2011 Subaru Legacy: engine stalls while driving

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · CT

An issue has surfaced with my car that it turns off while driving. Obviously this is a serious safety hazard and likely to result in an accident. Now that it has happened, it is continuing and frequently happening. I reached out to Subaru as I saw there was a recall for my car's make and model that is causing the same issue. The issue is listed as the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN ID: 19V297000, described as "The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. " and affecting many Subarus, including the 2011 legacy. I believe my car is impacted given the behavior it is exhibiting. When I reached out to Subaru, they dismissed it saying it did not apply to my car and they were not willing to investigate. I believe this poses a grave risk to many people given that it will cause an accident and the severity of the defect.

Filed Jan 7, 2024 · MA

This car stalls out and just stops when you are driving due to a failing torque converter which subaru knew about and did not do a recall on. They did a service bulletin with an extended warranty but when I brought my car while it still was under the extended warranty period to the dealer no one advised me of this so now it is out of the extended warranty period and they will not help me. My son almost got killed when this happened this needs to addressed by subaru because we cannot drive this car as it is unsafe.

Filed Aug 23, 2022 · Transmission · OH

Sometimes as I'm coming to a stop, such as at a red light or a stop sign, just before I stop, the car lurches and then stalls. This is an automatic transmission car, but the best way I can think of to describe what is happening is it is acting as if it is a manual transmission, and when you come to a stop and don't press in the clutch. If this happens at an inopportune time, it could cause an accident. Possibly you're slowing down as you turn through an intersection and it lurches and stalls. You would then be stopped in the middle of the intersection. There are no warning lamps or messages before this happens.

Filed Apr 25, 2021 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · NJ

First the vehicle started with a screeching noise and the RPM's would spike. Apparently if the CVT transmission slipping. I took the vehicle in variations occasions to the dealer. Reached out subaru USA. Sent video of the occurrence and they indicated they could not classify the occurrence and found it inconclusive. I notice it would occur in temperatures lower then 45 degrees fahrenheit. Months later the vehicle started flashing various warning lights such as check engine, cruise control, vehicle dynamics control. Took the car to local dealer and was diagnosed as a oxygen sensor. But what started occurring after the repair was startling and dangerous. The vehicle now started stalling out when I pressed on the brakes to stop. On long drives this would not occur. It often happens when driving locally and stopping at intersections. What I learned to and implemented was as the stalling was starting to occur you would get a jittering from the vehicle I would shift the car to neutral and the car would not stall. This is neither the norm or safe, but safer then stalling in an intersection with vehicles coming at you. This issue still continues to occur. I have not bothered with the dealer nor subaru because my last issue with the transmission was never resolved, I'm able to counter the stalling but my wife who has to go out with my 1yr old son and 10 yr daughter is scared to use the vehicle because if it was to stall in an intersection as she is trying to cross in the vehicle a major accident can occur. Please help and investigate this issue that I am sure it is happening to other subaru owners. Thank you

Filed Mar 9, 2021 · Transmission · 140,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 subaru legacy. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed to properly downshift causing the vehicle to stall. During the failure, the power steering and power brakes also become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the power train torque converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer subaru city of milwaukee located at 4640 s 27th st, milwaukee, wi 53221 and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.*dt consumer stated his daughter [xxx] is the owner of the vehicle.

Filed Mar 6, 2021 · Transmission · 190,000 miles · NY

2011 subaru outback with CVT stalls when coming to a abrupt stop. Subaru has a tsb and knows there is an issue with the torque converter. Car is out of the warranty period therefore customer must pay for the fix. This is a major safety issue that should be correct via a recall.

Filed Oct 2, 2020 · Transmission · 169,000 miles · ID

Engine stalling when depressing brakes dash lights all coming on no cruise control no traction control at oil light check engine light. Dangerous in driving this car.subaru will not help fix

Filed Jun 17, 2020 · Engine · 146,000 miles · ME

My subaru has a stalling problem. It will stall at hard stops or when I roll to a stop. It can be very dangerous when going up a hill where you need to slow down or if someone stops hard in front of me. It shudders like it wants to stall many times throughout the day. Subaru need to look into this cause many people have this problem and it is very unsafe.

Filed Mar 20, 2020 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · NH

Vehicle stalls when coming to a stop. It started out being sporadic, didn't happen too often. Then gradually the stalling happened more often until it's to the point where it stalls almost every time it is driven. Found out it is a known problem of the torque converter, which can cause metal shavings to go into the transmission, which could cause that to go as well. With children in the car on a regular basis this is terrifying, what if someone hits the car due to the engine stopping? Subaru says it isn't covered under extended warranty because of the mileage in the car. If it's a known issue shouldn't it receive more concern/checkups to ensure that part isn't failing?

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Engine · 195,000 miles · CT

When coming to stop sign or sudden stops the car will stall. You have to be quick and restart car or your going to get hit, you lose all control. This has been happening since we bought the car in april of 2019

Filed Jan 17, 2020 · Transmission · 133,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 subaru legacy. The contact stated that while traveling at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact also stated that after coming to a complete stop on an incline, the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no prior warning before the vehicle stalled. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact linked recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v326000 (power train) with the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Dec 2, 2019 · Transmission · DE

My vehicle began to have trouble stalling when I slowed slowed down because the rpms dropped far too low. I was not able to stop properly without threat of stalling. My vehicle has now stalled more than 5 times while on the roads and highways. I feel that my safety is thoroughly at stake when my car suddenly turns off. I am very dissatisfied with the lack of cooperation that subaru has to given to compensate me. If stalling out was not enough, my car has now begun to squeal and buck during acceleration. I was on vacation when this issue became worse and could barely make it back home for work on monday. In my research I have found that this is a common problem with legacies & outbacks from the years 2010-2012. I find unethical that all subaru will do is offer an extended warranty that does not cover me.