2012 Subaru Outback problems
Owners have filed 369 complaints about the 2012 Subaru Outback with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 29% of them — the clear leader, ahead of engine at 13.6%.
Complaints369
Crashes19
Fires11
Injuries13
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 29.0% · 107
Engine 13.6% · 50
Air bags 10.6% · 39
Electrical system 10.0% · 37
Service brakes 9.5% · 35
Unknown or other 6.5% · 24
Exterior lighting 4.9% · 18
Steering 2.4% · 9
Severity
Of those complaints, 19 describe a crash, 11 describe a fire and 13 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 28 model years of the Subaru Outback in this data, 2012 sits 13th by complaint volume. 2019 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 26 in the last three years against 65 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 87,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Vehicle stalls intermittently when coming to a stop or attempting to accelerate from a stop. This is an extremely urgent safety concern. This also seems to have caused inconsistent starting issues. I have replaced the starter and still have issues. Seems to be a torque converter problem. This issue has been reported by many owners and has not been adequately addressed by Subaru with an available fix in a recall. Power train · reported at 155,000 miles
My vehicle has been stalling when coming to a stop, it starts to shudder when slowing then stalls at stop. Safety is becoming an issue when in traffic, or on highway in stop and go. There has not been a recall for torque converter issues or cvt transmissions just extended warranty. Unfortunately there were not issues when this was extended. This is on a 2012 Subaru Outback, with 130,000 miles Power train · reported at 130,000 miles
The torque converter is failing at 113,00. It has happened at red lights, but more recently while on a Texas freeway that I had to come to a hard stop which cause the engine to stall out at 40 mph. My child was in the car and on a fast paced highway my safety was placed in jeopardy. It is going to the shop to be repaired because is this. I will have proof of repair service and faulty part. . Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…