Subaru Outback Complaints

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11432757September 13, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The Auto-start feature, which stops the engine at a light, then restarts, is very dangerous. It cannot be permanently turned off - always on by default. 1 if the steering wheel is not perfectly straight, it jerks out of your hand when the engine restarts. 2 the car jerks forward when the engine restarts. This has already put me in danger of a crash several times - and this 'feature' must be actively disengaged each and every time the car is started. It should be able to be permanently turned off - not always on by default.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432671September 12, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield suddenly cracked, starting from bottom center of the window, crack moved up about 6" and then turned 90 degrees towards passenger side and went another 6". No object hit the window or car; it just spontaneously cracked from bottom then moved upwards.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432405September 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There are multiple issues at hand. The radio system continues to randomly power off and or not work and often times the entire eyesight system crashes and shuts off when driving at highway speeds disabling the cruise control. The screen has already been replaced once but the issue is still there.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432345September 9, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Bought a new 2021 Subaru Outback in July 2021. In the first 1600 miles of driving the battery has died three times. Twice I found it wouldn't start after having parked it for a few days and once it wouldn't start the next day after driving it (it was driven the previous day at 6pm and wouldn't start at 9am the next day). There seems to be something that drains the battery when the vehicle is off. One time it may have been my fault for leaving an interior light on, but how could an interior light drain the battery in just a few hours? I've had roadside assistance jump start the car each time it wouldn't start and each time the technician said anecdotally that Subaru Outbacks and Foresters were the most common car he is seeing get jumped. That last time it wouldn't start, I double checked to make sure I had not left any interior lights on and I had not. This is definitely an issue with the car - some system draining the battery.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432300September 9, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The windshield is warped on the passenger side, approximately 6 - 8 inches from the right seal, bottom corner. This creates a blurred distortion from traffic merging to the right, and causes a hazard in spatial relationship to the vehicle. Pictures show distortions through the windshield that do not exist. This has nearly caused me to be in accidents. The dealer is checking with Subaru on the issue; the service rep acknowledged seeing the warping through the windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431959September 7, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am having battery drainage issue with my vehicle. If it sets more than 4 days the car will not start. I see there is a class action law suit on Outback vehicles. This car has 9,000 miles on it and this has happened 3 times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431925September 7, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
The 2022 Subaru Outback has a "feature" called AUTO START STOP. This is intended as a fuel saving feature. In the car's Setup Menu, you have the choice to turn this feature off. However, this feature MUST be turned off EACH and EVERY TIME you start the car. The change is NOT held in memory. This fact was confirmed by a Subaru Customer Service Representative in a call on the morning of 9/7/2021. This Auto Start/Stop feature works just like a gasoline powered golf cart. Take your foot off the gas and the engine dies. Press the accelerator and the engine restarts. However, there is NOT oncoming traffic on a golf course. If the wheels are canted to the left or right, a notable amount of force is experienced in the steering wheel. Subaru should be FORCED IMMEDIATELY to make a software change to allow this feature to be disabled permanently. I also suspect that in extreme cold or as these vehicles age, this "feature" will become an extreme safety hazard.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431728September 4, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Driving at 65 mph, engine stopped taking gas, slowed to below 30 in heavy freeway traffic. Resumed normal operation in about a minute. Then failed in similar fashion 5 minutes later. Took my 2021 Subaru outback xt to the dealer where purchased. They have been unable to duplicate the issue and want me to drive the car without any fix. I refuse to do that as if it happens in a situation where I must accelerate to be safe, it is going to be disastrous. They point to no recall on the 2021 model, but had this issue for the last 3 years on many of their models. What to do?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431607September 3, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery drain and car won't start. Called roadside service for a Jumpstart and on 5 other occasions, even after driving for 1.5 hours, the car won't start. Sometimes after driving and turning car off for 1/2 hour to visit a store, it won't start. Othertimes it will. Car only has 6000 miles on it. I have had to buy a battery jump starter so I can at least get rolling again. I have a call into Subaru service but they could not get me in for over a week. So I have to deal with the possibility of being stranded until Subaru can diagnose. I live in the country so bring stranded will be a big deal. I should have bought the Volvo.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431370September 1, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while coming out of a full stop, the vehicle would stall without warning. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431365September 1, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
As I was getting into my vehicle to drive to work the morning of Monday August 30th,I noticed a large crack in the windshield starting at the passenger side to the middle of the windshield. Vehicle was parked in driveway over the weekend and no damage was seen on the outside of the winshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431307September 1, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield spontaneously cracked. No warning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431279August 31, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Drove car and parked for 15 minutes. When I tried to start it again it would not turn over. Battery was completely dead and could not be jump started. Car is a 2021 model with only 11K miles on it. There was no prior warning of a low battery. It left me stuck in an isolated parking lot. Probably not a major safety issue but apparently a known issue for late model Subaru Outback’s so I wanted to add the 2021 model to the affected list.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431077August 30, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My wife has purchased Subaru 2021 Outback on May 2021. The windshield got cracked while it was parked in a driveway. It looks there was no sign of impact on the crack. The windshield of the Outback looks very susceptible to crack.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430635August 26, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
On 3 Occasions the Eyesight automatic braking activated with no apparent reason. The first was at highway speeds, second at 45mph and the third at about 30/35mph. In the first case a car entered the lane but there was considerable distance. In the second a car made a right turn into my lane and was slow but there was about 1/4 mile or more space and the last one occurred as, my wife, followed the curve of the road to the right. There were no vehicles near by only a median. In each case there was no gradual slow down only a full force application of the brakes. This led to the car lunging forward. Fortunately in all cases there was no one behind us or we would have been rear ended. The associated red heads-up lights activated at the very same time as the brakes did. I have called the dealer for an appointment to bring it in. No one else has inspected the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430401August 24, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
After less than 3,000 miles and 6 months, the windshield spontaneously cracked from about 1/3 the way up the driver-side post horizontally about 12” toward the center of the car, then up vertically about 10” and then horizontally about 24” further toward the center of the car. This was reported to Subaru of America with Case # 1-73126830225 on 2021-08-18.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430389August 24, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS:CONTROL MODULE
The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact’s wife was driving 40 MPH and noticed that the center console display screen went blank and rebooted independently after a few minutes. However, the failure reoccurred and affected several safety features on the vehicle including the HVAC controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and navigation on the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and duplicated of the failure the but could not determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was able to install a software monitor to replicate the failure so the contact could notify the failure to the dealer. The contact took the vehicle back to the local dealer where the dealer replaced the center module in an attempt to repair the vehicle however, the failure still occurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430023August 22, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Cracked windshield while parked in the garage
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429808August 19, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked on a new 2021 car, while driving in the city in clear weather and light traffic.The crack runs horizontally for about 10 inches and then turn vertical for the same height. I do not think it was hit by anything. Dealer inspection will be taken up soon.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429659August 18, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Don't buy I regret buying it. Water leaks into the vehicle passenger side door. I got a loaner and the same issue water leaks into the vehicle
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Subaru Outback