Rough Outback Sport Idle Points to Engine Mount Failure

The symptoms you describe match what happened with my 2004 Impreza RS. The vibration issues started gradually, especially noticeable during idle, and eventually triggered engine codes. The motor mount failure was causing excessive movement, leading to inconsistent electrical connections and sensor readings. After inspection, both the passenger side and transmission mounts showed significant wear. The mounting bracket had actually cracked from the constant stress. This turned out to be a serious issue requiring immediate attention because failed mounts can cause additional problems: Damage to other engine components, Increased stress on transmission, Worsening vibration issues, Risk of complete mount failure The repair involved replacing all three motor mounts due to their age and wear patterns. Most shops will recommend replacing the full set when one fails, as they typically wear at similar rates. Worth noting that mount wear can be accelerated by: Frequent short trips, Aggressive driving, Climate conditions, Engine torque characteristics Getting this fixed sooner prevents cascading damage to other components. A proper diagnosis should include visual inspection of all mounting points while the engine is running.

Thanks for sharing that detailed experience. The same thing happened with my 2006 Outback Sport last winter. The rubber mount deterioration was causing those exact symptoms, rough idle and error codes. After seeing how the mount wear was affecting other components, I went ahead with the repair. Quick question, do you remember roughly what you paid for the full mount replacement? Also, have you noticed any other issues pop up since getting it fixed? Just wondering if I should keep an eye out for anything specific.

After getting the mount failure fixed, my Impreza has been running perfectly smooth with no recurring vibration issues. The mechanic found that besides the worn rubber mount, there was actually a loose cable connection causing intermittent sensor readings. Total repair came to 95€ for fixing the electrical component. The mounting bracket replacement I mentioned earlier turned out unnecessary, once they properly secured the loose connection and replaced the failed mount, all symptoms disappeared. Been about 8 months now with zero engine codes or irregular idle patterns. Much cheaper fix than initially expected since it didnt require replacing all mounts. Just make sure your shop does a thorough inspection of the electrical connections near the mount area, sometimes the vibration from a failing mount can loosen these over time.

After checking several shops, I finally took my Outback to an independent mechanic who specializes in these models. Got lucky, they diagnosed the motor mount issue right away and found the transmission mount was also showing early wear signs. Total repair cost came to 320€ for both mounts, including labor. The shop completed everything in about 4 hours. Since the fix, the engine runs perfectly smooth, no more vibration or error codes. The idle is steady again and acceleration feels much more controlled. Definitely keeping a closer eye on regular maintenance now. The mechanic showed me how to spot early signs of mount wear during oil changes. My only regret is not addressing it sooner when the symptoms first appeared. Could have prevented some extra wear on other components. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, get those mounts checked early. The mounting bracket inspection is a quick visual check that any decent shop can do during routine service. Much better than waiting for complete mount failure.