2006 Subaru Outback engine problems

Filed Apr 15, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · IA

The engine will randomly loose power. This has happened three times now. You must coast to a stop, turn the key off and try to restart the car. Sometime it will take several tries to restart. I see this as a real safety concern in heavy traffic. Especially so if heavy traffic makes it impossible to reach the side of the road safely. The service code points to the throttle peddle position sensor. Reading some of the internet forums it seems to be a fairly common issue. Of course internet forums must be considered carefully. However with the above said I see this issue as a real safety concern. Not only for my safety but those around me if this happens in heavy traffic. Thank you

Filed Feb 9, 2020 · Engine · 190,000 miles · VA · fire

About 4 weeks ago, on late saturday morning, driving down the interstate, from richmond, va my car caught on fire in hampton. The car jolted a little and would not accelerate. Pulled to the side of the road, smoke became visible, but the temperature gauge was not running high. A witness ran toward the car yelling to get out of the car because it was on fire. Even though 2 fire trucks were on the scene, it took a little while to extinguish the fire and everything under the hood was burnt to a crisp. Unfortunately, it was not recoverable. Are you aware of what may have possibly caused this to happen?

Filed Mar 5, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · NY

My vehicle only has 40,000 miles on it. It is not shifting properly from 2ns-3rd gear while driving, it jerks pretty hard if cold, I have had numerous brake problems, takes a long time to stop at slow speeds, & I'm having numerous issues with suspension. Balljoints keep clicking while reversing, (control arms,balljoints, bushings, bearings, have all been replaced, etc.) this car has been babied and has almost no miles. It is becoming a money-pitt and nobody wants to fix it.

Filed Jan 20, 2019 · Engine · 180,000 miles · TN

Lost all acceleration while driving on interstate in downtown nashville, tn. Check engine light came on at the same time. Car was on and in drive, but gas pedal was unresponsive. Was able to idle to shoulder. When gear was shifted to neutral or park, car would rev up to 2k RPM. While waiting for tow truck, car resumed normal function and check engine light went off. This has happend twice so far, but auto shop unable to diagnose since check engine light does not stay on.

Filed Aug 30, 2018 · Acceleration, Engine · 110,000 miles · NY

The cruise and check engine lights flash. Car looses power and stalls while driving.

Filed Mar 26, 2018 · Engine · 149,800 miles · NM

I have had two incidents with loss of speed control within the past week on a subaru I just bought. The first I was accelerating from a stoplight when I lost response from the gas pedal and the engine went to a low RPM which allowed me to just barely roll into a nearby parking lot. When throttle control was lost the check engine light came on. After turning the car off and letting it sit a moment I tried to turn it on again, but it wouldn't start. I tried a second time and it started, but the check engine light remained on. The next time I started the car the check engine light had gone off. The second time was nearly identical but driving up a steep hill on a highway around 65 MPH. Again throttle control was lost and engine went to low RPM so I could barely progress up the hill at 20-30mph to find a place to pull off, check engine light went on immediately. Before I turned the car off the engine was idling rough, about 2000 RPM. Again it took two tries to start but then I was able to continue with the check engine light still on. After driving it two or three times the next day the check engine light had gone off. In either situation I could have easily been in an accident if I had not been able to pull off quickly, especially in a high speed area as the vehicle could only maintain a low speed due to the low engine RPM (2k-3k). There is no warning before it occurs. I believe there is a fault in the throttle by wire system.

Filed Nov 10, 2017 · Acceleration, Electrical · 71,000 miles · NY

On street, from park with engine idling, car in drive, accelerator pedal dead at first, then high RPM 3000+ with pedal released. No control of engine RPM. Cel and cc illuminated on instrument panel. Put transmission in neutral. Killed ignition switch. Engine shut down. Restarted engine and RPM was normal. Very frightening! Found dtc p2138 acc pedal sensor failure. Called subaru support, no such record of failure. Called dealer from which car was purchased, answer was bring car in and will try to repair. This is a serious failure and danger. Please see this failure on google. Many people are reporting the same issue. I am apprehensive to put this car on the road especially with other people in it. An investigation should be pursued in these drive by wire vehicles as this car is. Please take this seriously.. Thank you

Filed Apr 25, 2017 · Engine · 140,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 subaru outback. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, the cruise control flashed and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over to the parking lot. The contact restarted the vehicle after few minutes. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the throttle assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Mar 30, 2017 · Engine · 105 miles · TN

Ringland issue once again another ringland issue this is with my 2006 subaru outback xt. Yes, this car is out of warranty but has been driven gently by a grandmother and serviced with the precision of a formula race car. Why has subaru not just come out and said yes our vehicles from 2005-2006 were garbage and the ringlands were junk. I can't believe I am even thinking about replacing a stock ringland on a vechicle...no other car....none has had as many issues with ringlands as subaru. Car is now experiencing misfires, and some loss of oil as loss of power...compression in cylinders is now down to 30% so this is not a catastrophic failure...this is a defect a manufactures defect or a metallurgical defect and they really need to take care of this and make it right for older customers...we are all just sitting on ticking bombs. Love ya guys and stay classy

Filed Mar 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 130,000 miles · NY

Unexpectedly, while driving, the check engine light will come on, the car will idle high, the accelerator pedal will not respond, and the cruise control light will also come on. The car won't move even while pressing down on the accelerator pedal. I have to pull off the road, turn the car off, and wait until the car starts, the idle returns to normal, and the accelerator pedal responds. This has happened once last year and twice this year; the last time being 2/17/17. I was lucky. The first time it happened I was on a country road. The second time was more difficult as I was on a busy city street in winter, and the last time I had a green light and had just gone through an intersection in a suburb and was able to pull off the road. I did bring it to my mechanic who ran the code, which was p2138, the throttle position sensor. I will be getting this repaired. I am very concerned about the severity of this safety issue where the car just stops responding while driving.