Subaru Outback Complaints (1999)

111 consumer complaints on file.

#10111156January 14, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLED. *NM THE ENGINE STALLED DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. IN REVIEWING THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE THE CONSUMER SAW A RECALL RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105361December 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098524November 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINES RUNNING FROM TRANSMISSION TO THE RADIATOR SPLIT RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THESE WERE THE METAL LINES NOT THE RUBBER CONNECTORS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087596August 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 01V216000. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086550August 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH AND CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BECOME SHREDDED. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. WE DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 01V216000). HOWEVER, SUBARU REFUSSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BATCH OF CARS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. WE THEREFORE HAD OUR MECHANIC REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086492August 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
RANDOM OVERHEATING IN MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WAGON, 85000 , LEAD TO BEING STRANDED ON A RURAL ROAD. AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT, PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. EVENTUALLY, MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS DUE TO A FAILED HEAD GASKET. AT 85000, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT OCCUR. SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON PHASE II, 2.5L ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BECAUSE OF FAILURE, HOWEVER HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE OWNERS OF THE PHASE I ENGINES. I FOUND A WEB-SITE FORUM WITH MANY OTHER VICTUMS OF SUBARUS NEGLECT, MANY OF WHOM WERE ALSO STRANDED ON THE ROADSIDE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN CARS WITH 50-100K MILEAGE. CLEARLY THE HEAD-GASKETS ON THESE ENGINES ARE DEFECTIVE AND THIS IS SERIOUS DEFECT THAT SUBARU SHOULD ACKNOWLEGE AND FIX.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081658July 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE SHIFTING THE GEARS GEAR SHIFT FAILED, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO WORN OUT PART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075425June 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT AROUND 74,000 MILES THE CAM SHAFT BEGAN TO FRACTURE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. SUBARU REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075956June 4, 2004
CHILD SEAT:TETHER: STRAP/WEBBING
CONCERN REGARDING THE TOP TETHER FOR THE CHILD'S CAR SEAT THAT IS MOUNTED ON THE CEILING OF THE CAR.*MR THE CONSUMER INSTALLED THREE CAR SEATS IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TOP TETHERS WERE MOUNTED TO THE PROVIDED MOUNTS. VISIBILITY OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW WAS HINDERED GREATLY DUE TO THE POSITION OF THE TETHERS. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE TOP TETHERS CANNOT BE REMOUNTED BEHIND THE REAR SEATS AS THEY ARE IN THE SEDAN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066813April 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE AT 115000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063399March 17, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. ALSO, GEARS ARE SLOW TO ENGAGE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060393March 4, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK LIMITED DEVELOPED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CHARACTERIZED BY HESITATION AND HARSH, ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM ONLY AROSE AS THE CAR WAS PLACED FROM PARK OR REVERSE INTO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO ARMANDO'S SUBARU IN CANFIELD, OH AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. LATER THIS PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND PRONOUNCED. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND THE CAR WOULD JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. ALSO, THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURING NOT ONLY WHEN I ORIGINALLY SET THE AT INTO GEAR, BUT ALSO FROM STOPS AFTER THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN GEAR. I WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO REV THE ENGINE MORE THAN ONCE TO GET IT TO ENGAGE AND IT JERKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE CONTROL MODEL BUT PROBABLY WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE ANYMORE BECAUSE I COULD NOT BE SURE WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE OR HESITATE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS APPROX TIME PROBLEM FIRST DEVELOPED, IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060116March 1, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE MATERIAL ON THE GASKET IS COMPLETELY GONE IN A FEW AREAS, CAUSING LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. SUBARU SPECIALIST THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD REPAIRED 10 SUBARU HEAD GASKETS IN JUST THE PAST 2 WEEKS ALONE. ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER THAT HAD ITS HEAD GASKET FAIL WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF MINE. ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU REPAIR SPECIALIST, SUBARU DOES NOT ADMIT THE HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE. 2 DAYS AFTER GETTING THE HEAD GASKET FIXED, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO EASE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. OH, ONE MORE THING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE REPAIR FACILITIES CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION REPEATEDLY FAILS DUE TO THE LIGHT BEING ON.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058550February 20, 2004
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
REAR WASHER PUMP TOTAL FAILURE CAR LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WHEN PROBLEM AROSE WITH UNDER 55,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058548February 20, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KEYLESS ENTRY CONTROL MODULE TOTAL FAILURE. CAR IS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD & HAS LESS THAN 76,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT PART IS $200 + LABOR TO INSTALL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055149January 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK OVERHEATED AND PROBLEM ATTRIBUTED TO CRACKED HEAD GASKET. DEALER STATES THAT 99-01 ARE COVERED AS WARRANTY DESPITE MILEAGE IF HAS A PHASE 2 ENGINE. MINE IS PHASE 1. TRYING TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054761January 23, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD LATCH OF MY 1999 OUTBACK IS FAULTY. TOOK IT BACK 2 X TO BE REPAIRED. THEY LOOKED AT MY LIKE I WAS CRAZY. THEY "CLEANED" THE LATCH ON 1/6/04, THEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 1 WEEK LATER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AND INSISTED ON A REPLACEMENT HOOD LATCH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/21, THE "TIGHTENED THE CABLE", LESS THAN 24 HRS. LATER THE HOOD LATCH OPENED AGAIN. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CALLED, HE TOLD MY HUSBAND "WELL, WE DIDN'T CHARGE HER ANYTHING!". TODAY, 1/23 THE HOOD OPENED AGAIN. WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TO A COWORKER SHE STATED THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO HER OUTBACK LAST YEAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070684January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEAT BELTS, SUSPENSION, TIRES, POWER TRAIN, WHEELS
I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN JUNE 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. I HAVE HAD TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY TO DEAL WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. 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. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE FAILURES. THE CAR WENT THROUGH A SET OF MICHELIN RADIAL TIRES IN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THIS CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN SNOW (CONTRARY TO SUBARU'S COMMERCIALS) BECAUSE THE TIRES BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ARE THROWN OUT OF BALANCE. THE BRAKES ALSO BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ICE AND HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, ALMOST CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. THE RADIO ANTENNA REFUSES TO RETRACT IN COLD WEATHER. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO LISTEN OR REPAIR THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068931January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
I KEEP GETTING A CHIRP WHEN THE CLUTCH IS OUT; GOES AWAY WHEN IT\\'S FULLY DEPRESSED. PROBLEM IS THE THROW-OUT BEARING ASSEMBLY. SEEMS THE PINS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE KEEP FAILING, CAUSING THE BEARING TO RUB AGAINS THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, WEARING IT OUT PREMATURELY. IT\\'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SUCH A SMALL, INEXPENSIVE PART. AND IT KEEPS FAILING. FIRST AT 18,500, THEN AT 43000, THEN AGAIN AT 45000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050596December 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED AFTER A 30-MINUTE TRIP. TEMP GAUGE READ NORMAL. THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKET ALL OK, BUT EXHAUST VALVES AND CYLINDER WALLS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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