Recalls: Subaru BR Outback
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Subaru BR Outback
2010 model year Subaru BR Outback: CVT oil leak
In May 2010, a recall was issued for 2010 model year Subaru Outback models fitted with the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and in the chassis range 002075 to 006068. For these vehicles, the transmission may experience an oil leak from a faulty oil cooler hose (PRA 2010/11647).
2010 model year Subaru BR Outback: wiring fault in steering roll connector
In June 2010, a recall was issued for 2010 model year Subaru Outback models in the chassis number ranges 002005 to 004831. For some of these vehicles, there may be a wiring fault within the steering roll connector; this fault could affect the operation of the steering wheel cruise or audio controls, the operation of the horn, gearshift paddles (where fitted) and cause the airbag warning light to illuminate, which would cancel the operation of the airbag system (PRA 2010/11734).
Subaru BR Outback: lubricant passage omitted from manual transmission
In July 2010, a recall was issued for 2010 ‘manufacture year’ Subaru Outback vehicles fitted with a six-speed manual transmission. For some of these vehicles, the transmission was manufactured without a lubrication supply passage. Beyond 10,000 km, the insufficient supply of lubricant to the transmission may cause fretting of the third and fourth gear components and eventual failure of those driven gears (PRA 2010/11814). The recalled vehicles had VINs in the following ranges –
- Outback 2.5i: JF2BR9KM4AG 011114 to 013880; and,
- Outback 2.0 Diesel: JF2BRDKZ4AG 011053 to 013906.
2013 model year Subaru BR Outback 3.6R: parking pawl may not engage
In August 2013, a recall was issued for two (2) 2013 model year Subaru Outback vehicles with 3.6-litre petrol engines. For these vehicles, the parking pawl may not engage when the gear selector is set to the ‘park’ position, thereby preventing the parking mechanism from operating. If the parking brake was not applied, the vehicle may roll if parked on an incline. The VINs of the recalled vehicles were JF2BRFKU6DG050447 and JF2BRFKU6DG050527 (PRA 2013/13688).
Subaru BR Outback: front wiper motor cover and fire risk
In September 2016, a recall was issued for 2010 to 2014 ‘model year’ Subaru BR Outback vehicles. In these vehicles, the bottom cover of the front windscreen wiper motor may melt and pose a potential fire risk. For the VINs of the recalled Subaru BR Outback vehicles, please see PRA 2016/15655.
2010-14 model year Subaru BR Outback: Takata airbag recall
In April 2017, a recall was issued for 2010-14 model year Subaru BM/BR Liberty vehicles, though this recall was extended on 12 November 2017 and 18 April 2018. In these vehicles, propellant wafers within the front passenger airbag could absorb moisture over time – this could cause overly aggressive combustion of the airbag. As a result, the airbag inflator housing could rupture and metallic fragments could be dispersed throughout the cabin, posing a serious risk of injury to vehicle occupants. For the VINs of the recalled Subaru BR Outback vehicles, please see PRA 2017/16013.
2010-14 model year Subaru BR Outback: electronic parking brake circuit board may fracture
In September 2018, recall campaign SI0480 was issued for 2010-14 model year Subaru BR Outback vehicles. If the electronic parking brake (EPB) circuit board fractured, it would not be possible to apply or release the EPB and a warning light would illuminate to alert the driver. If the EPB could not be applied or released, the vehicle may be in breach of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) and could increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled Subaru BR Outback vehicles, please see PRA 2018/17047.
Subaru BR Outback: recall of like-for-like replacement Takata airbags
In April 2019, recall campaign SRT-271 was issued for Subaru BR Outback vehicles that had previously been recalled for ‘like-for-like’ replacement of their Takata airbags. As such, recall campaign SRT-271 was issued so that the replacement Takata airbags – which had the same defect whereby propellant wafers could absorb moisture over time – could be replaced with defect-free airbags. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17508.
Search online for recalls by VIN
To see if a Subaru vehicle has been recalled, you can conduct a search on the Subaru Australia website using its VIN.
Problems and faults: Subaru BR Outback
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2009-13 Subaru BR Outback 2.5i with CVT: low RPM when coming to rest
In February 2018, Subaru issued Technical Service Bulletin 16-90-13R for 2009-14 Subaru BM/BR Liberty 2.5i and BR Outback 2.5i vehicles that had continuously variable transmissions (Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ CVT). According to the bulletin, these vehicles may exhibit very low engine RPM when the vehicle is coming to rest, similar to a vehicle with a manual transmission coming to rest without depressing the clutch pedal. This problem was attributed to thrust washer wear inside the torque converter restricting the oil passage which was used to bleed off lock-up clutch application pressure – the result was either a delayed (momentary low engine rpm) or no lock-up pressure release. From 1 October 2013, a revised torque converter (#633208) was introduced into production to rectify this problem.
2009-14 Subaru BR Outback 2.5i CVT: seeping transmission fluid
In January 2019, Subaru issued Technical Service Bulletin 16-103-16R for 2009-14 Subaru BR Outback 2.5i vehicles that had TR690 continuously variable transmissions (Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ CVT). According to the bulletin, gasket material sealing failure could cause continuously variable transmission fluid (CVTF) to seep from the CVT’s oil pump chain cover. To fix, the cover was to be removed, cleaned, the sealing surfaces inspected, and then the cover was to be re-sealed.
Subaru BR Outback: ‘Lineartronic’ CVT slow to engage drive/reverse
Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) are slower to shift to/from reverse or drive than conventional automatic transmissions – this occurs because significant pressure must be generated before the sheaves (i.e. the sides of the pulley that contact the metal belt) can clamp the belt such that it will not slip. According to Subaru service manuals, the normal delay or lag when switching into reverse or drive from park is 1.5 seconds or less.
Some Subaru owners, however, have reported delays of around three (3) or four (4) seconds when switching between reverse and drive. While re-flashing the transmission control module (TCM) and replacing the CVT fluid have reduced the delay to within Subaru’s normal range, the delay has subsequently increased over time.
2009-14 Subaru BR Outback 2.5i CVT: extended warranty in USA
In March 2018, Subaru of America issued service bulletin 16-107-17R which extended the powertrain warranty for the continuously variable transmissions (Subaru’s ‘Lineartronic’ CVT) in 2009-14 Subaru BR Outback 2.5i CVT vehicles from five years or 60,000 miles (whichever came first) to ten years and 100,000 miles (whichever came first).
Subaru of America claimed that the change was not in response to any specific condition, but ‘to provide customers with added reassurance regarding the function and overall performance of their CVT’. After expiration of the original warranty period, however, owners have reported that the transmission may shudders (or shake), particularly when slowing down. Other symptoms include hesitations and occasional stalling.
Subaru BR Outback 2.5i: EJ253 head gasket failure
In rare cases, the 2.5-litre EJ253 F4 engines may experience head gasket failure due to external oil leaks or warped cylinder heads.
- Symptoms: early signs of head gasket failure include an oily residue in the coolant overflow bottle, or an exhaust/fuel/sulfur smell in the coolant overflow bottle. Beyond this, the coolant temperature gauge may intermittently show higher-than-normal readings, followed by intermittent overheating (particularly during long highway drives). In the case of external leaks, these can be spotted by a visual inspection of the bottom side of the engine with the splash pan removed.
- Prevention: to minimise the risk of head gasket failure,
- 1) oil and coolant should be changed regularly and in accordance with how the car is used. As such, the scheduled time/kilometre intervals may be inadequate in some cases; and,
- 2) any corrosion around battery cables should be removed. Corroded battery cables increased ground circuit resistance, thereby increasing the voltage in the cooling system and causing electrolysis; the coolant could also damage the metal head gasket and seals.
Subaru BR.II Outback 2.5i: FB25 engine and high oil consumption
Due to high oil consumption by Subaru vehicles – including the 2013-2014MY Subaru BR Outback – with FB20 and FB25 engines, Subaru USA issued a series of technical bulletins (02-143-13R, 02-144-13R and 02-145-13R) which attributed the oil consumption to unanticipated wear of the oil control piston rings. Bulletins 02-143-13R, 02-144-13R and 02-145-13R, however, were subsequently replaced by technical bulletin 02-157-14R which stated that the engine short block assembly (i.e. the middle section of the engine) would be replaced to remedy high oil consumption, not the oil control piston rings. It has been suggested that the short block assembly required replacement because of defects in the honing process of the cylinders.
2012-14 Subaru BR.II Outback 2.5i: rough idle, extended cranking times or won’t start
In June 2013, Subaru issued Service Bulletin 11-130-13R for 2012-14 Subaru BR.II Outback vehicles with 2.5-litre FB25 engines. For these vehicles, the driver may notice illumination of the ‘check engine’ light, a rough or uneven idle, extended cranking times or an inability to start the vehicle. Furthermore, the powertrain control module (PCM) may log diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) related to the position of the intake or exhaust camshafts and/or engine misfires – these included P0340, P0341, P0345, P0346, P0365, P0366, P0390, P0391, P0301, P0302, P0303 and P0304.
According to the bulletin, these diagnostic trouble codes may be attributable to camshaft position sensor (CPS) clearance being out of specification. To fix, Subaru issued two camshaft position sensor shim kits and a camshaft position sensor O-ring that were to be used to correct camshaft position sensor clearance.
