2002 Subaru Outback: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 26, 2008 · Transmission · 20,000 miles · IL

Clutch defects not acknowledged and not repaired by the dealer on a subaru outback 20002. Dealership: liberty, 1000 e park avenue, libertyville, il 60048 problem started in 2003 and lasted to this date. In aug 2008, dealer acknowledged present default but refused to concede that there was a problem from the start. When the car was serviced on many occasions started in 2003 (oil changes) we mentioned a problem with the clutch. The dealer blamed the "new hydraulic clutch" and gave us the run-around. Now in 2008, 3 years later, they "discovered" the clutch problem and wants to charge $1,300.00 to fix it. We refused to have to pay for something that should have been done under warranty. Another garage told us that subaru had issued an advisory about the exact same problem but the dealer never told us. The clutch is still not repaired. Both my wife and I have driven many manual gear shift cars with no problems, having driven our previous 1992 subaru outback to 140,000 before it needed a clutch repair. The clutch on the 2002 has been a problem almost right from the start. We have service report dated 06/17/05 invoice # sucs426989 saying: " ref#2 03suz : drive line - teck :553 - customer states at times vehicle shakes when letting out the clutch and taking off, more amplified after vehicle has been sitting. ---inspected vehicle, could not duplicate condition at this time- this was not the first time we reported the problem, but it is the first written acknowledgement from the dealer. There is a second written acknowledgement: dated 11/28/06, invoice sucs476828, ref j#2 08suz clutch ---tech 42898: customer states the car is chugging in first gear - see line 1 line 1 states j# 1 40suzdgrt diagnosis road test - customer states the engine light is on and car feels like it want to stall. Per scanner code, replace front o2 sensor and reflash ECM" as you see, they blamed the o2 sensor and refuse to acknowledge the clutch problem.

Filed Jun 15, 2005 · Acceleration · 47,888 miles · MA

2002 subaru outback wagon has 48,000 miles. Car stalls at red lights, sputters and hesitates when trying to accelerate from a stop. Dangerous trying to get on highway. Dealer tested all systems and said nothing was wrong with the car. Independent mechanic tested it and said main computer not working properly. Check engine light never came on. Mechanic reset computer but suggested I get rid of the car asap

Filed May 2, 2005 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · WA

Car shudders and stalls continually when starting in 1st gear, more frequently when cold. Have stalled in middle of interection multiple times. This is a manual transmission. I have driven manuals for 20 years have had never had this problem with other vehilcles. This has been happening since I purchased car 6 months ago.

Filed Jan 20, 2005 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 31,200 miles · CT

Dangerous hesitation in first and second gears especially. At stop light, upon attempting to accelerate, car bogged down, rpms dipped and nearly stalled before car finally accelerated with a violent jerk forward and back. Has happened on numerous occasions. Very dangerous-nearly been in three accidents already. So far the dealer has bled the clutch, adjusted the clutch, replaced the clutch, replaced knock sensor, replaced coolant temp sensor and replaced front oxygen sensor and problem still as bad as ever if not worse.

Filed Sep 27, 2004 · Acceleration · 44,500 miles · NY

The engine began to idle roughly quite a few months prior (dealer unable to detect any problem), subsequently experienced hesitation from stop; progressed to fluctuating idle speed from 750 to 500 RPM with self correction to 750 after car had been driven and fully warmed up which progressed to episode of hesitation while driving up hill with near engine stall. Thereafter had a few episodes of engine surging while stopping in drive, which did not stop when put into either neutral or park (dealer unable to diagnose any problem, did software replaced but problem continued to degenerate). Engine stalled when it came to stop then when restarted continued to have surging as above described. Engine would have hesitation and near stall also during regular operation on highway even at cruising speeds from 20 MPH to 65 MPH. Dealer currently attempting to diagnose problem again.

Filed Sep 14, 2004 · Transmission, Visibility · 55,000 miles · MD

The transmission fluid leaks from the engine. As a result, the vehicle stalls without warning. The transmission was replaced twice, however the problem recurred. *ak the left door panel by the window regulator driver window was not working, there was noise when the driver pressed the gas pedal in the gear, and a gas smell was present when the vehicle was accelerated.

Filed Apr 1, 2004 · Transmission · NC

The car hesitates on acceleration, mainly in 1st and 2nd gear. Can be severe enough that car practically stalls in intersections.

Filed Mar 23, 2004 · Engine, Steering · 8,000 miles · NY · crash · 1 injury

2002 subaru outback wagon repeatedly and unexpectedly stalls while driving. Has been ongoing for nearly 2 years. Has been examined on multiple occassions (at least 4) at rye ford subaru in rye new york with the ongoing result that the dealership claims to have no knowledge of the problem and unable to replicate. Car was delivered back to dealership on a flatbed after stalling 5 or 6 times in main thoroughfare that resulted in being rear ended by a truck behind me. I have repeatedly informed the dealer and contacted subaru of america that I believe this is a death trap waiting to happen. I was nearly killed by a narrow miss when the car stalled abrubtly in a snow storm. This is a very very dangerous condition and the cars should be recalled before people are killed.

Filed Aug 15, 2003 · Acceleration · WV

When applying pressure to the accelerator pedal vehicle would jerk and experience sudden deceleration. When removing pressure from the accelerator pedal the vehicle stalls. Dealer indicates this is normal for this type of vehicle, and there is no a remedy for this problem.

Filed Jan 25, 2003 · Engine · 3,710 miles · WA

Car has completely stalled twice while driving. Engine stopped running while driving in downtown seattle.

Filed Sep 6, 2002 · Acceleration · AR

Engine stalls on acceleration from a stop. At times the engine will die when accelerator is pressed. Dealer was contacted and vehicle taken to dealer. Dealer states that there are numerous vehicles which have the same problem. All of them are 2002 models. Dealer states tha tvehicle cannon be fixed at this time due to a lack of knowledge of what to do. This occured the first week of august 2002. Dealer was contacted on september 5, 2002 and stated that vehicle still could not be repaired due to lack of knowledge. Dealer stated that the engineers in japan were working on the problem but it will be at least two more months before it would be known what if anything could be done.

Filed Feb 25, 2002 · Transmission · SC

The manual transmission on this vehicle skips or shudders in 1st gear making it difficult to pull forward or into traffic at slow speeds without stalling the car. The only option is to rev the engine higher than normally to insure clutch engagement which then cause the clutch to burn. Sometimes even this doesn't work. It happens more often when the car is cold. Dealer said it could not be duplicated so it must be our driving, however I have been driving manuals for 20 years and this has never been a problem. This is a scary car to pull out into heavy or fast moving traffic.