NHTSA Complaint #11187490 — 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK

AS MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER ON MY 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF NEARLY $1800). THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE SHUDDERING AND/OR STALLING OF THE CAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THIS ISSUE IS, AND HAS BEEN, VERY INCONSISTENT WHICH IS WHY I NEVER BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE END OF THE REVISED WARRANTY OPTION PROVIDED BY SUBARU (100,000 MILES OR 7/31/2018 CUTOFF DATE). MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THIS WHOLE MATTER HAS BEEN DEALT WITH BY SUBARU IS THAT, DESPITE THE FACT I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE PRIOR TO THE MILEAGE/DATE DEADLINES, I WAS NEVER ASKED IF I WAS EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE TORQUE CONVERTER. HAD THE ISSUE BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME, I WOULD HAVE SAID THAT I WAS INDEED HAVING ISSUES AND WOULD HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS SORT OF BEHAVIOR CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT SUBARU IS NOT "DEDICATED TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION." SUBARU SHOULD BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE TO DEALING WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. IN FACT, SUBARU SHOULD REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHENEVER IT BECOMES A PROBLEM. IT IS ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL THAT SUBARU AND THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE MORE TO ADDRESS THE MATTER. I GUESS IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE THE PROBLEM GETS ESCALATED TO A POINT THAT THERE WILL BE A RECALL OR SUBARU VOLUNTARILY REPLACES THE TORQUE CONVERTER REGARDLESS OF TIME OR MILEAGE.