Subaru Outback Complaints (2003)

93 consumer complaints on file.

#11161929December 17, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY COMPLAINT IS MY HEADLIGHTS' THEY'RE CLOUDY. ON NOV. 29, 2018 THE INSTITUTE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY RELEASED A REPORT THAT SAID THAT 'MOST BASE MODEL CARS HAVE POOR-QUALITY HEADLIGHTS. MY COMPLAINT IS THE CAR MANUFACTURERS CREATED THIS PROBLEM WHEN THEY DECIDED DECADES AGO THAT PLASTIC WAS A BETTER SHIELD OVER THE HEADLIGHTS THAN GLASS. MY SUGGESTION IS TO MAKE THE CAR MANUFACTURERS GO BACK TO INSTALLING GLASS OVER THEIR HEADLIGHTS OR U.S. DRIVERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE CLOUDY HEADLIGHTS. EVEN WHEN WE BUFF THEM OUT AND MAKE THEM SHINE AGAIN, IT ONLY LAST 6 OR 7 YEARS. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CHANGE THIS FLAW IN AUTO MANUFACTURING BY MAKING IT A LAW TO USE GLASS WHEN THEY BUILD THEIR HEADLIGHTS IN THE FUTURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122509August 24, 2018
AIR BAGS
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED DUE TO BEING AFRAID OF ENTERING AN INTERSECTION LEADING TO THE DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056102December 22, 2017
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALERSHIP IS 125 MILES AWAY. WHEN I CALLED SUBARU WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR MUST BE REPAIRED AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP. THIS CONSTITUTES A HARDSHIP FOR US TO HAVE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT REPAIRED FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. 1) I AM HANDICAPPED AND HAVE TROUBLE SITTING IN A CAR FOR THAT LONG. 2) THERE IS 3 FEET OF SNOW ON THE GROUND 3) THIS IS OUR ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052243December 4, 2017
TIRES
PRIMEWELL TIRES DEVELOPED WAVE AND INTENSE ROAD NOISE EVEN AT 50% TREAD.. HAVE BEEN BALANCED/ALIGNED REGULARLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11044260November 7, 2017
AIR BAGS
ON OR ABOUT OCT 23, 2017, RECEIVED 3RD NOTICE OF AIRBAG RECALL. APPT WITH SUBARU MISSOULA, MT FOR RECALL. AT 9:45 ON FRI NOV 3, 2017 INFORMED THAT THE MANAGER "JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO" RECEIVED, RECALL OF RECALL" AND NO PARTS THERE. MY 2003 "MAY NOT NEED A REPLACEMENT." SAID WOULD DO A CHECK TO SEE. UNDER PROTEST I SIGNED, AFTER 1 AND HALF HOURS, REQUESTED ANOTHER SIGNATURE WHICH ALSO UNDER PROTEST I SIGNED. "IT WON'T COST YOU ANYTHING." 85 YEAR OLD SINGLE WOMAN. 50 MILES NEAREST SUBARU DEALER. NOTHING SAID ABOUT RESULT OF TEST. KEYS RETURNED TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032558October 9, 2017
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK HAD A BAD AIRBAG INFLATOR AND HAS ALSO BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET SEVERAL TIMES, REQUIRING IT TO BE REBUILT THREE TIMES. WHILE I LOVE MY OUTBACK, I WONDER IF I WILL WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ONE. BEING STRANDED BY MY CAR AND HAVING TO TAKE THE BUS IN THE WINTER TIME WAS VERY DIFFICULT AS WAS HAULING GROCERIES ON THE BUS IN A ROLLING SUITCASE WHILE AWAITING REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11023309September 13, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY HAD MY OUTBACK TOWED BECAUSE MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. 1ST I CHECK THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, GOOD TO GO NO PROBLEM. THEN MOVE ON TO MY FUSES, OKAY GREAT. INVESTIGATE SOME MORE TO FIND OUT THE WIRING ON THE OUTBACK HAS SOME DEFAULTS, I LOOK MORE INTO IT AND IT SEEMS IT'S NOT JUST ME WITH THE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS OLD AND CARRIES A LOT OF MILES, KEEP IN MIND THIS CAR IS MADE FOR THAT, BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME WITH LOWER MILES. THE CARS LIFTGATE WIRE HARNESS IS A HUGE WEAKNESS ON THIS CAR. I REALLY HOPE YOU GUYS WILL LOOK MORE INTO THIS AND RECALL IT. I LOVE MY SUBY AND HAVE GREW UP IN IT AND NOW HAVE THE HONOR OF OWNING IT. WE STILL HAVE MANY MORE YEARS OF DRIVING TOGETHER SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS SO I CAN KEEP HER AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. TEMP FIX IT TO REMOVE BRAKE #4 HARNESS AND UNPLUG TO KEEP FROM BLOWING AND SMOKING. KEEP IN MIND ONLY LEAVES ME WITH 3 BRAKE LIGHTS. (THE ONE UNPLUGGED IS THE ONE ON THE HATCHBACK RIGHT SIDE) THIS IS VERY UNSAFE TO NOT HAD STABLE WIRING IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS, MY CAR WAS SMOKING. I CURRENTLY DO HAVE A 30 FUSE IN THAT SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO HOLD BETTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013000August 5, 2017
AIR BAGS
WE RECEIVED A POSTCARD ABOUT THE TAKATA PROBLEM FROM COCHRAN SUBARU OF BUTLER COUNTY PA. PER INSTRUCTIONS, WE CALLED. THEY TOLD US PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER OR FROM SUBARU USA. WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10993452June 6, 2017
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10967745March 22, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10948991February 2, 2017
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE RECALL DETAILS AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10944470January 11, 2017
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL. HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY 1 YEAR FOR AIRBAG REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10928297November 28, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 03/16/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. UPDATED 09/07/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10916525October 17, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898770August 26, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SUBARU HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THIS RECALL. MY WIFE AND I ARE OVER SEVENTY AND I NEED TO USE THIS VEHICLE WITH HER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF REPLACEMENT IS CURRENTLY IMPOSSIBLE, SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10899020August 26, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896193August 16, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL: SUBARU HAS SENT ME A LETTER INFORMING ME OF THE RECALL. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE WITH A PASSENGER, AND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE PARTS TO EFFECT REPAIRS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT CAR SHOULD I DRIVE WHEN MY FAMILY NEEDS TO GO SOMEWHERE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895593August 13, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL--THIS IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I'VE READ OF THE DEATHS FROM EXPLOSION OF THE TAKATA AIR BAGS WHICH COULD HIT ANYONE IN THE CAR. I FEEL IT VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THIS CAR WHICH MAKES MY CAR UNUSABLE. SUBARU HAS NO DATE IN SITE AS TO WHEN THEY CAN REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. I WAS ABOUT TO SELL MY CAR, BUT NOW IT HAS NO VALUE NOR WOULD ANYONE WANT TO BUY IT OR RIDE IN IT. I FIND THAT HAVING NO REMEDY UNSATISFACTORY AS WELL AS HAVING NO SAFE TRANSPORTATION. WHAT AM I TO DO?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10894176August 8, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V3410000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875096June 19, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
AFTER PREVIOUS REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND HEAD GASKET REPAIR, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING. I COULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER BY DRIVING IN FIRST AND LIVING WITH A SHARP CLUNK INTO SECOND. I WAS CLOSE TO THE DEALER OR ELSE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOW. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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