Subaru Outback Complaints (2008)

230 consumer complaints on file.

#11190660March 22, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET WHEN I LOST BRAKING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO A STOP AND GET IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WITHOUT DAMAGE TO MY CAR OR SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES BECAUSE THEY HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. I CALLED SUBARU. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190523March 21, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS ISSUE IS ON THE TOPIC OF A RECALL: "BRAKE PIPE CORROSION" NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 14V311000 SUBARU SERVICE CAMPAIGN: WQK47 SUBARU OF AMERICA IS REFUSING TO PROPERLY HONOR THIS RECALL, AS THEY WILL ONLY COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY LEAKING. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE CRITERION FOR BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT, AS IT IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE FAILURE MODE WITH POTENTIALLY-LETHAL CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF A CORRODED AREA OF THE BRAKE LINES ON MY 2008 OUTBACK, AN AREA UNDER THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS EXPLICITLY COVERED BY THIS RECALL. AS CAN BE SEEN, THEY ARE TERRIFYINGLY CORRODED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF SUBARU'S IMPROPER RUST-PROOFING OF THIS AREA. THEY WILL START LEAKING AT ANY MOMENT. INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IS A PRELIMINARY MEASURE TO APPLY SOME RUST-PROOFING COATING TO THE AREAS IN QUESTION. IF THAT ACTION IS TAKEN, THE RECALL IS CONSIDERED 100% RESOLVED PERMANENTLY. THIS RESOLUTION CRITERION IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, AS THE RECALL MAY NOT BE DONE BY A VEHICLE OWNER UNTIL THE BRAKE LINES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED BUT JUST BEFORE THEY START LEAKING DUE TO CORROSION. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE RESOLUTION TO A RECALL FOR CORRODED BRAKE LINES IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THOSE BRAKE LINES, NOT SOME MEAGER BAND-AID THAT SUBARU IS EFFECTIVELY CLAIMING IS A PERMANENT FIX TO THE ISSUE. THAT IS NOT TRUE AT ALL, AS BRAKE LINES WILL CONTINUE TO CORRODE TO A DEGREE EVEN IF THEY HAVE SOME COATING ON THEM, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE COATING CAN WEAR OFF. THIS RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY ADDRESSED ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY CITYSIDE SUBARU OF BELMONT, MA. HOWEVER, 2.5 YEARS LATER, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO RUST-PROOFING COATING REMAINING. EITHER THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T DO THE RECALL PROPERLY (OUT OF SCOPE OF THIS ISSUE SUMBISSION TO THE NHTSA), OR THE COATING WORE AWAY COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE FORMER OF THOSE TWO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185797March 11, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN DRIVING HOME, BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR THEN LIGHT CAME ON. TRIED BRAKE FLUID AND GUSHED OUT. INCHED TO NEARBY MIDAS WHO RAISED CAR AND FOUND MAJOR LEAK BY GAS TANK. RECALL ON THAT AREA WAS TREATED WITH WAX IN 2014. CALLED SUBARU WHO DID NOT GUARANTEE HELPING BY WANTED US TO BRING CAR TO A SUBARU SERVICE CENTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11173250January 31, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES CORRODED, FAILED STATE INSPECTION. BRAKE LINES HAD BEEN SERVICE UNDER SUBARU RECALL TWICE AND SPRAYED WITH A COATING. TREATING INFERIOR, CORRODED BRAKE LINES DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BRAKE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE GOTTEN NO SATISFACTION FROM EITHER THE DEALER OR SUBARU AMERICA. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE FOR SUBARU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156024December 4, 2018
AIR BAGS
SOMETIMES THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON EITHER WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED OR ONCE IT'S DRIVING. IT'S VERY SPORADIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154261November 27, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLANZMANN SUBARU (95 OLD YORK RD, JENKINTOWN, PA 19046, 215-885-8282) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED ONCE AND COULD NOT BE DONE AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11142465October 24, 2018
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
STICKY, MELTING DASHBOARD, SHINY AND REFLECTIVE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT CREATING VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, UNSURE HOW IT WILL REACT IF PASSENGER AIRBAG MUST BE DEPLOYED THRU DETERIORATING DASHBOARD, AFFECTING RESALE VALUE. DASHBOARD LITERALLY COMES OFF ON HANDS OR WIPING RAGS, POSSIBLE RELEASE OF CHEMICALS INTO INTERIOR? SUBARU WILL ONLY ADDRESS 1/3 OF THE DEFECT REPAIR COST. TOTAL AVERAGE COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS APPROX $1500-1600.00, ACTUAL DASHBOARD ITSELF RETAILS FOR $502.50 FROM DEALERS AND IS APARENTLY AVAILABLE WITHIN A FEW DAYS WHEN ORDERED. SUBARU GAVE CREDIT FOR $500.00, ALMOST COVERING THE COST OF THE DASHBOARD / COVER ONLY*** APPROX. $1000 .00 IN LABOR MUST BE PAID BY CUSTOMER. CAR IS IN OTHERWISE IMMACULENT CONDITION. THIS IS A DEFECT AFFECTING SAFETY, AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU EFFECTING ALL OF THIS MODEL AND SIMILAR MODELS WITH HIGH SUN EXPOSURE. IT IS ALSO CROSS MANUFACTURER AFFECTED, IE; TOYOTA, NISSAN, ETC. THEY HAVE TAKEN THE ROLE OF RECALL AND REPLACE. SUBARU HAS NOT TO DATE. SUBARU IS AWARE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM YET REFUSES TO ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128199September 8, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR BRAKE LINE, TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY APPLIED ANTI CORRESIVE. APPROX 16 MONTHS LATER BRAKE LINE BLEW WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM ON A CITY STREET. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY ASKED SUBARU TO COVER UNDER RECALL BUT WAS DENIED DUE TO HIGH MILAGE. BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING WHERE ANTI CORRESIVE WAS APPLIED. HAVE HEARD IF OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WE IN 3 OTHER SUBARUS ARE UNDER THE SAME RECALL AND HAVE CONCERNS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114370July 29, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ALONG WITH TRACTION LIGHT ON, CRUISE LIGHT ON. CAN'T SHUT ANY OFF. CAR ACTUALLY GETS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH DRIVERS SIDE NEAR FENDER HEADLIGHT. COULD START ON FIRE! DANGEROUS! THINK THERE IS A RECALL ON FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR, ONLY IF TURBO? REDICULOUS! SHOULD BE ALL NOT JUST TURBO MODEL! ALSO HAD TO REPLACE HEAD COVER GASKET AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THAT 5/17/2017 108,900 MILES. THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL ALSO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102340June 18, 2018
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE'S SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE WIRING ON 2005-2009 SUBARU OUTBACK/LEGACY MODELS THAT AFFECTS BOTH THE AIRBAG AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE THREADS ONLINE WHERE THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON SPECIFICALLY INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY BE AFFECTED AND SENSORS MAY BE FAULTY? THERE IS ALSO A COMMON ERROR IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN WHICH WHEN YOU LOCK THE CAR - ALL LOCKS ACTIVATE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REAR TAILGATE WHICH POSES A SAFETY RISK OR TOTAL THEFT OF THE CAR. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR UPON VEHICLE IGNITION AND WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR OFF (FOR THE LOCKING)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102231June 17, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS STOPPED ON A SIDE STREET, WAITING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHTTIP CHANGE AROUND 9:50AM ON SUNDAY, JUNE 17, IN DENVER, CO. THERE WERE CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND ONE IN BACK BUT NONE OF US WERE MOVING. SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW COMPLETELY SHATTERED. IT HAD BEEN HALF OPEN BEFORE THIS HAPPENED WITH NO MECHANICAL ISSUES. GLASS SPRAYED IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. I HAD SEVERAL SMALL CUTS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING OR BEING THROWN AT THE WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11099819June 4, 2018
AIR BAGS
AFTER PASSENGER AIR BAG REPLACEMENT AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NOW AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. ALSO FOUND MOISTURE FROM A/C BEING ON UNDER THE DASHBOARD AFTER PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS REPLACED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF. MOISTURE FROM A/C IS WHEN A/C IS ON ANYTIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11097428May 21, 2018
AIR BAGS
2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WOULD LIKE FOR THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION TO BE REMOVED FROM DATABASE. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11088584April 17, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES FAILED AT A STOPLIGHT WHILE BRAKING FOR A RED LIGHT. BRAKES FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 10MPH. BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED DOWN TO THE FLOOR, A POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. NEEDED TO USE HAND BRAKE TO SAFELY STOP CAR. MECHANICS SAID THE BRAKE LINE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND BROKE. BRAKING FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE CAR AROUND THE BROKEN HOSE. THE BROKEN PORTION OF THE CABLE WAS INSIDE THE THE CAR, AND NOT DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE ROAD OR OUTSIDE. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR RECALL 14V311000 INVOLVING BRAKE LINE CORROSION, BUT THEY FAILED TO FIX THIS PART OF THE LINE. RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR BEFORE INCIDENT. CONTACTED SUBARU USA ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY PART OF THE REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074497February 23, 2018
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM IS ON INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING COLD WEATHER. KEYWORDS: "SUBARU CODE 26 AIRBAG". IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND OTHER SUBARU OWNERS REPORT THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH INADEQUATE SOLDERING OF THE ELECTRONICS ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) RELATED TO THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT DISPLAY. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS DEFECT IMPAIRS THE ABILITY OF AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. IT CAN PRESENT ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. MANY WEB-BASED ACCOUNTS OF THE PROBLEM HAVE REPORTED THAT CHANGES IN VEHICLE TEMPERATURE DUE TO WEATHER (PARTICULARLY ON COLD DAYS) MAY BE RELATED TO THE SOLDERING JOINT TO MALFUNCTION. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHETHER A PASSENGER IS IN DANGER IF THIS LIGHT IS ON OR IF IT IS A FAULTY SIGNAL THAT I CAN IGNORE. I WANT CLARITY REGARDING SAFETY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072418February 12, 2018
AIR BAGS
ORIGINAL SOLDERING IN OVERHEAD CENTER CONSOLE WHERE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT IS LOCATED WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH TO TURN ON. IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH THIS GENERATION OF SUBARU OUTBACK. WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065536January 28, 2018
AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG RELATED. WE REPLACED THE RECALLED PASSENGER TAKATA AIRBAG A WHILE AGO, AND AT THE SAME TIME PAID $297.95 TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE ISSUE (ERROR CODE 26) RELATED TO THE AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT COMES. NOW WE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WITH THE AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT, IT IS TURNED ON. SUBARU SHOULD BE PAYING FOR REPAIRING THIS RE-OCCURING PROBLEM WITH THE WARNING LIGHT AND REIMBURSING US FOR THE $297.95 WE PAID THE FIRST TIME TO FIX IT, SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11062886January 15, 2018
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THREE TIMES SO FAR. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE LASTED MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO. VEHICLE WORKS FINE, THEN STARTS SLIPPING OUT GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR TWO MONTHS. MANUFACTURER SILENT ON GUIDANCE. SUSPECT TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OR INCOMPATIBILITY. THE TRANSMISSION/CONTROL MODULE IS A SPLIT MODEL YEAR BUILD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056982December 27, 2017
AIR BAGS
"TAKATA RECALL" I UNDERSTAND THAT I MAY BE DRIVING A CAR WITH THESE AIRBAGS AND THAT THEY MAY CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING HAS YET HAPPENED, BUT IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING SERIOUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052268December 4, 2017
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION FAILED, ON THE ROAD, PROBLEM SHIFTING, I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL. I COULD FIND THE PLACE TO ENTER THAT INFO. I AM NOT A MACHANIC!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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