Subaru Outback Complaints (2009)

112 consumer complaints on file.

#10945224January 13, 2017
AIR BAGS
THE RED LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD (WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER IS) FOR DRIVER'S AIR BAG COMES ON WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW ABOUT 44 DEGREES. IT STAYS ON 95% OF THE 8 WINTER MONTHS. I BOUGHT THIS USED (2014) FROM A DEALER, AND TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT IT. HE SAID UNLESS IT COMES ON 100% OF THE TIME, THEN DONT WORRY ABOUT IT. I CAME BACK 1 TIME AND COMPLAINED AGAIN, HOPING A "SENSOR CHECK" MIGHT BE COVERED SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT. HE AGAIN SAID "DONT WORRY ABOUT IT." -- THE PASSENGER RED LIGHT ON THE OVERHEAD BOX ALSO STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT FLASH OR BEEP UNLESS I HAVE SOME HEAVY BOXES ON THE SEAT, SO I IGNORE IT. I AM JUST WORRIED THAT NEITHER AIR BAG WILL WORK IN AN EMERGENCY. I CANNOT GET AN ANSWER (OR SEARCH) THAT ANSWERS THAT. IT IS FRIGHTENING. WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, AND WHEN MOVING, THIS HAPPENS. ONLY SHUTTING THE CAR OFF SHUTS OFF THE LIGHT. SPEED, MOVEMENT OR STREET DOES NOT AFFECT IT. IT DOES NOT FLICKER; IT STAYS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10938409December 29, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER FUSES BLOWN REPEATEDLY AND REPLACED, REAR WIPER, WASHER PUMP AND LOCK CEASED TO OPERATE FOR PERHAPS A YEAR. RECENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS GOT REAL FUNKY - WOULD NOT OPERATE IN NORMAL "ON" POSITION. BUT THEN SOME STRANGE BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (IGNITION ON WITHOUT STARTING TO ALLOW SHIFTING). HEADLIGHTS STILL NOT LIT IN EITHER OFF OR ON POSITION, BUT THEN CAME ON AS SWITCH MOVED BACK FROM HEADLIGHTS ON TO RUNNING LIGHTS POSITION! I HAPPENED UPON THE VIDEO MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER POST ABOUT REAR WIRING HARNESS ISSUE WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO WIPER/LOCK ISSUE, SO TOOK A LOOK. INSPECTION REVEALED 11 SEVERED WIRES WITH A CLUMP OF 5 OR SO MELTED TOGETHER AND ANOTHER 3 WIRES NEARLY SEVERED (SEE PHOTOS). DEALER SAYS HE'LL REPLACE WIRING HARNESS FOR $350 -500, AND HAD A SAME GENERATION OUTBACK IN THE SHOP FOR SAME WORK. SERVICE MGR SUGGESTED A CALL TO SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE LINE. IF YOU HAVE GOOFY ELECTRICAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN REAR, CHECK THE WIRING INSIDE BOOT FROM BODY TO DOOR ON UPPER RIGHT SIDE. IT'S NOT EASY TO GET AT AS WIRES ARE SHORT, WHICH MAY HAVE LED TO QUITE A SERIOUS, UM, SHORT. CALL SUBARU BEFORE YOUR HEADLINER IGNITES...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937232December 23, 2016
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" 9/7/2016 VOICE MAIL SVC.MGR @ LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP ([XXX]), NO REPLY 9/12/2016 CALLED SVC REP TOOK VIN, WILL HAVE SVC ADV CALL ME. 9/13/2016 SVC. ADV. [XXX] CALLED ME - BACK ORDERED AIRBAG, WILL CALL ME BACK. 10/28/2016 CALLED [XXX] DEALERSHIP FOR STATUS, THEY NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10936415December 20, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL PIPE FILLER AND VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE LOCATE ON THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS. THE LEAKS WERE MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED A FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934699December 12, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934540December 11, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. THE ENGINE WOULD START, RUN FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, THEN DIE. WHILE WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK, A GEARHEAD-TYPE FRIEND THAT I HAD CALLED TO TAKE MY WIFE HOME ARRIVED, THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEM A BIT, AND UNPLUGGED THE MAF SENSOR. THE ENGINE RAN GREAT. IT TURNED OUT THAT A DEFECTIVE AIR FILTER HAD ALLOWED DEBRIS TO CLOG THE SENSOR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT AN INVALID READING FROM A NON-CRITICAL SENSOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PULL THE ENGINE FUEL/AIR/TIMING PARAMETERS SO FAR OFF THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT RUN. OBVIOUSLY THE ENGINE COMPUTER KNOWS APPROXIMATELY WHAT THOSE VALUES SHOULD BE SINCE IT RAN GREAT WITH THE SENSOR DISCONNECTED. SENSOR READINGS BEYOND WHAT WOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED SHOULD BE IGNORED. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD WE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A BUSY FREEWAY, OR DARTING ACROSS FOUR LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10928352November 28, 2016
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
AIR BAGS HAVE BECOME DISABLED DUE TO EITHER THE SWITCH IN THE SEAT OR IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. THE ENGINE ALSO CONSUMES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OIL (HAS SINCE NEW) ABOUT 2 QUARTS EVERY OIL CHANGE OR 3000 MILES SOMETIMES MORE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916681October 17, 2016
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT USED. 18 MONTHS LATER, I'M HAVING THE CURRENT ISSUE. THOUGHT IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS USING WHITE LITHIUM GREASE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAK IN THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT IS PART OF THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING, THE SUBARU DEALER SHIP ALSO CLAIMS THE NOISE TRANSFERS THROUGH THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FROM THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN PUSHING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH AND IS DRIVING ME MAD. MUSCATELL SUBARU INFORMED ME IT WILL MAKE THIS NOISE AND EVENTUALLY BREAK AND MY CLUTCH WILL THEN BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THIS TO OCCUR AND ITS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THATS JUST ANNOYING AT THE MOMENT. BUT APPARENTLY THEY'LL HAVE TO LIFT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE AREA WHERE THE REPAIR WOULD OCCUR. I'VE SEEN EARLIER YEARS OF THIS MODEL HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SUPPOSEDLY 2009 MODELS HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED, BUT IT SEEMS THAT MY 2009 IS HAVING THIS ISSUE... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916526October 17, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. ON 7/29/16 WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. WE CONTACTED HANSEL SUBARU IN SANTA ROSA TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND PUT US ON A WAITING LIST. I'VE TRIED TO CALL THEM AGAIN 10/13/16 & LEFT VOICE MESSAGE, SENT THEM EMAIL 10/14/16. HANSEL IS NOT RETURNING CALLS OR ANSWERING CALLS TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT. I CALLED THE SUBARU OF AMERICA NUMBER TODAY, 10/17/16 AND ONLY GOT A BUSY SIGNAL. AS INSTRUCTED, WE ARE NOT USING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A REAL INCONVENIENCE AND WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DELAY IN GETTING THE REPLACEMENT..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10908423September 21, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY DURING HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT SPECIFY IF THE AIR BAG MODULE OR INFLATER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898156August 24, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895391August 12, 2016
POWER TRAIN
AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10892413August 2, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10891884July 31, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL ON JULY 27, 2016. WITHIN TWO HOURS OF RECEIPT I WENT TO CLASSIC SUBARU OF ATLANTA (7700 ROSWELL RD., ATLANTA, GA) TO DROP OFF MY CAR FOR THIS RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL DECEMBER 2016 AND THAT UNTIL THEN I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OVER FIVE MONTHS LEAD TIME TO REPAIR A KNOWN SAFETY RISK SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839288March 1, 2016
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD POPPED UP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RE-FASTEN THE HOOD. AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES, THE HOOD POPPED UP AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,811.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837944February 24, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
I RECENTLY FILLED OUT THIS FORM (COMPLAINT # 10837114) CONCERNING MY HOOD LATCH BECOMING UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER AN APPROXIMATE 16 MILE ROUND TRIP DRIVE I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTED THAT THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAD BECOME UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. SHOULD I REPORT THIS EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837345February 21, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR HATCH WIRING HAS WORN TO THE POINT OF FULLY BREAKING FOUR AND DAMAGING FIVE OTHER WIRES OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 14 TOTAL GOING THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE BOOT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HATCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SYSTEMS AFFECTED: REAR WIPER, REAR LOCK, POSSIBLY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THIS WAS DAMAGE INCURRED OVER TIME OF NORMAL USE, OPENING THE HATCH NO MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837114February 19, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY HOOD WAS UNLATCHED. I HAD NOT RECENTLY HAD IT OPEN FOR ANY REASON..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819906January 13, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
INSIDE CAB HOOD LATCH CAN TRIGGER BY CONTACT WITH RIGHT LEG WHEN EXITING VEHICLE, DRIVER CAN USUALLY SEE HOOD NOT SECURE WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN STOP VEHICLE AND SECURE HOOD. ON 1/6/2016 WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE JAMESTOWN BRIDGE, HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN HOOD,WINDOW AND ROOF DAMAGE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF THE LATCH NOT BEING SECURE WAS PRESENT, SEE LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CLAIM 033127030 DATED 01/06/2016
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10819593January 12, 2016
ENGINE
2009 SUBARU OUTBACK HEAD GASKET SEEPAGE. THIS ISSUE SOA HAS BEEN AWHERE OF AND SAID IT CAN BE NORMAL OVER TIME. YET I FOUND THAT THE GASKET USED AT THAT TIME WAS SUBSTANDARD. A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS, BUT DID`NT. PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE COST SOA A TON OF MONEY. I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEALING WITH THIS AS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS COME IN AND TOLD REPLACEMENT OF GASKET IS REQUIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.I FEEL THAT SOA SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS AND PAY ALL OR A MAJOR COST OF REPAIR. I HAVE TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AS TOLD UNDER INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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