Subaru Outback Complaints (2009)
112 consumer complaints on file.
- #10604466June 19, 2014AIR BAGS
THE DRIVER AIRBAG IN MULTIPLE MODELS OF SUBARU ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT FAULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE.THIS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE PART. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE TOPIC IN MULTIPLE AUTO WEBSITES AND IT APPEARS TO AFFECT A LOT OF MODEL YEARS OF ALL MAKES OF THE SUBARU.THE PROBLEM IS ALSO INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WHILE DRIVING . I THINK THAT DISABLING THE AIRBAG IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SUBARU HAS NOT FESSED UP ABOUT THIS OR FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10593644May 23, 2014AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RIGHT BACK ON THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK THE COMPUTER CODES. IT LISTED (CODE 26-RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT ERROR). THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER ERROR CODE WAS CLEARED. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT EVENTUALLY IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AS HE HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IN THE 2008/2009 YEAR RANGE OF OUTBACKS & LEGACY'S AND TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE DASH LIGHT WAS LIT, "NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WOULD WORK IN A COLLISION". ALL WAS WELL FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THE LIGHT DID COME BACK ON, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE MAP LIGHT/PASSENGER SEATBELT LAMP ASSEMBLY (PART # 84621AG53A) THAT IS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR ROOF DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTIES, AS THE AIRBAGS ARE A "SUPPLEMENTAL SYSTEM", UNLIKE SEATBELTS WHICH "ARE COVERED" AS THE PRIMARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SUBARU MUST OBVIOUSLY BE AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AS IT IS AN INSTOCK ITEM AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS (AT LEAST IT IS AT MY DEALER). THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HAD TO PAY (ALMOST $200) TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WILL ALLOW MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS TO WORK IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS ARE CONSIDERED A "SUPPLEMENTAL SYSTEM". "LOVE" (PUN INTENDED) TO KNOW WHEN THE RECALL IS GOING TO OCCUR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10593547May 22, 2014AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
MY SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT USUALLY WENT OFF IF I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. BUT NOW IT'S ON CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT APPARATUS AND IT'S NOT COVER UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATE TO BE OVER $350. I SEE ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2005-2009 OUTBACKS. THE MECHANISM IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10575613April 7, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN, WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY IGNITION. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10567509March 5, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE WHEN USING LOWER BEAMS. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE - IT IS A SUBARU ENGINEERING DECISION TO HAVE THAT 'QUALITY' OF HEADLIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10565996February 26, 2014ENGINE
SUBARU OUTBACK SPORTS 2009 MODEL, WITH NO PRIOR HISTORY PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT SUBARU RECALLED AN ELECTRONIC BOARD AND IT WAS REPLACED BY SUBARU DEALER. JUST GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY, COMING FROM THE AIRPORT, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE WOOD. OPENED THE WINDOW TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT OUR CAR. SMELL WAS STILL THERE. PULLED OFF THE ROAD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON, LOTS OF SMOKE FROM HOOD AFTER ONE SECOND THE FIRE STARTED ENGULFING THE HOOD. MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR OF FEAR OF AN EXPLOSION AND CALLED 911 RIGHT AWAY. WITHIN 7 MINUTES ABOUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURNT. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME WITHIN 10 MINUTES WHILE CAR WAS STILL BURNING., LOST SOME ELECTRONIC GADGETS, CAMERA, TABLET, 2 GPS, ETC., AND SOME CLOTHING AND ODDS AND ENDS BUT EVERYONE WAS SAFE. . THE WOMEN FROM THE CLAIM DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SHE ALSO HAD CALL ABOUT A FIRE IN A SUBARU COMING FROM THE AIRPORT LIKE US. SHE DID NOT WANT TO SAY ANYMORE SINCE SHE ACCIDENTALLY SAID IT. SUBARU REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FIRE UNLESS I PUT A CLAIM AGAINST THEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10562501February 1, 2014STEERING
OUR 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK IS RADICALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON COMPACTED SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WITH REAR OVERSTEER ON MODERATELY SLIPPERY ROADS; EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WITHOUT APPLYING ANY ACCELERATION. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS DISPLAYED THESE "QUIRKS" BUT IT IS NOW OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS. THE CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED. I CERTAINLY HOPE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT LIVING IN THE MIDWEST DRIVING THIS CAR IT FEELS LIKE IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THE HANDLING IS SO BAD THAT IT BECOMES A DANGER TO OVERCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10561492January 25, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS THE 4TH HEADLAMP WE HAVE REPLACED WITHIN 12 MONTHS. WE HAVE TRIED PIAA'S, SILVER STAR'S...ALL HAVE THE SAME LIFE SPAN OF APPROX. 3-4 MONTHS...THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE, A SAFETY HAZARD, AND A NUISANCE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10558152January 2, 2014STEERING, SUSPENSION
DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, SEMI-ICY ROADS BETWEEN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN AT SPEEDS FROM 40MPH TO 50MPH THE 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK LOADED WITH APPROX 500LBS OF CARGO AND PASSENGERS (DRIVER INCLUDED) WOULD SUDDENLY SWERVE BACK AND FORTH ( REFERRED TO AS GHOST WALKING ). WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE SPEED AND PULL OVER TO SHOULDER NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALLOW ALL TRAFFIC BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASS SINCE NO ONE ELSE WAS HAVING ANY HANDLING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WOULD REGAIN STABILITY AND WOULD HANDLE FINE FOR SOME TIME AND THEN WOULD REPEAT THE GHOST WALKING SITUATION ONCE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED APPROX 6 SIX TIMES FOR A TOTAL DRIVE TIME OF 35 MINUTES. CALLED 4 DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND SPOKE WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS SUBARU WEBSITE FORUMS AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10552182November 14, 2013TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
ON NOVEMBER 13, 2013 I WAS DRIVING ON ST RT 52 HEADING EAST IN NEW RICHMOND, OHIO AT A SPEED NOT LESS THAT 50 AND NOT GREATER THAN 60 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 NOON MY DRIVER-SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WALL--LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TO ANY OF THE FRONT TIRE OTHERWISE I MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10520538June 18, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STARTED MY CAR AT NIGHT TO FIND OUT MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, BUT THE SAFELY LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. THE LIGHTS ABOVE MY REAR LICENSE PLATE HAD BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS ALSO SO I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS RELATED AS WELL. LOOKED ON-LINE TO FIND OUT MANY OTHER SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED LOOKING AT THE HARNESS THAT HOUSED MANY ELECTRICAL WIRES ON THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE HATCHBACK. MANY OF THE WIRES WERE EITHER BROKEN OR LOOSE. I HAVE READ THAT BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, THE WIRES BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BENT WHEN YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR. TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO RESOLDER THE WIRES AND CHARGED ME $225 FOR THE LABOR AND PARTS NEEDED. IF I HAD TO REPLACE THIS, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER $600 SO THE DEALERSHIP DISCOURAGED ME FROM DOING THIS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY SUBARU SINCE IT IS DUE TO BAD DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE AND THE SERVICE I HAD DONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10497181February 4, 2013POWER TRAIN
THE VEHICLE IS A STATION WAGON WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DRIVEN ONLY BY MY WIFE AND I. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE 3 YEAR, 30,000 LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD, BECAUSE IT OCCURRED INFREQUENTLY, AND DID NOT APPEAR TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, IT'S SUBARU'S POLICY, AS STATED BY THE DEALER MOYER SUBARU, TO NOT ACT UNTIL A PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED, AND TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMER IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. HOWEVER, THE 5-YEAR, 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, AND A SUBARU GOLD PLUS, 7-YEAR, 70,000 MILE WARRANTY, ARE STILL IN EFFECT. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES, WHICH IS NECESSARY ON ROADS SLICK FROM RAIN, SNOW OR ICE, OR WHEN THERE IS SOME OTHER HAZARD THAT WARRANTS SLOW SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT TO NEUTRAL, THERE IS AN ALARMING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND YOU MUST BRAKE HARD TO ARREST THE ACCELERATION, WHICH IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SKIDDING AND SLIDING. I ESTIMATE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN PAST TWO MONTHS OF WINTER WEATHER. LAST WEEK (1/30/13), I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MOYER SUBARU WHO TOLD ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS, AND WOULD NOT DO A ROAD TEST UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY THE COST IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. I AM UNWILLING TO DO THAT, SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN; ONLY THAT IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND LIKELY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. INSTEAD, I REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON SUBARU WEBSITE, AND THEY HAVE DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAINT (SR # 1-3193753102), BUT MADE NO OFFER TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. THE SUBARU IMPREZA OWNER'S GROUP REPORTS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH NUMEROUS IMPREZAS, AND SOME OUTBACKS. WE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON A 2002 OUTBACK THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY AFTER IT PROGRESSED TO HIGHER GEARS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10476862September 24, 2012AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN IN REVERSE BEFORE CRASHING INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 10/31/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE PULLED INTO A VACANT SPOT, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A ROAR AND SURGED OVER A CURB UPWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, WITH HER FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS AND HIT AN SUV PARKED ILLEGALLY BEHIND HER CAR. THE VEHICLE THEN CONTINUED BACKWARDS, HIT ANOTHER CAR AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL OF A LIBRARY AND STOPPED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 10/31/12
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10455419April 16, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. APPARENTLY, A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM (ENGINE BEARING). VEHICLE UNDER BOTH FACTORY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. SUBARU NORTH AMERICA IS TRYING TO AVOID FIXING UNDER WARRANTY (AGAIN, IT SEEMS A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM). SUBARU CLAIMS OIL LEAKED OUT, BUT OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. SUBARU IS NOT DEALING ON THE UP AND UP. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10443148January 9, 2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.THE VEHICLE LATER RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440584December 20, 2011EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10440592December 20, 2011SUSPENSION
DRIVING ON SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS ICE/SNOW ON FREEWAY WITH LIGHTLY LOADED SUBARU OUTBACK (4 PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDED 2 FEMALES IN BACK SEAT AND LIGHT LUGGAGE FOR FOUR). THE REAR OF CAR BEGAN "GHOSTWALKING" OSCILLATING SIDE TO SIDE ABOUT 3-4" AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES/HOUR ON STRAIGHT ROAD. PASSED BY NUMEROUS 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS AND CARS TRAVELING AT MUCH FASTER RATES. NEEDED TO PULL TO SHOULDER BECAUSE THE CARE FELT TOO UNSTABLE/UNSAFE. THIS DID NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO DRIVER ERROR, SLICK ROAD SURFACE OR TIRES. THIS WAS A FIRST EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND FIRST TIME ON SLICK SURFACE WITH VEHICLE LOADED. MANY OTHER PEOPLE REPORT SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PHENOMENON. SPOOKY AND VERY SCARY IS BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE. THIS IS NOT SAFE! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10404790June 1, 2011TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE TO THE COLD PRESSURE OF 32 PSI FRONT AND 30 PSI REAR WHICH WAS LISTED ON THE STICKER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE TPMS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GO OUT. THE SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED ALL FOUR TIRES BE ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO DETERMINE IF THE TPMS WOULD ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TPMS WAS NOT WORKING AS DESIGNED, DUE TO THE FACT, THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRES WERE PROPERLY ADJUSTED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10403430May 24, 2011POWER TRAIN
ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE - I PUT THE TRANS IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO MOVE WHEN I REACHED OVER TO OPEN THE GLOVE BOX. AS I REACHED MY CUFF CAUGHT ON THE TRANSMISSION KNOB AND PULLED SELECTOR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE BUT THERE'S NO LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR HANDLE. THE OLDER CARS USED TO REQUIRE YOU TO PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP ON THE KNOB AND /OR PULL UP ON AN INTERLOCK HANDLE. LOOKS LIKE I WAS LUCKY GOING SO SLOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10400700May 12, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ABOUT A MONTH AGO (APRIL 2011) WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH I REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX AND MY SHIRT CUFF CAUGHT THE SHIFT HANDLE AND THRU THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE NO BUILT IN SAFETY LOCKS OR MECHANISMS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO MANUAL SHIFT OPTION. ACTUALLY YOU CAN SHIFT ANYWHERE FROM REVERSE TO MANUAL AUTO BY BUMPING OR PULLING THE SHIFT HANDLE WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IS THERE A RECALL AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. EVERY AMERICAN MADE CAR I'VE OWNED HAD A BUILT IN MECHANISM THAT REQUIRED THAT YOU PUSH DOWN / PULL UP AND PUSH FORWARD OR PULL BACKWARDS AT THE SAME TIME THRU SOME TYPE OF MANUAL LOCKING MECHANISM...... THANKS I'M STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION IS UNKNOWN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0