Subaru Outback Complaints

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11549304October 11, 2023
ENGINE
Lower oil pan leaks due to poor QA/QC at the factory so I’m told. And possibly the upper oil pan leaking to. Researched forums and it’s a requiring problem. So is the problem big enough for a recall? One issue is that the dealership didn’t notice it during last inspection and service. Or is the dealership being told to remain silent ? Never less the end user suffers with worrying about if it’s going to happen again and cause bigger issues. Please check forums on this issue. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549272October 10, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My 23 Subaru Outback Wilderness windshield cracked within 3 months of ownership. The crack occurred directly at eye-level of the driver side, posing a serious safety hazard. I do not know what, if anything, hit the windshield but it occurred while driving on a busy interstate highway during rush hour.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549040October 9, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
While parked for about two hours, the vehicle windshield cracked from the drivers side edge across the middle of the drivers field of view approximately 15-18 inches. There are no signs of any impact to the windshield to cause such a crack.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11548254October 4, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I have has to replace the windshield 3 times in less than 3 years in my 2021 Outback. Only once was there a definite impact from a rock. In that case, the glass broke in 5 directions across the entire windshield. The other two times, I simply woke up to a huge crack. It seems that this is an extremely common problem with this model, and my insurance says they will drop me if I continue to make claims at this rate.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11547887October 2, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
2022 Outback with 24,000 miles, was parked in the garage all weekend and found an 18 inch crack in the drivers side windshield starting on the left edge. This windshield was replaced 5 months ago due for the same reason. Nothing hit the windshield while driving. Both cracks appeared while the car was parked in a ramp or garage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546993September 27, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
My issue is that my 2024 outback wilderness has a idling problem when starting cold or hot engine the RPM’s are at 1800 rpm for 1 to 5 minutes .. I feel this is a hazard to public safety in cold weather conditions because it stays at high idle and therefore stopping on slick roads is a problem.. I’ve had this at just one dealership a they said car is normal I do not feel it is safe .. I am a [XXX] male and have had many new automobiles and never had a real complaint this is a very serious complaint I hope someone inquires about it asap . Subaru corp has to technical issues reported but this is a very serious complaint INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546909September 27, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Eyesight driver assist went out rendering safety features inoperable. Touch screen also blanked out so unable to adjust a/c, navigation,radio etc. Car had been on long distance all hiway drive and at 7 hours systems failed. Weather was in the 60s, overcast and it was in the afternoon. Pulled into rest stop and turned engine off then restarted but still failed. Drove 2 more hours and next rest stop systems came back after letting car sit off for 10+ minutes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546772September 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sunroof/Moonroof spontaneously shattered OUTWARD. Car was being driven, inside slider was closed. Driver heard a bang, followed by hearing glass on the roof. Car driven another mile and parked where local police responded, examined the damage and took photos.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546457September 25, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Window cracked when hitting by a small chip on the high way
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546322September 25, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
When in a parking lot the windshield started cracking from bottom up and formed a T. Crack is about 12 inches long in front windshield. There are no signs of a rock or anything else that hit the windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545648September 20, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
While driving on a state highway in the Phoenix Arizona area the moonroof glass exploded and shattered. The time was approximately 9:45 PM, the outside temperature was approximately 95*F , interior AC was set to MAX/AC, speed was 75 MPH. There was no indication of an object hitting the glass and the glass appeared to be broken from the inside going out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545570September 20, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I purchased a new 2021 Subaru Outback Onyx Edition XT in May of 2021. The headlights have been a continual problem and I cannot get a solution from the dealer. They are way too bright. It’s a safety hazard to oncoming drivers. I also believe it’s a personal security risk to me from angry drivers. And there's nothing I can do about it because I don't have my high beams activated. The headlights need to have two separate intensity settings, one for low beam and one for high beam, but they do not. Currently, the low beam and high beam use the same intensity LED. The switch between high and low beams does not change the intensity or brightness. It merely activates a motor that moves a metal plate. The plate acts as a shutter that changes the angle the lights shine so the driver has a broader field of vision. The intensity of the lights do not change. The high beams are always on even when not activated. No wonder oncoming drivers are flashing their high beams and getting angry. I have voiced my concerns to the Subaru dealer who checked my headlights and said they were properly aimed. I have voiced my concerns on the Subaru forum and found many other drivers are experiencing the same problem. Some people on that forum suggest re-aiming the headlights so they point lower. This does not solve the problem. Doing so limits visibility to a very short distance ahead of the vehicle creating a different safety issue, not being able to see objects, animals, or people in the roadway. FMVSS No. 108 requires 2 intensity settings for motor vehicle headlights. Subaru has not provided that and is in violation of that federal regulation. I am requesting that NHSTA exercise whatever regulatory authority it has to enforce this requirement including issuing a recall on the Subaru Steering Responsive Headlights. Watch 18:45 to 21:30 of this YouTube video to see the inner workings of these headlights: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545464September 19, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The 2021 Outback XT which we purchased new on April 15, 2021, would not start on September 15, 2023. My spouse had a medical appointment that morning. On September 18, 2023, the vehicle would not start again. My spouse had a medical appointment that morning as well. This same problem occurred several months earlier. On the morning of May16, 2023 I called the dealership's service department for a service appointment. This was the first such incident and caught me totally by surprise. Here is a direct quote from the Service's Manager's May 19, 2023 email. " The tester/charger determined that your battery was healthy, had a good state of charge and accepted a good rate of charge and also held the charge. The battery has no fault, the drain was the issue determining replacement of your battery was unnecessary and not warrantable." The dealership service department manager went on to state "it (battery)required 3 hours and 45 minutes of charging". Following the May 16, 2023 service appointment the vehicle performed as expected until the morning of September 15, 2023. On September 19, the vehicle was again taken to the dealership for servicing. During this visit, a "new battery" was installed by the service department because they determined the existing battery failed their test. The service rep stated the “new” battery will fix the problem. Also, the service rep stated, when asked, that the Electronic Control Module was updated but the Data Communications Module was not replaced. Additionally, the rep stated, when asked, the “new” battery did not carry the normal warranty because it was installed under the vehicle’s existing 3-year warranty which expires on April 15 2024. This limited battery warranty makes no sense. Since the May 16, 2023 incident, we experienced emotional tension every time we have driven the vehicle, dreading it would not start when we needed the vehicle the most. We are 70+ and believed that we were purchasing a safe vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545197September 18, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
When driving east into direct sunshine, the entire windshield sparkles with thousands of diamonds, making it hazardous to drive. Just bought the car June 8, 2023, as a Certified Pre-Owned (it had been a dealer loaner). Had to dealer last week, they claim not a defective windshield and I must have gotten behind a truck with sand or gravel. Well, I have not and there is no damage to the hood or any other part of the vehicle. I am sure it is a defective windshield and they want $1008 to replace and the insurance is not wanting to pay for it. I called Subaru Customer Service and filed a report and have a case number with them. Disgusting to say the least and afraid to drive during the morning hours or late afternoon heading west into the sunset. What should I do? I believe Subaru needs to replace at their cost, not mine. I see other complaints on the Internet about sparkles in the windshield, then it just cracks all over and breaks. That is not something to look forward to. I am 78 and I bought this as my last car. May have to bury me in it. My husband was just diagnosed in July with inoperable cancer and I have to take him to chemotherapy several times a week for several months. Some of those appointments I have to be at the doctor by 8:30 a.m. and don't get out until after 5 p.m. So you can see my dilemma with the windshield driving in the morning sunshine and afternoon sunshine. Please have someone contact me, soon. If there is someplace in Maryland I can take to have the windshield professionally examined, and have them report their findings back to you, let me know. I am close to the Pennsylvania border as well and only 45 minutes from West Virginia if there is no place in Maryland. I thank you for your consideration and time. Regards. The contact wants to thank you for your support and good work getting her windshield fixed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11544611September 14, 2023
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
On my 2023 Outback my Subaru Eyesight is intermittently inoperable, which causes my cruise control and automatic braking to not work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11544522September 14, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2023 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the headlights were very dim while driving at night. Additionally, the contact stated that a black square shadow would appear in the illumination of both headlights which also impaired her vision while driving at night. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who found no defect with the vehicle. The contact was then referred to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11543804September 11, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Repeated dead battery with no known cause
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11543521September 9, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The very first rock to ever hit the windshield landed around 9pm (6000 miles total on the car). The next day driving around 10am in the rain a 30" crack formed, that eventually spread from one side of the windshield to the middle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11543033September 6, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was driving and suddenly 13 flashing lights and codes from check engine to loss of cruise control and RAB -dealer says it needs a new thermo control valve (thermostat). This failed part has been common on Subarus for 3 years-reported on internet and even to the point where a guy sitting next to me today with same car and year and same $1800 bill and diagnosis. Should be a recall. Part was redesigned in 2022 I read.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11542645September 5, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On Sunday, August 20, 2023 I was pulling into a parking spot in front of an Anytime Fitness at a local strip mall. As I applied the brake, the motor raced and accelerated driving me into a pillar outside of the fitness center. I was in shock, not understanding what had happened. Had I chosen to park one stall to the right, the car would have gone through the window of the business instead of the pillar. Considerable damage was done to the pillar and to my 2021 Subaru Outback, but I was not injured, and no one else was injured. I had the brakes checked at my vehicle service center and was told the brakes were functioning as they should be. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. No warning was provided by the vehicle. The crash occurred in two seconds.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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