Subaru Outback Complaints (2000)

207 consumer complaints on file.

#10138442October 4, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN THE RPMS REVVED TO 6500. THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER FOUND A MECHANIC THAT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME FOR HER. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT IN USE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CALLED. THE CONSUMER THAT WAS MAKING THE COMPLAINT WAS NOT THE OWNER, BUT HAD BORROWED THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND NOTHING WRONG. *SC . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137912September 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. THE CAR HAS APPROX 45,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I HAVE KEPT THE CAR UP TO DATE WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I USED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT BUT THEY NEVER COMPLETED THE WORK I REQUESTED AND PAID FOR (I.E. LITTLE THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT IN THE CAR, ETC). WAS HAVING A STRONG BURNING ODOR FROM MY CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO. GOT THE CAR INTO A MECHANIC TODAY WHO SPECIALIZES IN SUBARU AUTOMOBILES. I FOUND THAT I HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET THAT WAS LEAKING OIL EXTERNALLY. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE, A DEFECTIVE GASKET IN THEIR AUTOMOBILES WITH THE 2.5L ENGINES. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WILL HELP REIMBURSE MY COST OF REPAIR. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT!! IN MY OPINION, I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU IS CLAIMING THAT THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM BY RECALLING THE CARS AND RUNNING A SEALANT THROUGH THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A BAD COVER-UP. COULD YOU IMAGINE IF SUBARU HAD TO RECALL THOUSANDS OF CARS TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART LIKE A GASKET? THEIR INCOMPETENT DEALERSHIPS WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT! PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. I REALLY HOPE I'M NOT WASTING YOUR TIME. AS I MENTIONED, I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND SUBARU IS NOT ADDRESSING IT. THANKS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133896September 22, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: THE CALLER USED SPARE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. TIRE HAD 110 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. THE CALLER WAS GOING BETWEEN 60 AND 65 MPH. THE TIRE WAS FULL OF BLACK POWDER AND THE RUBBER WAS CRUMBLING. THE CALLER HEARD A RUMBLE, AND WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS ,THE TIRE BLEW OUT. TIRE WAS ONLY ON VEHICLE FOR A WEEK. MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CALLER TO GO TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TIRE. DEALER WOULD OFFER NO HELP. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER DID PAY FOR TIRE. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125449June 16, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS DELAYED ENGAGEMENT WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR UP TO 10 SECONDS THEN IT WILL ENGAGE ABRUPTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY IN AN UNSAFE MANNER. SUBARU HAS DEEMED THE PROBLEM A TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT 74,000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN COMPLAINT# 10074032, 10090065, 10106683, AND 10122566. SUBARU OF AMERICA DENIES THAT THERE IS A PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS/PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122566May 31, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO WAS EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DELAY IN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM ANY GEAR INTO DRIVE. HAD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND DO A TRANSMISSION FLUSH OF ALL FLUID. THE PROBLEM REALLY DIDN'T GET BETTER UNTIL FINALLY ON 3/19/05 AT ONLY 51,800 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE IN DRIVE AT ALL. A TRANSMISSION SHOP LOOKED AT IT AND SAID AN 'O' RING FAILED CAUSING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO NEED TO BE REBUILT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BE REPLACED. COST WAS $2,644 AND WAS ONLY 6 WEEKS PAST EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117231April 1, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM INCREASING SPEED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114050March 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE BRAKE LIGHT/TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ON OUR SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON FILLS WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS. IT IS A CLAMSHELL DESIGN SPANNING THE ENTIRE REAR HATCH OF THE VEHICLE AND INCLUDES THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND REVERSE (BACKUP) LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAT IN FLORIDA HAS AFFECTED THE SEAM OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, CAUSING IT TO FAIL PREMATURELY, SO THAT RAIN WATER FILLS UP IN THE TAILIGHT ASSEMBLY EVERY TIME IT RAINS, WHERE A SHORT CIRCUIT IS INEVITABLE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WATER INSIDE THE REVERSE LIGHTS PORTION OF THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, AS THE LENS IS CLEAR. THIS IS A BIG LIFE SAFETY HAZARD. I CONTACTED SUBARU MOTORS OF AMERICA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND 1) THEY DENY THAT THEY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM HAVING EVER HAPPENED TO ANY SUBARU OWNER, AND 2) THEY ARE DENYING MY REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR (VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY). HOWEVER, THE DEALER'S REPAIR TECHNICIAN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN FLORIDA - HE HAS REPAIRED THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES. I EXPRESSED CONCERN TO SUBARU AMERICA ABOUT LIABILITY FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FATALITIES. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A MANDATORY RECALL BE PERSUED SINCE SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN. I CLEARLY SEE THIS AS BOTH A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112106February 24, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGAGED CAR INTO REVERSE AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. I WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF MOVEMENT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS OR PEDESTRIANS. BROUGHT TO DEALER, NO EVIDENCE OF PROBLEM FOUND ON CAR COMPUTER SYSTEMS. FILED FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. FOUND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THOROUGHLY DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106181January 12, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE NEAR THE RIGHT WHEEL FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I DISCOVERED THE BROKEN PART HANGING DOWN NEARLY TO THE GROUND ON JANUARY 1, 2005. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO HANDLE ERRATICALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND I PLAN TO GET IT REPAIRED. I CALLED SUBARU AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REMEDY THIS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (72,400 MILES). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106683January 3, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. VEHICLE DELAYED WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, CONSUMER WOULD BE DRIVING AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT CHANGING GEARS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK......INITIALLY, DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. AFTER 2 MOR EVISITS TO DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104227December 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS. NOW 90,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE NEW OR SHORTLY AFTER CAUSING A HOT ANTIFREEZE SMELL LIKE IT IS DRIPPNG ON THE EXHAUST. DEALER NEVER COULD FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL. THEY ADDED THE STOP LEAK SOLUTION BUT IT CONTINUES TO SMELL AND USE SOME FLUID. DEALER SAYS THAT SUBARU HAS AN OPTION TO REPLACE HEAD GASKETS, BUT DEALER IS RELUCTANT TO DO IT. I AM HAVING TO NOW GET TOUGH ABOUT IT. I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE IN MY WIFES 1998 OUTBACK DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS JUST IN FOR FULL SERVICE CHECK PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 100,000 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I AM NEARLY PAST THAT NOW. I DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT IT OFF UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY. I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED COMPLAINT ABOUT SENSORS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104231December 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/ SENSOR FAILURES. HAD ANALYSIS DONE ON MY CAR WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED OUT TO BE KNOCK SENSOR. PREVIOUSLY CHANGED OXYGEN SENSOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, DEALER SAID THAT CATYLITIC CONVERTER WAS BAD POSSIBLY DUE TO ENGINE RUNNING RICH. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD SENSORS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IS IT RELATED TO THE HEAD GASKET LEAK?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102255December 6, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
MY 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK FRONT STABILIZER/SWAY BAR BROKE AT BOTH ENDS SIMULTANEOUSLY, AT THE SAME LOCATION, GOING DOWNHILL ON A BLACK TOP ROAD. AN AUDIBLE "PING" SOUND OCCURRED WHEN IT HAPPENED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE STABILIZER/SWAY BAR ON DECEMBER 1ST, 2004 AT MY EXPENSE. SUBARU REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PART OR LABOR. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 38K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099358November 3, 2004
CHILD SEAT, CHILD SEAT:HARNESS BUCKLE:INFANT
HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE PROPERLY. THEREFORE COULD NOT USE SEAT *BF *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094320October 27, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE PAVEMENT AND WENT OVER A STEEP BANK. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AT LEAST TWO TIMES LANDING ON IT'S ROOF. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10090065August 30, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED THE GAS VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TO WAIT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT UNTIL IT HAPPENED PERMANENTLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088410August 23, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
FRONT SWAY BAR SNAPPED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086312August 6, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BURNING SMELL EMINATING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081184July 16, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
DRIVING NORMAL SHIFTED THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH FELT SOFT AND THE RETURN TO NORMAL POSITION WAS SLOW. I CALLED THE DEALER REPAIR AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. IT COST ME $216.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WASN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10076248June 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
INTERMITTENTLY, THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER STICKS IN GEAR. THE CONSUMER DEPRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND PLAYS WITH THE LEVER TO UNSTICK IT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED A PART IN THE GEAR POSITIONING LEVER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. ALSO, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK GEAR. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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