RoadVitals

2011 Subaru Outback Other / unspecified Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Aug 7, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 651 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.

Owner reports naming other

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 7, 2020

I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK FROM A LICENSED AUTO DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO ME ON MONDAY, JULY 27TH, 2020. 8 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE, AND AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2020. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES, AND STEER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONTACTED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE INCIDENT. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY NEAR MY RESIDENCE, THE DEALERSHIP'S GENERAL MANAGER ASKED ME TO DELIVER THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL AND HUB BEARING TO HIM FOR INSPECTION BY HIS TECHNICIANS. MY FATHER DELIVERED THE REQUESTED PARTS ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 2020. ON FRIDAY, THE GENERAL MANAGER NOTIFIED MY FATHER THAT THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WHEEL FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER FASTENING OF THE LUG NUTS, DURING THE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11343919
Incident
Aug 4, 2020
Mileage
81,850 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 6, 2020

INNER WHEELS AT REAR THREADS WEARING WITH OUT THREADS STILL NEW. NOTICE A ROARING SOUND WHILE BACKING UP IN REVERSE. A/C RPM DROPS AND GOES UP WHEN TURNED ON. THERE WAS A REAR SUSPENSION RECALL ON VEHICLE AND TRYING TO SEE IF ALIGNMENT WAS DONE. DUE TO THREAD DECREASING INWARDS.

NHTSA ID
11337762
Incident
May 22, 2020
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed May 9, 2019

THE TRACTION, OIL TEMP, BRAKE SIGN TURNS ON IN MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BRAKE SIGN IS A SAFETY ISSSUE.

NHTSA ID
11206481
Incident
Apr 30, 2019
Mileage
100 mi
Body & structureEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Apr 4, 2017

PURCHASED MY 2011 SUBARU NEW AND HAVE ALWAYS KEEP THE UPKEEP. ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY TIEROD IN THE FRONT WENT BAD AND RUINED MY TIRES SO HAD TO GET NEW TIRES. THEN IT STARTED STALLING ALL THE TIME, AND NO ONE SEEMED TO WHY. ONCE AT AN INTERSECTION WHICH I WAS ALMOST HIT. THEN HAD TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT, BUT KNEW THIS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THEN THE MUFFLER RUSTED AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THE HEAD GASKETS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE EVERYONE SAID IT WOULD LAST FOREVER. WELL I GUESS IT WILL IF YOU KEEP FIXING EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST SUBARU I WILL EVER BUY. HAD BETTER LUCK WITH MY OLD DODGE CARAVAN.

NHTSA ID
10970545
Incident
Mar 8, 2016
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 22, 2014

WHEN I TURNED THE CAR IN THE AFTERNOON THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS FLASHING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND E-BRAKE ON. I LOOKED ONLINE SUBARU FORUMS AND THEIR IS A LOT OF CHATTER FOR THE GAS CAP HAVING ISSUES. I CHECKED MY GAS CAP AND NOTICED THE RUBBER GASKET WAS BROKEN. I PURCHASED A NEW ONE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, DROVE THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS ARE NOW OFF AND WORKING NORMAL..WE'LL SEE WHEN I TAKE A 6HR TRIP IN A FEW DAYS.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615286
Incident
Jul 21, 2014
Mileage
77,143 mi
Other / unspecifiedSeat beltsVisibility
Filed Dec 23, 2013

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BACK UP CAMERA DEFECT AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK-UP CAMERA WAS NOT CENTERED PROPERLY, THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT RETRACT FULLY. THEREFORE, CAUSING IT TO GET STUCK IN THE CLOSING DOOR AND THE HEAT REGISTER AT THE DRIVERS FOOT SEEMED TO BE PARTIALLY BLOCKED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE REASON WHY THE CAMERA WAS NOT CENTERED, WAS BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN HIT, AND IT WOULD COST $99.00 TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ID
10556703
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Apr 29, 2013

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK CAME WITH OE CONTIPROCONTACT P225/60R17. THIS IS A TIRE OF CONTINENTAL THAT HAS AN 80000 MILE WARRANTY. THESE TIRES ON MY CAR WORE DOWN TO THE TIRE REPLACEMENT INDICATOR AT 36750 MILES. . I CALL CONTINENTAL AND WAS TOLD THAT OE TIRES ON NEW CARS ARE FOR DEFECT ONLY, NOT MILEAGE. I FEEL THIS IS A TOTAL RIPOFF ON THE PART OF CONTINENTAL TIRES AND A TOTAL MISREPRESENTATION OF MATTER. WHEN THE RETAIL TIRE HAS THE 80K WARRANTY. I FEEL CONTINENTAL SHOULD REIMBURSE ME THE PRO RATED AMOUNT ON THE $724 SPENT ON THE EXACT REPLACEMENT TIRES I PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509988
Incident
Apr 19, 2013
Mileage
36,750 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 27, 2013

REPEATED SEVERE SHIMMING OF CAR WHEN DIRT OR MUD GETS IN WHEEL WELLS. IN WINTER ANY SLUSH OR SNOW ON THE WHEELS CAUSES A CONTROL PROBLEM. CAR AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE SEVERELY. ONCE INSIDE OF WHEELS ARE PRESSURE WASHED PROBLEM DISAPPEARS, ONLY TO REAPPEAR WHEN DIRT AGAIN GETS INTO THE WHEELS. DISCUSSION WITH THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IN WINTER. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS ALSO IS A COMMON PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IN THE 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK'S. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE WHEELS WHICH PICK UP DEBRIS ON A LARGE FLAT LEDGE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS CONTROL OF VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED WHEN YOU HAVE SEVERE SHAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504712
Incident
Nov 19, 2012
Mileage
5,500 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Feb 15, 2012

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHAKING WHILE DRIVING DUE TO SNOW AND ICE BUILD-UP IN THE TIRES.*TGW THE DEALER WASHED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IN HOT WATER, TO MELT THE ICE WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10448680
Incident
Jan 15, 2012
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 23, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE WHEELS ACCUMULATED SNOW AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 24,000. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10444845
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
Mileage
24,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 23, 2012

I HAVE A SUBARU BECAUSE I LIVE OFF THE PAVED ROAD AND IT IS AN OFF-ROAD CAR. TWO PROBLEMS: 1) IF DRIVING IN SNOW, SNOW PACKS INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND PREVENTS FRONT WHEELS TURNING PROPERLY. I CARRY A WEEDOUT, OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO CARRY ICE PICKS AND TROWELS FOR GETTING THE SNOW OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE DEC 2010, WHENEVER DRIVING IN WET SNOW. I HEARD IT DISCUSSED ON CAR TALK, SO I KNOW IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. 2) MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE IS NOW EXPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE 2011. THE CAR GETS STUCK IN ONE GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT. HAPPENED IN 2ND AND 4TH. I GOT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REMOVED STICKS AND GRAVEL FROM THE LINKAGE. THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY 2011 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBIES IN THAT WEEK WITH STICKS AND GRAVEL IN THE LINKAGE DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER. I COULD NOT GO UP HILLS OR START FROM A STOP WHEN IT WAS STUCK IN 4TH. I COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 20MPH WHEN STUCK IN 2ND. I COULD NOT REVERSE EITHER WAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW AND TRAFFIC IN THE MOUNTAINS. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY COULD PUT ON SOMETHING TO COVER AND PROTECT THE LINKAGE AND THEY SAID NO, EVER SINCE SUBARU WENT TO 6 FORWARD GEARS THE LINKAGE IS EXPOSED AND THEY CANNOT ADD ANYTHING TO COVER IT. I THINK THE 6 FORWARD GEAR MANUAL TRANSMISSION OUTBACKS SHOULD BE RECALLED, AND THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO 5 GEARS FORWARD AND PROPERLY COVER UP THE LINKAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10444835
Incident
Jan 18, 2012
Mileage
21,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Nov 29, 2011

VEHICLE VIBRATION - AFTER ABOUT 8K MILES A VIBRATION STARTED IN THE SEAT AND STEERING. TIRES WERE REBALANCED USING A ROAD FORCE BALANCING MACHINE. THEN THE VIBRATION WOULD COME AND GO EVEN AT SET SPEEDS. BUT WOULD GET WORSE GOING AROUND TURNS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DID A "FIX" WHICH DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. NO MATTER THE LOAD IN THE CAR 5 PEOPLE IN THE CAR OR EMPTY VIBRATION COMES AND GO. THEY SAY THE ISSUE WAS FIXED IN 2012 MODELS HAD A LOANER WHILE CAR WAS IN FOR THE 2 DAY FIX. SAME VIBRATION ISSUE AS I HAD. THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS FIX. MY REAR TIRES ARE WEARING BETTER THEN THEY WERE BEFORE IT. THE OUTSIDE OF MY TIRES WERE WEARING FUNNY EVEN WHEN THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN SPEC. *KB

NHTSA ID
10437645
Incident
Jul 13, 2011
Mileage
8,100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .