Subaru Outback Complaints (2006)
281 consumer complaints on file.
- #10649680October 24, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SUBARU OUTBACK/LEGACY 2006 - INTERMITTENT ISSUE OVER A FEW MONTHS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, CRUISE CONTROL FLASHES AND CAR GOES LIMP, GAS PEDAL STOPS WORKING. AFTER CAR GOES LIMP, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE TURNED OFF, BUT ONCE CAR IS PUT IN PARK FOR IT TO BE TURNED OFF, THE ENGINE REVS TO APPROX. 2000 RPMS ON ITS OWN. THE CAR THEN HAS TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES TO ATTEMPT TO TURN THE CAR ON AND THE GAS PEDAL TO WORK AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS THROWN THE CODE P2138. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, EVEN MORE SO AS IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, WHERE THE CAR WILL LOSE SPEED DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT WORKING AND THE CAR HAS ESSENTIALLY BECOME A ROADBLOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHERS WITH THIS EXACT CAR MAKE/YEAR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS PREVALENT TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR. SUBARU NEEDS TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND OFFER A SAFETY RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE - AT THE VERY LEAST, THE COST OF REPAIRS TO FIX THIS KNOWN AND PREVALENT ISSUE WITH THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10648362October 17, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-25 THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND HAD NO ACCELERATION. THE CAR WOULD ONLY IDLE, I NOTICED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN THE CODE WAS READ A P2138 THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE ACCELERATOR THE MECHANIC SAID IT HAPPENS ALOT WITH THIS YEAR SUBARU. HE TOLD ME BY JUST SHUTTING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES IT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN NORMAL,WHEN HE STARTED IT AGAIN IT DID DRIVE NORMAL. HE SENDS THEM TO A SUBARU DEALER AND TELLS THE PEOPLE THAT IF ENOUGH OF US COMPLAIN OR FILL IN A REPORT THEN SOMETHING MAY BE DONE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR IF IT LOSES ALL POWER DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10644720October 15, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOON FOLLOWED BY THE FLASHING CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. AT THE POINT, THE CAR BECAME NO LONGER RESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER BECAUSE AFTER BREAKING, I COULDN'T SPEED BACK UP. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON THE ENGINE REVVED AT A HIGH SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STILL FLASHING. I EVENTUALLY HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10643656October 9, 2014SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A TOXIC ODOR EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AXLE BOOT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10641455October 4, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I LOST THRUST EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL TURNING AT 2000 RPM, AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. LUCKILY I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT LANE, SO IT WAS EASY TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I WENT TO AUTOZONE TO HAVE THEM READ THE CODE. THE CODE WAS P2138 WHICH IS THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10626319August 19, 2014ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A CODE P2138 ISSUE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW. IN MANY CASES I AM IN THE CAR WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON AND END UP BEING IN DANGER FOR NO REASON. LOOSING 99% OF POWER WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL OR TO THE STORE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THIS ISSUE HAVE NOT WORKED AND THE CAR ITSELF IS THOUGHT OF AS A DEATH TRAP IN OUR HOUSE. SUBARU DISREGARDS THE CODE AND OFFERS NO FIX. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL. LIVES ARE AT RISK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10626329August 19, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10618186August 1, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR WAS ME PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION AND THE RPMS SUDDENLY SHOT UP TO 2000. AFTER FILLING THE TANK, I TRIED TO START IT BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I LET IT SIT FOR A MOMENT AND THEN TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED WITH NOW THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" ON AND "CRUISE" FLASHING. THE LIGHTS SELF-CORRECTED LATER THAT DAY BEFORE I COULD HAVE THE CODE READ. THE NEXT INCIDENT I WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE WITH A GREEN ARROW. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CAME ON AND I SUDDENLY LOST THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL. IT WAS COMPLETELY LIMP. NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON IT THE CAR JUST MOVED ALONG AT IDLE SPEED, LESS THAN 5 MPH. I BARELY MADE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE I LOST THE GREEN ARROW. I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN PARK, THE RPMS WENT TO 2000, THEN I TURNED IT OFF. TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. TRIED IT A SECOND TIME AND IT FIRED RIGHT UP AND THE GAS PEDAL FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE WERE ON AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THE CODE READ AND IT CAME UP WITH P2138, AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED TWICE MORE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET A PROPER DIAGNOSIS FROM A MECHANIC AND THEY OCCURRED ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO TWO WEEKS APART. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A RECALL BY SUBARU. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10614600July 18, 2014ENGINE
IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 75MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN TEMP GAUGE MADE A BIG JUMP INTO THE RED ZONE AND THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD UPSETTING SOUNDS. PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND RIGHT AT THE EXIT LOST POWER STEERING AND THE CAR DIED. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (APPROX $8000 REPLACEMENT). FAST FORWARD TO JUNE 2014. THE NEW ENGINE DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. TEMPERATURE SHOT UP ON THE HIGHWAY, ENGINE DIED, HEAD GASKETS ONCE AGAIN HAVE BLOWN. THIS NEW ENGINE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT. CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND SERVICE THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING MY SITUATION REVIEWED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA. I AM HOPING THEY WILL COVER THE REPAIR COSTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10607749July 2, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVE-BY-WIRE THROTTLE RECEIVES SIGNAL ERROR (P2138) AND ECU CUTS OFF THROTTLE FUNCTION. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION AS THE DRIVER IS THEN ENTIRELY UNABLE TO MODULATE SPEED. THIS ERROR HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITH NO WARNING ON THE SAME VEHICLE, AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND SITUATIONS. THE LATEST ONE OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WHERE COLLISIONS DUE TO DISABLED THROTTLE WERE NARROWLY AVOIDED. THIS ERROR AND THE VEHICLE'S ECU RESPONSE COULD KILL SOMEONE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10597565June 11, 2014ENGINE
OUR 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK NEEDS THE HEAD GASKETS AND REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE 2.5 ENGINE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595834June 3, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO "BUCK" AND LOST POWER. CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STEADY. HAPPENED EXACTLY THE SAME AGAIN TODAY, 6/3/2014. PROBLEM WAS CODED AS P2138 AND ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO. CAR WILL NEED TO GO IN TO MECHANIC AGAIN TODAY. EXPECT SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595449June 2, 2014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, THROTTLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 SEPARATE TIMES NOW. REPLACED ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY, BUT PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES WITHOUT NOTICE. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595130May 30, 2014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10588093May 13, 2014ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10585026April 26, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TWICE IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. BOTH TIME MY CAR GOES TO LIMO MODE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES. THE PEDAL DOES NOT REV THE ENGINE. AFTER A NUMBER OF TRIES, THE PEDAL WILL BECOME RESPONSIVE AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 3 RESTARTS ONCE THE ENGINE IS REVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE WILL GO OUT AND THE CAR WILL BE NORMAL UNTIL IT DOES IT AGAIN. WHEN I READ THE CODE, IT'S P2138 INDICATING IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE 2 REDUCENT SENSORS ON THE PEDAL DISAGREEING ABOUT WHERE THE PEDAL IS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT! CALL SOA AND ASKED TO TAKE IT TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. BOUGHT THE CAR AT WEST SUBARU HERR BUFFALO,LIVE IN CANADA NOW. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10579707April 14, 2014ENGINE
SUBARU HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS JUST ABOUT ALL SUBARU MODELS WITH 2.5 ENGINE. IF YOU CONTACT VARIOUS SUBARU OWNERS YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS HIGH AT AN ABNORMAL RATE. I AM HOPING THAT YOU INVESTIGATE AND HOLD THE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10578787April 10, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS PARKED IN A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AND PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I JUST ROLLED ALONG WITH NO POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I ROLLED INTO ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. I READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT IT COULD BE AN EMISSION CONTROL PROBLEM OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GAS CAP. I TOOK THE GAS CAP OFF AND RE-SEATED IT AND WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN ON THE THIRD TRY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE CAR HAD POWER AGAIN AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS RESPONSIVE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE FOUND THE CODE TO BE P3128. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANYWHERE IN BUSY TRAFFIC. I HAD THE ENTIRE THROTTLE/PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT A COST OF APROX. $500 AND HOPE THAT THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10577797April 6, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A STEADY RATE OF 50MPH. SUDDENLY THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND BEGAN TO FLASH AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT. THE VEHICLE ALSO BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN PRESSED OR DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD MAINTAIN A SPEED ABOUT 20MPH EVEN AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGAGING THE HAZARD LIGHTS, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE RPM GAUGE THEN SKYROCKETS TO 3000-4000 RPM AND THE ENGINE BECOMES REALLY LOUD. I TURN THE KEY OFF AND LET THE CAR SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. NEGLECTING TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES RESULTS IN THE SAME BEHAVIOR. AFTER STARTING THE CAR AGAIN THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT STILL FLASHES AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 RESTARTS BOTH INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE OFF AND ALL SEEMS FINE. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT IS A "BAD ACCELERATOR AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY". THE DEALERSHIP THEN RESET THE CODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ON A RANDOM BASIS. LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10567406March 5, 2014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL IN TRAFFIC. CANNOT REV ENGINE OR MAINTAIN SPEED ABOVE 600 RPM/5 MPH; BARELY IDLING. CODES ON ECU INDICATE THROTTLE BODY POSITIONING SENSOR FAILURE. EVENTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0