Subaru Outback Complaints (2006)

281 consumer complaints on file.

#11162168December 18, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BOUGHT CAR FROM PRIVATE OWNER IN OCTOBER 2018. IMMEDIATELY AFTER SALE HAD THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPLACE REAR BRAKES IN OCTOBER 2018 AND COMPLETELY INSPECT CAR FOR ANY NEEDED REPAIRS. IN EARLY DECEMBER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ON, THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE ENTIRE FAMILY WAS ON BOARD. FOUND OUT FROM DEALERSHIP THAT, DESPITE FINDING CORROSION ON BRAKE LINE UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE CORROSION WAS ENCAPSULATED BY BARRIER SPRAY AND CONTINUED TO CORRODE BRAKE LINE UNTIL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND INABILITY TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AWAITING DEALERSHIP RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11155536December 3, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR WILL SUDDENLY GO LIMP. WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING BUT THERE IS NO THROTTLE OR THROTTLE PEDAL RESPONSE. YOU CAN FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THIS LAST HAPPENED. I CAME TO A TURN WHERE YOU EITHER HAVE TO STOP OR MERGE TO THE RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. AS I WENT TO ACCERERATE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT IS NOW FLASHING. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES. I FINALLY SHUT THE CAR OFF FOR 3-5 MINUTES BEFORE THE THROTTLE WOULD RESPOND. IF THIS HAPPENED ON THE A BUSY FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11152338November 18, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK AT AROUND 40 MPH, GOING STRAIGHT ON A BUSY ROAD. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ABRUPTLY. IT APPARENTLY ENTERED A "SAFE" MODE, WITH A MAXIMUM SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MPH REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH PRESSURE I APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR. THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THE ACCELERATOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER PROVIDED AN ERROR CODE P2138, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH VOLTAGE CORRELATION. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU VEHICLES FROM AROUND THIS MODEL YEAR. IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING AND THE CAR SLOWS TO A CRAWL ABRUPTLY. MY 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS THE MAIN DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE. IF THE ERROR WERE TO OCCUR ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO REASON THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN "SAFE" MODE AFTER SENSING AN ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITY IN THE THROTTLE WIRING. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SAFETY DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128588September 10, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IN MOTION, RAPIDLY APPLYING THE BRAKES CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR FLASHES AND CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOST. THE CAR ESSENTIALLY BECOMES LIMP AND IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THIS TIME. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN TURNING THE CAR BACK ON RE-PROVIDES CONTROL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED SUBARU SHOP TRACED THE ISSUE TO A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR IS OPERATING NOMINALLY. TWO TWO INSTANCES WHERE THIS CAUSED A SERIOUS CONCERN WAS WHEN I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHEN A CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON IT'S BRAKES AND CHOSE TO TURN RIGHT INSTEAD OF THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL STRAIGHT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE SECOND TIME WAS TO AVOID AN ANIMAL RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE CAR. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ROUGHLY 25MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123453August 30, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS FLASH. CAR LOOSES POWER AND STALLS WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118807August 9, 2018
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER ENGINE START. RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THE SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD LOCATED IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE FAIL OVER TIME (THE SAME BOARD THAT CONTAINS THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG STATUS). APPARENTLY THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON - MEANING THAT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS MAY WORK IF THE CIRCUIT BOARD BECOMES DEFECTIVE. REPLACEMENT BOARD, IF FOUND, IS OVER $300. I REPAIRED MINE BY RE-SOLDERING THE VARIOUS BAD CONTACT POINTS ON THE BOARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11101401June 12, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GROOVE SUBARU, 5300 S BROADWAY CIR, ENGLEWOOD, CO 80113) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089591April 23, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING LOST ALL POWER, GOT OFF ROAD ,ENGINE STILL RUN BUT WOULD NOT MOVE, FINALLY,RESTARTED AND GOT HOME, CHECKED CODES,P2138 CAME UP.THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN,HAVE READ REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS. WHAT HAS SUBARU DONE TO CORRECT BIG SAFETY PROBLEM!!! HAS THIS BECOME A RECALL.NOW SCARED TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11083809April 7, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TODAY I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I ACCELERATED, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER OUT. I TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT MY CAR HAD NO POWER. IT BEGAN TO SPUTTER THEN DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS STRANDED AT 9AM ON BROADWAY WITH MY 1.5 YEAR OLD AND 2 WEEK OLD. I TRIED TO START MY CAR MULTIPLE TIMES FOR 8 MINUTES UNTIL ONE ATTEMPT IT TURNED OVER, THIS TIME WITH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHING. IT LIMPED AROUND FOR A WHILE AS I TOOK IT TO A SHOP I WAS TOLD THE CODE READ 'THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR'. WHICH I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING ABOUT LET ALONE FIND IT IN A STORE OR ONLINE. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS AND I HAVE LOST UTTER FAITH IN MY SUBARU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11081414March 26, 2018
ENGINE
I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WITH LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL WITHIN THE PAST WEEK ON A SUBARU I JUST BOUGHT. THE FIRST I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN I LOST RESPONSE FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND THE ENGINE WENT TO A LOW RPM WHICH ALLOWED ME TO JUST BARELY ROLL INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. WHEN THROTTLE CONTROL WAS LOST THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND LETTING IT SIT A MOMENT I TRIED TO TURN IT ON AGAIN, BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I TRIED A SECOND TIME AND IT STARTED, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE NEXT TIME I STARTED THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF. THE SECOND TIME WAS NEARLY IDENTICAL BUT DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH. AGAIN THROTTLE CONTROL WAS LOST AND ENGINE WENT TO LOW RPM SO I COULD BARELY PROGRESS UP THE HILL AT 20-30MPH TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OFF, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON IMMEDIATELY. BEFORE I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE ENGINE WAS IDLING ROUGH, ABOUT 2000 RPM. AGAIN IT TOOK TWO TRIES TO START BUT THEN I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. AFTER DRIVING IT TWO OR THREE TIMES THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD GONE OFF. IN EITHER SITUATION I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT IF I HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY IN A HIGH SPEED AREA AS THE VEHICLE COULD ONLY MAINTAIN A LOW SPEED DUE TO THE LOW ENGINE RPM (2K-3K). THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT OCCURS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A FAULT IN THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11066659February 2, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR BECAME NON-RESPONSIVE. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOVE 65 MPH AND LOST POWER. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE BUT NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR. I TURNED CAR OFF AND WAITED FOR 15-20 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THEN SEEMED TO WORK AS NORMAL. MY HUSBAND READ THE SES CODE (P2138 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR). HE CHECKED THE WIRING CONNECTION AT THE FOOT PEDAL AND IT SEEMED FINE. HE RESET THE CODE WITH HIS CODE READER. THE CAR DROVE FINE WITH NO ISSUES FOR ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS BUT THEN HAD THE SAME ISSUE RECUR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I WAS VERY LUCKY I WASN'T IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IF I WAS I WAS PRETTY MUCH A SITTING DUCK AS THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE ARE QUITE OF FEW OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THAT MENTION THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE HOWEVER MOST OF THEM DON'T MENTION THEY REPORTED THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065940January 30, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO GAS PEDAL RESPONSE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11058469January 4, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH. CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE AND THE ACCELERATOR WILL NOT LONGER RESPOND DROPPING THE CARS SPEED DRASTICALLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN ON ANY ROAD, AT ANY SPEED, AND ANY WEATHER CONDITION. TEMPORARY FIX IS TO STOP AND CYCLE THE CARS POWER THREE OR FOUR TIMES. MORE PERMANENT FIX IS TO REPLACE THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY-ACCELERATOR AT A COST OF $199. HAPPENED A FEW DOZEN TIMES BEFORE I FINALLY GOT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY REPLACED. ISSUED STARTED EARLY 2016, AND REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY IN 2018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11057007December 28, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL LETTER DATED 13 DEC 2017 RECEIVED 28 DEC 2017 PLEASE UPDATE YOUR RECORDS. I REPORTED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN WRITTEN OFF IN OCTOBER 2016 - MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THE LICENCE PLATES WERE RETURNED TO WA TRANSPORT. (PLEASE CORRECT THE FORM BELOW - IT APPLIES TO THE US)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055452December 19, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES LIMP AND UNRESPONSIVE AT RANDOM MOMENTS INCLUDING HIGHWAY DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENS MORE AND MORE OFTEN AND OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE SAID THE SAME. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN THE MOST DURING COLDER WEATHER AND THE CARS GAS PEDAL BECOMES COMPLETELY UNRESPONSIVE AND REQUIRES THE CAR TO BE PULLED OVER OVER AND TURNED OFF TO SIT FOR A SOME TIME. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK THE RPMS JUMP UP AND REV HIGHER TO AROUND 4000, UNSURE OF WHAT'S CAUSING IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052702December 6, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING AND CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE, THIS IS WHERE CAR TRAVELS AT 30 MPH WITH NO CONTROL FROM THE GAS PEDAL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES, THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THE FUEL PEDAL IS TO PULL OVER, SHUT CAR OFF FOR 1 MIN. AND RESTART PEDAL WILL WORK BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH UNTIL ERROR CODE IS RESET. CODE IS P2138 . THIS MAY FIX PEDAL TEMPORARY BUT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN PEDAL QUITS WORKING THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THE CAR AT LEASED 20 TIMES, HAVE NOT FOUND A PERMANENT FIX YET. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051239November 29, 2017
AIR BAGS
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WAS SUPPOSE TO BE PROVIDED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO ME. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A RENTAL CAR WHICH REQUIRED ME TO PUT A $25.00 DEPOSIT DOWN AND WHICH THE RENTAL COMPANY WOULD NOT REFUND ME THE END AFTER I RETURNED THE CAR. THIS, TO ME, IS NOT PROVIDING ME WITH ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. IT WAS THE DEALERSHIPS DECISION TO USE A RENTAL CAR. NOT MINE. MY SON IS DRIVING THIS CAR AND WAS USING THE DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD MO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11045117November 10, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON STREET, FROM PARK WITH ENGINE IDLING, CAR IN DRIVE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEAD AT FIRST, THEN HIGH RPM 3000+ WITH PEDAL RELEASED. NO CONTROL OF ENGINE RPM. CEL AND CC ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. KILLED IGNITION SWITCH. ENGINE SHUT DOWN. RESTARTED ENGINE AND RPM WAS NORMAL. VERY FRIGHTENING! FOUND DTC P2138 ACC PEDAL SENSOR FAILURE. CALLED SUBARU SUPPORT, NO SUCH RECORD OF FAILURE. CALLED DEALER FROM WHICH CAR WAS PURCHASED, ANSWER WAS BRING CAR IN AND WILL TRY TO REPAIR. THIS IS A SERIOUS FAILURE AND DANGER. PLEASE SEE THIS FAILURE ON GOOGLE. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM APPREHENSIVE TO PUT THIS CAR ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN IT. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE PURSUED IN THESE DRIVE BY WIRE VEHICLES AS THIS CAR IS. PLEASE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.. THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035124October 20, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR WENT LIMP AND LOST ALL ACCELERATOR FUNCTION. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING.THANKFULLY, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. DIAGNOSED WITH CODE P2138 AND FAILED PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. BASED ON SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM SEARCHES AND IDENTIFIX DATABASE, THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON FOR 2005 AND 2006 MODEL YEAR SUBARUS. THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REDESIGNED IN 2007 BUT IS NOT REVERSE COMPATIBLE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11034349October 18, 2017
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND. A NOISE OF SHATTERING GLASS WAS HEARD, ALTHOUGH NO EVIDENCE OF BROKEN GLASS WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTICED. WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, THE OWNER OBSERVED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE FRONT PANORAMIC SUNROOF GLASS PANEL HAD SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES AROUND WHEN THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED AND THE TEMPERATURE HAD BEEN VERY STABLE UP TO THAT POINT IN THE DAY. (11 AM, OCTOBER 17TH, 2017.) NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMPACT WAS FOUND AS THE WINDOW HAD NO CHIPS OR HOLES FROM AN IMPACT, BUT THE ENTIRE FRONT SUNROOF PANEL OF GLASS WAS COMPLETELY CRACKED INTO TINY PIECES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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