Subaru Outback Complaints (1998)

127 consumer complaints on file.

#763972July 9, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
IN HOT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL NOT RETURN AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MAY 2001, BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT A MONTH LATER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE CLUTCH RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL "STICKY" AGAIN, AND FAILED ON JUNE 30 WHILE IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AGAIN. THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE LATEST THEORY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA IS THAT THERE IS A POCKET IN THE CASTING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT TRAPS AIR WHICH CAN'T BE RELEASED BY PRESSURE BLEEDING THE SYSTEM AND IT MUST BE "GRAVITY BLED". THEY DID THIS AND THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY (AT LEAST FOR NOW). NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE RETURN OF THE FAILURE AFTER A YEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013220July 2, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WHEN MAKING A TURN ON ROAD THERE IS SLIGHT VIBRATION. TRANSFER CASE HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOUD NOISE WHILE TURNING.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006336March 25, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT AT 15 MPH, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#758588February 25, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES. CONTACT SUBARU MECHANICS TO OBTAIN UNUSUAL HIGH NUMBERS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#899590November 28, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
RECALL 01 V 216 000/COILSPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; FREDERICK MOTORS; FREDERICK,MD; PHONE# 301/663-6111 TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#563791October 26, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V-216, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE OUT OF PARTS AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN AND THEN ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS TO GET ON THE SERVICE SCHEDULE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897167October 2, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WILL REV /ACCELERATE WHEN CONSUMER TURNS AIR CONDITIONER( A/C) ON. PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893147July 24, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS BRAKING, IN WHICH CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561441June 4, 2001
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT REGARDING THE DOOR CATCHER. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745049May 8, 2001
TIRES
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT DISABLING THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BY FINDING AND REPLACING A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD (LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPARE REMOVAL LAST ON PAGE 2 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL). OH YEAH, THE SPARE CAN ONLY BE USED ON THE REAR WHEELS. THIS INFORMATION IS ALL "HIDDEN" IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. SINCE WE HAVE AUTO INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES TOWING, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF TOWING THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED (FOR FREE) THAN USING THE SPARE PROVIDED AND PAYING $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END REBUILT. (TOWING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A FLAT BED TRUCK WITH ALL WHELLS OFF THE GROUND.) PLEASE WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS IMPROPERLY LABLED "SPARE TIRE". ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FROM SUBARU WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886036April 16, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
ALL TURN SIGNALS ARE FLASHING AT SAME TIME, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD SIGNAL ARE WORKING AT SAME TIME.*AK DEALER PUSHED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON AND THE CONDITION STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPLICATED, CONSUMER HAD TRIED PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON HIMSELF, HOWEVER THE SIGNALS KEPT BLINKING WHEN HE ATTEMPTED, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#744021April 14, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS PARKING MY CAR TO GO TO THE VIDEO STORE WITH MY SON. IT APPEARED TO LURCH FORWARD, SPEEDING UP, AND DID NOT COME TO A STOP UNTIL IT HIT FOUR OTHER CARS, AND FINALLY PLOWED INTO A LARGE 4X4 BROADSIDE, WITH ENOUGH SPEED TO PUSH IT INTO ANOTHER CAR. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY DISABLED CHILD FELL OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ONTO THE PAVEMENT. PARAMEDICS WHERE CALLED AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE MINOR INJURIES. I HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING, AND SOMETIMES UNEXPLAINED MINOR SPEEDUPS INT HE TRANSMISSION, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SEVERE IT WAS. NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A POSSIBLE, SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALLED, BUT HASN'T BEEN DISPOSED OF AS YET. POLICE TOOK PICTURES AT THE SCENE. PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#743319March 30, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON 1/15/01 BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED MY ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK. I PAID $654.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND RESEAL BAFFLE PLATE AS WELL AS RESEAL OIL PUMP, QUESTIONABLE CAM SEALS (REFERRING TO PAPERWORK FROM DEALER). ON 3/23/01 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAR COMPLETELY DIED. BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO DROP IN PRESSURE W/IN ENGINE. UPON SEVERAL CONTACTS W/ SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY 50% TO REBUILD ENGINE, WHICH HAS BEEN VERBALLY ESTIMATED AT $2,500. BEARD SUBARU UNABLE TO EXPLAIN CAUSE OF ENGINE SEIZE, BUT DENIES IT IS RELATED TO RECENT REPAIR OF ENGINE LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA REQUIRES ME TO ACCEPT OR DENY OFFER TO OF "COURTESY FOR MY PATRONAGE" 50% BY WED. 4/4/01. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW AT BEARD SUBARU AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY. I QUESTION A DEFECT WITHIN MY VEHICLE, OR A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE RECENT WORK CONDUCTED BY BEARD SUBARU. I REQUESTED WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION. THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE ON 3/27/01. ON 3/30/01 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM BEARD SUBARU THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME "NEXT WEEK". THEY ARE AWARE I BEGIN A NEW JOB ON 4/2/01 REQUIRING ME TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL MY SITUATION IS RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% CAR RENTAL FEE FOR 5 DAYS. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION BEFORE I AM REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA'S DEADLINE BY 4/4/01? I AM WEARY TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT NO ONE HAS PROVIDED A SECOND OPINION, THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF WHAT I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY "AFTER JUST PAYING $654.50 FOR AN ENGINE LEAK" AND I AM BEING TOLD I MUST RESPOND TO THE OFFER BY 4/4/01 OR I WILL NOT BE ASSISTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#882573March 9, 2001
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WON'T WORK.*AK THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#559819February 26, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#881276February 23, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER HAD SOME PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. LATER, CONSUMER WAS ON HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH, SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE, AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND A BROKEN AXLE. BOTH BOOTS ON SIDE OF THE AXLE WERE NOT DAMAGED SO THE REASON OF AXLE BREAKING WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#558534January 2, 2001
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735404October 29, 2000
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
WE ARE UNABLE TO RIDE IN VEHICLE WITH HEATER ON AS IT STILL HAS A VERY BAD MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE , AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEM. EDMOND CHEV SISTER STORE SHULTS SUBARU SAID FOR US TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE AIR VENTS ONCA A MONTH. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS THAT HAVE NO PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE HELP US ,WE LOVE THE CAR ,BUT CAN NOT RIDE ANY DISTANCE IN IT WITHOUT GETTING VERY BAD SINUS HEADACHES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#555503October 4, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, PARKING BRAKE
EGR SOLONOID FAILED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862169May 19, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. IN WET CONDITIONS THEY DON'T CLEAR. INSTEAD THEY SMEAR THE WINDSHEILD, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IN MOTION THEY FLY IN THE WIND. SUBARU HAS NO REMEDY & TRIED TO USE HEAVY DUTY WIPERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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