2011 Subaru Outback Powertrain (other) Problems

My CVT Transmission started having problems with the Valve Body inside the transmission. On acceleration from a complete stop my vehicle would start "bucking" hard causing a violent back and forth rocking or "jerking" of the drive train and vehicle. I did not request a inspection of the failed Valve Body when I paid to have it replaced. The life and safety of myself and others are at severe risk of injury or death resulting from a complete failure of the Valve Body component when driving on highways or other roads because without any warning the vehicle will come to a complete stop which would cause a rear end collision possibly at highway speeds. Also I'm concerned about the Torque Converter having a failure because of the intense pressure from the failed Valve Body with the constant "bucking" on acceleration. I took my vehicle to both a independent transmission shop and a Subaru Service Center and the Independent Transmission Shop told me I needed a new transmission and the Subaru Service Department kept telling me they didn't know what was causing my vehicle symptoms. Subaru of America extended the warranty on my vehicle to 100,000 miles because of the problems with their CVT Transmissions but because I bought my vehicle used with over 100,000 miles on it they refused to either pay for 50% or 100% of the replacement cost. No warning Lights came on but when the Valve Body completely fails then the warning lights will illuminate. My Subaru Case Number that was DENIED is (Case# 250820-1801058) for Subaru extended warranty for CVT Transmission.

NHTSA ID

11682581

Incident

Aug 19, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission output shift was bent and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11659784

Incident

Mar 8, 2025

Mileage

100,000 mi

Torque converter issue that causes stalling similar to a manual transmission vehicle. The issue should have been a full recall but instead was only a "bulletin." For my own safety, I am stuck paying several thousand dollars for an issue the manufacturer is aware of but refused to cover by full recall. It is not just wear-and-tear, and is a danger to myself and other drivers on the road. And because the previous owner(s) were negligent in making sure the vehicle was repaired under warranty, I'm left paying a giant, unexpected bill. Does that seem like the right thing to you?

NHTSA ID

11640426

Incident

Jan 31, 2025

When coming to a stop the RPM's drop and the engine will stall, similar to not engaging the clutch on a manual transmission. Luckily there has not been a crash to date but the condition has worsened to the point it is no longer safe to drive and must be repaired. This is a known safety flaw with the torque converter and Subaru denied any responsibility or assistance in the quoted $2,400 repair.

NHTSA ID

11636313

Incident

Dec 2, 2024

Coolant leak, steering power fluid leak, break pad leak, gasoline line leak, seat heater, clicking noise after turning off car, leaking seats and rear view mirror also leaking, steering wheel expanding due to possible air bag, heater and ac vents lose and also chemical smell/gas/coolant coming from front and back of car, sunroof not secured. Every wiring wet, charger port in middle compartment wet when plugging something in. Everything auto does not work. Car sounds like something is constantly leaking air or gas somewhere, even when off. My safety was at risk by having severe chemical burns on my skin everywhere, hair falling out due to exposure, almost passing out while driving due to inhaling components, low visibility due to auto dimming in rear view and side mirrors. The problem has not been confirmed due to me being in a financial bind at the moment. The car has not been inspected. due to financial problems I am not able to get the vehicle looked at. There were no warnings except for the blue temp light came on but immediately will shut back off. Car also severely vibrates when turning on. They started appearing around against of 2024

NHTSA ID

11633292

Incident

Aug 23, 2024

Bought vehicle from Carvana, immediately noticed transmission shudder issues when driving near 50 mph. Brought vehicle in to multiple repair facilities. It had warped brakes, bad calipers, needed a new torque converter at least and the repair shop recommended a total transmission replacement. The whole vehicle shakes when driving near that speed or braking.

NHTSA ID

11616153

Incident

Aug 20, 2024

Seems like a transmission problem on my Subaru Outback. While braking to a stop the car shudders and then the engine stalls creating a hazardous situation. I'm forced to put the car in park and restart the engine. This sounds like a common issue with the tourque converter on these cars. This problem happens on a near daily basis unless you drive with such extreme caution you can sometimes avoid the issue.

NHTSA ID

11578081

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

Dashboard lights flashing, Brake lights Traction control Cruise Check engine

NHTSA ID

11558120

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

The car shudders when we come to a stop, sometimes cuts off completely. I am told this is a faulty torque converter. This is my 5th subaru, so I love the car, but, I have a family now, and I am not sure this is a safe vehicle for them to be in, please help me!!

NHTSA ID

11554325

Incident

Nov 9, 2023

Transmission failure at 55mph my couldn't shift and the motor revved up all the way to the redline mark and wouldn't stop when I tried to stop it the reaction control lights came on the cruise control light was flashing the emergency break light was flashing every light on my dash was flashing there was a terrible vibration in the steering wheel the Transmission was humming really loud and just got worse the car just kept going and not stopping I could have hit someone another person a car I could have hit anything instead I choose the ditch and cornfield the car has been looked at by a repair shop and everything has been duplicated by them the problem hasn't gone away or changed all the codes were cleared and as soon as it starts up they all came back signaling the transmission and torque converter the sounds are still there also upon start up the engine starts fine but the car can't be driven can't get above 15 mph without vibration and loud noises and the motor revving up without notice this is very dangerous you can't control the car

NHTSA ID

11546209

Incident

Sep 3, 2023

My mechanic tells me my Outback's K frame/engine cradle is rotting out where the control arms are attached. This is obviously a common problem with this run of vehicles, and leads to catastrophic failure. Further, the rear brake lines have rotted, and the geniuses ran them above the fuel tank, which would have to be dropped in order to repair. I believe this is a common enough problem to warrant investigation.

NHTSA ID

11541160

Incident

Aug 17, 2023

Vehicle engine/transmission/torque converter dies when coming to a stop. This is especially an issue when having to stop suddenly and get going again quickly as the vehicle has to be put in neutral, restarted, and put back in drive. It is a safety issue at traffic lights, traffic signals, and in stop and go traffic that has resulted in a multitude of near-miss rear end collisions that put my life and my families lives in danger. There is a service bulletin from Subaru (Bulletin Number: 16-90-13R; Revised: 02/15/18) that addresses a similar issue, but fails to mention the vehicle engine dying and the inherent safety issues that comes with the engine shutting off.

NHTSA ID

11537892

Incident

Aug 9, 2023

October 2019 Torque Converter failed, with unexpected stall outs & difficulty re-starting at stops. This was potentially dangerous, as driver could not get out of way of approaching vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11536998

Incident

Oct 9, 2019

The left front engine cradle collapsed due to rust while driving. this caused the car to swerve to the left, and when the brakes were applied, it also swerved left. The car was almost undriveable. The failure put the driver of the car at risk, and luckily it happened in city driving, and not on the highway. The engine cradle is a component of the frame of the car, and should not be rusting out after 130,000 miles. This is why I think this model may need to be subject to investigation and possible recall. The Subaru Dealer (Cityside Subaru) looked at the car and confirmed that the left front cradle collapsed due to rust. They say the repair would cost $2800. There was no warning or indication prior to failure. In fact, we have had this vehicle continuously serviced at the dealership since 2011, and since 2016 we have spent over $16,000 in repairs, including various front wheel components. I would have expected the dealer to notify us if there was a potential problem. Because they didn't I feel this is a catastrophic failure that could be dangerous in any situation, especially at high speeds.

NHTSA ID

11515945

Incident

Mar 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle inadvertently lunged forward. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact notified the manufacturer of the failure and provided information per manufacturer's request, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11513971

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

Mileage

100,000 mi

As I was driving my car it began to shudder. The lights on my dash turned on (engine, traction, oil, and break). I was in the middle of the road in ongoing traffic. The car behind me was able to swerve around in time. Cautiously, I was able to take the car to a mechanic. The valve body on the car needed to be replaced. This is typical for this year of Subaru. The dealer verified the issue and quoted me on the price.

NHTSA ID

11513763

Incident

Mar 24, 2023

While driving the car and stepping on the breaks really to avoid something in the road, the engine stalls and loses power requiring the driver to turn the key and restart the vehicle. My safety is a risk because if this happens on the street or highway with other vehicles around it could cause a major accident. This issue has not been confirmed by a dealer or independent service however, a call to my local dealership confirmed they have heard of this issue in the past and suggested it was the torque converter. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or others. There were no warning lamps or any other indicators of this issue prior to the issue. They first started to appear a few years after owning the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11512876

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

The valve body malfunctioned causing improper gear shifts. The vehicle would breifly stop acceleration at 20 mph, before forcefully shifting into 2nd gear. For 2 years there were no warning lights, codes or messages, nor would it reproduce the malfunction when a mechanic inspected it. The issue progressed to the point of not shifting into 1st gear and having no acceleration at a stoplight. At this point warning lights and codes were produced indicating the value body was the source of the issue. Although I was able to avoid an accident, there were several near incidents of being rear ended.

NHTSA ID

11507943

Incident

Feb 18, 2023

2011 Subaru Outback has low rpm/idle stalling condition. This has caused a very dangerous safety issue while in traffic on the highway , while slowing in traffic. Several times I narrowly escaped an accident. This condition can prove deadly. There is currently a TSB 16-90-13r. This is not a recall and it should be. All years 2010-2012 especially on the Subaru Outback have been affected. The fix is a very expensive Torque converter replacement. The issue is so bad, Subaru changed the torque converter design for 2013, so again I say, why no recall and fix from Subaru? Thank you

NHTSA ID

11485091

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

A/C Compressor locks up, and serpentine belt flies off and stops power steering. Stalls due to this locking up.

NHTSA ID

11477818

Incident

Jul 11, 2022

Transmission failed on my 2011 Subaru Outback as I was entering the freeway, putting me in a very dangerous situation and at risk for being hit by other drivers. I didn't know it was transmission failure until I took it to a service center and they told me my transmission had failed and would need to be either rebuilt or replaced. Multiple dash warning lights came on as the car was stalling out. The repair cost me $5,600 to rebuild. The dealer said they would only replace it at a cost of $8,900. Neither dealer or Subaru customer service were helpful. I've taken very good care of the car, done routine maintenance and it only had 119,000 miles on it. The transmission shop said they are seeing a number of failures with the CVT transmission.

NHTSA ID

11470766

Incident

Jun 1, 2022

Vehicle has under 90k miles been regularly maintained and serviced. While driving engine light came on for engine overheating. Stopped driving vehicle. Called local Subaru dealer for diagnostic. Diagnostic revealed several unknown problems including transmission needs to be replaced. Since vehicle has under 100 k miles and is only 11 years old. I could not believe that this problem occurred ( note transmission replacement is over $8000). I took the vehicle in for a second opinion to local AAA shop. They informed me that Subaru issued a technical service bulletin for that year model Outback about the very problem I am having. After an online search of information about this problem I found several owners with the same problem and NO admission or assistance from Subaru. This is an expensive fix for a problem Subaru which Subaru is aware. This is a very dangerous problem because the vehicle will die on the road while in traffic that could cause high risk of an accident with injuries and possibly death. I have written to Subaru North America for assistance. So far no response. I believe this a possible recall because most of the complaints noted the problem occurs around 100K miles. And Subaru has done nothing to mitigate this problem.

NHTSA ID

11459574

Incident

Mar 31, 2022

Car started stalling when coming to a stop. No warning lights before or after. No check engine light or codes. Subaru dealership diagnosed it as torque converter without inspecting the car. Torque converter replaced by independent shop solved issue.

NHTSA ID

11453799

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

While driving the car on or about 12/21/2021 at about 6 or 7 pm at night, I experienced a catastrophic failure of the transmission. The car lost drivetrain power and began to shudder and limp along the road. All the warning lights on the dashboard lit up at once. Fortunately, I was not on a highway, and I was able to safely pull over to the side of the road. But the incident did leave me unsettled and distressed especially as it was happening. There were no warning signs or indications of something was amissed prior to the failure. At a Subaru dealership service, I learned with the valve body and the torque converter need to be replaced at an expensive cost (almost $4,000). This is a problem that Subaru is aware of and has done little to address it before the failure occurs in affected vehicles at large. I feel this is a serious safety issue that needs to be proactively remedied before failure can occur. My car only has 160,000 miles and responsibly driven. Normally, such a car should not have experienced such a catastrophic failure in the transmission as mine did even at that accrued mileage. I also later learned that this is a prevalent problem on this particular car model, so much so that many dealership service departments are performing this type of repair at least once a week. For this problem to be this relatively widespread means there some sort of defect or design flaw in the system itself. There seems to be a high rate of incidence for a critical part on a vehicle that should normally and typically last the lifetime of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11446054

Incident

Dec 21, 2021

When coming to a stop, the transmission's torque converter does not disengage, causing the engine to stall. This was diagnosed by two independent repair shops and there is an open TSB from Subaru that addresses this problem. However, when slowing down at an intersection, the sudden stop can be dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11443107

Incident

Dec 8, 2021