Subaru Outback check engine light comes on

Filed Aug 18, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · TX

My 2022 Subaru Outback Premium has had repeated intermittent stall/no-start events. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN, but the issue appears related to the fuel system, engine control, electrical system, or heat-related sensor/relay failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The first event occurred while parked: the engine shut off/would not start, while the dashboard and screen remained powered. After about 30 minutes, it started again. A later event occurred while driving: the engine suddenly shut off, but the dashboard and infotainment screen stayed on. I could not restart the engine for about 10 minutes. When it restarted, the vehicle would not accelerate past about 30 mph, suggesting reduced-power/limp mode. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle lost motive power while in traffic. The vehicle was taken to a Subaru dealership. The dealer diagnosed the high-pressure fuel pump as failing and replaced it under the powertrain warranty. About one month later, the same issue occurred again while parked: the vehicle shut off, all dashboard warning lights illuminated, and it took several minutes before it would restart. The dealer then stated the battery was weak and replaced the battery. The new battery tested good after replacement. One week later, the issue returned again. A consistent pattern is that the problem occurs when it is hot outside and the vehicle has been running for more than one hour. The vehicle has been inspected by a Subaru dealership multiple times. The problem has not been reliably reproduced by the dealer, but the dealer previously confirmed a failing high-pressure fuel pump and later a weak battery. Warning lamps appeared at the time of failure, including multiple dashboard lights/check engine-type warnings after the engine shut off. There were no consistent warning messages before the stall/no-start events.

Filed Jul 10, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · VA · fire

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Car fire, originating under the hood. Unknown if vehicle is available for inspection. Last reported by Insurance company to be at IAA; [XXX]; PH#: [XXX]. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Car fire began while in the car after moving through an intersection with a stop light. Four of us in the car, ages raging from [XXX] old. Fire quickly spread; however, we were able to exit the car without injury. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - NO, car was totaled and Subaru, NA Consumer Advocacy agent assigned claims that the vehicle is no longer available for inspection. Both insurance company (Travelers Auto) and Subaru, N.A. consumer advocacy group made aware of our concern as to why the vehicle caught fire. One or both demonstrated nonchalance of this concern. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - YES - Just prior to the start of the fire, the vehicle stalled and cut-off with CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. Also, we smelled an unusual exhaust at the time prior to, and at the time of the cut-off. This occurred at the intersection of where the car caught fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MD

On May 19th 2026 around noon time, while we (me and my wife passenger) were driving my 2022 Subaru Outback Touring (2.5L, non-turbo) in active congested traffic on our way to airport, the engine shut off as expected by the Auto Start-Stop system when I came to a stop. When I released the brake pedal to proceed, the engine failed to automatically restart. The vehicle became immobilized in a live traffic lane, creating a serious safety hazard with traffic backed up behind me and oncoming vehicles unable to predict my situation. No warning lights or alerts preceded the failure. After shifting to Park and pressing the ignition button multiple times, the engine eventually restarted. There was no prior history of stalling, no check engine light, and the battery and vehicle have been maintained per Subaru's schedule. This is a critical safety defect: a vehicle that disables its own engine in traffic and fails to restart on demand puts the driver, passengers, and surrounding traffic at immediate risk of rear-end collision. The Auto Start-Stop system should never leave a vehicle stranded in a live roadway. The vehicle is available for inspection. I have/have not yet taken the vehicle to a Subaru dealer for diagnosis.

Filed Jun 5, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · AZ

Recently, the 2022 Outback my mom drives has been having some strange electrical issues. About a year-or-so ago the battery in her outback died. Not unusual in Arizona. I replaced it with an upgraded AGM (Interstate) version—same group, same cranking power. No issues. Recently, after an oil change at the dealer, she called back to report that a “Check Engine” light had come on. She was told that she probably had not put the gas cap on properly. Gas cap was on properly; light went off the next day. A few days later the Auto Stop/Start (ASS) feature started acting up (not functioning). A few days later the ASS turned the engine off and did not restart automatically—in the middle of heavy traffic during rush hour. The ASS light came on. The engine started manually, and we got it home. Battery was dead the next morning. I charged it up and took the car to the local mechanic for a quick assessment. The battery was fine, charging, but the car threw a Code: P0871 Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor Switch. This mechanic told us that there was a Technical Service bulletin through Subaru that addressed this issue but was also aware that it could be caused by the ASS killing the battery OR other electronic modules which fail to enter sleep mode—which would also cause random lights to come on. An appointment was made to take the car into Peoria Subaru, thinking it would be something they could diagnose easily. It had previously been in for the routine oil change with the inspection. When we dropped the car off, I provided the Advisor the code and a associated TSB for the code. We got the car back that day and were told the following: The tech found that the car currently has a “Aftermarket” AGM battery. Subarus require a “Enhanced Flooded Battery” which would explain multiple codes found for loss of communications and parasitic battery drain--for systems that don't go to "sleep" when the car is not running.

Filed Jun 3, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · MI · fire

I just bought my Subaru outback brand new in October 2025. I’ve maintained my oil changes at the dealership. I bought it from in the last one was last may 26. I filled up my tank with a full tank of gas June 1. On June 2 when I was driving home from work on the I 94 Highway in Detroit Michigan I was going about 50 mph when my check engine light went on and within seconds the engine failed. The car was still on, but the gas pedal wouldn’t work and I was in the far left-hand side lane of the highway. I was able to slowly pull over to the fire right hand shoulder, even though it was during peak traffic time. As I pulled over, I started seeing smoke come from under the hood. I then seen a big flame which made me quickly get out of the vehicle and then seconds two minutes later the entire vehicle was in golf in flames and had many explosions throughout. I had no prior indications notifying me that there was something wrong with my vehicle. I had no problems with it. There was only 12,500 miles on the vehicle. There was no obvious cause to this happening. It was only me in the car however if there were small children in car seats or less mobile elderly people in the car, I don’t think that they would have made it out safely. The fire department came and put out the fire. A police report was made with the Michigan State troopers. My insurance is progressing. They are working on a claim. I also contacted Subaru of America and opened up a case with them. I notified the Subaru of Troy dealership that this happened.

Filed May 9, 2026 · Transmission · PA

My transmission has started to fail. The check engine light came on the error code read p0867, transmission fluid pressure. Other lights came on as well because it tripped the rest of the sensors because of the CVT failure. This seems to be a common problem in Subarus

Filed May 7, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · NJ

Thermo Control Valve Failure- Contact Subaru of Cherry Hill, NJ for Inspection 177,4XX Miles P26A5 code Check engine Light on, Disabled Safety Systems (Eyesight System), Car may have overheated if not pulled over and turned off. Part of warranty extension but did not qualify due to mileage.

Filed Apr 19, 2026 · Transmission · WI

I was reversing out of a residential driveway onto a county highway when the I had a complete loss of movement. Shortly after the total loss of power, the CEL illuminated. If I had been on the highway, the driveway is near a blind curve, I would've been sitting in the road with no way to move putting me in a dangerous situation. The transmission failed at right at the end of the driveway so I was able to put it in neutral and move the vehicle by hand. There were no symptoms or warning lights prior to the failure. I had it towed to the nearest dealership where they diagnosed a complete transmission failure and recommend a complete transmission replacement.

Filed Mar 12, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · CA

This car is a very well-maintained, low-use vehicle with regular oil changes and routine maintenance performed on schedule. Early in this drive, I noticed an unusual hissing sound as I approached a stop. When I tried to brake, I realized my brakes didn't seem to be responding. I pressed the brake pedal harder and realized that with 50-100 pounds of pressure (guess), I could slow the car down. As I came to a stop, the engine died. I restarted the car, and it died again immediately. After the following restart, I realized I could manually keep the RPM up in neutral while at stops, and press with significant force to get the car to stop. Had I not been comfortable two foot driving or understood the issue, this surely would have resulted in a crash of some sort. The car indicated a check engine light, loss of traction control, a flashing BRAKE light, and a flashing cruise control light. I took the car immediately to a local shop where they identified the problem as a vacuum leak at the brake booster. The plastic piece that the hose clamps onto had cracked off, leading to this problem. This make and model does not seem to have a check valve downstream of this component.

Filed Feb 19, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 82,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated and almost stalled. The failure was intermittent but caused the vehicle to stall on several occasions. The check engine warning light and the low oil pressure warning lights recently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that oil was leaking from the upper and lower oil pan, the head gasket, and other engine seals. The contact was aware that the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V587000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact researched and became aware that a failure of the fuel pump could lead to other failures with the engine oil seals. The contact stated that the fuel pump had been ordered; however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.