Subaru Outback Complaints (2001)

171 consumer complaints on file.

#764634July 23, 2002
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
ORIGINAL JACK COLLAPSED WHILE JACKING UP FRONT END DRIVER SIDE. THE JACK WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN COLLAPSED WHILE JACKING UP THE DRIVER SIDE. IT APPEARS THE SHANK IS TOO LONG TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764455July 19, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013989July 16, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THERE IS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER IS AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD A BAD HESITATION ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. ALSO BATTERY WAS DEAD. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762933June 11, 2002
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE LOSES HOLD OVERNIGHT AND CAR ROLLS DOWN HILL IF NOT IN GEAR. (5 SPD). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762723June 6, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I PURCHASED MY 2001 OUTBACK SEDAN IN SEPT OF 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES NOW FOR FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS TILL THEY COULDNT BE TURNED ANYMORE, THEN SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND THEY TOO HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING OF THE STEEERING WHEEL IN ALL BRAKING.AFTER SPEAKING WITH ALL SUBARU OF AMERICA REPS THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL DO NO MORE TO THE CAR, AND AGREED THAT THEY ARE SEEING IT OTHER IDENTICAL OUTBACKS AND IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUET FOR THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY WITH IT, AND WHEN I DO TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS, TRAFFIC ETC SO AS NOT TO HEAT THE ROTORS UP. NUMEROUSE OUTBACKS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED PARITICULARY FOR THE WINTER ELEMENTS, SNOW DRIVING ETC. WHEN YOU GO TO BRAKE IN ANY ELEMENT THE CAR SHAKES EXTREMLY BAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AND SEEN WHAT IT DOES, BUT CONTINUE TO BLAME THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS.THE BRAKE ROTORS I AM TOLD ARE BEING MANUFACTURED SMALLER AND THINNER THEREFORE DO NOT DISAPATE HEAT AND THEN WARP. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT 4000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE AS I DO EXTREME MOUNTAIN PASS DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS. I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THE OTHER OWNERS OF SUBARUS WITH THE SAME DEFECT.THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WORK AND SAY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY ONCE, AND HAVE TURNED THEM UNDER WARRANTY TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND NOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THERE ARE REPORTS OF OWNERS MODIFYING THE FRONT ENDS TO ALLOW MORE AIR TO COOL THE ROTORS. THIS I FIND UNACCEPTABLE. IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE IF SO PLEASE HELP US.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9006771May 9, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DESCENDING STEEP HILL IN 1ST GEAR USING ENGINE AS BRAKE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009201May 8, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH-SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS WINTER. IT HAPPENS MOST OFTEN IN THE MORNING, COLD SEEMS TO BE A FACTOR MOST OF THE TIME, AND IT SHUDDERS WHEN YOU GO FROM STOP TO GO. FIRST GEAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF SMOOTHLY WITHOUT THE SHUDDERING. THE DEALER CANT SEEM TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE READ THE OTHER SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SUBARU MESSAGE BOARD, SO I KNOW ITS MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN JUST OUR CAR. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761667
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005776March 15, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF MALFUNCTION ON STEERING COLUMN; HOWEVER, HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE WAS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759004March 6, 2002
TIRES
WHEN THE ORIGINAL RECALLS OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES OCCURRED WE WERE TOLD BY SUBARU AND FIRESTONE THAT OUR SIZE TIRE WAS NOT EFFECTED. THESE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR. LAST NIGHT WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 11:00 AND COMING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP FROM ROUTE 270 ONTO MIDDLEBROOK ROAD IN GERMANTOWN. MY HUSBAND HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND AT FIRST WE DISMISSED IT. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER AT A LIGHT WE HEARD AN ADDITIONAL SOUND AND REALIZED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. MY HUSBAND PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT TO DISCOVER THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. IT DID NOT SEPARATE TO THE POINT OF RIPPING THE TIRE ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BUT ENOUGH OF A GAP YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGER IN. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEPARATION GOES AT LEAST HALF WAY AROUND THE SIDE WALL (180 DEGREES) AND PROBABLY MORE. WE ROAD ON THE FLAT (AT A SNAIL'S PACE) THE MILE TO OUR HOME SINCE WE STILL HAD RUBBER BETWEEN THE RIM AND ROAD. THE SCAREY PART IS THAT IT WAS LATE, DARK AND IF WE'D GOTTEN STUCK ON ROUTE 270 IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLEASANT FOR MY HUSBAND TO CHANGE A TIRE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS--IN FACT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. ISN'T THIS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE OTHER WILDERNESS TIRES--THAT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED, RIPPED AND THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND FLIPPED VEHICLES?! LUCKILY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OURS DIDN'T GO THAT FAR, BUT IT COULD HAVE. OUR OUTBACK IS A WONDERFUL CAR AND WE LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF DRIVING IT, BUT FOR A STATIONWAGON ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY IS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN AVERAGE. JUST LIKE THOSE SUVS WE COULD HAVE FLIPPED OUR BEAUTIFUL CAR IF THINGS DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY THEY DID. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY HUSBAND IS PISSED OFF. HE CALLED THE FITZGERALD SUBARU IN GAITHERSBURG FOR ADVICE AND THEY SAID WE'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FIRESTONE. DO I NEED TO FEAR THE THREE OTHER TIRES ON MY CAR NOW? THANKS! JOYCE MCDONALD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#758689February 26, 2002
SUSPENSION
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED (50-70 MPH) (TIRESIZE: 225/60/R16)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003833February 11, 2002
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP STEERING WHEEL ALMOST JERKED OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003836February 11, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003841February 11, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND STATED THAT OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757429January 28, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
SINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR HAS HAD A BAD SHUDDER WHEN COLD OUTSIDE -- BAD ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE ENTIRE CAR AS THE CLUTCH ENGAGES. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S COLD, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME WHEN IT'S COLD, MAKING IT NIGH IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DEALER TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. 20K MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS FOR ME AND APPARENTLY MANY, MANY OTHER OUTBACK DRIVERS. INTERNET POSTS CONFIRM THAT THIS IS A "COMMON" SUBARU PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH A FIX IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH SOME LEGACY/OUTBACK CLUTCHES, BUT UNTIL THE CLUTCH WILL RELIABLY FAIL WHILE THEY HAVE IT, THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MOST PEOPLE, LIKE ME, JUST DEAL WITH THE HORRIBLE SHAKING, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW THIS COULD LEAD TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND BECOMES STARTLED BY THE SHUDDERING CAR, BACKING OFF THE GAS AND POSSIBLY GETTING HIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757370January 26, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH OR FLYWHEEL APPEARS DEFECTIVE. THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS OR CHATTERS WHEN ENGAGED WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 9,000 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY TILL NOW AT 18,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL, BUT I AM CONCERNED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AMONG OTHER SUBARU DRIVERS AND THE SERVICE TECHS REPORT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMEN AND NORMAL FOR SUABRUS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTORING OF THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO ANYONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WHEN YOU ENGAGE THE CLUTCH UPON ACCELERATION THE CAR JERKS AND TREMBLES, CHATTERS, SHUDDERS BEFORE ENGAGING. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AS NORMAL OPERATION. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756943January 16, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKES ARE UNEVEN AND UNDEPENDABLE. CAR BUCKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN DOWNHILL BRAKING APPLICATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002089January 14, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES, STRUCTURE
ON SIX OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO INSUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE. *AK ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE MOVING SLOWLY AHEAD, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756745January 12, 2002
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
AT 30 MPH IN A CURVE ON CR73 FROM CONIFER TO EVERGREEN, CO. IN 3RD GEAR, STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE, AND CAR DID A 360 DEGREE SPIN ON DRY PAVEMENT AND SLID INTO A DIRT MOUND. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, HAPPENING WITH NO TRAFFIC, AND IN THIS LOCATION, WAS MY WIFE'S LIFE SPARED.POLICE REPORT WITH COLORADO STATE PATROL ON FILE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754807November 22, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753458October 20, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY
NO FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IN PRINT, 'DRIVE' MAGAZINE THAT THEIR EXPENSIVE VDC SYSTEM IS A LIBILITY IN CERTAIN COMMON WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND HAVE INCLUDED ON ALL NEW MODELS AN 'OFF' SWITCH AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. WINTER IS COMING, AND WE HAVE A VEHICLE WHICH COULD ACTUALLY BE RENDERED IMMOBILE BY ITS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. WE HAVE REQUESTED TWICE THAT A SWITCH BE ADDED AND HAVE BEEN REFUSED WITH SUBARU ONLY SAYING THAT THE MATTER IS BEING REFERRED TO MARKETING AND ENGINEERING. WE HAVE THE ARTICLE AND INFORMATION FROM THE NEW MODELS CONCERNING THIS AND WOULD BE PLEASED TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU. REGARDS, BETSY KUC. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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