8.5

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,617 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Subaru Outback:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Aug 052010

Outback

  • Manual transmission
  • 2,000 miles
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.

- Marion, NC, USA

problem #5

May 272010

Outback

  • 3,200 miles
It is a manual transmission car. When you re driving in 3rd gear and shift down to 2nd to make a rolling right or left turn the car stalls out. The only way you know it has shut itself off is that you have no power and all the idiot lights come on. It also happened when I shifted into 1st coming up to a stop sign. This problem didn't start until the car was about 3 months old then it started to do it within a mile to 2 miles of driving after it had been sitting overnight or all day while I worked. I took it back to the dealer after about 4 or 5 times of it happening. They checked it could not find anything wrong. They contacted their corporate headquarters who sent someone out to look at it and performed a bunch of test on it. They then found other cars with the same problem and started working on a fix for the car. They have offered to swap cars with me which we are in the processes of doing. They have also informed me they now feel they have a fix for this car, but I am leary to try it.

- Walden, NY, USA

problem #4

Jul 252010

Outback

  • 5,000 miles
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.

- Brunswick, MD, USA

problem #3

Jun 162010

Outback

  • 5,000 miles
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.

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #2

Jul 062010

Outback

  • 5,000 miles
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.

- Middletown, CT, USA

problem #1

Jul 142010

Outback

  • 1,500 miles
(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.

- Luling, TX, USA