Subaru Outback Complaints (2007)
130 consumer complaints on file.
- #11233105July 18, 2019AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE EXPERIENCE A MULTITUDE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE LL BEAN VERSION OF THE 2207 OUTBACK. MOST RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYING ON CONSISTENTLY, WHICH APPEARS TO BE A REPORTED ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT FUNCTION WITH THE LIGHT ON, IT IS COSTLY TO REPAIR OVER $400 + DIAGNOSTIC OF $115. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, IT WOULD COM EON INTERMITTENTLY, NO IT REMAINS ON 100% OF THE TIME. I COMMUTE 100 MILES EACH DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK ON A TWO-LANE, RURAL HIGHWAY AND WORRY I NEED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE SOONER THAN LATER DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ONLY PASSING THE SAFETY ISSUE TO A NEW OWNER. THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE SUBARU'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX AS THERE ARE MANY THAT CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A FIX AND IS NOT REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SHOULD NEVER BE AN ISSUE. NOT SURE IF I WOULD BUY A SUBARU AGAIN AFTER OWNING THIS ONE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS WITH THE REAR WIRE HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE REAR DEFROSTER, ETC. $800 TO REPLACE THIS AFTER WE HAD DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED DURING OUR LAST TUNE UP. SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE ARE MANY FAULTY ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY ISSUES THAT WERE NOT OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY - MAYBE A TAPING OR SOLDERING ISSUE. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T SPARK AND START A FIRE....
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11231670July 14, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WELL I LOST ALL THROTTLE CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHICH DISABLED THE VDC AND CRUISE AND THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. WHEN SHUTTING THE CAR OFF IT IS VERY HARD TO RESTART. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO IT JUST PULSES FORWARD SO MORE BRAKE PEDAL IS NEEDED. IF YOU PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE REVS HIGH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TPS NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE THROTTLE SERVO VIA THE TCM. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS AT RANDOM. USUALLY WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11209770May 24, 2019AIR BAGS, INTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE MAP LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO TURN OFF. LIBERTY AUTO CITY SUBARU (1000 E PARK AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 362-3800) CONFIRMED THAT THE MAP LIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO TURN OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *AS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11209777May 24, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKET. LIBERTY AUTO CITY SUBARU (1000 E PARK AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048, (847) 362-3800) DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. *BF *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11203311April 24, 2019ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SERIOUS MECHANICAL ISSUES REGARDING DEFECTIVE RADIATOR COOLING FANS & MOTOR THAT PROPELS THE FANS TO SPIN PROPERLY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11203422April 24, 2019SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED ON A CITY STREET, APPROACHING HIGHWAY ON-RAMP - CAR BEING DRIVEN BY A 17 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER - THANKFULLY NO COLLISION OR DAMAGE TO PERSON OR PROPERTY OCCURRED. AFTER INSPECTION, REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/PERFORATION AT 2-2 WAY CONNECTOR AT 176K MILES AFTER TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE SUPPOSEDLY EXECUTED. DATES OF NOTE: ' 2007 - VEHICLE SOLD BY ANCHOR SUBARU, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI TO ORIGINAL OWNER (NOT ME) ' JUNE 11, 2013 - RECALL WQG-43 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED ' CAR HAS 132K MILES ' AUGUST 13, 2014 - RECALL WQK-47 PERFORMED WITH FIRST OWNER AT ANCHOR SUBARU ' SPRAY WAX APPLIED A SECOND TIME ' CAR HAS 152K MILES ' MAY 7, 2017 ' VEHICLE RE-SOLD TO 2ND OWNER (ME), ' CAR HAS 166K MILES ' MARCH 12, 2019 ' VEHICLE BRAKES FAIL ' CAR HAS 176K MILES MAKES NO SENSE HOW, IN A SPAN OF ONLY 24K MILES FROM WHEN THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THE SECOND TIME AT 152K MILES, UNTIL THE BRAKE FAILURE AT 176K MILES, THE TWICE-APPLIED WAX 'REMEDY' PERFORMED IN THE RECALL ACTIONS WORE OFF COMPLETELY, AND, THE BRAKE LINE COMPLETED CORRODED AND FAILED. THIS DOES NOT SEEM POSSIBLE NOR PROBABLE, AND, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, THEN THE 'REMEDY' THAT WAS PROVIDED BY SUBARU WAS UNSUITABLE, OR, THE DEALERSHIP INCORRECTLY APPLIED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE CORROSION FROM HAPPENING. I HAVE NO PROOF THAT THIS WORK WAS ACTUALLY PERFORMED. I BELIEVE THAT THE SPRAY-ON WAX WAS NOT CORRECTLY APPLIED IN NEITHER METHOD NOR QUANTITY ON MY VEHICLE. ANCHOR SUBARU WOULD NOT COVER THIS UNDER THE RECALL. PAID MY OWN MECHANIC TO FIX THE ISSUE. SENT REGISTERED LETTERS TO SUBARU OF AMERICA AND TO THE 3 OWNERS OF THE DEALERSHIP OVER A MONTH AGO AND NONE HAVE RESPONDED TO MY CONCERNS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11157245December 10, 2018SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE BROKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDER THE REAR DOOR . I COULD SEE THE FLUID COMING OUT THROUGH A COVER OF SOME KIND THAT I THINK IS TO PROTECT THE FUEL TANK. I WAS DRIVING AND NEEDED TO STOP AND THE PEDAL WENT SUDDENLY TO THE FLOOR AND I WENT PAST WHERE I TRIED TO STOP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11154383November 27, 2018STEERING
ON 11/23/2018, I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND DOWN A HILL IN THE INSIDE LANE OF A HIGHWAY IN LIGHT DRIZZLE, SPEED APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE HIGHWAY WAS WET BUT NO STANDING WATER. SUDDENLY THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN ALTERNATELY PULLING TO THE LEFT, THEN RIGHT, THEN LEFT, THEN RIGHT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WEAVE UNCONTROLLABLY. AFTER JUST A FEW SECONDS THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE, SPINNING TO FACE THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. THE CAR THEN SWUNG UP AN EMBANKMENT ALONG THE ROADSIDE, SKIDDED BACKWARDS ON ITS LEFT SIDE, THEN CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY, STILL FACING THE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC. IN A FEW MINUTES, HIGHWAY PATROL ARRIVED, AND A PATROLMAN BACKED THE CAR DOWN THE HILL ABOUT 200 YARDS TO AN EXIT. AS HE WAS BACKING, THE FRONT END AGAIN WAS WEAVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT HAPPENED, BUT IT DID NOT BEGIN WITH APPLYING BRAKES OR SKIDDING ON THE WET SURFACE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11153482November 24, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2007 OUTBACK WAGON TAILGATE LIGHTS, LOCK FAILED TO WORK. SOME OF THE WIRING WITHIN THE FLEXIBLE RUBBER CONDUIT BROKE AND SHORTED OUT THE FUSE. THE WIRES COULD NOT ENDURE THE REPEATED MOTION OF THE TAILGATE MOVEMENT. I HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE UPPER BRAKE LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHTS, TAILGATE LOCK ARE AFFECTED. I BELIEVE THE REAR WIPER MOTOR WIRING IS IN THE SAME HARNESS. A PREVIOUS OWNER MADE A REPAIR OF ONE WIRE AS SEEN IN THE PHOTO. REPAIR DID NOT HOLD UP. SUBARU SHOULD CORRECT THE CONDITION AT NO CHARGE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11097141May 21, 2018AIR BAGS
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A DEALER AS IS .I WAS TOLD OF A RECALL FOR AIR BAG WICH IS SHOWING ZERO FOR RECALLS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE CAR IS RED THOUGH .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11078657March 12, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE A FLAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, THE JACK COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE JACK FAILED TO HOLD THE VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE GARAGE AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE ON A FLAT SURFACE AND THE JACK WAS PROPERLY INSERTED INTO THE LIFT AREA SUGGESTED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11073624February 19, 2018POWER TRAIN
... INNER-RIGHT FRONT CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT PERCHED, DIRECTLY OVER THE STARBOARD SIDE EXHAUST, COOKS THE CV BOOT, CAUSING IT TO FAIL, SCATTERING GREASE WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY FLASHES ON THE EXHAUST DIRECTLY BELOW, INDUCING AN ENGINE BAY FIRE - A.S. JOSEPH
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11057883January 1, 2018SUSPENSION
VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT LESS THAN NORMAL SPEED, STRAIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING THIS MORNING ON I-69, SOUTH OF LANSING, AND ON I-94, BETWEEN I-69 AND M131. ROAD HAD NO SNOW, BUT PATCHY ICE CONDITIONS. BACK OF VEHICLE WAS LOADED WITH SUITCASES AND TELESCOPE. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS FELT MULTIPLE, SLIPPAGE IN CONTROL OF VEHICLE = UNSAFE. OTHER VEHICLES DRIVING AT GREATER SPEEDS THAN OURS WERE NOT EXPERIENCING ISSUES. CONFIDENCE WAS LOST IN THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN TRACTION. DRIVER FEEL WAS THAT TWO REAR TIRES WERE ALTERNATING WHICH TIRE HAD MORE AUTHORITY IN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FELT AS UNNERVING AS PRIOR DRIVER EXPERIENCE WITH BLOWING OUT THE REAR TIRE ON A GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. DRIVER FOUND THIS ON INTERNET, AND IT DESCRIBES EXPERIENCE WE HAD TODAY: "SUMMARY OF THE GHOSTWALKING SYMPTOMS: IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ESPECIALLY ON ICE, SOME USA 2005-2009 OUTBACKS APPEAR TO HAVE A CHASSIS TUNING ISSUE WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION OSCILLATES IN SUCH A WAY TO CAUSE REAR-STEER. THIS IS NOT FISHTAILING DUE TO USING TOO MUCH GAS, LIFTING OFF THE GAS MID-CORNER, OR HITTING THE BRAKES TOO ABRUPTLY. THIS CAN OCCUR DURING STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS. ROAD FEEL AND HANDLING CONFIDENCE IS TOTALLY LOST WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT 100% REPRODUCIBLE AND SUBARU HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. SUBARU DID REVISE THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS FOR THESE CARS IN 2007 DUE TO REAR TIRE WEAR COMPLAINTS. THE CHANGE TO ALIGNMENT SPEC TIGHTENS THE TOLERANCE FOR REAR TOE."
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11030835October 2, 2017VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON HWY 213, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, LOST POWER(LIMP MODE), CRUISE CONTROL FLASHING. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD ON HILL(BARELY ABLE TO MAKE SAFE SPOT). TURNED OUT VEHICLE. RESTARTED(LIGHTS STILL WARNING), BACK UP AND FORWARD TO ASSURE POWER. DECIDED TO TRY TO GET TO NEARBY COMMUNITY/AUTO SHOP. WAS ABLE TO DO SO. DIAGNOSIS: P2138. THEY PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE, RESULTS INCONCLUSIVE. CYCLED THE ACCELERATOR THROUGH NUMEROUS POSITIONS AND RATERS WITH VARIATIONS ON POSITION/PRESSURE APPLIED TO PEDAL, AND MONITOR LAB SCOPE. SENSOR SIGNALS WERE PRECISE AND WITHOUT ERRORS. OWNER RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS CASED OF SAME-WITHOUT RESOLUTION FOR MANY PEOPLE-REOCCURRING WITH COSTLY REPAIRS TO ATTEMPT REPAIR. SUGGESTED CALLING SUBARU.COM WHICH I DID. NO REASSURANCE AS TO PROBLEM BEING FIXED, JUST SAID TAKE IT TO A DEALER. CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AS I DRIVE MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN CAR, AS WELL AS SAFETY FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS. WILL TAKE IT TO DEALER BUT NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A PERMANENT FIX AND SAFETY OF FUTURE DRIVING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11024970September 22, 2017SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR SHOCK SUPPORT WAS FRACTURED AND SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. BILL MCBRIDE SUBARU (5105 U.S. AVE, PLATTSBURGH, NY 12901, (518) 561-7400) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11021160September 2, 2017SEATS
NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE OF ELECTRIC DRIVER SEAT BOTTOM DID NOT RAISE CORRECTLY. REMOVED SEAT TO FIND BROKEN SPOT WELDS ON BRACKET CONNECTING THE BAR THAT RAISES SEAT FRONT TO THE SEAT FRAME ITSELF.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11013513August 7, 2017ENGINE
IN 2015 AT 90,000 MILES THE HEAD WAS LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. HAD TO HAVE THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR TOTAL REBUILT. I HAVE READ THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006581July 20, 2017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR MAT IS HELD IN PLACE BY ONLY ONE SHORT VERTICAL HOOK ON TO WHICH THE FLOOR MAT FITS. AFTER ONLY A SHORT TIME DRIVING, THE FLOOR MAT BECOMES UNHOOKED AND SLIDES UNDERNEATH THE PEDALS, WHICH CAN PREVENT THE PEDALS FROM BEING PUSHED IN ALL THE WAY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11002949July 4, 2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AUDIO/HVAC CONTROLS FLASH AND DO NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE MODES OR CUT OUT ALTOGETHER. PROBLEM STARTED ON A VERY HOT SUMMER DAY FOUR YEARS OR SO AGO. WHEN CONTROLS ARE ACTING UP, NOT ONLY DOES THE PANEL NOT DISPLAY PROPERLY, BUT ALSO FAILS TO RESPOND TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS. NOT BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE AUDIO OR CLIMATE CONTROL IS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST FRONT OR REAR WINDOWS WHEN NEEDED IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SUBARU FORUMS (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/80-ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS/23909-08-O-B-RADIO-HVAC-CONTROL-LIGHTING-PROB.HTML). PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION. GOES AWAY SOMETIMES ON ITS OWN, SOMETIMES WHEN TURN OFF CAR AND TURN BACK ON, SOMETIMES DOESN'T RESOLVE EVEN WITH RE-IGNITION. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS BUT I SPEND MORE TIME ON CITY STREETS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10971780April 11, 2017ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY SUBARU HAS A 2.5L ENGINE. A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER HAS VERIFIED THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE A SEVERE OIL LEAK. MY CAR IS ALSO LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, MY MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS LEAKING FROM THE HEAD GASKETS. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SAME SIZE ENGINE BACK IN 2002. I AM STUCK WITH A $2600 REPAIR. I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE SAME ENGINE ON DIFFERENT YEAR MAKES OF SUBARUS ON THIS SITE. HTTP://WWW.SMART-SERVICE.COM/BLOG/2010/02/SUBARU-HEAD-GASKET-WILL-SUBARU-PAY-FOR-REPAIR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0