2011 Subaru Outback Engine Problems
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 104,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (24% of reports).
- 85engine complaints
- 104,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Torque converter: mentioned in 20 of 85 complaints (24%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 9 of 85 complaints (11%)
- Service bulletin: mentioned in 5 of 85 complaints (6%)
- Put park: mentioned in 5 of 85 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2011 Subaru Outback at $2,550, and half of them between $2,450 and $3,300.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 63 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 85 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Subaru Outback engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 5 | 6% | 13,000 |
| 2024 Outback | 7 | 7% | 7,000 |
| 2023 Outback | 1 | 1% | 12,800 |
| 2022 Outback | 23 | 5% | 20,000 |
| 2021 Outback | 21 | 7% | 18,250 |
| 2020 Outback | 49 | 5% | 7,250 |
| 2019 Outback | 39 | 4% | 9,300 |
| 2018 Outback | 37 | 5% | 6,000 |
| 2017 Outback | 43 | 5% | 31,952 |
| 2016 Outback | 53 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2015 Outback | 47 | 9% | 44,000 |
| 2014 Outback | 35 | 17% | 31,733 |
| 2013 Outback | 67 | 23% | 48,000 |
| 2012 Outback | 50 | 17% | 114,500 |
| 2011 Outback | 85 | 13% | 104,000 |
| 2010 Outback | 44 | 12% | 112,000 |
| 2009 Outback | 15 | 14% | 112,500 |
| 2008 Outback | 14 | 6% | 100,450 |
| 2007 Outback | 15 | 12% | 90,000 |
| 2006 Outback | 43 | 16% | 104,000 |
| 2005 Outback | 10 | 4% | 117,000 |
| 2004 Outback | 2 | 2% | 137,000 |
| 2003 Outback | 5 | 5% | 123,400 |
| 2002 Outback | 5 | 3% | 135,000 |
| 2000 Outback | 3 | 1% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2011 Subaru Outback. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Purchased my 2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited from the dealership, new. Since 2013, the Subaru dealer has discovered multiple oil leaks, replaced the head gaskets 3 times, thermostat 4 times, the alternator 3 times, timing belt 4 times, radiator 3 times, starter once, and my HVAC system twice...all…
Took my vehicle in for oil change and was notified the cam carrier is leaking. Researching this issue online it seems this is a very common problem with this vehicle and if I had known earlier wouldnât have purchased for my daughter. With such a common problem I wonder why a recall hasnât been…
When I came to a stop at a light, the car stalled and the engine turned off. It was just as if I was driving a manual transmission and didn't put the clutch down while in gear. I spoke with my husband about the issue and he told me it has been happening for several months now. I have researched it…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Subaru Outbacks have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 85 owner complaints about engine for the 2011 Subaru Outback (13% of the 652 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Subaru Outback engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 104,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,550 (half paid between $2,450 and $3,300), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 20 of 85 complaints, followed by “head gasket” (9).
Other 2011 Subaru Outback problems
See all 2011 Subaru Outback problems or engine problems across all Outback years.