Subaru OUTBACK transmission problems
821 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
9,642 owner complaints analyzed
71 distinct recall campaigns
34,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,370 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
821 of 9,642 complaints match this topic (8.5%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 735633 · 2000-11-02 (November 2, 2000)
THE ANTI SKID SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR FLAW IN OPERATIONAL DESIGN THAT ONLY BECOMES EVIDENT IN PACKED SNOW & ICE CONDITIONS, AND AT VERY LOW INITIAL SPEEDS, WHEN FIRST BEGINNING TO MOVE ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. ON SUCH SLIPPERY SURFACES, WHEN THE CAR IS BARELY MOVING FORWARD DOWNHILL BY GRAVITY, IF YOU APPLY THE BRAKES EVER SO GENTLY TO AVOID UNWANTED ACCELERATION, THE ANTI-SKID WILL RELEASE RAPIDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY, DESTROYING ANY DECELERATION CAPABILITITY, EVEN THOUGH THE SURFACE FRICTION CHARACTERISTICS ARE SUCH THAT THE TIRES COULD G…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054620 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
POWER BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY AND SHORTLY AFTER (WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES) AFTER COLD START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 10 DEGREES F. BRAKE PEDAL REMAINS HIGH AND STIFF WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAVEL DISTANCE INDICATING NO POWER TO POWER BRAKE SYSTEM BUT BRAKE PEDAL APPARENTLY TRAVELS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO ALLOW SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. USER REMEDY IS TO ALLOW MORE THAN 5 MINUTES TO WARM AND VERIFY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. OTHER REMEDY IS TO SHARPLY DEPRESS BRAKE PE…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121358 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
IN 2001 I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR BACK WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD AND HAD TO USE THE BRAKES ALONE. IT DID NOT MATTER IF IT WAS IN 1, 2 OR D IT WAS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. IT WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO THE TOP GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. IT COST OVER $3000 TO GET A SUBARU REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT THE DEALER. IT HAD 97K ON IT AT THE TIME. I JUST NOW TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND HESITATING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW …
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740350 · 2001-02-02 (February 2, 2001)
OUR 1997 SUBARU SHARES THE COMMON PROBLEM DOCUMENTED AT HTTP://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVSUBARU0200/MESSAGES/5096.HTML : NAMELY, AS WITH OTHER SUBARU OUTBACKS AND FORESTERS, IT WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL -- COMPLETELY BY ITSELF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SOUTHERN OREGON SUBARU DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON TWICE AND THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BOTH TIMES (EVEN THOUGH IT IS BOTH A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS AN IN-WARRANTY COVERED DEFECT). IT WAS REPORTED TO THE SOUTHERN OREGON SUBARU DEALER WITHIN APPROXIMATELY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041305 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
INTERMITTENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5500 RPM AND REDLINE BEFORE IT SHIFTS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ IN THE PAST AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. WHEN THE 'CHECK ENGINE' AND 'AT OIL TEMP' LIGHTS CAME ON, WE TOOK IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041305 at NHTSA ↗