2011 Subaru Outback: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · VA

2010-2018 TR580 Outback Torque Converter Lock-up failure symptoms in TSB 16-90-13R fits my 2011 Subaru Outback. 2.5I Premium, (TSB) Originally issued on 1/6/2014 + later revised on 5/7/2014, Early yrs of the TR580 suffer from TCLUF, which causes stalls + bogs down during stops or idling at traffic lights, premature wear, valve-body/solenoid failure, overheating, breakdown of transmission fluid/coolant + Catastrophic Chain Failure. These issues were exacerbated by Subaru specifying these transmissions have a "lifetime fluid" that never has 2 be replaced. Most Subaru failures were related 2 fluid breakdowns. The Subaru lineartronic CVT, designed in house by Subarun2 integrate w the company's longitudinal boxer engines + AWD system, built by Subaru in Ōizumi, Town in Ora District, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. lineartronic launched about 7 yrs after Nissan's 2003 X-Tronic CVT arrived here. Nissan had lots of trouble w early CVT's which led 2 transmission failures. As is the case w most new tech in a specific market sector, especially CVT's, the most Subaru CVT problems occurred in the 1st few model yrs. Each time my family or myself drive we are putting our lives in dire jeopardy, risk + danger of wrecking + even lost of life, too many close calls by peeps that almost rear ended us at a light, because of bogging down or almost stalling. The engine shudders + RPM drops very low as the vehicle stops, feeling as though a man trans car is stopping w/o a clutch being pressed. The problem was never fixed or looked into by 2 different dealerships + even though Subaru issued TSB 16-90-13R, identified wear of internal torque converter thrust washer as that wear can prevent lock up clutch from releasing properly, effectively keeping engine mechanically connected 2 transmission as vehicle stops. Subaru's corrective part used a needle bearing design instead of the earlier solid bushing. [XXX] on test drive about issue + was told nothings wrong, Car got inspected every yr since 16 w INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF

Filed Sep 24, 2024 · Body, Brakes · FL

Bought vehicle from Carvana, immediately noticed transmission shudder issues when driving near 50 mph. Brought vehicle in to multiple repair facilities. It had warped brakes, bad calipers, needed a new torque converter at least and the repair shop recommended a total transmission replacement. The whole vehicle shakes when driving near that speed or braking.

Filed Mar 18, 2024 · Transmission · WI

Seems like a transmission problem on my Subaru Outback. While braking to a stop the car shudders and then the engine stalls creating a hazardous situation. I'm forced to put the car in park and restart the engine. This sounds like a common issue with the tourque converter on these cars. This problem happens on a near daily basis unless you drive with such extreme caution you can sometimes avoid the issue.

Filed Nov 9, 2023 · Transmission · FL

The car shudders when we come to a stop, sometimes cuts off completely. I am told this is a faulty torque converter. This is my 5th subaru, so I love the car, but, I have a family now, and I am not sure this is a safe vehicle for them to be in, please help me!!

Filed Mar 25, 2023 · Transmission · OR

As I was driving my car it began to shudder. The lights on my dash turned on (engine, traction, oil, and break). I was in the middle of the road in ongoing traffic. The car behind me was able to swerve around in time. Cautiously, I was able to take the car to a mechanic. The valve body on the car needed to be replaced. This is typical for this year of Subaru. The dealer verified the issue and quoted me on the price.

Filed Jan 3, 2022 · Transmission · OH

While driving the car on or about 12/21/2021 at about 6 or 7 pm at night, I experienced a catastrophic failure of the transmission. The car lost drivetrain power and began to shudder and limp along the road. All the warning lights on the dashboard lit up at once. Fortunately, I was not on a highway, and I was able to safely pull over to the side of the road. But the incident did leave me unsettled and distressed especially as it was happening. There were no warning signs or indications of something was amissed prior to the failure. At a Subaru dealership service, I learned with the valve body and the torque converter need to be replaced at an expensive cost (almost $4,000). This is a problem that Subaru is aware of and has done little to address it before the failure occurs in affected vehicles at large. I feel this is a serious safety issue that needs to be proactively remedied before failure can occur. My car only has 160,000 miles and responsibly driven. Normally, such a car should not have experienced such a catastrophic failure in the transmission as mine did even at that accrued mileage. I also later learned that this is a prevalent problem on this particular car model, so much so that many dealership service departments are performing this type of repair at least once a week. For this problem to be this relatively widespread means there some sort of defect or design flaw in the system itself. There seems to be a high rate of incidence for a critical part on a vehicle that should normally and typically last the lifetime of the vehicle.

Filed Jul 23, 2021 · Brakes, Electrical · FL

I have being experiencing shuddering and a few stalls on the highway and at red lights. While I have been able no maneuver through this, I find it do be extremely dangerous for myself and others, and in one instance it came really close to be a coalition.

Filed Apr 29, 2021 · Engine · 100,000 miles · SC

Vehicle shudders and stalls when stopping. Subaru admits there's a problem in a service bulletin but refuses to issue a recall.

Filed Feb 17, 2021 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 subaru outback. The contact stated that after coming to a stop, the vehicle would shuddered and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer glanzmann subaru located at 95 old york rd b, jenkintown, pa 19046 who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v326000 (power train). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Feb 3, 2021 · Transmission · 100,000 miles · MI

When driving the 2011 subaru outback and coming to a stop, the vehicle will shake and/or shudder and will oftentimes stall out. The dealer claims that we need to remove the engine and replace the torque converter. This seems to be a known issue on the 2011 outback and there has been a technical service bulletin issued for this. This is not safe as this can happen on hills or in winter on snowy/icy roads so should be elevated to a recall. Not too mention the cost of this repair is outside the realm of realism and lands in the zone of cruel and unusual punishment.

Filed Jan 26, 2021 · Transmission · 190,000 miles · IN

When turning sharply or coming to a quick stop, the car shudders and stalls. Subaru acknowledged the problem once and replaced the torque converter, but the problem is back and they will not pay for any further repairs for this issue, which has been ongoing. It's dangerous to have the car stall suddenly!

Filed Jul 1, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 88,000 miles · NY

6 speed manual transmission - when coming to stop quickly from high speed, clutch is fully depressed (and even sometimes in neutral), the engine rpms drop very low causing the engine to shudder. This has been occurring consistently for over 1 year but dealership has claimed they are unable to replicate the problem. This is very concerning due to the fact the engine could stall causing loss of control. This seems very similar to the symptoms of a bad torque converter as recalled on the automatic transmission, however, obviously this can't be the case for a mt.