2012 Subaru Outback stalls when braking. It stalls going up hills, on flat roads, after high speeds and after city driving too. The vehicle has shut off at stop lights, on/off ramps, and stop signs putting me and my family at risk of being rear-ended. It also stalls when parallel parking, increasing risk of being hit on city streets. No warning or check engine light. Subaru issued a bulletin about the issue but the local dealer and local mechanic were unable to replicate stalling on test drives.
2012 Subaru Outback electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 37 of 37, newest first, as owners wrote them.
This summer, my 2012 Subaru Outback began shuddering and stalling when slowing down. This has happened approaching stop signs and stop lights, but has also happened going up steep hills and on the highway as traffic slows. Cars behind me have gotten incredibly close, and it seems only a matter of time before an accident occurs. We brought the car to the mechanic, who told us it was the torque converter, which would cost upwards of $5000 to replace. Subaru extended the warranty on 2010 - 2015 Outbacks because of the faulty torque converter - but the warranty expires at 100,000 miles, which we've surpassed. I'm not sure how this works - the manufacturer had a defect but we're responsible? It's scary when the car stalls out and I'm not sure it's safe to continue driving the vehicle. Our mechanic said the issue would get worse over time.
battery drains quickly. had to replace battery three times in two years
I bought this card at the end of march and only for one week it registered the car got fired and burned while driving last friday around 10pm. When I checked the VIN#. This car has over 16 recalls
Subaru outback (2012), when stopped for 1-2 minutes, with the engine and ignition off, and the gear shift in park, on a slight incline (to check a potential safety hazard) suddenly rolled backwards as I was leaning in to retrieve my bag. I was dragged across the normally busy road, barely able to hang on (by both hands grabbing anything I could inside the car). My legs scraped on the ground violently burning though my sneaker then ankle flesh and grazed the bone badly. My legs on the road turned the 1.5 ton vehicle a few degrees as it careened under rapid acceleration reaching an estimated 8-10 MPH bumping over 2 kerbs pulled me even further out of the car, but still hanging on. Luckily the open driver's door engaged with a hedge which ripped the door almost off the car and turned the car another 35 degrees or so, avoiding a violent crash into the neighbor's house. Instead the car grazed a wooden post (further slowing it) then hit a second post which brought the car to a hard stop. This pushed me out of the car onto a patch of grass, back to the car. An engineering assessment later revealed the shift-interlock had failed (involving a couple of parts) so that the gear may be shifted (or shift itself) when the engine and ignition are off with the keys still in. My injuries include ankle (on a leg with a hip replacement), ptsd (diagnosed as caused 100% by the crash) and exacerbation of multiple-sclerosis causing debilitating bouts of trigeminal neuralgia and with additional brain damage (proven by increased lesion load on mri scan). Therefore the vehicle failure on this model is also potentially dangerous to other owners of the same model car. We also researched and found one almost identical case with the same model, the same roll-in-park but far more serious injury as the driver was knocked down by the door, apparently as the car rolled over.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. The contact stated while at a standstill while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact could not remove the key from the ignition and was unable to unlock front driver's side door. After activating the horn for approximately 10 seconds, the key was able to be removed from the ignition. The vehicle was towed to metrowest subaru (948 worcester st, natick, ma 01760, (508)651-2000) where it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was advised to bring the vehicle the dealer for repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
Vehicle lights (ABS, check engine, cruise, etc) remain on or blinking at all times.
Battery drain vehicle may sit 2 days and battery is dead everything is off in the vehicle and have checked the vehicle out and can not find anything wrong, but it still happens and have to charge the battery up again and again.
Was driving on highway when lights on dash started flashing on & off, cruise, brake, check engine, the temperature light was flashing blue & red. I pulled over to make sure emergency brake was off. Turned car off and on and checked gas cap was tight as I had googled why it might be flashing. I continued for another mile and engine started making clicking noise when I pressed gas. I pulled over and stopped, car lights were still flashing and it began to smoke under hood. Smoke started coming through air conditioning vents and we got out immediately and engine caught fire.
My car often gets stuck with the parking brake on and I cannot move the car forward or backward. Most times I have a carload of groceries and need to get them to the freezer or refrigerator. Computer engine analysis...... Abs c0054 brake switch on malfunction c0057 ECM control...... Epb c0252 motor malfunction detail code 50a0 ..... C0234 vdc failure detail code c111..... C0242 power supply voltage failure detail code. I have replaced brakes, replaced tires, checked fluid, checked fuses, etc.
One day driving home I noticed that the cruise control light and the parking brake lights were flashing. Along with the stability control and check engine lights being on steady. The lights stay on while driving on any road or stationary. Unhooking battery terminals clears the lights from anywhere between a couple hours to several weeks. I have done research and seen that this is a common issue with these vehicles and nothing that is done fixes it.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. While driving 35 MPH, the cruise control, brake system, check engine, and oil temperature warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the failure only occurred when the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.
Tl* the contact was driving a 2012 subaru outback company vehicle. While driving various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to fitzgerald subaru (11407 rockville pike, rockville, md 20852, (301) 230-9000) where it was diagnosed that the driver and passenger side knock sensors and the passenger side brake light needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission body and harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired again, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 73,763.
While driving on the higway suddenly the check engine light was blinking as well as the ABS light,,control light and brake light were also blinking. I looked to see if tere was a recall notice for this problem an currently there are none. However in looking at complaints listed someone else had the exact problem and it appears to involve the harness
Passenger airbag "not working" light came on. Took it to dealer where I purchased the vehicle, was informed that although 2012 subaru outbacks had been recalled in texas, they were not recalled in oklahoma due to lesser humidity conditions. Paid nearly $500 to have wires which had come unplugged under console plugged back together. This took around 7 hours to get accomplished. At least 1/2 of this time was shown as "diagnostic." the "passenger airbag light and intermittant beeper remained on constantly, whether the seat was occupied or not, and whether vehicle was running, moving, or at rest, turned off.
The rear 3rd high brake light leaks every time it rains. This happens both when the car is stationary or moving. It has been doing this every time that it rains for about the last 6 months. I have seen numerous complaints on forums for the same problem.
The check engine light comes on along with the traction control light. Also, the cruise control and brake light are flashing. I was driving on the interstate in june, 2017 when this happened. This issue first happened in 4/2017. At that time, I was on a trip hours from home driving on the highway in the rain. Dealer repaired a wiring harness under the hood. This just happened again the other day. I have an appointment on 7/5/17. The stored codes are different than in 4/2017.
In less than a year of ownership, we've had to replace four different directional/running/head lights. This is excessive, expensive, and awkward to do. (the front headlights require removal of the front tires to reach the access panel!) I know there is a class action lawsuit for this exact issue with earlier year's of outbacks.
The low beam headlamps are constantly burning out on my 2012 subaru outback. I have replaced the bulbs several times in the past two years, approximately every 3-6 months or 3,000-6,000 miles. One side burns out right after the other. I cannot say if the headlight bulbs burn out while driving or stationary; I drive mostly in daylight then notice the outage at night. Replacing the bulb involves removing the tire and having a mechanic or dealership perform the work. What should be an infrequent simple task is getting very expensive! I am primarily concerned about safety as the bulbs could easily both burn out while driving at night.
Driving on interstate 95 the engine caught on fire and very quickly engolfed the entire car - bumper to bumper.
Car had fire at starter with lots of smoke coming from transmission and alternator .vehilce had been having shifting issues and traction from all wheel drive not working. I had vehicle taken to different dealers but no one was able to fix problem until the day car caught fire which told them which parts where at fault. My vehicle is truely a lemon, for it has been one problem after another for the past 3 years
While driving with cruise control engaged, suddenly the cruise control disengaged, the brake warning light and the ABS warning light came on. The required repair was only the forward oxygen sensor, a non-emergency repair. Yet cruise control and ABS were disabled, ABS being an important safety feature. I was told subaru has purposely programed the car this way. Not only was I unable to make a decision as to the critical nature of the actual repair but had an important safety feature disabled unnecessarily.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru outback. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a routine inspection, the mechanic discovered that all four brakes were rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to three other mechanics who did not indicate that the brakes needed replacing. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled and was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic stated that someone unplugged and misplaced the wiring under the hood and the clip was fractured. The contact was informed that the clip needed to be replaced and the wires re-adjusted. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000. Updated 9/18/14*cn updated 02/12/2015
I was driving into work on the morning of 3/3/14 when I notice a smoke/burning odor. I discounted it but kept alert waiting for a engine light to come on. It became evident that it was from my outback. I got the car parked. Shortly after flames erupted from underneath the hood. I was able to reach a fire extinguisher and put the fire out. Based on conversations with fire department and insurance investigators it appears that the source was from wind shield wiper motor.
Update I took the 2012 subaru outback to the dealer, about the key fob not working in a certain area. Never had a problem with the key fob until recently. The key fob will not work in one particular area where it did work before with no problem. I took the car to the dealer for evaluation and this person said he was with subaru corporate and he informed on april 16 2013, that rfid interference does happen with these vehicles and there is nothing they can do. He informed me that though the key fob may not work in one area. This is crazy, never heard that subaru cars should be subject to rfid interference. Though this does happen according corporate rep at the dealership. So now my subaru outback 2012 is now subjected to rfid interference and the corporate rep says there is nothing they can do. This is a safety issue.
Radio frequency interference is affecting the security system on the car. Imagine if the rfid interference could affect steering and braking controls, this is just the start. The key fab does not work in certain area, and you have to manually unlock the car which sets off the security system. We have tried two different key fabs and they work in many areas but when standing right next to the car in a certain area the doors will not unlock, and or lock. This is a safety issue this seriously needs to be addressed with subaru. We are taking the car to the dealership to have the keys reprogrammed, but it is very worrisome to know that rfid interference is affecting the security feature on the car which becomes a safety issue, if the keys do not work, and you are stranded outside this is not safe. The security feature was built in during production from subaru. This could lead to another massive recall like toyota, subaru engineers need to ensure measures are in place as not to allow rfid interference happen in their vehicles. The dealer has not encountered this issue. We will see if this gets fixed.
In early december of 2011 my wife and I purchased a 2012 subaru outback with a 4 cylinder engine, CVT transmission. We had to wait a day for our outback because it was being repaired do to a brake system recall. Ever since purchasing the outback we have had a serious issue when using the paddle shifters to slow down for a stop. When the tach slows to about 1100 RPM in first or second gear the engine then accelerates to up to 2500 RPM, slowing down and then speeding up again then repeating the cycle over even if you apply the brakes. Sometimes it would just run at 2500 RPM until you braked to a stop. I took the outback to our dealer and the subaru service advisor was very surprised when I drove it to demonstrate the very serious issue. It did exactly as I have described and even stayed at 2500 RPM. The service advisor and who I presume was the overall manager of the dealership took it for a drive without me. When they returned I was told that the way it operated was the way it was supposed to operate because of the engine needing to be more environmentally friendly. I stated I did not really believe that excuse and left. Since that first visit, the outback has started doing the very serious acceleration issue also in automatic drive at low speeds. I returned on july 19, 2012 to get my first service done. I left the car for the service and tested an exact (except for color) 2012 outback. This outback had none of the very serious acceleration issues that my outback has. When returning to pickup my outback I told the service advisor of this outcome and he stated I would have to contact subaru of america to elevate the issue. Respond as soon as possible as to where I can take the outback for repair of this very serious acceleration issue. My wife and I will be traveling via the outback very soon and need this very serious issue resolved before we leave.
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