NHTSA Complaint #11044828 — 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK

ENGINE SHUDDERS, OR COMPLETELY STALLS AT A SUDDEN BRAKE TO STOP COMPLETELY. DRIVER MUST PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK TO RE-START THE ENGINE. **** THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED BEGAN A YEAR AGO. DRIVER NOTICED VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER OCCASIONALLY AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE FIRST TIME THAT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED, DRIVER THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO WEATHER. THIS SHUDDERING AND STALLING BEGAN OCCURRING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN DRIVER NOTICES THE SHUDDER, IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS EASED UP, NORMAL RPMS RETURN. THE ENGINE WILL ALSO SOMETIMES SHUDDER DURING A TIGHT TURN AS WELL. WHILE TESTING DURING DRIVING/BREAKING THIS MORNING DRIVER MAINTAINED A SPEED OF 55 MPH FOR 1 MILE. DRIVER BEGAN BRAKING THE VEHICLE AT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN 2 LIGHT POLES (ON A COUNTRY ROAD) AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT FORWARD. ENGINE DIED. THE 2ND TIME THIS WAS TESTED, SAME SPEED SAME BRAKING DISTANCE, THIS TIME THE DRIVER WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, SO UPON BRAKING THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED AT A 45 ANGLE. THE ENGINE DIED. WARNING LIGHTS: VEHICLE DYNAMICS, CHECK ENGINE, AWD, CHARGE WARNING (BATTERY) , AND OIL PRESSURE. THE CD PLAYER STAYED ON, THE FAN FOR HEAT/AC TURNED OFF.