2011 Subaru Outback Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 216 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 114,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “torque converter” (43% of reports).
- 216power train complaints
- 114,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 21%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 92 of 216 complaints (43%)
- Valve body: mentioned in 19 of 216 complaints (9%)
- Bulletin 13R: mentioned in 18 of 216 complaints (8%)
- CVT transmission: mentioned in 12 of 216 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2011 Subaru Outback at $4,550, and half of them between $2,500 and $9,000.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2025), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 176 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 216 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Subaru Outback power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outback | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2025 Outback | 5 | 6% | 14,500 |
| 2024 Outback | 6 | 6% | 550 |
| 2023 Outback | 5 | 6% | — |
| 2022 Outback | 18 | 4% | 13,927 |
| 2021 Outback | 12 | 4% | 27,400 |
| 2020 Outback | 48 | 5% | 23,000 |
| 2019 Outback | 16 | 2% | 26,214 |
| 2018 Outback | 14 | 2% | 6,750 |
| 2017 Outback | 47 | 5% | 27,000 |
| 2016 Outback | 45 | 7% | 35,021 |
| 2015 Outback | 37 | 7% | 30,000 |
| 2014 Outback | 25 | 12% | 17,500 |
| 2013 Outback | 60 | 20% | 95,426 |
| 2012 Outback | 107 | 37% | 101,000 |
| 2011 Outback | 216 | 33% | 114,000 |
| 2010 Outback | 94 | 26% | 94,000 |
| 2009 Outback | 8 | 8% | 34,729 |
| 2008 Outback | 12 | 5% | 57,523 |
| 2007 Outback | 9 | 7% | 26,000 |
| 2006 Outback | 17 | 6% | 114,702 |
| 2005 Outback | 17 | 6% | 46,000 |
| 2004 Outback | 10 | 11% | 30,000 |
| 2003 Outback | 13 | 14% | 74,000 |
| 2002 Outback | 20 | 14% | 50,000 |
| 2001 Outback | 23 | 13% | 25,750 |
| 2000 Outback | 42 | 20% | 58,000 |
| 1999 Outback | 29 | 26% | 65,000 |
| 1998 Outback | 19 | 15% | 69,000 |
| 1997 Outback | 8 | 10% | 139,469 |
| 1996 Outback | 5 | 11% | 87,696 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 outback and legacy passenger vehicles manufactured from april 28 through june 23, 2010. Due to a programming error, a lubrication hole within the 6-speed manual transmission was omitted.
Risk: If the transmission gears are not properly lubricated, a groaning sound may begin to develop alerting the driver of a problem. If the sound is ignored and no action is taken, the gears will eventually break and this condition will lead to vehicle power loss, possibly resulting in a crash.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles by drilling an oil lubrication hole and, if necessary, replace the internal parts with new ones free of charge. The safety recall began on july 28, 2010. Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My CVT Transmission started having problems with the Valve Body inside the transmission. On acceleration from a complete stop my vehicle would start "bucking" hard causing a violent back and forth rocking or "jerking" of the drive train and vehicle. I did not request a inspection of the failed…
The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission output shift was bent and needed to be…
Torque converter issue that causes stalling similar to a manual transmission vehicle. The issue should have been a full recall but instead was only a "bulletin." For my own safety, I am stuck paying several thousand dollars for an issue the manufacturer is aware of but refused to cover by full…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2011 Subaru Outbacks have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 216 owner complaints about power train for the 2011 Subaru Outback (33% 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 114,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,550 (half paid between $2,500 and $9,000), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2011 Subaru Outback?
The most frequent phrase is “torque converter”, in 92 of 216 complaints, followed by “valve body” (19).
Other 2011 Subaru Outback problems
See all 2011 Subaru Outback problems or power train problems across all Outback years.