Subaru Outback Complaints (1999)

111 consumer complaints on file.

#10009361May 31, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR JOLTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRES HOLDING POWER HARNESS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN AT AN EARLIER POINT IN TIME. THIS CAUSED THE POWER HARNESS TO SHIFT TO REST ON TOP OF THE SWAY BAR. THE CONSTANT RUBBING AGAINST THE SWAY BAR CAUSED 3 WIRES TO SHORT, BLOWING ALL FUSES AND THE COMPUTER MODULE. A SUBARU REP SAID THERE WAS ONE OTHER CASE LIKE THIS IN THE UP OF MICHIGAN. BUT HE BLAMED PACKED SNOW IN THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN MAY. SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED WHY THE WIRE TIES BROKE CAUSING THE POWER HARNESS TO MOVE. AT 40000 IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH PARTIES HAVE SAID IT IS POSSIBLE THE WIRE TIES BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN WARRANTY. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVIES ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**762507
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754866November 24, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
FRONT CRANK SEAL FAILS. CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE UNDER HOOD. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS SUBARU HAS RELEASED 3 DIFFERENT PARTS IN ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM. SUBARU DENIES THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD OR EVEN A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754171November 6, 2001
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ODOMETER FAILURES - ALSO POSSIBLY CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898227October 25, 2001
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS WORN OUT, REAR END STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ALSO, SMOKE AND OIL CAME FROM WHEELS. THIS WAS THE 10TH TIME THA CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752517September 24, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAD STOPPED AND PUT CAR INTO PARK AND IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE BRICK. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#743337March 31, 2001
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36,000 MILES THE DEALER CHARGED ME $75 TO RESET IT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SICNE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER "COMPUTER RESET" WORDS USED BY DEALER IS THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS MOODEL AND YEAR ? I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATOR RECALL COULD THAT HAVE MADE THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ? THANK YOU AS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743253March 29, 2001
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST, POWER TRAIN
HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CONCERN DUE TO REPEATED ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#739874January 24, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TRAVEL AT APPROX 30-35 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF ONCOMING VEHICLE - NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#875893December 4, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER HOOD, THEN STALLED AT A STOP. TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPAIRED VEHICLE, ONE WEEK LATER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, BUT DID NOT STALL, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#557752November 20, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY DAY AND THE DEALER CAN FIND NO REMEDY FOR IT, THE MECHANICS SAY IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE CONSUMER USE HIGH OCTANE GAS, THE FUEL FILTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE DEALER FOUND THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED, ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT REMEDIED THE HESITATION PROBLEM. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735555November 1, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN THE MORNING, WHEN I BACK UP THE CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY, GO FORWARD AND THEN APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE IS A LOUD, MECHANICAL BANGING SOUND (LIKE METAL HITTING ON METAL) COMING FROM EACH OF THE 4 WHEELS - EITHER THE PADS HITTING THE ROTOR OR THE PISTON HITTING THE PADS WHICH IN TURN HIT THE ROTOR. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR 2-3 HOURS AND THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE, THEN FORWARD, THEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. RECENTLY THE BANGING SOUND IS BECOMING LOUDER - SO MUCH SO THAT IT ATTRACTS PEDESTRIANS' ATTENTION. THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. A SUBARU REGIONAL INSPECTOR SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME TO LIVE WITH THE SOUND/PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SUBARU OWNERS AND THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT SUBARU DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PROBLEM. THE CAR DOES STOP, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. ... IN ADDITION THE BRAKES ARE VERY, VERY SPONGY/SOFT. IT FEELS LIKE I AM STEPPING ON AN AIR MATTRESS - THERE IS NO SENSATION OF STOPPING UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL OF ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FEEL/FEEDBACK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED - I KNOW I AM STOPPING BECAUSE I SEE THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT SLOWING DOWN, NOT BECAUSE I FEEL THE CAR STOPPING. CONSUMER REPORTS (MAR,2000) SAID "THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND NOT REASSURING. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME MODERATE BRAKE FADE".*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867273August 9, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON RAINY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND PICKED UP SPEED TO 35 MPH, AND HIT TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON. BUT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING HEAD AND JAW INJURIES. SEATBELTS WERE NOT WORN AT THE TIME.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#865108July 10, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, HAD TO APPLY BRAKES BECAUSE OF A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE LOCKED AND THE RPMS SHOT UP HIGH, AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME, AND IT WAS STILL LOCKED INTO THAT MODE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#864510June 29, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FIRST TIME WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, AND SECOND TIME WHILE IN REVERSE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863381June 12, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE,LIKE METAL TO METAL . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858584March 15, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. (CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT USED). DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551027February 22, 2000
TIRES
REAR RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT (MICHELIN RADIAL TIRE STYLE XW4.205/70R15). YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#856653February 9, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD APPLIED BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED HARD INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN BRAKES WOULD GRAB. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING 35MPH WITH SNOW ON THE ROAD AND COMING OFF A RAMP, TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A POLE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REDESIGNED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#718397February 6, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE WAS DIFFICULTY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TIGHT. IN MAY, 1999, AFTER EXTENSIVE CLUTCH USE ON A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 4TH TO 5TH OR 5TH TO 4TH. IT SEEMED TO BE OK LATER. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS WE NOTICED A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL FROM STARTING ON A HILL AND EXTENSIVE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. THE CLUTCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED IN AUGUST, 1999, BUT THE NEW CLUTCH SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE NEEDED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND TO CHANGE LANES IN BAD FREEWAY TRAFFIC. HE HAD BEEN USING THE CLUCH A LOT, BECAUSE IT WAS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM OF BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND IS VERY SCARY. THE CLUTCH CONTINUES TO SLIP AND BURN. WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET SUBARU TO BUY BACK THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#853806December 7, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
TAILGATE & THE BOTTOM OF STATION WAGON HAS A GAP BETWEEN IT WHICH IS GETTING WIDER. THE SEAL IS ALLOWING AIR TO COME IN. THE SEAL IS AROUND THE INSIDE & NOT HOLDING TIGHT. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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