2010 Subaru Outback Powertrain (other) Problems

It is a known issue with subarus of this year that the engine will stall at random intervals when stopping, weather at a stop sign or stop light, warm or cold, fast stops or regular stopping. There is no consistency to it, completely random. There are no warning lights that appear, I have not taken this car to the dealer because after purchasing it I cannot afford to take it to the dealer. I purchased this car used for my elderly parents and this is a disturbing problem that could get them hurt or killed. Why has this KNOWN issue not been recalled? there are multiple service bulletins reported to NHTSA addressing this issue but no recall?

NHTSA ID

11667008

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

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

The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into drive independently. The contact turned off and restart the vehicle. The contact then stated that he was able navigate the vehicle back onto the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 196,000.

NHTSA ID

11543204

Incident

Jul 7, 2023

Mileage

196,000 mi

The car will die/stop working at stop signs and at abrupt stops. The problem has been confirmed by a Subaru dealer, and it is a known safety concern, as Subaru put out a safety bulletin but came up short in actually recalling the cars affected. It has been confirmed as a faulty torque converter by a dealership service department. There have been no warnings or messages prior to the problem happening. It is a HUGE safety concern, as the car will die at lights and busy intersections, causing traffic to stop abruptly. It is an accident waiting to happen!!! Because my vehicle is out of warranty, Subaru will not cover the cost of replacing this DANGEROUS system failure.

NHTSA ID

11482656

Incident

Jul 1, 2022

Recently, while driving home in traffic, with the car in drive while braking, my car stalled in the middle of the road. Since then, it has happened 4 times. Upon breaking while the car is in Drive, the car stalls and Check Engine Light, Battery, Engine Oil, Oil Temp, AWD, and Traction Control Warning Light come on. When I shift the car into Park, turn off the car, and restart, the lights go away and the car runs smoothly. This is a huge safety concern when the car fails while I am actively driving and has almost caused accidents. I took the car to the dealership and they said that it needs a new torque converter (see Subaru Service Bulletin 16-90-13R https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10140492-9999.pdf). This is a huge safety liability and this issue should be recalled as the car stalling in the middle of traffic is dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11480801

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

Outback started jerking forward with an increase in RPMs and noise from engine. Malfunction was very alarming and could result in a traffic accident...especially at higher speeds and in traffic. No warning lamps/messages indicated from vehicle. Took vehicle to Subaru dealership and rode with mechanic. Was told by dealership that a new CVT (transmission) is needed at a quoted cost of $9,000+ (with only 110k miles on the vehicle). Found that a warranty extension was offered by Subaru (2017 CVT Warranty Extension Bulletin Number 16-107-17R) for customer complaints about this issue but not a recall. Contacted Subaru of America. Subaru of America offered minimal assistance and would not honor the extended warranty due to just falling outside of extended warranty period (due to driving fewer-than-average miles per year).

NHTSA ID

11447842

Incident

Dec 29, 2021

CVT was given a warranty extension. Subaru is aware that this is a KNOWN issue, otherwise they would not have given a warranty extension. A loud squealing occurs and a the RPMs increase when driving. This occurs in slower speed areas as well as on the highway. This is a dangerous problem as the transmission could give out while driving on the highway or interstate. The driver would then be forced to slow to a lower mph and possibly cause an accident. Since this is a known problem with this year, a recall should be given for Subaru to repair this CVT problem in all models. At the very least, if a person calls in to have this problem resolved, they should repair the problem since it's a known issue.

NHTSA ID

11443595

Incident

Nov 15, 2021

Purchased used Subaru 10/28/2021. While driving on highway the engine is running and trying to brake at the same time. Its frightening, It seems like the vehicle will stop at highway speed and my family & myself could be injured if not killed. I am taking my newly purchased vehicle for the second time to Post Oak Acura, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145. Researched on my own the signs of highway driving & the engine attempted to stop. Many complaints located on line with with the final diagnosis of a "faulty failing torque convertor".

NHTSA ID

11439450

Incident

Oct 28, 2021

We have a engine stalling problem on a 2010 Subaru outback when braking it is a known problem with the transmission failing and Subaru extended a warrantee to 100,000 miles or 10 years but did not notify owners. Now at 110000 miles we are having similar problems. I don't think we should be penalized for driving less miles per year but have same issue. They admitted a problem but refuse to cover it.

NHTSA ID

11418025

Incident

Feb 4, 2021

11/21/2020 AT OIL TEMP LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, AND VEHICLE DYNAMICS CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON WHILE DRIVING AFTER AROUND 30 MINUTES ON A MAJOR ROUTE (NOT HIGHWAY) AFTER ALREADY BEING "FIXED" BY A DEALERSHIP. AT THE END OF AUGUST I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ALL 3 LIGHTS HAD COME ON AFTER I HAD ARRIVED NEAR MY PLACE OF WORK. I HAD DRIVEN FOR 35 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY AND CRUISING LOCAL STREETS FOR A SPOT WHEN THEY CAME ON. WHEN I FIRST GOT BACK TO MY VEHICLE AFTER WORK (I HAD PARKED AND WAS WAITING UNTIL END OF DAY TO DEAL WITH IT) AND TURNED ON MY CAR - NO LIGHTS. I WAS NEARLY HOME WHEN ALL 3 CAME BACK ON (35 MINTUES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING). TOOK TO DEALER THAT WEEKEND WHERE THEY REPLACED ENGINE AIR FILTER, CABIN AIR FILTER, CVT- VALVE BODY AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR $1934.97 ON 9/21 THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER DRIVING FOR AROUND 20 MINUTES ON A 2 LANE ROUTE. DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 1 WEEK AND ALL THEY COULD FIND / DO WAS CHANGE A BRAKE LIGHT BULB.

NHTSA ID

11375796

Incident

Nov 21, 2020

Mileage

74,870 mi

THE OUTBACK IS SHUDDERING AND STALLING AT INTERSECTIONS AND STOPS FREQUENTLY. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR STOPS ABRUPTLY. THE CAR MUST BE PUT BACK IN PARK AND TURNED BACK ON EVERY TIME IT STALLS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THE ABRUPT STOPPING CAUSED BY THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA ID

11373252

Incident

Nov 3, 2020

Mileage

92,000 mi

THE CAR STALLS AND PERFORMS A FULL ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11364570

Incident

Oct 14, 2020

Mileage

199,000 mi

VEHICLE DIES UPON SOMEWHAT SUDDEN STOPS SUCH AS TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGING TO RED AND NEEDING TO STOP OR SOMEONE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF US ETC. THIS IS A SEVERE TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF LARGE VEHICLE OR 18 WHEELER ETC IS FOLLOWING CLOSE ON HIGHWAY AND SUBARU DIES UPON BRAKING AND UNABLE TO KEEP MOVING AFTER BRAKES APPLIED. WE HAVE E-MAILED SUBARU HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REPLIED AS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. WE HAVE HAD A 50 YEAR PROFESSIONAL MASTER MECHANIC BUSINESS STATE THAT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS FAULTY AND NOT ALLOWING THE CVT SYSTEM TO WORK AS SHOULD WHEN BRAKING AND VEHICLE WILL DIE. THERE IS PAST TSB ON THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. DO NUMEROUS SUBARU OWNERS NEED TO NEEDLESSLY DIE IF NOT ALREADY BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SERIOUS VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE? THIS DEFECT HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11361757

Incident

Aug 14, 2020

Mileage

197,745 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT HEUBERGER SUBARU (1080 MOTOR CITY DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80905, (719) 475-1920) UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V326000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED HE THINKS PROBLEM IS IGNITION RELATED AND IGNITION SHUTS OFF TOO MANY TIMES.*JB

NHTSA ID

11331030

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED - WHEN DEACCELERATING RAPIDLY VEHICLE SHAKES AND COMPLETELY STALLS. TOOK TO SPECIALTY SHOP AND REPORTED FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER. REPAIRS TOTALED $2200. CAR ONLY WITH 80,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11296759

Incident

Oct 16, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS 116,567 MILES DEVELOPED A SQUEAKING NOISE AT 40 / 60 MPH. AFTER BRINGING IN TO DEALER WAS ADVISED THE CVT CHAIN WAS SLIPPING AND ONLY THING THAT COULD BE DONE IS PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION OR VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT WAS AT A COST OF 7900 DOLLARS AND NO OTHER OPTION WAS PROVIDED TO IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE VEHICLE. I MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE SOA PROVIDE DETAILS ON WHAT MAINTENANCE COULD BE DONE TO TO PROTECT/EXTEND THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE FAILING TRANSMISSION OR IF THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE REBUILT TO IMPROVE SAFE OPERATION. SOA RESPONSE CONTINUES TO BE THEY WILL DISCUSS A LOYALTY PROGRAM FOR A NEW LEASE OR CAR BUT THE ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ENTIRELY.

NHTSA ID

11269154

Incident

Oct 5, 2019

Mileage

116,000 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

CVT FAILED AT 149,250 MILEAGE. EVEN THOUGH SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 OR 10 YEARS THIS VEHICLE WAS BEYOND 100,000 ON THE ODOMETER AND DIDN'T EXHIBIT ISSUES WHEN THE EXTENSION WAS ISSUED. I EXPECT SUBARU TO WARRANTY FURTHER AS THEIR CVT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THEIR ORIGINAL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. COST OF REPAIR IS $7,335 PLUS COST OF RENTAL CAR.

NHTSA ID

11230057

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

149,250 mi

EXTREME SHIMMY / VIBRATION IN FRONT END CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY AGGRESSIVELY. THIS EXPERIENCE STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE CAR HAS APRPOXIMATELY 150K MILES. WHEN DRIVING CAR OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES LIKE A VERY OUT OF BALANCE TIRE OR THE FEELING OF A WARPED ROTOR WHEN BRAKING. THE SHIMMY CAN BE SEEN IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCING, AND FELT THROUGH THE FLOOR AND SEATS.TIRES AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS NO A RECALL? I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11210396

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHEN COMING TO A GRADUAL OR SUDDEN STOP, THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKS UP AND STALLS THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE SEVERAL FEET BEFORE THE LIMIT LINE. THIS KNOWN FAILURE GOES BEYOND A MECHANICAL ISSUE, BUT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11204693

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

MY 2010 SUBARU IS STALLING OUT WHEN I COME TO STOPS AND IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND SCARY. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK, EVEN WHEN COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN. IT HAPPENS AS THE CAR BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN, THEN IT COMPLETELY STALLS OUT. THIS MUST BE ADDRESSED AND SUBARU NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL, AS THIS IS A SERIOUS AND LIFE THREATENING SAFETY CONCERN. I AM BEYOND UPSET WITH SUBARU FOR NOT ISSUING A RECALL YET, AS I AM READING ABOUT THIS WIDESPREAD ISSUE ONLINE. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED BY OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

11193288

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

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

I HAVE OWNED BY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK ONLY 9 YEARS AND I LEARNED THAT THE CVT (TRANSMISSION) HAS FAILED. SEARCHING ARTICLES AND FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS/YEARS. MY VEHICLE IS NOW USELESS UNTIL I PAY OVER $7000 TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NOT A RECALL. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT SUBARU OFFERS IS NOT USEFUL GIVEN THE AGE OF MOST OF THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID

11182779

Incident

Feb 25, 2019

Mileage

123,000 mi

I WENT TO TIMMONS SUBARU IN LONG BEACH CA.I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE TSB-16-90-13R AND THAT MY VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THAT BULLETIN IS SHOWING. I WAS INFORMED OVER AND OVER MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I KNEW THAT A WANTED THEM TO DO THE TSB. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THEIR MECHANIC SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION AND THEY COULD NOT DO THAT WORK. THE OUTBACK WAS SHAKING AND VIBRATING AND HAVE LOW RPMS LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. I DID NOT TRUST TIMMONS MECHANIC SO I TOOK TO MCKENNA SUBARU IN HUNTINGTON BEACH . THEY DID THE TSB AND NOW IT WORKS GREAT. IT DID NOT NEED A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION AND TIMMONS MECHANIC LIED TO ME AND WANTED TO UPSELL A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION AND WHEEL BEARING IN HIS REPORT. THEY REFUSED TO LISTEN TO ME REGARDING THE TSB.

NHTSA ID

11170661

Incident

Jan 17, 2019

Mileage

143,580 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