NHTSA Complaint #10967782 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A DRIVER SAFETY CONCERN THAT CAN EASILY CAUSE A COLLISION TO OCCUR. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GO TO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE HALTS. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION AND HAS ALMOST DONE SO ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THIS IS RELATED TO BULLETIN NUMBER 16-90-13R THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN OPENED WITH SUBARU ON 01/06/2014. THE REMEDY IS TO REPLACE TORQUE CONVERTER THRUST WASHER FROM A SOLID BUSHING-TYPE TO A NEEDLE BEARING TYPE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE AND NOT BE PASSED ONTO TO THE CUSTOMER. THIS CAN EASILY ESCALATE TO A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT IF A SERIOUS COLLISION WERE TO HAPPEN. HERE IS THE COMPLAINT PRESENTED TO SUBARU BULLETIN NUMBER 16-90-13R; DATE: 01/06/14 REVISED: 05/07/14 APPLICABILITY: 2010-12 MY LEGACY AND OUTBACK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CVT TRANSMISSION SUBJECT: DESIGN CHANGE TO LOCK-UP TYPE TORQUE CONVERTER INTRODUCTION THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF A COUNTERMEASURE TORQUE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF VERY LOW ENGINE RPM WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CONDITION IS SIMILAR TO COMING TO A STOP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED VEHICLE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THRUST WASHER WEAR INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAN CAUSE RESTRICTION OF THE OIL PASSAGE USED TO BLEED OFF LOCK-UP CLUTCH APPLICATION PRESSURE. THE RESULT IS EITHER A DELAYED (MOMENTARY LOW ENGINE RPM) OR NO LOCK-UP PRESSURE RELEASE. THE THRUST WASHER HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM A SOLID BUSHING-TYPE TO A NEEDLE BEARING TYPE.