2010 Subaru Outback Engine Problems

This car is a very well-maintained, low-use vehicle with regular oil changes and routine maintenance performed on schedule. Early in this drive, I noticed an unusual hissing sound as I approached a stop. When I tried to brake, I realized my brakes didn't seem to be responding. I pressed the brake pedal harder and realized that with 50-100 pounds of pressure (guess), I could slow the car down. As I came to a stop, the engine died. I restarted the car, and it died again immediately. After the following restart, I realized I could manually keep the RPM up in neutral while at stops, and press with significant force to get the car to stop. Had I not been comfortable two foot driving or understood the issue, this surely would have resulted in a crash of some sort. The car indicated a check engine light, loss of traction control, a flashing BRAKE light, and a flashing cruise control light. I took the car immediately to a local shop where they identified the problem as a vacuum leak at the brake booster. The plastic piece that the hose clamps onto had cracked off, leading to this problem. This make and model does not seem to have a check valve downstream of this component.

NHTSA ID

11723980

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

I see many many complaints about the head gasket material Subaru used was not compatible with the very fluid that is needed for the cars engine to not blow up.....coolant. Subaru knows the head gasket material is ruined by the coolant it needs but has left us consumers to deal with a very costly, devastating issue such as what I just want through and am still in the middle of a fight with dealer who sold me a car for 10995 and I had it 2 weeks....coolant blew everywhere had to fight with dealership to get them to tow it. I was yelled at, hung up on, calls not returned all while I have no car no way to work and as a [XXX] and a child to raise, I do not have options and live by a thread and paycheck to paycheck.....It should not be allowed that Subaru doesn't fix that since it is a manufacturing defect that they made it incompatible with the coolant it needs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11613524

Incident

Sep 8, 2024

Vehicle has an automatic transmission and it stalls when stopping. There is no warning light on the dash. This happens more frequently when the vehicle is warm, in early operation it may only hesitate or run rough while stopping. A warm a stop is more likely to stall the vehicle than a slow stop. Hard braking at operating temperature will stall the vehicle without fail. This has been happening since I bought it and it occurs with each drive every day.

NHTSA ID

11569637

Incident

Feb 2, 2024

All instrument and waning lights illuminated and the engine shut down while driving. Took to the Subaru dealer repair shop and the vehicle was diagnosed with a head gasket leak that caused oil to mix with the coolant. This is a low mileage vehicle, 67,597 miles, that has been maintained by Subaru certified mechanics.

NHTSA ID

11523706

Incident

Apr 24, 2023

Total engine failure at just 75k miles. Barely driven, maintenance schedule always kept up to date, out of nowhere engine stopped and I was told the oil was completely empty. They were unable to resolve by adding oil. Also, transmission light has been on for 3+ years. Have been told by every repair shop who has checked this that it’s just a glitch in the electrical system and the transmission is fine. A few weeks prior to engine failure, the car began to have trouble accelerating and made a sort of “race car” sound. Barely could go past 40 mph without slamming on gas. Finally, doors have randomly decided to stop locking and unlocking while using key fob. Batteries have been replaced. Some doors work, some do not (namely, the driver side door). Other misc electrical issues like USB failure.

NHTSA ID

11435616

Incident

Sep 13, 2021

MY VEHICLE STALLS WHEN I SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. IT'S BEEN OCCURRING FOR MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

11413009

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM AND ECM HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING A CONTROL ARM AND ECM TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 268,000.

NHTSA ID

11395379

Incident

Jan 26, 2021

Mileage

268,000 mi

FAILED HEAD GASKET. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT AROUND 112K. THIS IS A 2.5 LITRE 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. ENGINE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11366549

Incident

Oct 12, 2020

Mileage

112,000 mi

CAR ENGINE STOPS UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO REASON WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS. ONE TIME NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11360356

Incident

Sep 21, 2020

Mileage

168,800 mi

MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE HAS STARTED STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN WHILE STARTING TO TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS FOR MY WIFE TURNING OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU MECHANIC THAT SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL, BUT I CAN'T FIND IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW.

NHTSA ID

11244332

Incident

Jun 10, 2019

Mileage

154,000 mi

MY COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, WE HAVE CHANGED THE RADIATOR TWICE AND THE THERMOSTAT TWICE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBARU OF CHERRY HILL AND ALSO TO SUBARU OF JAX WHERE MY FATHER IN LAW IS A SENIOR MASTER TECH. MY CAR HAS EVERYONE BAFFLED. EVERYTHING IN MY COOLING SYSTEM BACKS UP INTO MY OVERFLOW AND THAN I LOSE ALL MY COOLANT. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2010 FOR MY YEAR OUTBACK MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 31 TO DEC 2009 AND MY CAR FALLS IN THOSE DATE RANGES BUT WAS NEVER INCLUDING IN THIS COOLING SYSTEM RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. THE ISSUE ONLY HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. BC OF THE ISSUE MY CAR HAS JUST SHUT DOWN ON ME LUCKILY IT WAS WHEN I WAS PULLING INTO PARKING LOTS AND NOT HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11241938

Incident

Apr 23, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE - VEHICLE HAS STARTED STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING TO TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS TURNING OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL, BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED DUE TO MILEAGE, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC.

NHTSA ID

11231979

Incident

Jul 5, 2019

Mileage

177,000 mi

THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CAR STALLS JUST PRIOR TO COMING TO A STOP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM BY SUBARU TO THE POINT THAT THEY ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND ANY SUBARU DEALER WHO WILL PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM TO ALLOW FOR WARRANTY COVERAGE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL GIVEN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES REPORTING THIS PROBLEM AND THE UNSAFE CONDITION THAT IS CREATED.

NHTSA ID

11195659

Incident

Apr 11, 2019

Mileage

117,000 mi

WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON ANY ROAD THE VEHICLE STALLS, UPHILL OR DOWNHILL. THE CAR THEN NEEDS TO BE RESTARTED AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK THEN TURNING THE KEY TO RESTART, AS VEHICLES ARE COMING QUICKLY FROM BEHIND. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY DEADLY VEHICLE FAILURE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND RECALLED. IT STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11194402

Incident

Mar 29, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HEAD LIGHTS HAVE BURNT OUT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. THE ENGINE HAS BEGAN STALLING WHEN I COME TO A FULL STOP. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH A CVT AND IT FEELS LIKE COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. IF I LET OFF THE BRAKE QUICKLY IT WILL CONTINUE IDLING BUT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP KILLS THE ENGINE. I GUESS SUBARU HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I NEVER RECIEVED THE NOTIFICATION AND MY VEHICLE IS PAST THE MILEAGE FOR THE WARRANTY ANYWAY.

NHTSA ID

11187256

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

115,000 mi

DURING BRAKING, THE CAR OFTEN SHUTTERS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STALL, AND SEVERAL TIMES HAS STALLED COMPLETELY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS ESPECIALLY IF BRAKING HARD. THIS OCCURS ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND BEING BROUGHT TO A STOP. HOWEVER, WHEN IDLING, THE CAR OFTEN WILL SHUDDER AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11172684

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK AND FORTH. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE REVVED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11166071

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE NORMALLY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED HERITAGE SUBARU CATONSVILLE AT (844) 224-1954 (LOCATED AT 6624 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, CATONSVILLE, MD 21228) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,204. *DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER FIXED THE TRANSMISSION.*JB

NHTSA ID

11156857

Incident

Sep 18, 2018

Mileage

129,204 mi

FROM 2010 - 2014, SUBARU REMOVED ENGINE TEMP. GUAGE FROM DASH SO THERE IS NO WAY TO MONITOR HIGH NORMAL TEMPS OF ENGINE. AT ONLY 93,770 MILES, MY 2010 OUTBACK 2.5L DASH COOLANT LIGHT FLICKERED ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL. I HAD NEVER HAD AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IN OVER 8 YEARS! TURNS OUT COOLANT WAS LOW DUE TO IT OVERHEATING AND BOILING OUT. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE! I COULD HAVE ENDED UP STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HILLY ROAD, WITH A BLOWN ENGINE! SUBARU HAS NOT FIXED THEIR CHRONIC HG FAILURE ISSUE!!! TO VERIFY/REPLICATE THE OVERHEATING, I TURNED ON THE A/C AND TOOK A 20 MILE OUT AND BACK ON A HILLY PORTION OF THE 5 FWY IN NORTHERN CA AT THEBEND OF SUMMER, 2018.

NHTSA ID

11142736

Incident

Oct 11, 2018

Mileage

93,770 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VIC BAILEY MAZDA SUBARU (400 E DANIEL MORGAN AVE, SPARTANBURG, SC 29302, (864) 568-3338) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11094159

Incident

Apr 27, 2018

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE SUBARU, 5150 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA) AND WAS REPAIRED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. THE DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN MAKING AN ABRUPT STOP AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11090982

Incident

Nov 2, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

WHEN MY I BRAKE MY VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP AT RED LIGHTS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC THE ENGINE STALLS, WHICH MAKES ME HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I STOP MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11076419

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

183,750 mi

GAS PEDAL GOES LIMP AND/OR WORKS INCONSISTENTLY/ERRATICALLY; THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME UNRESPONSIVE, CREATING POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AT STOPLIGHTS/INTERSECTIONS, ON HIGHWAY, ISSUE MANIFESTS AS ACCELERATING IRREGULARLY AND LURCHING FORWARD UNPREDICTABLY; HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, WHILE STATIONARY AT STOPLIGHT, IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS, ETC.

NHTSA ID

11072226

Incident

Feb 9, 2018

Mileage

54,444 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND REVERSE OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (JOHN HOWARD SUBARU, 1730 MILEGROUND RD, MORGANTOWN, WV 26505) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER CALLED AND STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD A NEW TITLE, IT NO LONGER COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AT 1-800-782-2783 AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT UPDATED 8/22/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11054767

Incident

Dec 9, 2017

OCCASIONALLY THE 2.5 L ENGINE WITH CVT WILL APPEAR TO ALMOST STALL UPON DECELERATING AND COMING TO A STOP (AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC.). THE ENGINE WILL SHUDDER, THE RPMS WILL DROP BELOW 700 AND THEN QUICKLY RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE (ABOUT 800 OR SO). HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED A STALL BUT HAVE COME CLOSE. OUR CAR HAS ABOUT 87000 MILES AND IS OTHERWISE IN GOOD CONDITION. OUR MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE, IT CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND THERE ARE NO CODES. OTHER SIMILAR POSTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTOR MAY BE THE CULPRIT. CONSIDERING THE QUANTITY OF POSTS, AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN. STALLING CAN BE A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11033875

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

87,000 mi