Subaru Outback won't shift problems

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 Mar 14, 2026 · Acceleration · NY

P2138 code. Gas pedal stops responding to inputs. Car goes into limp mode and managed to get car off the road. Shut off and waited 5 minutes, restarted and it works again. Associated P0500 code also present. First time this has happened on this car.

Filed Oct 15, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · PA

Automatic auto off-on began to fail and car didn't start well. I began to disable the automatic auto on off while driving because it began to sound like it would stall out while stopped at a traffic light . Then I forgot to disable the automatic auto off on and car stalled out while stopped at a traffic light. I took it to dealer, Rafferty Subaru, they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Then a few days later check engine light and other icons started flashing on dashboard. I took it to dealer, they said the gas cap was off. For the next week the automatic auto off on sounded like it would fail so I disabled it, the car didn't start normally every morning, and it began to feel like it didn't shift correctly as I accelerated or slowed down. About one day later it suddenly lurched to almost a stop while driving, check engine light was flashing, other icons on dashboard were flashing, the Park Brake icon started flashing. The engine continued to run but I couldn't go more than 2 mph. I put it in park and it started to smell like something was burning so I turned it off. I had to have it towed to the dealer, Rafferty Subaru.

Filed Oct 31, 2023 · NY

Right rear door will not open from inside, child door lock will not shift although child lock not engaged. InCase of crash or fire cannot exit vehicle. confirmed by repair shop. No insurance inspection. No warning lights associated with this visible

Filed May 5, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · TX · fire

The car got stuck in 1st gear and shortly after a fire began between the engine and transmission. The car became fully engulfed and it blew up.

Filed Nov 18, 2022 · Driver assistance · 121,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Eyesight System inadvertently deactivated, causing the power steering to fail and the vehicle to go into Limp Mode. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to correct the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Filed Oct 12, 2022 · Electrical · UT

While driving, advance driver assist systems became disabled, car intermittently stopped and resumed responding to accelerator, power steering became inoperative, car eventually lost all power. Gear would not shift out of drive. Emergency brake would not engage. Fortunately, I was able to coast the car to the shoulder of the road. Had to keep foot on brake until roadside assistance arrived. Car was towed to repair shop where battery was replaced. Similar system failures occurred while my wife was driving a couple of weeks prior. She was able to coast car into a parking lot just off the road. In the past month, the dealer has replaced parts that diagnostics said created parasitic drain. The alternator has been replaced and the battery has been replaced twice in the last couple of months. Car had body work performed last week and the car will not start without being jumped. We are going to drive it to the dealer with fingers crossed that the electrical system will not shut the car down while in transit.

Filed Sep 8, 2022 · NH

While stopped in a line at a drive through the vehicles automatic shutoff (fuel savings feature) engaged. When the brake is released the car completely shut down, including all computer, dash and vehicle lights. The cars transmission was in Drive and could not be placed in Park in an attempt to restart the vehicle. After several minutes the car shifted to Park and was able to be restarted after more than one attempt. I exited the very busy parking lot and proceeded to my place of work approximately a half mile away which is a safer location. Each time the brake was depressed the automatic shutoff would attempt to engage immediately, fearing a shutoff/failure in a major intersection I "feathered" the brake to keep engine running. Upon reaching my place of work parking lot and placing the vehicle in Park I was able to disengage the feature. This vehicle has been plagued with issues, it currently has very low miles (less than 5000) and is one year old. It had a battery failure at 600 miles, and has had several issues since that time with the vehicle not starting. Fortunately these issues occurred out of traffic but the latest incident could prove hazardous if it occurred in traffic. When the vehicle diagnostics are run it shows "Normal" and the problem remains unresolved. I have also noted hesitation with the shifting during acceleration from day one of owning the vehicle. It does not shift smoothly and will often hesitate which can pose a danger if attempting to avoid an accident. I have learned to compensate for the issue when pulling into traffic, especially if rapid acceleration is needed. Again, the vehicle diagnostics do not show an issue and the problem remains unresolved.

Filed Mar 5, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · TN

I bought this car on 3/1/22 from a dealer, and took it for several test drives - everything was great. Carfax report is clean. On 3/3/22, I was driving on a windy road with cliffs and ledges, 45 mph when all of a sudden the brakes slammed, the tires screeched, and I heard grinding. Every alarm went off and the car fishtailed and skidded over to the side - almost going off the side of the road. Every light was blinking and alarms going off. Once I came to a stop, I tried turning the key off and turning it back on. It turned on fine - but it would not go into drive or accelerate, and all the alarms and lights were still going off. I was stranded on the side of a curvy country road where it was not easy to be seen, and easy to be hit. I had to walk 30 min, leaving the car in the middle of the road to the closest store, at which I looked up a tow truck and service station. I had it towed to a service station, and the gentleman ran diagnostics and said that his machine is coming back showing transmission issues. I literally just bought this car - and paid good money for it - I am shocked that this is a known issue and Subaru won't do a general recall to fix this! This is dangerous - because the car LITERALLY went out WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I am calling Subaru dealers today and seeing what they plan to do to fix this, or if I am going to be stuck with paying for it

Filed Feb 16, 2022 · Electrical · IL

I am now on my SIXTH battery in my 2017 Subaru Outback, having had to replace it 5 times in the last 2 years. For a car that has less than 30,000 miles, is maintenanced regularly, taken care of and driven well, this is absurd. The dealership has acknowledged that there was a technical issue that was making the battery drain quickly, but even after reprogramming, the NEW battery still died a few months later. My research indicates there is a widely known issue with battery drainage on this model of car, and yet Subaru of America refuses to admit this or make it right, other than continuing to replace the battery again and again. I have been stuck in parking lots and away from my home, with two very small children, several times now and I worry about our safety as this continues to happen again and again.