10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 27,346 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.
Valve body transmission module failed at 118k with no prior warning There are some subaru bulletins that say up 120k. Dealership i bought it from told me 100k. I was never notified this issue was a recall. It could have potentially caused an accident if the transmission failed on the highway.
- Berlin , CT, USA
The center differential or Viscous Coupling locks up after any extended highway driving. The car lurches when turning sharply. This is a 6-speed manual transmission. This started at around 70,000 miles and is getting progressively worse now at 80,000 miles. The tires have always been all the same, inflated according to spec. New tires at about 72,000 miles. From online research, the Viscous Coupling on Subarus fails very frequently. This is a defective design resulting in a safety hazard, and requires expensive replacement.
- Falmouth, MA, USA
Car makes excessively loud roaring, whining noise in acceleration; it's response is unpredictable. It doesn't shift and the differential is the likely source of problem. Car has been properly maintained all along.two independent mechanics reported the cvt must be replaced. Subaru service informed me after 120K mile servicing. It can stall without warning anywhere anytime causing accident, injury etc. Though I'm told it's dangerous to drive Subaru is unwilling to take responsibility, except paying half of their $8000 charge for a re-manned cvt...no recall! what's it going to take Subaru? your integrity is compromised; your claim of quality is false. You want owners to pay for your technology problem. Though the cvt has a long history of failure, Subaru hasn't solved the problem or improved the technology. Instead owners pay $4,000 for a new, faulty cvt and Subaru continues to avoid recall. Buyers are the losers.
- Willow Spring, NC, USA
Cvt transmission stalled on freeway, then locked up, putting us into skid. Very dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injury accident. Was able to restart and limp to emergency lane. Speed was 65 mph zone. Very scary for us. Had previously complained to Subaru of problem, but they didn't give it a full diagnostic and said to drive it until it broke. We have opened a case with Subaru America.
- Twain Harte, CA, USA
When driving the transmission will slip out of gear not allowing you to accelerate and then it will go back into gear shifting into gear extremely hard. Not safe for highway driving
- Woodlawn, TN, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. While reversing out of a driveway, the contact stopped the vehicle, shifted into park, and exited the vehicle. Suddenly, the vehicle lurched forward and struck and dragged the contact. The vehicle drove over a brush and finally came to a stop. The contact was not injured. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle had an extended warranty up to 120,000 miles. The failure mileage was 93,880.
- Grove City, PA, USA
On Feb 28, 2019 I was driving my 2014 Subaru Outback on interstate 64 on a straight stretch at approximately 70 mph going uphill when accelerator became suddenly and completely unresponsive. I was in the far left lane of 3 lanes of traffic also traveling at a high rate of speed and had to try to get to the emergency lane to the right of the 3 lanes. I had absolutely no response when pushing on the accelerator pedal and could have been hit by numerous semi trailer trucks. I was able to coast to the right into the emergency lane which was a miracle because I was on a steep uphill incline. When I reached the emergency lane, I stopped the car, shifted into park, and back into drive mode and the accelerator did engage at that point. I immediately took the car to a Subaru dealer but they have not diagnosed it as of yet. I have been researching on the internet to see if other 2014 Outback owners have the same complaint and came across numerous other complaints of the same problem on the website www.carcomplaints.com. those complaining of the same problem have not had any success with a fix from Subaru. Please look into this before someone is injured or killed as I could have easily been today.
- Louisville, KY, USA
Car hesitates/does not respond, intermittently but often, when accelerator pedal is pushed to the floorboard from a stop. Lag/no response time is about about 1 1/2 seconds. This results in near accidents when pulling out into traffic at an intersection. Car has been taken to dealer twice to have this issue resolved with no success.
- Sudbury, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. After parking the vehicle and exiting, the contact re-entered the vehicle and the gear rolled out of park. The emergency brake was not engaged. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the back of the contact's house. The contact sustained bruises to the legs and knees. The contact held onto the driver's door, but was unable to apply the emergency brake as the vehicle gained speed. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was not filed. Subaru of little rock (12121 colonel glenn rd, little rock, ar 72210, (501) 503-5454) was unable to duplicate and diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 63,200.
- Little Rock, AR, USA
Excessive shudder noticeable throughout the car at various speeds including ~35-40 mph and 78-83 mph. I've tried new tires, rebalancing wheels, all wheel alignments, all without relied. The dealer has not been helpful. Occurs in motion. We bought the car in September 2015 with 31,000 miles on it. I noticed the shudder on a test drive but the dealer put new tires on it and it seem to go away. But I noticed it again within a month of purchasing the car and it's only gotten worse
- Newton, KS, USA
Dangerous! intermittent delay of 4 to 6 seconds typically pulling out into traffic from a complete stop. Other cars slamming on brakes to prevent wreck, swerving to miss my stalled car. My wife and grand-kids have been on passenger side when this occurs where they are most vulnerable since most incidences occur when turning left. This car is likely to kill or mangle someone if this is not resolved. The ol 'we can't create it' is getting really stale from the dealer when lives are at risk. I'm assuming it's going to take a few deaths before a recall occurs. I would love to raise the money to put a full page in usa today to get this dangerous condition some attention if nobody else is going to.
- North Little Rock, AR, USA
On January 1st and again on January 3rd after vehicle was parked at least 5 hours, I came out of building and vehicle had rolled 2 feet forward from where I originally parked it. Went and talked with patrick motors where I had purchased the car new. Service foreman said never heard of that. He said make appt. And they will see if it rolls. I then talked with Subaru of America and was told the same thing. I left the car for 2 days and it did not roll. Now have been told nothing can be done until it rolls there. A friend was with me the first time this happened who is an engineer. Her immediately said it was something to do with my parking pin. When I looked this up with NHTSA, I found there was a recall on some of these cars for that problem. I don't know how they narrow it down to only certain cars but my car has rolled 2 times and has got to have something to do with the parking pin.
- Shrewsbury, MA, USA
I had put the parking break on it got stuck the light finally went off and the at oil temp light came on I took car to dealership they informed me that the car had no transmission fluid and they believed that the place that changed my oil had accidentally drained transmission fluid that's not possible I never had any issues or lights on until the night I put parking break on the car already had a transmission problem
- Sandwich, MA, USA
Pulling car into parking space at slow speed when car, without driver input, suddenly accelerated. Heavy pressure on brakes, driver felt the ABS cycling, did nt stop vehicle. Finally, after colliding with a parked car, nose to nose and pushing other car out of its parking spot, driver was able to stop the car my moving transmission gear selector to park
- Sterling, VA, USA
When accelerating after a near stop, the engine hesitates for at least 3 seconds at acceleration which in many instances has been very dangerous upon entering traffic, especially turning left and entering a high traffic street or road.
- Wimberley, TX, USA
Same issue as listed in complaint 10715452. While making a left turn on return from vehicle purchase, the vehicle stopped in the middle of the intersection for several seconds with the engine running. I was nearly T-boned while waiting for the drive system to re-engage. To date, 2jul15, this stalling situation has occurred numerous times. I had the dealer inspect the vehicle, but no out of specification conditions were found. I think the problem rests with the cvt transmission trying to shift during acceleration. I recently learned by experimentation that I might be able to minimize the problem by placing the transmission in manual mode and forcing it to remain in 1st during acceleration. I do not believe that one should be forced to manipulate an automatic transmission to avoid a very dangerous stall during acceleration. Someone is going to be seriously injured or killed because of this problem. A vehicle recall is required....updated 09/22/15 updated 10/13/2015
- Monroe, OH, USA
For the past few days, my vehicle many times hesitates for at least 3-5 seconds when trying to accelerate from a stop/rest at a stop light, almost cause accident when trying to enter into an intersection. It seems to happen around 2000 - 3000/RPM. The car even exhibited slight jerky when at the start of accelerating up a slight sloppy hill. This is serious issue as accident is imminent when the car has no acceleration when trying to get going in traffic. This issue is commonly experienced by other drivers (online forum) : www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/98450-2014-Outback-acceleration-hesitation.html
- Castro Valley, CA, USA
Multiple incidents of lag when driving slowly into cross traffic or from a dead stop that sometimes last up to several seconds that has resulted in some very close calls in heavy traffic. The worst times have been while making a left turn across traffic when you are creeping out and try to accelerate and nothing happens! I have called the dealer and taken it into the dealer and they tell me it is a design flaw in their cvt transmission and that there is no fix at present. They did some updates to the cars computer and thought that might help but on a trip in St. George ut a few days later we were almost in an accident merging right into heavy traffic when we were left sitting in the middle of the street for several seconds before the car would move. The service writer said his 20013 legacy does the same thing and this is a common complaint. I have researched this on line and can't find anything about it, why" this is a very dangerous problem, we purchased this car with the eyesight accident prevention system because we wanted all the safety features it has, now were told that it's normal to leave you hanging in traffic waiting for the car to respond"
- Marana, AZ, USA
There is a hesitation when accelerating, it happens from complete stops by stepping on the gas, and while turning your vehicle. I was on a 35mph. Back road and went to turn left onto a side street, I yielded for 2 cars and then went into the turn and stepped on the gas, it hesitated and then I was hit in the rear side of my vehicle. If it would have responded correctly I would not have gotten into the accident.
- Reston, VA, USA
- Eugene, OR, USA