Manual Transmission Problems of Subaru Outback

I have a 2010 Subaru Outback with a 6 speed manual transmission. When the clutch is depressed to slow down for a stop, the engine will sometimes stall. The stalling has occurred about a dozen times in three months. The engine tries to stall under similar conditions about 50% of the time, I. E. The dash lights come on, and the a/c compressor and fan cut off. The problem occurs primarily when the air conditioning is on, and the temperature is above 85 degrees. A month ago, I took the car to the dealer for two recalls, and two other problems including this one. The mechanic stated Subaru was aware of this problem, but his computer had not been upgraded to reflash the ecu. The dealership stated they would call when the ecu upgrade (flash) was available. One month later, they still had not called. I called the dealer today, and have an appointment Friday (8/27/10) to have the ecu upgraded. When the car stalls, power steering and brakes are lost resulting in unsafe driving conditions.

See all problems of the 2010 Subaru Outback 🔎.

(1)under normal driving conditions, (2)the engine stalls approaching a stop when the clutch is depressed, it almost stalls every time I drive it whenever approaching a stop. It has only stalled once in the two weeks I have owned it. Possible consequences could be a collision due to loss of power steering, power brakes, and distraction. (3)contacted dealership service department and was advised that they have another vehicle with same problems in for over a month with no fix available yet. I was offered a loaner vehicle, but I declined it. Vehicle is a 2011 Subaru Outback with 6 speed manual transmission, not a 2010.

2010 Subaru Outback stalls when in neutral or between gears when the clutch is depressed. The stalling occurs nearly daily within the first ten minutes of driving and leaves the driver with no power steering and very limited braking. The problem occurs more frequently when the air conditioning is on. Two near accidents due to the condition as there is no indication that the car has stalled unless you keep your eyes on the dashboard lights and watch for them all to light up and the tachometer to zero. Subaru has stated that no solution exists but that they are working on it. Numerous inconclusive tests done on the car.

The contact owns a 2010 Subaru Outback. The contact stated when braking to a complete stop and depressing the clutch, or while in neutral, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact would be able to immediately restart the vehicle but stated the failure would usually occur when the vehicle had not been operated in some time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer would not provide any assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000 and the current mileage was approximately 6,100.

It is a manual transmission car. When you re driving in 3rd gear and shift down to 2nd to make a rolling right or left turn the car stalls out. The only way you know it has shut itself off is that you have no power and all the idiot lights come on. It also happened when I shifted into 1st coming up to a stop sign. This problem didn't start until the car was about 3 months old then it started to do it within a mile to 2 miles of driving after it had been sitting overnight or all day while I worked. I took it back to the dealer after about 4 or 5 times of it happening. They checked it could not find anything wrong. They contacted their corporate headquarters who sent someone out to look at it and performed a bunch of test on it. They then found other cars with the same problem and started working on a fix for the car. They have offered to swap cars with me which we are in the processes of doing. They have also informed me they now feel they have a fix for this car, but I am leary to try it.

I purchased a new 2004 Subaru Outback (manual transmission) in may 2004. I have been very happy with the vehicle, have maintained it per manufacturers instructions and have had no problems with it. On June 30, 2006 I took the car to my local dealer in response to a notice stating there was a recall on 2004 Outbacks for an "engine control module reprogramming (reflash). Since that reprogramming the rpms are sluggish in returning to normal in between shifts and at idle. In-between shifts, the re-engagement of the clutch is what forces the engine rpms down to match the transmission revolutions (I do have concerns this will eventually cause abnormal wear on the clutch plate. It can take anywhere from 1. 5-5 seconds for the rpms to drop from 3-4,000 rpms to 1,000 rpms; and longer at higher rpms. This is dangerous when a sudden decrease in speed is essential for safety (the brakes are fighting the engine revving even thought the accelerator has been released). My gas mileage has decreased due to over-revving (I have kept a mileage log since I purchased the car). On one road trip last August, the rpms never dropped below 1000 and, in fact, fluctuated between 1,000 and 2,000 rpms at idle! I have taken the car back to the local dealer numerous times over the last 5 months (and 7,000+ miles) to try to correct the problem. A case # was opened with Subaru of America and I have been in touch with them several times regarding the issue. A "field rep" has collected data on the vehicle and sent it off to the corporate techs. The local dealer has done everything they know to do at this point. I have been told that there is nothing "wrong" with the car. This is not acceptable to me; it was a great car until the ecm re-programming. I cannot drive this car for the rest of it's life in this condition; nor would I want to sell it to another person due to safety concerns. It is not safe.

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Dangerous hesitation in first and second gears especially. At stop light, upon attempting to accelerate, car bogged down, rpms dipped and nearly stalled before car finally accelerated with a violent jerk forward and back. Has happened on numerous occasions. Very dangerous-nearly been in three accidents already. So far the dealer has bled the clutch, adjusted the clutch, replaced the clutch, replaced knock sensor, replaced coolant temp sensor and replaced front oxygen sensor and problem still as bad as ever if not worse.

See all problems of the 2002 Subaru Outback 🔎.

The car hesitates on acceleration, mainly in 1st and 2nd gear. Can be severe enough that car practically stalls in intersections.

I have owned a 2002 Subaru Outback station wagon since August 2002, and have experienced a very frequent (daily to weekly) but inconsistent hesitation and shudder while accelerating from a stop. It occurs in 1st and 2nd gear, and is pronounced in cold starts only. The hesitation and clutch shudder also is pronounced in stop and go traffic, in first or second gear - in this situation, the car lunges or lurches forward until the speed increases to over 10 or 15 mph. This causes a safety concern at low speeds, and the start of acceleration from a stop. Have taken it to the Subaru dealer on several occasions, but they have not been able to fix the problem. . Read more...

Vehicle has a manual transmission. When driving in 5 th gear the transmission will pop out of gear without warning. Subaru tech explained that a packing nut on the gear shaft was not properly peened. The nut backed-off over time and damaged the transimission.

See all problems of the 1999 Subaru Outback 🔎.

I purchased a 2002 Subaru Outback from oldham's Subaru of nicholasville, ky in feburary 2003. On sat. March 22, 2003, I noticed the car hesitating during initial acceleration after a stop and then with acceleration after shifting into second gear (manual transmission). On sun. , March 23, 2003 the problem became much more severe. The car would lurch into intersections after a stop, and then hesitate. The car would not move at all, then would lurch out of the intersection. This nearly caused a very serious accident, and I had my 2 year old son in the car. I finally decided to pull to the side of the road and call roadside assistance. The car was towed to the dealership, who drove the car the next two days for 7 miles, then 6 miles, and said that they found no problems. I picked up the car and did not have the problem for a week, but I am now having the same hesitation problems with the car. It is clearly unsafe to drive, and I am afraid to drive it. My own investigation into the problem (web research) reveals that many other owners of Subaru's made in the late 90's to the present have had similar problems, with no help from their local dealerships. I hope that this problem can be investigated and addressed before people are injured or killed.

We have an auto repair garage, and we have seen a recurring problem on 1999 Subaru legacy Outback cars with manual transmissions. These cars develop a "tweety" clutch release bearing. When we go in to replace the bearing, we have found that one of the two clips for the bearing is always missing. This is what causes the bearing to go bad prematurely. Each time we find the same thing. One of the clips on the clutch release bearing had broken, causing the bearing to sit crooked. This then allowed the clutch release bearing to wear a groove on the snout that the bearing rides on. The bearing was then getting caught in the groove, preventing it from releasing fully. We then not only have to replace the bearing and the clips but also the entire transmission housing because the snout is cast into the housing. This is a very expensive repair for such an inexpensive clip. We feel that these clips need to be looked into further to find a stronger one to prevent this problem.

Several weeks ago the dealer replaced the first gear of the manual transmission because it repeatedly came out of gear when going down steep inclines, such as in a parking garage. After the work was completed, the car emitted a very strong smell. I have taken the car back to the dealer four times. The last time the dealer said the seals on the transmission were leaking and replaced. It is apparent that a petroleum product is leaking onto the exhaust system and burning and the smell enters the ventilation system while the car is stationary. Dealer says I need to keep a/c on and the recycle air button pushed. Issues unresolved.

See all problems of the 2000 Subaru Outback 🔎.

I bought a 1999 Subaru Outback 30th anniversary limited edition in may of 1999. Within six months, the car began to exhibit clutch and transmission problems. I brought this to the immediate attention of the Subaru dealer. For three years they denied that there was anything wrong with the vehicle, always saying they were unable to duplicate the problems. Finally in June of 2002, I was able to get a regional service supervisor to admit that the car definitely had problems. His first solution was to suggest that I trade the car in on a new one. When I declined, he offered to have the car properly repaired, as it should have been three years prior. After four trips to two different Subaru dealers and after supposedly having the entire clutch assembly replaced three times, the car is in worse shape than it ever has been. Subaru has refused to repair the car, despite the fact that it's under an extended warranty that covers the entire transmission. Subaru claims that the car now "operates as designed" and that any problems I am now experiencing are a result of my driving habits. Subaru refuses to replace the car because they were able to stall any repairs until the car passed the two year lemon law exclusion.

I have previously owned a 1993 Subaru legacy wagon and it was a rewarding experience, with little trouble. Perhaps, my ruby red Subaru should be painted lemon yellow? please, stay tuned. M. A. Roth.

See all problems of the 1997 Subaru Outback 🔎.