Subaru Outback Complaints (1999)

111 consumer complaints on file.

#10047212November 19, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BIG HESITATION (CAR IS WARMED UP) WHEN STARTING AGAIN FROM STOP WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. IF I DON'T ALLOW 3X NORMAL DISTANCE I'D GET SLAMMED. I START WITH A SLOW STEADY DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR AND END UP HAVING TO PUT IT TO THE FLOOR FOR IT TO EVEN MOVE. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLI9CATE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. SUBARU.COM JUST BLEW ME OFF AND TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO DEALER. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL; AND I BELIEVE IN PREVENTION WITH A CAPITAL P. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045296November 2, 2003
STEERING
I HEARD A CLICKING IN MY CAR WHEN ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP. IT DID NOT SOUND TOO SERIOUS, BUT I MADE A NOTE OF IT. I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHIN A HALF A MILE MY CAR BEGAN TO WEAVE. THE STEERING APPEARED TO FAIL AND I WENT INTO A SPIN. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR AND LOST CONTROL. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING (40-45MPH) I HIT THE LEFT BARRIER AFTER GOING OVER TWO LANES. THERE WAS NO RAIN OR ICE BUT THE ROAD WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE FROM CONSTRUCTION. I HAD EXPERIENCED THAT WEAVING SENSATION BEFORE IN THE SUBRARU ON UNEVEN ROADS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE SHOP DID NOT REALLY CHECK WHAT WENT WRONG THEY SAID THE AXLE AND BRAKES AND TIRES SEEMED FINE. THE CAR COULD NOT START AND APPARENTLY THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10044315October 20, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION
CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042992October 15, 2003
EQUIPMENT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TUNE-UPS AND REPAIRS WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU'S AREA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, BOB WISEMAN, HAVE CLOSED THE CASE. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WON'T RUN. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039570September 26, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BREAK FAILURE - 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. OWNER REPLACED PADS - ROTORS, ETC TO IMPROVE THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR DID NOT IMPROVE THE PROBLEM SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE PROTECTIVE BOOTS AROUND THE CALIPER PISTONS WERE COMPLETELY DETERIOATED AND THAT THE CALPERS NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I SUGGESTED THAT THIS COULD BE WIDE SPREAD, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT MY ISSUE WAS ONE OF A KIND. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF FAILURE ANALYSIS IN INDUSTRY AND I AM VERY SURE THAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE RUBBER PISTON BOOTS IS CAUSED FROM DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. DAVID SLOCUM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038649September 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.WHEN DRIVING IN 5 TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU TECH EXPLAINED THAT A PACKING NUT ON THE GEAR SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY PEENED. THE NUT BACKED-OFF OVER TIME AND DAMAGED THE TRANSIMISSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033124August 19, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN MAY OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW "OPERATES AS DESIGNED" AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032904August 15, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO SEAL LEAKING FLUID TO FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10027307July 11, 2003
POWER TRAIN
THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PEEN PACKING NUT ON 5TH GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE NUT TO BACK OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP OUT OF 5TH GEAR. *PH *CB *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022178May 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PH *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020278May 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLES ABS FAILED. *NLM RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/21/2007 FAILED. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018547May 12, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016850May 1, 2003
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF SHATTERED AND FELL ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER. NO ROCKS WERE PRESENT, NOR ANY WIND. IT SIMPLY EXPLODED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008359March 3, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH CHIRPS LIKE A BIRD WHEN OUT, IS SILENT WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. DIAGNOSIS: BAD THROW OUT BEARING. THIS IS THE THIRD CLUTCH IN THIS CAR FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES; THE SECOND AT APPROXIMATELY 43,000, AND NOW AGAIN JUST 1500 MILES LATER! CLUTCH ACTUALLY DISENGAGED PERMANENTLY ON THE SHOP FLOOR WHILE THE DEALER WAS EXAMINING THE CAR -- HE WAS POKING AROUND THE BEARING AND IT "FELL OUT" OF ALIGNMENT, COMPLETELY PREVENTING THE CLUTCH FROM WORKING. THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED TO ME ON THE ROAD, WHILE DRIVING.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007850February 20, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WE HAVE AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THESE CARS DEVELOP A "TWEETY" CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. WHEN WE GO IN TO REPLACE THE BEARING, WE HAVE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO CLIPS FOR THE BEARING IS ALWAYS MISSING. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE BEARING TO GO BAD PREMATURELY. EACH TIME WE FIND THE SAME THING. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. WE THEN NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SUCH AN INEXPENSIVE CLIP. WE FEEL THAT THESE CLIPS NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER TO FIND A STRONGER ONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007852February 20, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE THE CAR DEVELOPED A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS PIECE HAD GONE BAD SO EARLY, AND I COULDN''T UNDERSTAND WHY. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS, AND AS THEY BEGAN WORKING ON IT THEY DISCOVERED WHY IT HAD GONE BAD PREMATURELY. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. I NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005527February 8, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES GOING ON WITH MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK VEHICLE: 1) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS DOWN TO EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE GAS TANK WAS JUST FILLED WITH GAS. 2) THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECT. AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FULL, THE GAUGE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH (SOMETIMES THE GAUGE READS NEAR EMPTY, SOMETIMES THE GAUGE READS 3/4 OF THE TANK FULL) WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. 3) THE CAR DID NOT PASS THE CALIFORNIA SMOG TEST. 4) THE RPM GAUGE DOES NOT STAY CONSTANT WHILE DRIVING AT AN EVEN SPEED. ONCE THE GAUGE HITS BETWEEN TWO TO THREE THOUSAND RPM, THE GAUGE DROPS BACK TO BETWEEN ONE AND TWO THOUSAND RPM ON AND OF WHEN DRIVING. 5) THE GAS TANK DOES NOT MAINTAIN PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS SCREWED ON TIGHT. THE LID WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE BUT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALL THESE ISSUES OCCUR WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT HAVING ME PAY THEM TO LOOK AT MY CAR. THESE ISSUES MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE 2001 TO PRESENT. THE PROBLEMS SEEM TO GET WORSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005918January 29, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE MAKE A NOISE. THE DEALER AND TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSIS THE PISTON WAS WORN-OUT AT PREMATURE MILEAGES . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000758January 7, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
JAN 6, 2003 (YOUR WEB SITE WON'T LET ME SELECT THE CURRENT YEAR, SO I SELECTED 2002, THE LAST AVAILABLE DATE THAT CAN BE SELECTED, BELOW) I OWN A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CLUTCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE AT 18,651 AND ONCE AT 42,500. BOTH TIMES THE THROW-OUT BEARING FAILED. I'VE OWNED 8 CARS AND DRIVEN THEM IN 10 STATES AND THREE PROVINCES. I'VE DRIVEN IN THE DESERT, THE MOUNTAINS AND BY THE OCEAN WITH MOST OF THESE CARS. IN ALL CASES, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BELOW 75,000 MILES! I'VE DRIVEN STANDARD/STICK MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN CLUTCH FAILURE LIKE THIS SUBARU. I DON'T RIDE THE CLUTCH, I ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IT PROPERLY, ETC. AND YET THE THROW-OUT BEARING KEEPS FAILING PREMATURELY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566057June 11, 2002
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE
CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRATING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER SATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Subaru Outback