2010 Outback shut off unexpectedly on freeway

[corey76]

I was driving my 2010 3.6R Limited on the freeway on Sunday night and the car just shut off unexpectedly... engine shut off, instrument panel went dark, power steering off. I was able to veer the car to the shoulder safely. After stopping, I put it in Park, and it started right back up without any problem. I was able to drive back home, and then to the local dealer the next morning without the issue reoccurring. The dealer did a full diagnostic test of the electrical system etc. and of course did not find anything wrong. Anyone else ever experience this with their Outback?

Some notes:

- Was driving at about 65 MPH and was accelerating slightly when the issue occurred.
- I had just filled the gas tank a few miles earlier after it had gotten down to about a gallon left. I thought it could have been an air lock issue, but the dealer said that wouldn't have caused it.
- The battery was good and fully charged.
- I have not done any modifications to the vehicle, electrical system or otherwise.
- The issue did not trigger a service warning, so there was no record of the problem in the vehicle's OBD.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[Gibe54]

Originally Posted by corey76

I was driving my 2010 3.6R Limited on the freeway on Sunday night and the car just shut off unexpectedly... engine shut off, instrument panel went dark, power steering off. I was able to veer the car to the shoulder safely. After stopping, I put it in Park, and it started right back up without any problem. I was able to drive back home, and then to the local dealer the next morning without the issue reoccurring. The dealer did a full diagnostic test of the electrical system etc. and of course did not find anything wrong. Anyone else ever experience this with their Outback?

Some notes:

- Was driving at about 65 MPH and was accelerating slightly when the issue occurred.
- I had just filled the gas tank a few miles earlier after it had gotten down to about a gallon left. I thought it could have been an air lock issue, but the dealer said that wouldn't have caused it.
- The battery was good and fully charged.
- I have not done any modifications to the vehicle, electrical system or otherwise.
- The issue did not trigger a service warning, so there was no record of the problem in the vehicle's OBD.

Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Did you see any flying saucer above your car ? (Just kidding, of course!)
Since cars are more and more electronic depending, these disfunctions arrive more and more often.

[Drogos]

all you have mentioned has nothing to do with this event..... do you have RS?

[Bassman]

Corey, what you're describing seems to involve complete electrical shutdown of the car. Did the head lights go out also? I'm wondering if there's a problem with the battery or alternator in your car. Also, a loose cable at the battery, or a loose main ground might cause the problem.

Good luck - - hope this does not happen again to you, especially at night.

[subiesailor]

I recall another 2010 poster reporting this type of thing. Then shortly later had it do the same thing only it was dead. Tow truck driver showed up eye balled a few things under the hood and found a major wire harness bundle that wasn't plugged in tight. Plugged the plug in snug so it snapped into place and they were back in business.

I recall reading that Mercedes Benz cars have nearly a mile of wiring in them. I would guess that our subarus have at least a half mile of wiring in them lots of potential plugs that could or may not be plugged in tight. The dealer can't diagnose it till they see it happen or during a general eye ball look over spot something that clearly isn't plugged in tight etc.

[upflying]

If it happens again, make sure you file a complaint here. Might be a recall and safety issue.
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

[Sandroad]

Don't wait until it happens again to file a complaint with the NHTSA. This is a potentially very dangerous problem and both Subaru and the NHTSA need to know it happened. You were lucky to get off the road safely. Get after Subaru to find the problem in your car right away. The dealer can't do anything unless it shows up in the OBD. I can't imagine driving a car with this problem and not knowing when it will happen again. If the car acted as though the ignition switch had been turned off, you might get Subaru to look in that wiring harness and circuits first.

[subiesailor]

I've had a couple of cars shut down on me dead as dead gets at high way speeds its not super dangerous given the design of the systems are intended to allow you to get the car pulled over safely. It is very scary but generally not highly dangerous.

If it were GM would have been put out of business years ago due to nearly every GM owner even today experiencing a failed fuel pump at highway speeds! Yes it results in no engine and a very confused driver given everything else appears fine. It's even more disconcerting when your towing a boat down the highway when it happens!

[arizonaadam]

My 2010 3.6R hasn't stalled on the freeway, but has stalled twice at stop lights for no apparent reason. The dealer couldn't find anything wrong, of course. I posted about it here: Subaru Outback stalling. - The Garage Journal Board
and here: H6 stalls at stop sign.
Please update this thread if you find the cause!

Edit: I also took a video of my tach. Is some circumstances, the car wants to die but bounces back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfbEm...KYNV7P87CFM%3D

Adam

[4wheeldog]

Since everything went dead, I would suspect the ignition switch first. With the car running, wiggle the keys and generally fiddle with anything in the switch area. Saw the wheel back and forth, pull/push on the wheel,(Do this while parked). If you manage to duplicate the shutdown, it could be as simple as some smutz in the contacts of the switch.

Another place where everything comes together is the fusible link, (Should be in the fusebox under the hood). If it is at all loose, it could lose contact, and then work again when it wiggled back into contact.

Those are just two places that would be "Bottlenecks" for everything electrical. I am sure they checked the battery connections. Could also be a major ground connection.