUS VERY DISTRACTING IN ITSELF. HISTORICALLY, I AM TRACKING SUBARU HAS HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS AND NO RHYME OR REASON OF WHAT COULD CAUSE THESE. ANYHOW, SUBARU FINALLY SAID I HAVE A POWER TRAIN ISSUE, BAD SOLENOID THAT IS CAUSING IRREGULAR SHIFTING OR NO SHIFTING TO A HIGHER GEAR. IT CAUSES A VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND CONCERNED THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL THAT EXTENDED FROM 60K MILES TO 100K JUST RECENTLY, BUT SUBARU SAID MY CAR JUST MISSED THE WARRANT WORK/RECALL BY 14K MILES WHICH I THINK IS QUITE CONCERNING SINCE IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE (RECALL). DOES THE ISSUE STOP AT 100K? I ATTACHED THE RESPONSE FROM SUBARU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS IN THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED QUITE FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MILLER SUBARU (1592 NJ-38, LUMBERTON, NJ 08048) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.
VEHICLE SHUDDERS AND STALLS WHEN BRAKING HARD. IT WILL NOT STALL ON A GRADUAL STOP BUT WILL STALL IN ANY SITUATION WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY. DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A PANIC STOP TO STALL, JUST HARD BRAKING. RESULTING STALL MEANS LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. HAVE TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART VEHICLE. HAS NO ISSUES WHEN RUNNING OR DRIVING. ENGINE RUNS VEY SMOOTH AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AS I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND REPEATABLE IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. NO COMPUTER CODES SET FOR THIS ISSUE. YET IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THERE IS HARD BRAKING WHICH IS EVERY TIME IT IS DRIVEN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM AFRAID TO HAVE MY WIFE AND SON DRIVE IT MUCH LESS MYSELF.
WHEN I BE DRIVING, AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, OR A STOP. MY CAR STALLS OUT. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, WHEN A DO A QUICK STOP. I BEGAN,NOTICING THIS CONDITION ABOUT A FEW MONTHS AGO,,APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2020. *TR
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN LIGHTS ON DASH STARTED FLASHING ON & OFF, CRUISE, BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT WAS FLASHING BLUE & RED. I PULLED OVER TO MAKE SURE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS OFF. TURNED CAR OFF AND ON AND CHECKED GAS CAP WAS TIGHT AS I HAD GOOGLED WHY IT MIGHT BE FLASHING. I CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER MILE AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING CLICKING NOISE WHEN I PRESSED GAS. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED, CAR LIGHTS WERE STILL FLASHING AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER HOOD. SMOKE STARTED COMING THROUGH AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND WE GOT OUT IMMEDIATELY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE.
THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED YOU CAN AVOID THE STALL BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS FEASIBLE. THE SUDDEN STALL OUT IS VERY UNSAFE AS IT TAKES PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, RESTARTING, PUTTING IN DRIVE TO MOBILIZE THE VEHICLE AGAIN.
TRANSMISSION JERKS. THEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ARE FLASHING. TRAC CONTROL,BRAKE LOIGHT AND CRUISE LIGHT FLASHING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION!CHECKED INTERNET AND MANY YEARS AND MODELS HAVE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF PARTS ALONE OVER $900 HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING.
VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUTTERS WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. STALLS OUT OFTEN WHEN APPROACHING STOP SIGNS AND RED LIGHTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INITIALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO SEPARATE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED SUBARU OF SPOKANE (423 W 3RD AVE, SPOKANE, WA 99201) AND RAIRDON'S SUBARU OF AUBURN (3025 AUBURN WAY N, AUBURN, WA 98002) AND WAS PROVIDED ESTIMATES FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. *BF
INTERMITTENT DASH LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY SUBARU 2012 OUTBACK, PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR DIAGNOSIS. SUBARU IS NOTORIOUS FOR DASH LIGHTS FLASHING WHEN THERE MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR IN BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ISSUE IN ABOUT 3 INSTANCES.I DID THE FLASHING LIGHTS RESET, BUT CAME BACK ON. WHEN LIGHTS FLASH, MANY OTHER CAR FUNCTIONS CEASE, SUCH AS CRUISE CONTROL, MANUAL GEAR FUNCTION GOES INOP, ETC. PLUS FLASHING LIGHTS DISGUISE OTHER ISSUES THAT MAY BE GOING ON AS WELL (SUCH AS BRAKES), PLUS VERY SCARY IN ITSELF. HISTORICALLY, I AM TRACKING THAT SUBARU HAS HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS AND NO TIME OR REASON OF WHAT COULD CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS OR EVEN A SOLUTION FROM THEM. SUBARU FINALLY SAID I HAVE CVT ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE PIECE IT CAUSE THIS TO SLOW DOWN IN THE CAR AND CONCERNED THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WILL GO OUT DECIDE TO GIVE THEM A CALL TRYING TO GET THE ISSUE RESOLVE BUT WAS TOLD I WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY!. THERE WAS A LETTER SEND TO ME THAT EXTENDED FROM 60K MILES TO 100K JUST RECENTLY, BUT SUBARU SAID MY CAR JUST MISSED THE WARRANT WORK/RECALL BY 4K MILES WHICH I THINK IS QUITE CONCERNING SINCE IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN ISSUE (RECALL). DOES THE ISSUE STOP AT 100K? *TR
VEHICLE STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ONCE WHEN BRAKING HARD AFTER A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME AND THE SECOND WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR ALSO SHUTTERS A LITTLE WHEN IDLING. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAD A $3K TRANSMISSION REPAIR LAST YEAR. THEY SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD BE $1700. THE CAR HAS 178,000 MILES AND HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT A NEW CAR. WHAT?! I KNOW IN THE PAST THESE CARS WOULD EASILY MAKE IT TO 300K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
MY CAR OFTEN GETS STUCK WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND I CANNOT MOVE THE CAR FORWARD OR BACKWARD. MOST TIMES I HAVE A CARLOAD OF GROCERIES AND NEED TO GET THEM TO THE FREEZER OR REFRIGERATOR. COMPUTER ENGINE ANALYSIS...... ABS C0054 BRAKE SWITCH ON MALFUNCTION C0057 ECM CONTROL...... EPB C0252 MOTOR MALFUNCTION DETAIL CODE 50A0 ..... C0234 VDC FAILURE DETAIL CODE C111..... C0242 POWER SUPPLY VOLTAGE FAILURE DETAIL CODE. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES, REPLACED TIRES, CHECKED FLUID, CHECKED FUSES, ETC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND REDUCING THE SPEED TO 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF GLENDALE (1308 S. BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
BRAKE LINE CORRODED. THIS IS A KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE, BUT RECALLS HAVE NOT AFFECTED THE 2012 OUTBACK AS OF YET; WANTED TO REPORT THIS AS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE. CAR IS IN A SNOWY REGION BUT ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE REGULARLY TAKEN CARE OF.
WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY LOST POWER IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO THEN STOP AGAIN. I HAD A SEMI RIGHT BEHIND ME THAT ALMOST RAN OVER THE TOP OF ME. AS I MADE IT TO MY EXIT IT BEGAN MAKING NOISE. I DROVE IT STRAIGHT INTO MY MECHANIC WHO THOROUGHLY INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED.
KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. VEHICLE HAS TO BE RE-STARTED, MOVED BACK AND FORTH 3-4 TIMES BEFORE KEY WILL COME OUT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY SUBARUS, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF QUICK-FIX VIDEOS ONLINE AND COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS IN AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS. SUBARU IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.
AFTER 7 YEARS OF DILIGENT CARE OF MY 2012 OUTBACK, MY TRANSMISSION IS FAILING. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN MY MAKE AND MODEL. THIS WILL COST ME $7K OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE. SUBARU CLAIMS TO HAVE 'QUALITY AS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY', BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUE AND HAVE PUT THE BURDEN ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. THIS IS MY THIRD SUBARU, AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE COMPANY STOOD BEHIND THEIR WORK AND SUPPORTED THEIR CUSTOMERS
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP, IT STARTS TO SHUDDER WHEN SLOWING THEN STALLS AT STOP. SAFETY IS BECOMING AN ISSUE WHEN IN TRAFFIC, OR ON HIGHWAY IN STOP AND GO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES OR CVT TRANSMISSIONS JUST EXTENDED WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WERE NOT ISSUES WHEN THIS WAS EXTENDED. THIS IS ON A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK, WITH 130,000 MILES
WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT ON I70 , 10 MILES EAST OF COLBY, KS AT 75 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND SWERVE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SWERVE LIGHT. I STOPPED THE CAR AND CONSULTED THE MANUAL WHICH INDICATED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A MECHANIC IN COLBY. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DENVER SUBARU DEALER, WHERE IT IS NOW.
ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR FROM A LOW SPEED AS WHEN MAKING A TURN OR MERGING, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND BUCKS, COMES TO A NEAR STALL AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME, MORE OFTEN 2 OR 3 TIMES IN QUICK SUCCESSION, UNTIL THE VEHICLE GAINS MORE SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, AND THE SYMPTOMS SUBSIDE. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OUT OF NECESSITY A MAXIMUM 20 MILES ON A FEW DAYS SINCE SYMPTOMS BEGAN, CONSISTENTLY BUCKING AND NEAR STALLING IN THOSE CONDITIONS, CAUSING TRAFFIC DISTURBANCES AND ENDANGERING MY FAMILY, MYSELF, AND OTHER DRIVES ON THE ROAD. 4 DAYS LATER THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING-CHECK ENGINE, FLASHING EMERGENCY BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, FLASHING AT TEMP OIL-I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD, BUCKING AND NEAR STALLING ALL THE WAY. CAR WAS TOWED. ODB-II CODES WERE-TRANSMISSION CONTROL MALFUNCTION, AND TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID CENTRAL CIRCUIT. MECHANIC SAYS CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR. BACKGROUND CHECKING SHOWS THAT INSTEAD OF A RECALL, A WARRANTY WAS PUT IN PLACE THEN DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS, WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED, AND SUBARU REFUSES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THIS UNSAFE, EXPENSIVE, AND KNOWN ISSUE. THERE IS ADDITIONALLY A SULEV EMISSIONS WARRANTY WHICH COVERS THIS, BUT IT ONLY GOES TO 150,000 MILES AND IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WHEN STOPPED WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (HANANIA SUBARU OF ORANGE PARK 6400 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244; (855) 851-7200) WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. INVALID VIN. *LN *TR
THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WARNING. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH SUBARU IS VERY AWARE OF THIS CVT ISSUES AND HAS TAKEN A VERY POOR AND LIMITED APPROACH TO STAND BEHIND AND FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS ON MY OWN TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND IT WAS A 10K FIX.
VEHICLE LIGHTS (ABS, CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE, ETC) REMAIN ON OR BLINKING AT ALL TIMES.
MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WHEN EXITING A FREEWAY, COMING TO A STOP ON A SIDE STREET. SPEED DOES NOT PLAY A FACTOR IN THIS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND CLEARLY, IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THIS MATTER FROM SUBARU THAT THERE IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND STILL SHOULD BE A RECALL. FATALITIES COULD BE A RESULT OF THIS! SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND NOT JUST BY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY. AGAIN THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISUUE!
2012 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH APPROX. 122,000 MILES. THE CVT TRANSMISSION BEGAN RASPING WHILE UNDER ACCELERATION. RANDOMLY, AND OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS, THE VEHICLE STALLED, PARTICULARLY WHEN RAPIDLY DECELERATING UNDER BRAKING CONDITIONS. THIS REQUIRED THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED INTO PARK OR NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. ONLINE, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A RATHER LENGTHY HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS SUBARU TRANSMISSION, AND THAT SUBARU, APPARENTLY TO AVOID A RECALL, EXTENDED ITS WARRANTY ON THE 2012 OUTBACK TO JULY 31, 2018 OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION, A FACT THAT SUBARU USA ON JULY 29, 2019 TACITLY ACKNOWLEDGE (THEY SAID THEY HAD NO RECORD THAT I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED), BUT SUBARU USA SAID, DESPITE THIS, THAT THE WARRANTY DATE AND MILEAGE HAD NOW EXPIRED AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. SUBARU USA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $9500 WAS "QUITE HIGH" AND TOLD ME THAT AS A "GOOD WILL" GESTURE THEY WERE PREPARED TO OFFER ME $1500 CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND STALLED. THANK GOD THE CARS AROUND HER AVOIDED HITTING HER. SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED. WE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 117 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. I HAVE LOOKED AND IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH THIS VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THIS THEY OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100000 MILES BUT NOTHING OVER THIS.AND NO RECALL.THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL. THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY. IT IS ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX WE ARE BEING TOLD IT WILL COST 10000 DOLLARS WHICH WE CAN NOT DO. WE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS OVER 100000 MILES.
WHILE IN MOTION,THE CVT TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP FORWARD MOTION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, IT COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIES SAFETY ISSUE. CVT TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED UNIT, NO SERVICEABLE PARTS. CAR IS 11K OUTSIDE WARRANTY. ONLY REPAIR IS 8K REPLACEMENT.
I HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD TODAY THAT WILL NEED A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION FOR MY 2012 OUTBACK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARU DURING THIS MODEL YEAR. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A RECALL, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO GIVE A LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE NOT OWNED UP TO THE PROBLEM AND ARE NOT HELPING CUSTOMERS OUT WITH THIS ISSUE. WHAT ASSURANCE DO I HAVE THAT A NEW SUBARU WON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE? I ENJOYED BY OUTBACK AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS OUTCOME. I HAVE TAKEN IT FOR REGULAR SERVICING AND DON'T ABUSE A VEHICLE AND IT HAS BEEN RELIABLE TO THIS POINT. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHY WON'T OWN UP TO THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. THEY CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 100,000 FOR THIS ISSUE. I DARE SAY VERY FEW SUBARUS ARE ON THE ROAD AFTER NINE YEARS WITH LESS THAN 100,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026