2006 Subaru Outback Powertrain (other) Problems

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION COOLER FITTING STRIPPED OUT, EMPTYING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND RUINING TRANSMISSION. AS CAN BE SEEN IN PICTURE, OEM COMPONENT HAS VERY FEW THREADS WHICH ARE SHEARED AND COVERED IN FACTORY LOCTITE. THIS IS NOT AN INSPECTABLE COMPONENT, NOR LISTED ON ANY MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, HOWEVER WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU THEY STATED THAT IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE, CONSIDERED REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR, AND OUTSIDE THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I POINTED OUT THAT THEY JUST SETLED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING FAULTY POWERTRAIN COMPONENTS, AND THEY DECLINED FURTHER DISCUSSING MY CONCERNS

NHTSA ID

11300104

Incident

Mar 20, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK AT AROUND 40 MPH, GOING STRAIGHT ON A BUSY ROAD. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ABRUPTLY. IT APPARENTLY ENTERED A "SAFE" MODE, WITH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THE ACCELERATOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER PROVIDED AN ERROR CODE P2138, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH VOLTAGE CORRELATION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU VEHICLES FROM AROUND THIS MODEL YEAR. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING AND THE CAR SLOWS TO A CRAWL ABRUPTLY. MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. IF THE ERROR WERE TO OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN "SAFE" MODE AFTER SENSING AN ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITY IN THE THROTTLE WIRING. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11152338

Incident

Nov 15, 2018

Mileage

153,000 mi

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OUR SUBARU OUTBACK SHUDDERS AND STALLS OUT. THIS HAPPENS ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS AND HAS BECOME A BIT OF A SAFETY CONCERN WHEN STOPPING IN TRAFFIC. ON FEBRUARY 6TH 2017, I WENT TO OUR LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE CENTER AND THEY INSPECT THE CAR AND EXPLAINED THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND ASSOCIATE COMPONENTS AND THIS WAS VALIDATED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB #16-90-13R . THEY EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERT WOULD BE $1546 DOLLARS PLUS TAXES. I SEE THIS MORE OF A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS AS A RECALL. OUR VEHICLE HAS 96,404 MILE AS OF THIS DATE AND IS WELL MAINTAIN WITH ALL SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10949764

Incident

Feb 6, 2017

Mileage

96,404 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER HAD TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POTION AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

NHTSA ID

10850714

Incident

Dec 21, 2015

Mileage

155,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED - CITY STREET 45MPH -- LOST ABILITY TO THROTTLE. NO THROTTLE, ENGINE, OR ACCELERATION RESPONSE WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDAL. CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE LIGHTS BLINKING. AFTER PULLING OVER, TURNED OFF ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING AFTER A MINUTE, THROTTLE CAPABILITY RETURNED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE, UNEXPECTEDLY.

NHTSA ID

10808750

Incident

Dec 7, 2015

Mileage

138,000 mi

I RECENTLY HAD P2138.. ONE TIME. NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, STOPPED ON A HILL ON A 2 LANE ROAD, ON A CURVE, IN BIG SUR.. NOT GOOD. ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN HILL AFTER THE ONES BEHIND HAD ALL PASSED ME. TURNED OFF CAR, WAITED FOR 10 MINUTES, THEN IT FIXED ITSELF AFTER A RESTART. JIGGLED THE PEDAL CONNECTOR AND IT HAS BEEN GONE FOR THE LAST 2 WEEKS WHILE WAITING FOR MY MECHANIC TO HAVE ROOM IN HIS SCHEDULE TO REPLACE MY THROTTLE PEDAL (WHICH HAS A PEDAL POSITION SENSOR), TWO DAYS FROM NOW.

NHTSA ID

10781463

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

175,000 mi

BOOTS CRACK AND YOU MUST REPLACE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT. LEFT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS JUST REPLACED @100,000 MILES AS THE BOOT CRACKED ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL. THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AS DRIVE SHAFT SITS OVER THE TOP OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WITH NO SHIELD TO BLOCK THE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660210

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A CODE P2138 ISSUE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW. IN MANY CASES I AM IN THE CAR WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON AND END UP BEING IN DANGER FOR NO REASON. LOOSING 99% OF POWER WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL OR TO THE STORE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE HAVE NOT WORKED AND THE CAR ITSELF IS THOUGHT OF AS A DEATH TRAP IN OUR HOUSE. SUBARU DISREGARDS THE CODE AND OFFERS NO FIX. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10626319

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR WAS ME PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION AND THE RPMS SUDDENLY SHOT UP TO 2000. AFTER FILLING THE TANK, I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I LET IT SIT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ON AND "CRUISE" FLASHING. THE LIGHTS SELF-CORRECTED LATER THAT DAY BEFORE I COULD HAVE THE CODE READ. THE NEXT INCIDENT I WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WITH A GREEN ARROW. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CAME ON AND I SUDDENLY LOST THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON IT THE CAR JUST MOVED ALONG AT IDLE SPEED, LESS THAN 5 MPH. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I LOST THE GREEN ARROW. I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN PARK, THE RPMS WENT TO 2000, THEN I TURNED IT OFF. TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. TRIED IT A SECOND TIME AND IT FIRED RIGHT UP AND THE GAS PEDAL FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE WERE ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE CODE READ AND IT CAME UP WITH P2138, AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED TWICE MORE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET A PROPER DIAGNOSIS FROM A MECHANIC AND THEY OCCURRED ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO TWO WEEKS APART. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL BY SUBARU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618186

Incident

Jun 30, 2014

Mileage

138,000 mi

SUBARU OUTBACK BEGAN TO EXHIBIT "GHOST WALKING" WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DURING A WINTER STORM. REAR END ATTEMPTED TO RACE THE FRONT END, AND COULD NOT REGAIN CONTROL. THIS "GHOST WALKING" IS WELL DISCUSSED IN THE ONLINE FORM AT SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG. CAR EVENTUALLY MADE IT TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL 3 TIMES. THE EXPERIENCE WAS NOT THE NORMALLY SLIDING ON ICE. THE REAR END SEEMED TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559987

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

Mileage

133,000 mi

FOUR TIMES IN ONE MONTH PRIOR THE ABOVE DATE, THIS VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR AND PUT INTO PARK!! IN ADDITION, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO PROPERLY KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING IN TRAFFIC. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE DRIVER WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A HILL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AGAIN DID NOT PROPERLY HOLD THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER HAD TO OPEN HER DOOR, EXIT THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PHYSICALLY STOP IT FROM ROLLING DOWNHILL IN TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY RAN OVER BY A PASSING SEMI TRAILER TRUCK. THIS IS A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE, OFTEN THROUGH THE DEALER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM. DURING THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO THE DEALER. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS BEING CAUSED BY ELECTRONIC COMPUTER PARTS MALFUNCTION. AFTER THESE EXPENSIVE AND POSSIBLY UNNECESSARY REPAIRS THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STOP FOR NO REASON IN TRAFFIC AND WOULD NOT RESTART. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF GEAR AND PUT INTO PARK!! I KNOW OF NO OTHER VEHICLE WHERE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. AFTER THE LATEST BREAKDOWN, UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER LOCATED A SECTION OF WIRE LOOM THAT HAD WORN BARE AND POSSIBLY HAD CAUSED A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS WORN SPOT IN THE WIRE LOOM MAY HAVE TRIPPED UP THE LOGIC IN THE VEHICLE COMPUTER AND BEEN THE REASON THE DRIVER COULD NOT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AFTER BREAKING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. IF THIS ELECTRICAL WIRE LOOM CAUSED THIS "MALFUNCTION", IT WOULD PUT ANYONE IN THIS VEHICLE IN A POSITION WHERE THERE IS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY, OR DEATH. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY YOUR DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TO SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550045

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

73,956 mi

STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING ON FLAT CONCRETE HIGHWAY, REAR END OF VEHICLE MAY START TO WANDER WHEN ROAD IS SLIPPERY. THIS OCCURS GENERALLY OVER 25MPH, WHEN ALL OTHER VEHICLES ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THAN THE 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.0R IS ABLE TO. CARS WILL PASS WHILE I AM WHITE KNUCKLED, CONCERNED THE REAR END IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE AND CAUSE COMPLETE CONTROL FAILURE. I HAVE FOUND OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS, AND THIS IS BEING REFERRED TO AS "GHOST WALKING" - THIS IS A VERY GOOD DESCRIPTION AS THIS IS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. ESSENTIALLY, THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FEELS LIKE IT IS SENDING TOO MUCH POWER TO THE REAR END, UNDER EVEN/CONSTANT SPEED, AND CAUSING THE REAR TO BREAK LOOSE. OR, THERE IS A ALIGNMENT GEOMETRY PROBLEM. VERY UNSETTLING AND VERY UNEXPECTED FOR A HIGHLY REGARDED ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS AND NONE HAVE DONE THIS IN THE SAME CONDITIONS. VERY HARD TO RECREATE FOR DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURE, AS IT REQUIRES PRECISE ROAD CONDITIONS. JUST SO HAPPENS IT IS PRECISELY THE ROAD CONDITIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE MIGHT BUY A SUBARU (IN MN OR CO). VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445673

Incident

Dec 15, 2007

Mileage

10,000 mi

FIRST OCCURRENCE 12/5/11. I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I LOST THE ABILITY ACCELERATE. I COASTED TO A PARKING SPACE, SHUT MY CAR OFF AND WAS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER AND HOUR I TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND ALL SEEMED FINE. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND PROBLEM P2138, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALL SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. SECOND OCCURRENCE 1/21/12. I WAS DRIVING ALONG A SIDE ROAD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I ONCE AGAIN LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. SHUT THE CAR OFF, SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I GOT MY CAR HOME AND HOOKED UP THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TO IT AND GOT THE SAME P2138 CODE. I READJUSTED THE WIRES CONNECTING THE ACCELERATOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO OCCUR WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. OBVIOUSLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444741

Incident

Dec 5, 2011

Mileage

518,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WAGON. DRIVING ON WET ROADS, NOT EVEN ICY, THE MOST MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, OR FROST HEAVE, WILL SEND THE VEHICLE'S REAR END SWAYING, ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN AS GHOST WALKING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS IT HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON STRAIGHT ROADS, AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LANE. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS SUBARU DEALERSHIP PERFORMING A FULL ALIGNMENT. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AWD, SO RAIN SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. I ALSO NOTICE THIS SWAYING HAPPEN ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT NOT AS THREATENING. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS PLAY IN THE REAR END, BUT CAR WAS FULLY SAFETY CHECKED BY SUBARU AND PASSED ALL POINTS. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FLAW IN THE AWD, NAMELY THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IN THE REAR END. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER CONDITIONS, YET THAT'S WHAT SUBARU'S ARE KNOWN FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296172

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

Mileage

69,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING OUR SUBARU 2006 2.5I OUTBACK WAGON (4-SPEED AUTO W/SPORT SHIFT) IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGINS TO FLOAT OR DO MINI-FISHTAILS. IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY PUSHING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH OR LIKE THERE ARE WIND GUSTS HITTING THE CAR. THE FLOATING HAS A RHYTHMIC FEEL AND MAY CONTINUE FOR MANY MILES UNTIL THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS 'FLOATING', YOU SENSE THAT ANY CHANGE (STEERING, GAS OR BRAKING) WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, IT IS A TRULY SCARY DRIVING SENSATION AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO EASE UP ON GAS UNTIL YOU FIND A SPEED (USUALLY UNDER 40 MPH) WHERE THE FLOATING IS LESS PRONOUNCED. THIS IS OUR 9TH SUBARU AND WE HAVE 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING SUBARU AWD VEHICLES ON MINNESOTA WINTER ROADS. NONE OF OUR FORMER CARS, UP THROUGH THE 2004 OUTBACK, EVER BEHAVED IN THE MANNER. PLEASE NOTE, NOT ALL WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS SEEM TO TRIGGER THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOST FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FLOATING WHEN ON ASPHALT ROAD SURFACES THAT ARE ICY OR COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW OR SLUSH. I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR ON COMPLETELY STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER STEADY THROTTLE WHILE TRAVELING UNDER 45 MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRIVING AT SAFE SPEEDS AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE PASSING BY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS AND SEEMED COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD NEW MICHELIN TIRES PUT ON AND THE DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SUBARU. YOUR DATABASE OF VINS COMES UP WITH THE KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221459

Incident

Dec 26, 2007

Mileage

49,000 mi

2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) WHEEL SQUEALS AT LOW SPEEDS. SOUND IS INTERMITTENT, BUT ALWAYS PRESENT AT START OF USAGE. TAKEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK, BUT NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. POSSIBLE WHEEL BEARING ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10218826

Incident

Feb 22, 2008