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2011 Subaru Outback Cruise Control Problems

12 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
6
Crashes
Mar 2018Dec 2011
Date Range

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

Owner Complaints (12)

criticalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CrashFiled: Jun 2024

Your vehicle suddenly lost all braking ability while driving downhill, causing you to crash into a tree despite applying maximum brake pressure. The vehicle was totaled in the accident, and there were no warning signs of problems before this happened. Diagnosing this issue will require a complete inspection of the brake system, accelerator controls, and fuel system components to identify what caused the sudden loss of control.

NHTSA #: 11593358
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Nov 2022

Vehicle is failing to shift correctly causing low acceleration and road safety issues. Cruise control and manual shift paddles not working, multiple warning lights on.

NHTSA #: 11491892
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2020

THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL WHEN DECELERATING QUICKLY. THERE IS HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THE ISSUE BUT WILL WAIT FOR THE DEFECT TO OCCUR RATHER THAN FIXING THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA #: 11321995
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2020

IF GAS PEDAL IS "FLOORED" OR PRESSED COMPLETELY DOWN IT STICKS, UNSAFELY ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH FOOT TAKEN OFF OF THE GAS. IF THE BREAK PEDAL IS PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL "UN-STICKS." OCCURRED THIS MORNING ON A HIGHWAY WHILE SPEEDING UP TO MERGE. A SIMILAR THING OCCURRED ABOUT A YEAR AGO WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

NHTSA #: 11321657
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Aug 2018

UPON PARKING IN A ROUTINE PARKING SPOT IN OUR APARTMENT PARKING GARAGE, I TURNED THE CORNER AND ACCELERATED SOME, AS I ALWAYS DID, TO GET TO THE PARKING SPOT TO BACK IN. AS SOON AS I WENT TO REVERSE IT, THE CAR ACCELERATED FULLY ON ITS OWN ACCORD. I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE BREAK AND STOP THE VEHICLE BUT SINCE I WAS ONLY ABOUT 10 FEET FROM ANOTHER CAR AND THE WALL OF THE PARKING GARAGE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HIT THE CORNER OF THE CEMENT WALL WITH THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT PORTION OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA #: 11120024
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jul 2018

INTERMITENT: STEADY ICONS: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FLASHING ICONS: BRAKE CRUISE FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE ICONS LISTED ABOVE ARE ACTIVE. ENGINE IS VERY HARD TO START WHEN PUT IN GEAR, UNABLE TO MOVE CAR. SOLUTION IS TO TURN CAR OFF, WAIT AND RESTART. THIS MIGHT REQUIRE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. EVENTUALLY, VEHICLE WILL RESUME NORMAL OPERATEION. DEALERSHIP SERVICE PERSONEL DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 11113339
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Mar 2018

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THERE WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. DRIVER SLOWED DOWN TO PULL INTO PARKING SPACE AND PUT CAR IN PARK WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED AND SPED OVER CEMENT PARKING BLOCK AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BASE OF LIGHT POLE. THERE IS NO KNOWN RECALL. POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. *TT *JS

NHTSA #: 11075930
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Oct 2017

ON JUNE 9TH, 2017: WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN CHURCH PARKING LOT AT 11 AM IN THE MORNING. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY. AS I EASED INTO THE SPACE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND INSTEAD OF COASTING INTO THE PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD (MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AT ALL). THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO!! CAR LUNGED FORWARD, JUMPED THE PARKING CURB AND HIT THE TREE THAT WAS IN THE MEDIAN. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END ($7500). AFTER REPAIR, THE DEALER AND SUBARU CORPORATE TESTED OUT THE CAR AND COULD FIND NO ERRORS IN THE CODE RESULTS BUT DID NOTE THAT THERE WERE DOUBLE FLOOR MATS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE (ONE CARPET AND ONE RUBBER). THEY THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM AND THEY RECOMMEND THAT ONLY ONE FLOOR MAT BE IN PLACE. OF NOTE IS THE FACT THAT THE CAR CAME WITH THE TWO FLOOR MATS INSTALLED. WE DID NOT ADD AN EXTRA ONE.

NHTSA #: 11034441
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS BRAKE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN FLASHING ALL AT ONCE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL THE LIGHTS FLASH BECAUSE MOST DRIVERS IGNORE JUST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AT THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING WITH THE ADDITION OF THE FACTS THAT THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS WERE ACTUALLY DISABLED DURING THIS INCIDENT. DURING THE CONVERSATION IT WAS SAID THAT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, A "REFLASH " OF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS NEEDED AND THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON SOME OUTBACKS. I ASKED WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL IF THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AND WAS TOLD THEY JUST FIXED THE PROBLEM WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE IF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE THE DRIVER WAS ON ICE OR SNOW OR WET ROAD , VEHICLE STABILITY WOULD BE COMPROMISED. I THINK SUBARU SHOULD AT LEAST BE MADE TO RECALL THE SUSPECTED VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN TO ALL VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10605924
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: May 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/31/14*CN THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/05/14

NHTSA #: 10588075
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Dec 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE OVER A PARKING BARRIER. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A FENCE AND TRAVELED INTO SEVERAL BUSHES COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA #: 10439746
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jun 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE PADDLE SHIFTERS FOR THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO USE THE PADDLE SHIFTERS WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA #: 10409226

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