2011 Subaru Outback

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK SOMETIMES SHUDDERS WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND HAS STARTED STALLING OUT AT STOPS. I FEEL THIS IS QUITE UNSAFE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDS A TORQUE CONVERTER. THEY QUOTED $1459.45 FOR THE REPAIR. THE MAN AT SUBARU TOLD ME IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AS IT MAY FAIL WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH SUBARU AMERICA, BUT THEY DON'T RESPOND. 2011 PURCHASED NEW SUBARU OUTBACK. ALL REQUIRED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE & SERVICES PERFORMED ON TIME AT AUTHORIZED PROVIDER. 2019 THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT REPLACED PER MFG STDS. DEALER ADDED COOLANT & BLED THE SYSTEM. 3 MONTHS LATER THE RADIATOR BLEW. A CHEMICAL BLOCK WAS DONE & ALL WAS FINE PER DEALER. 3 MONTHS LATER ENGINE OVERHEATED. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED THE HEAD GASKET & CAT WERE CRACKED WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALER. SUBARUS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HEAD GASKET & COOLANT SYSTEM ISSUES FROM 100,000 ' 120,000 MILES. SUBARU SLIGHTLY REDESIGNED THE HEAD GASKETS, BUT THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS AWARE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET, CAT AND RADIATOR ARE WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET FOR 1990 TO 2011 MODELS. ISSUE STEMS FROM MANAGEMENT DECISION TO UTILIZE A COMPOSITE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HEAD GASKET TO SAVE MONEY; HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF HEAT ON COMPOSITE METAL PRODUCTS WOULD SURMISE THIS WOULD LEAD TO WARPING, CRACKING OR OTHER RELATED PRODUCT FAILURES. THE DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBARU HEAD GASKET WAS INEPT AT BEST. THE DEVICE FEATURES A MULTI-LAYER STEEL SHIM COATED WITH A GRAPHITE LAYER. IT WAS NOT UP-TO-THE-MARK & ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE EXHAUST PRESSURE &/OR COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THERE WAS NO SUBARU HEAD GASKET RECALL BUT THE COMPANY REDESIGNED THE CYLINDER HEADS & CONFIGURATIONS OF THE CAMSHAFT. HOWEVER, IT ONLY LED TO THE COOLANT A&ND OIL LEAK AT THE EXTERNAL HEAD GASKET. THIS SYSTEM DEFECT ADDS TO THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE NOTED. WE REQUEST SUBARU AMERICA REIMBURSE US FOR THE TOTAL COST OF THE RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT & HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT $4,013.80. PLUS OTHER COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE BREAKDOWNS AT $1,236.20 FOR A TOTAL OF $5,250.00

BETWEEN 2011 AND 2019 WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS FOR A SECOND TIME. THE ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS LASTED ABOUT 31K MILES AND WERE REPLACED IN 2015. NOW IN 2019 THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE DRIVEN FROM 2015 TO 2019 IS 19K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 5 DAYS A WEEK AND SINCE MAY OF 2019, SIX DAYS A WEEK. THIS IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS. BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO STOP, WENT TO THE FLOOR FASTER THAN THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE. THAT WAS WHEN I SET THE APPOINTMENT TO FIND OUT WHY.

THERE IS A COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM (KNOWN BY REPAIR TECHS FOR YEARS, ALTHOUGH NOT DISCLOSED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA). THEIR HEADGASKETS FAIL UNNECESSARILY. IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM LASTING 16 OR MORE YEARS OF PRODUCTION. THERE IS NO WARRANTY COVERING SUCH FAILURES, NOR A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATES A PROBLEM IS IMMINENT EXCEPT FOR WHEN THE CAR ACTUALLY OVERHEATS AND "BLOWS." THE DANGER INVOLVED IS SERIOUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

I PURCHASED MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK AT 75,000 MILES FROM HANSEL SUBARU IN SANTA ROSA,CA IN APRIL OF 2017 FROM A SALESMAN NAMED ANDRE. A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING IT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INSPECTED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY (COMPLAINING OF HARD SHIFTING). AFTER THEY INSPECTED IT THEY ASKED ME IF THIS WAS MY FIRST CVT AND I SAID YES, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO LEARN MY DRIVING HABITS SO THEY DID A 'RE-LEARN' ON THE CVT WHICH I HAD TO PAY FOR OUT OF POCKET. AT THIS TIME I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE CVT TRANSMISSION THE SUBARU RELEASED IN 2014. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE INSPECTION THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CVT ACCORDING TO THEY SERVICE BULLETIN WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I'M DRIVING HOME FROM VENTURA AT NIGHT, TRAVELING 70MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND OUT OF NOWHERE ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS START FLASHING AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, ALMOST CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO REAR-END ME. THE VEHICLE IS AT 125,000 MILES (JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY) AND SUBARU IS REFUSING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A REPAIR BILL OF $8000 ON A VEHICLE I STILL OWE $10,000 ON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL, THE PASSENGER AND I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN A FREEWAY PILEUP.

MAIN HEADLAMPS BURN OUT EVERY 9 TO 10 MONTHS CAUSING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. REPLACEMENT OF THESE BULBS IS UNNECESSARILY CUMBERSOME FOR THE OWNER AND SUBARU DEALERS CHARGE $150 TO REPLACE A $15 DOLLAR BULB. IF NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY YOU RISK A FIRE HAZARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE OF REASON, AND A POOR DESIGN THAT RISKS LIVES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF AWAY FROM HOME WITH NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES NOW.

SHUTTERS WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE. ALSO, WILL SHUTTER AND STALL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I HAVE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART IT!! 123,000 MILES, SO NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, BUT SUBARU HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THERE IS A PROBLEM! WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AS WE CANNOT AFFORD BRAND NEW CAR PAYMENTS AND WERE TOLD BY MANY THAT SUBARU IS A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE. WILL DEFINITELY NOT BY ANOTHER SUBARU AND WILL DISCOURAGE ANYONE ELSE FROM DOING SO!!

CAR HAS BEEN EXHIBITING INTERMITTENT LOW IDLING WHILE PARKED OR WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGNS. ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO, ON THREE SEPARATE TRIPS MY OUTBACK SHUDDERED AND SHAKED QUITE VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHUDDER AND STALLED AMIDST THE THREE LANE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND GENTLY DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO HOBBLE MY WAY INTO A PARKING LOT. I MADE MY WAY BACK HOME FULLY AWARE OF HOW THE CAR BEHAVED TO AVOID INCIDENT, BUT ALSO LEAVING ME AFRAID FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. I IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPT AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THE CAR DIDN'T EXHIBIT ANY OF THE PREVIOUS ISSUES ON MY DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER AGREEING TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS FEE, THE SERVICE REP EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER $2000. I FELT LIKE I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR, SO I DID. AFTER LEAVING MY CAR AT THE SHOP TO RETURN HOME I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT SOME QUICK RESEARCH ABOUT THE TORQUE CONVERTER AS IT PERTAINS TO MY MODEL YEAR CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED TO NHTSA AND SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I RECENTLY PURCHASED MY OUTBACK USED (SECOND OWNER) AT 145,000 MILES IN LATE MAY 2019. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 8 MONTHS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK FOR ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS UPON MY PURCHASE. BUT SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (AS A RESULT OF TECHNICAL BULLETIN 16-90-13R) ISN'T AN ACTUAL RECALL, NOTHING WAS FLAGGED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY FOR ME TO BE AWARE OF THIS UNTIL THE PROBLEM REVEALED ITSELF, NOW LEAVING ME WITH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS (IF NOT DEADLY) SITUATION IF NOT ADEQUATELY REMEDIED BY THE DEALERSHIP. I'M CURRENTLY WORKING WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY'LL COVER THE EXPENSE.

AROUND 12PM ON 8/28/19, MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AS I WAS COMING TO A FAST STOP TO ALLOW AN APPROACHING AMBULANCE TO TURN. I COULD NOT RESTART MY CAR BEFORE THE LIGHT CHANGED, LEAVING ME STRANDED IN THE FLOW OF THE INTERSECTION, UNSURE WHETHER TO CONTINUE THROUGH AGAINST THE RED LIGHT OR STAY PUT AS CARS DROVE BY FROM BOTH SIDES, A FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE THAT LEFT ME SHAKEN. AS MY SAFETY WAS THREATENED BY THIS INCIDENT, I NOTIFIED SUBARU OF AMERICA BY PHONE ON 9/6/19. I WAS CONTACTED BY ANTOINE LAVAL (CUSTOMER/RETAILER SERVICES DEPT.) AND WILL HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT 1PM ON 9/13/19 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION EVALUATED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SHUDDERING/STALLING INTERMITTENTLY FOR MONTHS, AND IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE FAULTY CVT ISSUE REFERENCED IN THE LETTER SENT TO ME JUNE 2017. ALTHOUGH THE LETTER STATES THAT "FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE MORE THAN TEN (10) YEARS OLD OR HAVE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND (100,000) MILES, INSPECTIONS OR REPAIRS UNDER THIS ONE YEAR COVERAGE PERIOD MUST BE COMPLETED ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2018," I AM PETITIONING SUBARU OF AMERICA TO FULLY COVER THE COST OF REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN MY SUBARU AS COMPENSATION FOR BEING PLACED IN THE DANGEROUS SITUATION OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IN CROSS TRAFFIC.