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All cars · Subaru Outback · Transmission

Subaru Outback transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2011 (170 complaints), 2010 (79 complaints), 2012 (91 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2023, 2024, 2021.

Subaru Outback
Photo shows a 2018 Subaru Outback. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20003655.7 per 100K sold20012231.2 per 100K sold20022032.8 per 100K sold20031018.2 per 100K sold2004914.4 per 100K sold2005711.8 per 100K sold2006711.8 per 100K sold200735.3 per 100K sold2008715.8 per 100K sold2009712.6 per 100K sold20107984.8 per 100K sold2011170163.3 per 100K sold20129177.4 per 100K sold20135042.4 per 100K sold20141712.2 per 100K sold20152516.4 per 100K sold20162915.9 per 100K sold20173116.4 per 100K sold201895 per 100K sold201995 per 100K sold20202516.3 per 100K sold202163.9 per 100K sold2022106.8 per 100K sold202331.9 per 100K sold202463.6 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Lost power while driving39%
Shudder15%
Delay or hesitation9%
Transmission replaced7%
Hard or jerky shifting7%
Slipping5%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2023 2023

    The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.

  • 2023 2023

    An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.

  • 2021 2021

    The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.

  • 2021 2022

    A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.

  • 2016 2015

    Transmission oil may leak from a deformed seal cap on the propeller shaft yoke.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Transmission failure after 135000 m replace with use one for $3800.00 new one is $8000.00 + labor = 10000.00 is to expensive

2011 Subaru Outback owner · NHTSA complaint

Multiple transmission solenoids have failed and the transmission valve body needs to be replaced on this vehicle with a cvt transmission with 80,000 miles.

2011 Subaru Outback owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Subaru Outback years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Subaru Outback years are 2011, 2010, 2012.

What are common Subaru Outback transmission problems?

Owners most often describe lost power while driving, shudder, delay or hesitation.

Which Subaru Outback years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Subaru Outback years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2023, 2024, 2021.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Subaru Outback reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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