Subaru · Model Report
Showing safety data for the 1996 model year only.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
WHENEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS, THE CHECK VALVE IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WILL FREEZE IN PLACE AND RESULTS IN NO POWER ASSIST BRAKING. THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD BE NORMAL AS THERE WAS RESIDUAL VACUUM IN THE BOOSTER. ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL. MULTIPLE PUMPS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BREAK LOOSE THE CHECK VALVE AND RESTORE NORMAL BRAKING. THIS CAR WAS NEW TO ME IN 2013 AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WENT THROUGH STOP SIGNS NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER ASSIST BRAKES. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT- BEFORE PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR, I WOULD TEST THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LEAST THREE TIMES. WHEN THE CHECK VALVE IS FROZEN, I WOULD FEEL NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE THE FIRST TIME THEN THE PEDAL WOULD GO HARD THE SECOND TIME. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL I FELT THE CHECK VALVE BREAK FREE AND NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESTORED. *TR
No injuries · No fire · No crash
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4-6" SNOW ACCUMULATION ON NEGLECTFULLY MAINTAINED EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM (TO WIT: IL TOLLWAY: SB I-294 @ MPH 39.5). CDL'D OWNER/OPERATOR SUFFERING EFFECTS PTSD + RIGHT SIDE BFT/HARD-IMPACT ORTHOPEDIC JOINT/RELATED INJURIES. *TR
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4-6" SNOW ACCUMULATION ON NEGLECTFULLY MAINTAINED [UNCLOSED/FEMA/IEMA] EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM (TO WIT: IL TOLLWAY: SB I-294 @ MPH 39.5). CDL'D OWNER/OPERATOR SUFFERING EFFECTS PTSD + RIGHT SIDE BFT/HARD-IMPACT ORTHOPEDIC JOINT/RELATED INJURIES. IL STATE POLICE DIST. #15 STAR #6274 CONTRIBUTED TO CAUSE VIA IMPROPER LANE USAGE (+/-20MPH/#2LN {VS. #4/5} W/4WAY HAZARDS ON/DUTY E-LIGHTS OFF/OBSCURED) IN VIRTUALLY UNRECOGNIZABLE SNOW-COVERED (INCL. GREENHOUSE) MARKED DUTY VEHICLE,+ FAILURE TO STOP/CITE SEMI-TRUCK (LIKE SPEED) IN #1LN. *TR
WHILE DRIVING VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO "H". I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SOME STEAM UNDER HOOD. ADDED SOME WATER. A LITTLE LATER, STILL ON "H". MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE I GOT IT IN 1998 SAID IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, COMMON WITH SUBARUS. IN 2009 I HAD THE 90K MILE MAINTENANCE DONE, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO FOUR NEW TIRES AND LAST MONTH, A NEW BATTERY. ALSO, LAST MONTH, HAD OIL CHANGE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED EVEN ONE RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THEIR HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING IN THEIR CARS. I WANTED MY OUTBACK TO LAST MANY MORE YEARS BUT NOW MUST JUNK IT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC SAID IT'S USELESS TO FIX HEAD GASKET OR REPLACE IT, AND TOLD ME TO GET A NEW CAR, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. MECHANIC PUT CHEMICAL IN LINE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SEAL ANY LEAKS (NO GUARANTEES). I OFTEN VISIT MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS RECUPERATING FROM BREAST CANCER, IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF CT, IN A VERY SECLUDED AREA OF FEW HOMES, NO BUSINESSES. TO HAVE CAR FAILURE IN THE WOODS WOULD PROBABLY GIVE THIS 70 YEAR OLD A HEART ATTACK. *TR
No injuries · No fire · No crash
CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. SUSPECT HEADGASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT . (POTENTIAL FOR CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY STALL ON INTERSTATE) UPON INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES SUFFER FROM SAME CONDITION (1995-1999). HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~SKIPNOSPAM/. *TR
No injuries · No fire · No crash