2016 Subaru Outback Power Train

I’m unable to remove the car key from the ignition when the vehicle shifter is in Park.

The "SELECT LEVER COMPLETE" or fear shift neutral park sensor switch stops working. Subaru has acknowledged the issue and issued a TSB (NUMBER: 16-112-18R). The issue is that the car does not sense it is in park or Neutral, even though the shifter is in that position. For keyed cars, the key cannot be removed and for push to start the car rear gate does not open and an alarm sounds when doors are open when the ignition is on. The car warns to move shifter to Park, even though the car is shifted to park. Car has been serviced several times with complaints indicating symptoms of issue, but was never informed of cause and lever select was never replaced.

Transmission went out at 72,000 miles. Was told it was not covered by warranty even though I purchased extended warranty. Will never buy another Subaru again. Spoke to a person at customer service who said she would take care of it. Made 19 calls over 3 months and no one returned a call. Terrible customer service at the main office.

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be serviced; however, while the mechanic was inspecting the vehicle, he noticed oil splatter inside the engine compartment. The vehicle was diagnosed with an oil leak. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V502000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,315.

The transmission, without warning, stopped functioning.

oil leak from power train

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently started shuddering and jerking. The contact also stated that the vehicle was making abnormal sounds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that she was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission had failed. Then, the vehicle was taken to the dealer who tests drove the vehicle and diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would replace the transmission, but she would be responsible for the cost of the labor. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND VIOLENTLY HALTED THE CAR TO A STOP. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT IT WASN'T DURING A BUSY TIME AND AN ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. THIS TRANSMISSION ONLY HAD 67,000 MILES ON IT AND IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT CAR HAS HAD. IN 2018 THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER 68,000 MILES. LUCKILY IT WAS FULLY COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED WHEN I BOUGHT IT. LATER THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE GIVEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION WHICH EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000. THE NEWEST TRANSMISSION (THE ONE THAT JUST VIOLENTLY GRINDED TO A HALT ON THE HIGHWAY) CURRENTLY HAS 67,000 MILES ON THAT NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR THE 100,000 WARRANTY EXTENSION BECAUSE THE REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE HAS 135,000 MILES ON IT. I DO COUNT MYSELF LUCKY THAT THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND WE COULD'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT.

FOR A FEW YEARS OFF AND ON WITH THE CAR STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE PARKING, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN FROM THE ACC TO OFF POSITION OR RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. OF THE SEVERAL TIMES WE MENTIONED IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS OUR TECHNIQUE, NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. FINALLY A DEALERSHIP REPORTED THE SHIFT ASSEMBLY WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE CAR WAS IN PARK THUS WOULD NOT TURN THE KEY PAST THE ACCESSORY POSITION TO OFF OR RELEASE THE KEY. THIS OCCURRED WITH MULTIPLE KEYS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT YOU CANNOT LOCK THE CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. ALSO, IF YOU CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY AND LEAVE THE CAR, YOU ARE HANDING THE CAR OVER TO WHOMEVER WANTS TO STEAL IT. ONLY WITH LOTS OF TIME, STARTING THE CAR, PUTTING IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR, THEN BACK TO PARK AND TURNING IT OFF AGAIN, WITH LUCK THE ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES YOU ARE IN PARK AND ALLOWS THE KEY TURN TO OFF AND ALLOWS THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. THE DEALERSHIP WHO IDENTIFIED THE DEFECTIVE SHIFT ASSEMBLY STATED THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $1100.00.

THE CVT TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 79K MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING THE CAR TO VIOLENTLY STALL. WE BARELY AVOIDED HITTING THE CARS AROUND US TRYING TO PULL OVER. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO CAR TO REAR END US. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND WHEN THEY FAIL, THEY FAIL IN A SPECTACULAR MANNER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND STALL, A TRAUMATIC EVENT EQUIVALENT TO JUMPING ON THE BREAKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO DIE IN CRASHES. SUBARU NEEDS TO RECALL EVERY SINGLE CVT AND STOP PUTTING THEM IN NEW CARS. EXTENDING THE WARRANTY IS INSUFFICIENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED ON AN OFF MULTIPLE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STUCKEY SUBARU (500 BROAD ST, HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA 16648, (814) 695-9862) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,017. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIRMAN. THE TUMBLE AND SWITCH WERE REPLACED. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ISSUE AGAIN A WEEK LATER AND TOOK VEHICLE TO STUCKEY SUBARU (HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA). THEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. CONSUMER STATES THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *DL

WOBBLING AND SHAKING OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION (WHEN ACCELERATING). HAPPENS ON STREET AND ON HIGHWAY. SERVICE ADVISOR RECOMMENDED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER FROM THE MANUFACTURER AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS.

CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. IT WAS TRULY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE THE BABY WAS IN THE CAR AND IT WAS DURING MORNING COMMUTE RUSH HOURS WHEN EVERYONE IS RUSHING. THE CAR IS RELATIVELY NEW WITH 35K MILES AND AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND WAITING FOR MY TURN TO MAKE A LEFT. THE CAR WAS IN 'DRIVE' AND I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE GREEN LEFT TURN ARROW CAME, I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I MOVED FROM 'DRIVE' TO 'PARK' AND BACK TO 'DRIVE' AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I MOVED FROM 'DRIVE' TO 'PARK' AND TURNED OFF THE CAR ENGINE. THEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MOVED FROM 'PARK' TO 'DRIVE' AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I BEGAN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL HEAVY TRYING TO AT LEAST MAYBE MOVE TO SAFETY AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR FELT VERY SLUGGISH BUT IT MOVED. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFERED BY SUBARU REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION, BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS DANGEROUS TO MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO NOT PUT ANY PEOPLE'S LIFE AT UNNECESSARY RISKS.

I REGULARLY CANNOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHILE IN PARK. THE IGNITION DOES NOT SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, SO I HAVE TO RESTART CAR, SHIFT DO DRIVE, RESHIFT TO PARK AND TRY TO REMOVE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY AND IS WORST WHEN PARKED ON A HILL.

SUBARU OUTBACK 2016 4DR 2.5I - VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO SUBARU DEALER IN CHANDLER AZ AND DEALER CHANGED RIGHT-REAR WHEEL HUB BEARING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 67 K MILES.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE OFTEN CAUSING A JERKING MOTION OF THE CAR WHICH IS UNDIAGNOSED FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. SUBARU EXTENDED THE TRANSMISSION WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR. I WANT IT FIXED. MY WIFE AND I HAVE COMPLAINED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW (2016 MODEL)

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN PUT INTO PARK AND CAN'T TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION AFTER TURNING CAR OFF.

FRONT RIGHT CV JOINT STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND THAT BECAME EXTREMELY BAD AFTER ONE MONTH. WE WERE TOLD TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY DUE TO SAFETY HAZARD. HAD TO REPLACE THE CV AXEL COSTING OVER $600. GOT IT BACK FROM THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP, JUST TO BE TOLD THE LEFT ONE IS NOW GOING OUT AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.

WHEN STOPPED, UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION (UNABLE TO MOVE KEY FROM ACC POSITION TO LOCK POSITION SUCH THAT KEY REMAINS IN IGNITION). SAFETY CONCERN: UNACCOMPANIED CHILD COULD START VEHICLE. UNLOCKED VEHICLE COULD BE STOLEN WITH KEYS IN IGNITION.

HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT CAR JOLTING AT STOP LIGHTS ON OCCASION IN GEAR AT FULL STOP AT LIGHTS. NO DIAGNOSIS. CHANGED GAS THINKING IT MIGHT HELP. SEEMED TO. NO DIAGNOSIS. THEN CAR JUMPED HARD BACKWARDS IN REVERSE COMING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. COULD HAVE HIT CAR BEHIND HAD WE BEEN PARALLEL PARKED INSTEAD OF ANGLE. TOOK CAR IN AND DEALER REPLACED CVT AT NO CHARGE BUT WARNED US IT WOULD CONTINUE TO JUMP IN REVERSE WITH THE NEW CVT AND IT DOES JUST AS IT DID WHEN WE TOOK IT IN. NOW WE HAVE TO REMEMBER TO GRIND DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN GOING INTO REVERSE. THAT ISN'T RIGHT OR SAFE.

MY 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6 LIMITED HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I NOTICED AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC HE SAID IT NEEDED A WHEEL BEARING AND THE WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. HE REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING/HUB BUT SAID THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND SUGGESTED I BRING IT TO A SUBARU DEALER FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER THEY SAID IT NEED TWO ADDITIONAL WHEEL BEARINGS. THEY SAID IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND GAVE ME A LOANER CAR UNTIL IT CAN BE FIXED. AS MY CAR IS STILL WAITING TO BE FIXED I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION YET. BUT I STILL DO WORRY WHEN AND IF THAT 4TH BEARING/HUB WILL FAIL.

KEY STICKS IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THE FAILING PARK POSITION SWITCH DID NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO BE TURNED TO THE FULLY OFF POSITION FOR KEY REMOVAL.

WHEN I BACK UP AND STOP AND PUT TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE THERE IS A 3 TO 4 SECOND HESITATION BEFORE THE VEHICLE GOES FORWARD. THIS HESITATION PUTS ME INTO RISK AS I BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONTO A BUSY URBAN STREET. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS THE WAY THE CVT TRANSMISSION WORKS. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER THE 1ST WEEK THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 09/30/2015. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WHEN GOING FROM A QUICK REVERSE TO DRIVE.

STATIONARY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ON ANY INCLINE WHEN IN GEAR. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ROLLS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID ALL VEHICLES ROLL WHEN IN GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 13 VEHICLES IN MY LIFE, THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ROLL IN GEAR WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY THE LAST 8 VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER DENIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO ITERATIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK ON A GOOD SLOPE FOR AT LEAST THREE FEET AND THEN THE TIRES SPUN WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE ON THIS CAR MAY HAVE BEEN OF ASSISTANCE BUT I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH IT. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ENGAGED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. HAD THIS SLIPPAGE HAPPENED AT A STOPLIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE A MANUAL WITHOUT A CLUTCH.

STATIONARY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ON ANY INCLINE WHEN IN GEAR. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ROLLS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID ALL VEHICLES ROLL WHEN IN GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 13 VEHICLES IN MY LIFE, THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ROLL IN GEAR WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY THE LAST 8 VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER DENIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO ITERATIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK ON A GOOD SLOPE FOR AT LEAST THREE FEET AND THEN THE TIRES SPUN WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE ON THIS CAR MAY HAVE BEEN OF ASSISTANCE BUT I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH IT. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ENGAGED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. HAD THIS SLIPPAGE HAPPENED AT A STOPLIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE A MANUAL WITHOUT A CLUTCH.