MyCarTSB

2010 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

44 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

44
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2017Dec 2016
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Engine Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #10V196000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 OUTBACK AND LEGACY PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 31 THROUGH DECEMBER 1, 2009. A CRACK OR SPLIT CAN OCCUR IN THE CVT COOLER HOSE RESULTING IN A FLUID LEAK.

Fix: SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED COOLER HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783).

Owner Complaints (44)

criticalENGINE
Filed: May 2023

While driving, all your dashboard warning lights came on and your engine shut down. Your Subaru dealer found that your head gasket was leaking, allowing oil to mix with your coolant. This happened on a well-maintained vehicle with only 67,597 miles. Fixing this will require replacing the head gasket and flushing both the oil and cooling system.

NHTSA #: 11523706
highENGINE
Filed: Sep 2024

Your 2010 Outback's head gasket material may be incompatible with the coolant the engine requires, potentially causing coolant to leak out unexpectedly. This is reported as a manufacturing defect that Subaru has not addressed through a recall or fix, leaving owners responsible for costly repairs. The head gasket will likely need to be replaced along with related sealing components.

NHTSA #: 11613524
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2021

MY VEHICLE STALLS WHEN I SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT'S BEEN OCCURRING FOR MONTHS.

NHTSA #: 11413009
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2020

FAILED HEAD GASKET. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT AROUND 112K. THIS IS A 2.5 LITRE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA #: 11366549
mediumENGINE
Filed: Sep 2020

CAR ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS. ONE TIME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA #: 11360356
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2019

MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE HAS STARTED STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN WHILE STARTING TO TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS FOR MY WIFE TURNING OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU MECHANIC THAT SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL, BUT I CAN'T FIND IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW.

NHTSA #: 11244332
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2019

THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CAR STALLS JUST PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM BY SUBARU TO THE POINT THAT THEY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ANY SUBARU DEALER WHO WILL PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM TO ALLOW FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL GIVEN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REPORTING THIS PROBLEM AND THE UNSAFE CONDITION THAT IS CREATED.

NHTSA #: 11195659
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2019

DURING BRAKING, THE CAR OFTEN SHUTTERS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL, AND SEVERAL TIMES HAS STALLED COMPLETELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS ESPECIALLY IF BRAKING HARD. THIS OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND BEING BROUGHT TO A STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN IDLING, THE CAR OFTEN WILL SHUDDER AS WELL.

NHTSA #: 11172684
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2018

FROM 2010 - 2014, SUBARU REMOVED ENGINE TEMP. GUAGE FROM DASH SO THERE IS NO WAY TO MONITOR HIGH NORMAL TEMPS OF ENGINE. AT ONLY 93,770 MILES, MY 2010 OUTBACK 2.5L DASH COOLANT LIGHT FLICKERED ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL. I HAD NEVER HAD AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IN OVER 8 YEARS! TURNS OUT COOLANT WAS LOW DUE TO IT OVERHEATING AND BOILING OUT. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE! I COULD HAVE ENDED UP STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HILLY ROAD, WITH A BLOWN ENGINE! SUBARU HAS NOT FIXED THEIR CHRONIC HG FAILURE ISSUE!!! TO VERIFY/REPLICATE THE OVERHEATING, I TURNED ON THE A/C AND TOOK A 20 MILE OUT AND BACK ON A HILLY PORTION OF THE 5 FWY IN NORTHERN CA AT THEBEND OF SUMMER, 2018.

NHTSA #: 11142736
mediumENGINE
Filed: May 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VIC BAILEY MAZDA SUBARU (400 E DANIEL MORGAN AVE, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302, (864) 568-3338) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA #: 11094159
mediumENGINE
Filed: Mar 2018

WHEN MY I BRAKE MY VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AT RED LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC THE ENGINE STALLS, WHICH MAKES ME HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STOP MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 11076419
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2017

CAR STALLS ON THE ROAD WHEN YOU COME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THIS PROBLEM IS CONCERNING THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THIS IS A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL FOR THESE TYPE OF MODEL CARS.

NHTSA #: 11031453
mediumENGINE
Filed: Apr 2017

CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT AT A STOP. THIS BEEN OCCURRING NOW FOR A YEAR. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. WHEN TO SUBARU, AND, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING THE CAR, THE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE IS SEEING THIS PROBLEM A LOT WITH THIS CAR, AND IT'S A TORQUE CONVERTOR ISSUE. IT'S SCARY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA #: 10981463
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2017

FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSING CAR TO STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES.

NHTSA #: 10957218
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALER. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 04/05/17 LJ *CN

NHTSA #: 10950187
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2017

DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP. AT STOP AND ENGINE IDLING, THE ENGINE MISFIRES (STUMBLES) ON OCCASION. IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE ENGINE WILL DIE, BUT THEN IDLES NORMALLY. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND NO ENGINE LIGHT OR FAULT CODE COMES UP. DEALER UNABLE TO CORRECT BECAUSE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. I AM AFRAID THE CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST 3-4 YEARS

NHTSA #: 10939166
mediumENGINE
Filed: Dec 2016

OVER HEATING MAYBE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM

NHTSA #: 10936464
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS ABNORMALLY HIGH AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MORE COOLANT NEEDED TO BE ADDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOTH HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN, THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED, AND THE WATER PUMP HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA #: 10819602
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2015

THE HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 85,000. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THE OVERHEAT LIGHT WENT ON. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR INTO SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HEAD GASKETS NEED TO BE REPLACED, SHORT BLOCK REPLACED AND OTHER RELATED ENGINE PARTS. A HEAD GASKET ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 85K MILES ON ANY CAR, BUT ESPECIALLY A SUBARU WHOSE REPRESENTATION IS ABOUT DEPENDABILITY AND RUGGEDNESS.

NHTSA #: 10786845
mediumENGINE
Filed: Sep 2012

CAR STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN STOPPING/STOPPED. RANDOM OCCURRENCES. GAS TANK CAN BE FULL OR LOW, DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER. IDLE MAY BE A BIT ROUGH RIGHT BEFORE IT QUITS RUNNING. OCCURS WHEN A/C IS ON OR OFF. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE/EVALUATION, CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. CAR HAS STARTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER OCCURRENCE *TR *JS

NHTSA #: 10475542
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2012

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

NHTSA #: 10463608
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jan 2012

I BOUGHT MY OUTBACK IN MARCH 2010. I NOTICED MY DASH LIGHTS FLICKERING EARLY IN MY OWNERSHIP, BUT I THOUGHT THEY FLICKERED BECAUSE MAYBE I WENT INTO A SHADOW AND A SENSOR CAUSED THEM TO GO OFF AND ON. THE FEELING THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, BUT IT WAS AND WOULD ONLY HAPPEN EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. ON A RECENT TRIP, JANUARY 8, 2012, IT DID IT EVERY TIME I SLOWED DOWN FOR 4 OR 5 TRAFFIC LIGHTS . THAT REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION. I THOUGHT MAYBE MY BRAKES WERE CATCHING SO I TOOK IT INTO MY DEALER ON JANUARY 12, 2010. THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKES WERE FINE. AFTER I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I DECIDED THE "CATCHING FEELING" ACTUALLY FELT MORE LIKE L HAD NOT DEPRESSED A CLUTCH WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT THEORY IS THAT I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC I SPOKE TO MY-SON IN-LAW ABOUT THE FEELING THAT THE ENGINE IS GOING TO STALL WHEN I SLOW DOWN AT A LIGHT. HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD NOTICED THE FLICKERING LIGHTS LAST WINTER WHEN HE DROVE MY CAR. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR THE LIGHTS TO DO THAT. HE TOLD ME TO HAVE THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON JANUARY 27, 2012. THEY RAN THREE DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. I AM SO AFRAID THE CAR WILL CUT OUT ON ME AND I WILL LOSE CONTROL ON THE ROAD. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT AFTER MY SON DID AN INTERNET SEARCH HE FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FROM THE COMPLAINTS I READ MOST PEOPLE HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA #: 10445708
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2011

CAR STALLS AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. *KB

NHTSA #: 10413423
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Oct 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10361574
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Sep 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, IT BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THEN STALLED. OTHER THAN THE SHAKING, THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE PROBLEM TO BE RELATED TO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA #: 10358243
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10352965
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10351235
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10350865
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10350886
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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.

NHTSA #: 10348644
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Aug 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10347133
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10346452
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10346037
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10345321
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10345161
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10343600
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Filed: Jul 2010

(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

NHTSA #: 10343487
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10343509
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10343523
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10341106
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2010

2010 SUBURU OUTBACK 2.5I 6 SPEED STANDARD TRANSMISSION. CAR STALLS WHEN PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND COASTING TO STOP OR SLOWING DOWN. *TR

NHTSA #: 10339499
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: Jun 2010

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

NHTSA #: 10339112
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2010

5 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW I STARTED USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK AS I WAS SLOWING MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT FROM THE STREET I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO SECOND AND THE CAR DIED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. I DIDN'T USE THE AIR CONDITIONER ALL THE TIME. TWO TIMES THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN, BOTH TIMES SLOWING DOWN AND ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND DOWN SHIFTING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT ON 6/2/10 AND THEY TESTED ALL THE SENSORS AND CHECKED IT ON THEIR COMPUTER AND THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS AND ASKED THAT I KEEP A LOG OF EACH TIME IT HAPPENS AND IF I NOTICE ANY PATTERNS. I NOTICED THAT THE MAJORITY OF TIMES AS I WOULD ENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT THE TACK WOULD DROP AND THE CAR WOULD SHUTTER AND THE TACK CAME BACK UP. THE TIMES WHEN THE TACK DROPPED AND THEN DIED IT DID NOT SHUTTER. THE PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON. I THEN HAD A NEAR COLLISION SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 3RD IN A BUSY T-INTERSECTION AND CALLED SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING, 6/10/10 AND SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE CAR IN ON 6/14/10 AND DID NOT USE THE AIR CONDITIONER AT ALL. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND HAD A SUBARU ENGINEER LOOK AT IT. THEY ERASED THE CAR'S MEMORY AND WILL HAVE A PROGRAM WRITTEN TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE THE PROGRAM WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR A LONG TIME THEY ARE GIVING ME THE CAR BACK TO DRIVE AND BELIEVE THAT SINCE THEY ERASED THE CAR'S MEMORY THAT MAY FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY BELIEVE IT MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA #: 10336830
mediumENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Filed: May 2010

CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY PACE, THEN SLOWING DOWN, ENGAGING THE CLUTCH AND LETTING THE CAR IDLE AT A LIGHT. HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. ONCE WAS WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR TO COMPLETE A LEFT TURN. HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT DID NOT HAVE STEERING OR BRAKING ASSIST. *TR

NHTSA #: 10333939

Other 2010 Subaru Outback Issues