Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
99 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK /W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOS NOT ENGAGE WHEN PLACED FROM P TO D, OR DISENGAGE FROM GEAR WHEN VEHICLE STOP. I WAS ON A SLIGHT HILL STOPPED. CAR DISENGAGED FROM GEAR AND I COULD NOT MOVE. IN D - WHEN I RELEASED BRAKE THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR
99 OUTBACK - TRANNY WONT ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE FROM PARK, NUETRAL, OR REVERSE. REV THE MOTOR AND THEN C-LUNK INTO DRIVE AFTER LONG DELAY. GOT WORSE OVER TIME. SUBARU AND OTHER SERVICE SHOPS SAY IT'S COMMON ON 99'S, PROBABLY THE MAIN PUMP SEALS, AND THE TRANNY HAS TO COME OUT TO FIX OR REPLACE. I CHANGED THE FLUID TWICE IN A WEEK TO "FLUSH" IT - MUCH BETTER NOW, ALMOST "OK" (COMPARED TO $2500 FIX) BUT STILL NOT "NORMAL". *AK
APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. CAR WOULD HESITATE AND FINALLY LURCH FORWARD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS AT FIRST TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, THEN WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW $3400 TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD TO BABY THE CAR FOR AS LONG AS I COULD. 4 MONTHS LATER CAR BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER (NOT THE DEALER) THAT SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU'S AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON SUBARU PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I COULD HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST 15 - 20,000 MORE MILES OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION IS THE TRANSMISSION FILTER HAD EVER BEEN REPLACED AND THE FLUID FLUSHED. (UP UNTIL THIS TIME I HAD ALWAYS HAD THE CAR SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY AT THE DEALER). I AM BEING TOLD NOW THAT I WILL HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS SEEMS RIDICULOUS BEING THAT THE CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES RUNNING FROM TRANSMISSION TO THE RADIATOR SPLIT RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THESE WERE THE METAL LINES NOT THE RUBBER CONNECTORS. *AK
WHILE SHIFTING THE GEARS GEAR SHIFT FAILED, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO WORN OUT PART. *AK
WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. ALSO, GEARS ARE SLOW TO ENGAGE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK LIMITED DEVELOPED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CHARACTERIZED BY HESITATION AND HARSH, ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM ONLY AROSE AS THE CAR WAS PLACED FROM PARK OR REVERSE INTO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO ARMANDO'S SUBARU IN CANFIELD, OH AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. LATER THIS PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND PRONOUNCED. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND THE CAR WOULD JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. ALSO, THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURING NOT ONLY WHEN I ORIGINALLY SET THE AT INTO GEAR, BUT ALSO FROM STOPS AFTER THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN GEAR. I WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO REV THE ENGINE MORE THAN ONCE TO GET IT TO ENGAGE AND IT JERKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE CONTROL MODEL BUT PROBABLY WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE ANYMORE BECAUSE I COULD NOT BE SURE WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE OR HESITATE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS APPROX TIME PROBLEM FIRST DEVELOPED, IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME.
VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.WHEN DRIVING IN 5 TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU TECH EXPLAINED THAT A PACKING NUT ON THE GEAR SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY PEENED. THE NUT BACKED-OFF OVER TIME AND DAMAGED THE TRANSIMISSION.*AK
I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN MAY OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW "OPERATES AS DESIGNED" AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO SEAL LEAKING FLUID TO FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
CLUTCH CHIRPS LIKE A BIRD WHEN OUT, IS SILENT WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. DIAGNOSIS: BAD THROW OUT BEARING. THIS IS THE THIRD CLUTCH IN THIS CAR FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES; THE SECOND AT APPROXIMATELY 43,000, AND NOW AGAIN JUST 1500 MILES LATER! CLUTCH ACTUALLY DISENGAGED PERMANENTLY ON THE SHOP FLOOR WHILE THE DEALER WAS EXAMINING THE CAR -- HE WAS POKING AROUND THE BEARING AND IT "FELL OUT" OF ALIGNMENT, COMPLETELY PREVENTING THE CLUTCH FROM WORKING. THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED TO ME ON THE ROAD, WHILE DRIVING.*JB
ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE THE CAR DEVELOPED A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS PIECE HAD GONE BAD SO EARLY, AND I COULDN''T UNDERSTAND WHY. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS, AND AS THEY BEGAN WORKING ON IT THEY DISCOVERED WHY IT HAD GONE BAD PREMATURELY. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. I NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING
WE HAVE AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THESE CARS DEVELOP A "TWEETY" CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. WHEN WE GO IN TO REPLACE THE BEARING, WE HAVE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO CLIPS FOR THE BEARING IS ALWAYS MISSING. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE BEARING TO GO BAD PREMATURELY. EACH TIME WE FIND THE SAME THING. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. WE THEN NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SUCH AN INEXPENSIVE CLIP. WE FEEL THAT THESE CLIPS NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER TO FIND A STRONGER ONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.
JAN 6, 2003 (YOUR WEB SITE WON'T LET ME SELECT THE CURRENT YEAR, SO I SELECTED 2002, THE LAST AVAILABLE DATE THAT CAN BE SELECTED, BELOW) I OWN A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CLUTCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE AT 18,651 AND ONCE AT 42,500. BOTH TIMES THE THROW-OUT BEARING FAILED. I'VE OWNED 8 CARS AND DRIVEN THEM IN 10 STATES AND THREE PROVINCES. I'VE DRIVEN IN THE DESERT, THE MOUNTAINS AND BY THE OCEAN WITH MOST OF THESE CARS. IN ALL CASES, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BELOW 75,000 MILES! I'VE DRIVEN STANDARD/STICK MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN CLUTCH FAILURE LIKE THIS SUBARU. I DON'T RIDE THE CLUTCH, I ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IT PROPERLY, ETC. AND YET THE THROW-OUT BEARING KEEPS FAILING PREMATURELY.
ODOMETER FAILURES - ALSO POSSIBLY CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, HAD TO APPLY BRAKES BECAUSE OF A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE LOCKED AND THE RPMS SHOT UP HIGH, AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME, AND IT WAS STILL LOCKED INTO THAT MODE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD APPLIED BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED HARD INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN BRAKES WOULD GRAB. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING 35MPH WITH SNOW ON THE ROAD AND COMING OFF A RAMP, TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A POLE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REDESIGNED. *AK
THERE WAS DIFFICULTY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TIGHT. IN MAY, 1999, AFTER EXTENSIVE CLUTCH USE ON A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 4TH TO 5TH OR 5TH TO 4TH. IT SEEMED TO BE OK LATER. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS WE NOTICED A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL FROM STARTING ON A HILL AND EXTENSIVE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. THE CLUTCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED IN AUGUST, 1999, BUT THE NEW CLUTCH SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE NEEDED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND TO CHANGE LANES IN BAD FREEWAY TRAFFIC. HE HAD BEEN USING THE CLUCH A LOT, BECAUSE IT WAS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM OF BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND IS VERY SCARY. THE CLUTCH CONTINUES TO SLIP AND BURN. WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET SUBARU TO BUY BACK THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILL, IF YOU TOUCH THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT SHARPLY AND STARTLE THE DRIVER. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT UNTIL THROTTLE IS APPLIED FOR A MOMENT WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SHOOT UP ON THE CAR AHEAD. NOT APPLYING THROTTLE RESULTS IN A LOT OF ENGINE BREAKING AND HIGH RPM'S. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE BECAUSE THE ABRUPT AND UNANTICIPATED BRAKING CVOULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR SKID. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX - IT'S DESIGNED THAT WAY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY HAD RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS.
A NEW DESIGN CHANGE WITH THE CHIP WITHIN TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES.THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT AT PRESENT MOMENT. *AK
'SLOPECONTROL' CAUSES THE CAR TO DOWNSHIFT ANY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON A SLOPE OF A CERTAIN PITCH. THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE FEATURE AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH, BUT AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE CAR REACTS VIOLENTLY AND DECELLERATES TO AN UNSAFE SPEED WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING TO FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. SUBARU IS NOT ADVERTISING THIS FEATURE AND THE CAR WAS SOLD TO US WITH NO DISCLOSURE CONCERNING 'SLOPECONTROL'. WE HAVE NARROWLY ESCAPED TWO REAR-END COLLISIONS AND ARE SELLING THE CAR BACK AT A LOSS TO PURCHASE A SAFER STICK SHIFT.
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