95 of the 3,749 complaints about the Subaru Outback (2.5%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.2× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
95Complaints · Transmission / powertrain
2.5%Share of complaints
0.22×vs. all vehicles
21Last 12 months
7.4%Share involving a crash or fire
5Related recalls
Analysis
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (41, 5% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (3). 21 Transmission / powertrain complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 12 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.
Owners most often describe: “transmission”, “cvt”, “train recall”, “power train” and “america”. 7 of these reports (7.4%) describe a crash or fire, with 3 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V755000 (2023-11-09, model years 2021, 2022 and 2023).
2025 Subaru Outback onyx edition purchased 3/2025. Approximate mileage at time of incident 7000. On 2/10/25 around 6am car is remotely started with Subaru app from iPhone on flat gravel surface. Car was in park.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-03-03 · ODI 11721684 · Crash
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while idling at a red traffic light, the vehicle lurched forward twice and struck the rear end of another vehicle twice. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated upon impact.
Transmission / powertrain · 2025-09-26 · ODI 11689975 · Crash
During normal vehicle operation, the castle nut came off the control arm causing it to disengage from the wheel. It is currently with the dealer for inspection and service.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-31 · ODI 11760978
Driving at speeds around 40 and when braking to turn, the brakes jerk and feel like they are not engaging properly. It has happened to a different driver, twice both times on a 90 degree day, a few minutes after the vehicle had been started and the air…
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-20 · ODI 11758281
Needed to move quickly out of way of oncoming traffic, but delay/hesitation in CVT made it almost impossible to avoid traffic.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-17 · ODI 11757337
From when we purchased this car new until the day we traded it. There were many times on the freeway at 60-65 MPH that you would need to move over a couple of lanes and went to wide open throttle and the car would simply do nothing for 1 to 2 seconds.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-08-05 · ODI 11754978
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH Campaign 23V755000 · 2023-11-09 · Model years: 2021, 2022, 2023
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2021 Crosstrek, 2022 Forester, 2021-2023 Legacy, and Outback vehicles. An insufficient weld may allow water to enter the inhibitor switch, causing it to fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the inhibitor switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 8, 2024. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WRQ-23.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Campaign 23V647000 · 2023-09-21 · Model years: 2023
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2023 Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and Impreza vehicles. The center support bolts for the driveshaft may loosen, resulting in the disconnection of the front end of the driveshaft.
Remedy: Dealers will clean the bolt mounting surfaces of the center support brace and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 20, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRN-23.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Campaign 22V485000 · 2022-07-08 · Model years: 2020, 2021
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-22. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 21V-955.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Campaign 21V955000 · 2021-12-09 · Model years: 2020
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ascent, 2020 Legacy and Outback vehicles. A programming error in the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) may allow the clutch to engage before the drive chain is completely clamped.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TCU, inspect TCU data for chain slip, and visually inspect the chain guide. If evidence of chain slippage or damage is found, the transmission will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 19, 2022. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855. Vehicles previously recalled under 19V-855 will need to have the new remedy performed for this recall once available. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRK-21.
POWER TRAIN:SHIFT LINKAGE/CABLE/ROD Campaign 21V024000 · 2021-01-26 · Model years: 2021
Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) select lever cable nut may not have been tightened properly, allowing the nut to loosen.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and, if necessary, tighten the nut, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-21.
How common are Transmission / powertrain problems on the Subaru Outback?
95 of the 3,749 complaints about the Subaru Outback (2.5%) concern Transmission / powertrain, making it the model's #6 problem area. That share is 0.2× the Transmission / powertrain share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Subaru Outback model years have the most Transmission / powertrain complaints?
By model year, Transmission / powertrain complaints peak with the 2020 model (41, 5% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (3).
Is there a recall for Subaru Outback Transmission / powertrain problems?
5 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V755000 (2023-11-09, model years 2021, 2022 and 2023).