2020 Subaru Outback: jerking or lurching

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · CA

9/20/26 my 2020 Subaru Outback experienced repeated electrical failures followed by loss of power-steering assistance. The underlying failed component is unknown. The vehicle is parked and available for inspection. While driving, the vehicle intermittently lurched/jerked as the center display went completely black and restarted and EyeSight repeatedly became unavailable and returned. After stopping for fuel, I attempted to restart the vehicle. It initially started and then became completely electrically unresponsive: no response from the push-button start and no accessory power. Electrical power unexpectedly returned after I opened the driver's door, and I was able to restart the vehicle. Later, while the engine was continuously running in a parking lot, the display repeatedly blacked out and restarted while EyeSight repeatedly became unavailable and returned. When I shifted into reverse, the vehicle began jerking and power-steering assistance failed. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn and jerked in my hands, preventing me from properly completing the reverse maneuver. I shut the vehicle off and restarted it, which temporarily restored steering. This unpredictable steering failure put me, my two children, and other road users at serious risk. After restarting, I had to travel 65 mph on a highway to get home. Had steering assistance failed again at highway speed, I could have lost lane control or been unable to avoid other vehicles or road users, potentially causing a serious or fatal crash. The vehicle has not yet been inspected for this incident. The repair facility has been notified and I intend to have it towed because I consider it unsafe to drive. Six weeks earlier, the facility inspected the battery, terminals and cables and marked them satisfactory. Prior warnings included EyeSight becoming unavailable, the display blacking out/restarting, and vehicle lurching. I observed no separate steering warning before steering assistance failed.

Filed Nov 29, 2023 · Steering · MI

Car lurches when put into gear, Transmission make loud chirping noise when place into gear from park, vehicle shudders when turning. Car has had all recalls updated. Symptoms have been reported to two different dealers. Dealer in Traverse City MI indicates this is "normal". Issue has continued since first noticed.

Filed Jul 24, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · CA

Car lurches when put into gear, Transmission make loud chirping noise when place into gear from park, transmission shudders when turning. Car has had all recalls updated. Symptoms have been reported to dealer numerous times. Currently vehicle is at Subaru Dealer in Temecula Calif. Dealer states a know transmission problem is being addressed thru a Subaru Engineer. Have been without the vehicle for approx 3 weeks.

Filed Jun 4, 2023 · Acceleration, Engine · NY

While driving on the NYS Thruway (I90), I started to pass a Tractor Trailer, I put my blinker on and began moving to the right to pass. There were 2/3 cars in back of me also passing. I was using cruise control and I began to put my foot on the accelerator to finish my passing and move over to the right hand lane to let the other vehicles pass me. However, upon accelerating, my car started to drop power, multiple lights displaying simultaneously indicating a potential problem. (Eyesight Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Brake & Engine Lights), the vehicle started jerking back and forth and I lost all but maybe 5 miles of power. My choice at that time was put my blinker on and try and move to the right - letting the Tractor Trailer pass me on the right and HOPE there was not another vehicle behind so I could move over safely at that crawling speed or go to the left into the gully. This could have been a multiple car collision and maybe fatalities due to the speed and loss of control of my vehicle. After towing to the nearest dealer, they determined it was the Thermo Control Valve. I see now that there is a "service bulletin" and design change of this component and that other Subaru drivers have been affected the same way. This is a very serious situation. I ask, why no recall from Subaru. I have been without my vehicle now for 4 days and may not have it back until next week. I am very fearful of driving that vehicle again.

Filed Sep 2, 2022 · Engine · 9,846 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk and then stalled. The check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was unable to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving; however, the failure reoccurred that same day. The contact veered to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The contact was able to drive to her residence; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the Engine Control Module (ECM) was malfunctioning. The dealer reset the warning lights; however, the failure had recurred more increasingly. The vehicle was then towed to a second dealer, Subaru of Pembroke Pines (16100 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027) where the fuel pump and high-pressure fuel pump were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer then replaced the Engine Control Module (ECM). The vehicle was not fixed and remained at the dealer since July 12, 2022. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and followed up with the dealer. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. A case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 9,846.

Filed Jun 19, 2022 · Driver assistance · MI

I was driving in a residential neighborhood at low speed, about 20 mph. I slowed down because I needed to park at the curb, and also I was approaching a large speed bump. This was one of the wide, flat ones. I pulled over to the right curb a couple of car lengths before the speed bump, preparing to park. I went over the bump, accelerating a tiny bit to get over the bump. I was going maybe 10 miles an hour. As I came down off the bump, or shortly after that, the accelerator pedal moved down away from my foot. I felt the pedal move down and away so that my foot was no longer touching it. At the same time, the engine speed surged (I heard it rev), and the car lurched forward for a second or two. I put my foot on the brake and also saw the obstacle detection on the instrument panel and saw the red lights and heard the beeping, and the car stopped moving. I don’t know whether I braked first or the car did. I was still about 2 car lengths away from a parked car in front of me when my vehicle stopped. I took my vehicle to a dealership the next day. They performed diagnostics but were unable to find anything wrong with it.

Filed Oct 13, 2021 · Engine · 23,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while enter a freeway the speed suddenly reduced to approximately 15 MPH. The vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. Additionally, the vehicle lurched forward and would not immediately stop while depressing the brake pedal. During the failure several warning lights had illuminated including the check engine, brakes, and stability control. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who reprogrammed the computer however, the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2020 · 7,700 miles · OH

Subaru eyesight lane centering failure. Date: 27apr 2020, time: about 9:45am, location: I-75 south bound between dayton and cincinnate ohio, about mile marker 29.8. Road conditions: dry, sunny and bright.: adaptive cruise control on, lane centering on. Vechile milage about 7700 miles. While passing a semi on the left, at the rear corner of the semi the steering wheel tried to make a hard sharp right turn.as if the right side of the lane had moved way to the right. I had a hard grip on the steering wheel which was the only thing that kept me from crashing into the left rear of the semi trailer.. I have noticed in the past that the lane centering has a tendancy to steer close to semi's while passing either on the right or the left. For this reason I tend to watch closely when passing but this suprised me at how hard the steering tried to execute a lane change, it was almost like someone jerked the steering wheel to the right. After bringing it back on coarse the lane centering stayed in the proper lane abet, wanting to stay towards the right side while finishing passing. Lane centering functioned properly for the next few miles at which time I turned it off due to approaching several semi's. I don't believe the subara's eyesight lane centering function is reliable. This is also the second time the lane centering has tried to execute a lane change since owning the vehicle.