NHTSA Complaint #11020222 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

CAR ABRUPTLY SHIFTS, LOSES POWER, AND INTERMITTENTLY STALLS IN LOWER GEARS DURING OPERATION. THIS MAY OCCUR DURING BRAKING, IDLING, OR ACCELERATION. THREE TIMES THE ENGINE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS. ALL CHECK ENGINE DASH LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE PLACED BACK INTO PARK AND THE IGNITION TURNED OFF AND BACK ON TO RESTART. IT SOMETIMES TOOK SEVERAL TRIES. THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD FOR BEING STRUCK IN INTERSECTIONS, OR FROM BEHIND IN MOVING TRAFFIC. CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS. SUBARU MECHANICS CONFIRMED A DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. MY MILEAGE WAS 114K AT ONSET. CAR IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 I. I HAD CAR MAINTAINED PROPERLY AT ALL RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. THESE PROBLEMS STARTED AFTER 100K AND OCCURRED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ESSENTIALLY, THE AUTOMOBILE WENT FROM FULLY FUNCTIONAL TO THIS SITUATION (SUDDEN STALLING DURING OPERATION) WITHIN A WEEK. THIS SITUATION IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THERE IS A SAFETY BULLETIN RELATED TO THIS ISSUE (TSB NO. 16-101-16) AND A WARRANTY EXTENSION IS NOT ENOUGH. CARS BEYOND 100K MILES MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE OF THE REPAIRS, WHICH MAY INCUR COSTS OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. MANUFACTURERS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.