How common are transmission problems in the 2010 Subaru Outback?

NHTSA lists 93 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2010 Outback, making up 26% of all 356 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a transmission recall for the 2010 Subaru Outback?

Yes. Recall 10V326000, reported July 20, 2010, covers a programming error that left a lubrication hole issue in the 6-speed manual transmission on 2010-2011 Outback and Legacy vehicles. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.

At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2010 Outback is 97,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.

What kind of transmission symptoms do owners report most?

Owners most often describe stalling when depressing the clutch or slowing to a stop, sometimes with loss of power steering and braking, along with some reports of shuddering in automatic-equipped cars.

Did the transmission issue cause any crashes or fires?

NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2010 Outback lists 1 crash and 1 fire among the 93 complaints, with 0 injuries reported.

2010 Subaru Outback Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 93 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2010 Subaru Outback, 26% of that year's 356 total complaints. Median mileage at failure was 97,000 miles, and a recall (10V326000) covers a lubrication hole defect in the 6-speed manual transmission.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 93; 26% of 356
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 1
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 97,000 mi
Related recalls: 1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Manual transmission cars stall when the clutch is depressed while slowing to a stop or shifting down, often accompanied by dash warning lights and loss of power steering and braking.
Owners describe repeated near-stalls or full stalls within the first minutes of driving, sometimes worsened when air conditioning is running.
Some automatic transmission owners report severe shuddering combined with RPMs dropping near zero when slowing down.
A few drivers report hesitation or delayed acceleration after braking, where the vehicle pauses before responding to the throttle.
One report describes the engine failing to restart after being parked, requiring towing and repeated restart attempts.

When 2010 Subaru Outback transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 16, 2010, latest Jun 15, 2025.

93 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q1 to 2025 Q2; peak 2010 Q3 (9).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2010 Subaru Outback

NHTSA 10V326000Jul 20, 2010Transmission & Powertrain809 vehicles
Power train:manual transmission
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.
Remedy: 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.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Outback model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201093 (26%)
2011216 (33%)
2012107 (37%)
201360 (20%)
201425 (12%)
201537 (7%)
201645 (7%)
201747 (5%)
201814 (2%)
201915 (1%)
202046 (5%)
202112 (4%)
202218 (4%)
20235 (6%)
20246 (6%)
20254 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2010 Subaru Outback?: NHTSA lists 93 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2010 Outback, making up 26% of all 356 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2010 Subaru Outback?: Yes. Recall 10V326000, reported July 20, 2010, covers a programming error that left a lubrication hole issue in the 6-speed manual transmission on 2010-2011 Outback and Legacy vehicles. It is not a do-not-drive or park-outside recall.
At what mileage do transmission problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2010 Outback is 97,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.
What kind of transmission symptoms do owners report most?: Owners most often describe stalling when depressing the clutch or slowing to a stop, sometimes with loss of power steering and braking, along with some reports of shuddering in automatic-equipped cars.
Did the transmission issue cause any crashes or fires?: NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2010 Outback lists 1 crash and 1 fire among the 93 complaints, with 0 injuries reported.