Subaru Outback Complaints (2006)

281 consumer complaints on file.

#10252815December 26, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR TRACKING BEGINS OSCILLATING DANGEROUSLY IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. GOING 30 MPH AND BEING PASSED BY EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD WHILE I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. REAR WHEELS SEEM TO TRANSFER TRACTION TO TIRES THAT ARE SLIPPING, OSCILLATING BACK AND FORTH, CAUSING REAR END TO FISHTAIL AT ANY SPEED. REPLACED TIRES AND SAME THING. THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. BEEN DRIVING IN WISCONSIN WINTERS FOR 35 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND ON INTERNET POSTINGS. I AM SERIOUS - THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SUBARU ACCOUNTABLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251878December 15, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
'06 SUBARU OUTBACK(AUTO) SEEMS TO HAVE HANDLING ISSUES CAUSED BY AWD SYSTEM. SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS "GHOSTWALKING", WHERE THE REAR END OF THE CAR SHIFTS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE AWD KICKS IN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239037August 20, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
OUR 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS TAKEN ON AN EXTENDED TRIP IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 WHERE THE ALIGNMENT WENT SO FAR OUT OF TRUE THAT THE TIRES ALMOST BLUE (PROBLEM CORRECTED ENROUTE). A 2ND EXTENDED TRIP WAS TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT OK'D THE CAR. THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE CAR WAS NO MORE THAN PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND SOME FOOD BUT, DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT (AS VERIFIED BY SUBARU MECHANICS), THE TIRES CAME FRIGHTENINGLY CLOSE TO BLOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225538April 23, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WAGON WITH LESS THAN 16,000 MILES. THE BRAKES GRIND AND SEEM LIKE THEY MAY NOT CATCH. IN FACT, A YEAR AGO WE SLID THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON OUR WAY TO HAVE OUR TAXES DONE WHEN THEY DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO RUST AND THAT SUBARU DOES NOT COVER RUSTED BRAKES ON THEIR WARRANTY. WE CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER 1-800-782-2783 AND TALKED TO MATT AND HE ALSO INDICATED THEY DID NOT WARRANT RUSTED BRAKES BUT THAT HE WOULD CALL THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE, AND 36 MONTH 36000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A GARAGE. THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT FAIL AT LESS THAN 16000 MILES. THIS CAR SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. ARE THEY USING SUBSTANDARD METAL IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM? SHOULD THIS CAR BE RECALLED FOR FAULTY BRAKES? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221459March 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
WHEN DRIVING OUR SUBARU 2006 2.5I OUTBACK WAGON (4-SPEED AUTO W/SPORT SHIFT) IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGINS TO FLOAT OR DO MINI-FISHTAILS. IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY PUSHING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH OR LIKE THERE ARE WIND GUSTS HITTING THE CAR. THE FLOATING HAS A RHYTHMIC FEEL AND MAY CONTINUE FOR MANY MILES UNTIL THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS 'FLOATING', YOU SENSE THAT ANY CHANGE (STEERING, GAS OR BRAKING) WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, IT IS A TRULY SCARY DRIVING SENSATION AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO EASE UP ON GAS UNTIL YOU FIND A SPEED (USUALLY UNDER 40 MPH) WHERE THE FLOATING IS LESS PRONOUNCED. THIS IS OUR 9TH SUBARU AND WE HAVE 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING SUBARU AWD VEHICLES ON MINNESOTA WINTER ROADS. NONE OF OUR FORMER CARS, UP THROUGH THE 2004 OUTBACK, EVER BEHAVED IN THE MANNER. PLEASE NOTE, NOT ALL WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS SEEM TO TRIGGER THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOST FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FLOATING WHEN ON ASPHALT ROAD SURFACES THAT ARE ICY OR COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW OR SLUSH. I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR ON COMPLETELY STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER STEADY THROTTLE WHILE TRAVELING UNDER 45 MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRIVING AT SAFE SPEEDS AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE PASSING BY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS AND SEEMED COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD NEW MICHELIN TIRES PUT ON AND THE DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SUBARU. YOUR DATABASE OF VINS COMES UP WITH THE KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221214March 14, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON 2.5I REAR-SWAY SIDE-STEPPING AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN DESCRIBED AS "GHOST-WALKING" ON ICY CONDITIONS. THE AWD SYSTEM ON THE CAR SEEMS TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT SIDE-TO-SIDE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220837March 11, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
WHEN DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR 30 OR MORE MINUTES, THE REAR SHOCKS LOSE THEIR DAMPENING ABILITY DUE TO OVERHEATING, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S REAR TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLED. OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST DIPS IN THE ROAD, THE REAREND WILL COMPRESS CAUSING THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION TO COMPRESS AND HIT BUMP STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST, AND IN MY OPINION, MAKE THE OUTBACK DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SUBARU HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND STATED IT IS PER FACTORY SPECS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218826February 22, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) WHEEL SQUEALS AT LOW SPEEDS. SOUND IS INTERMITTENT, BUT ALWAYS PRESENT AT START OF USAGE. TAKEN IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT OK, BUT NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. POSSIBLE WHEEL BEARING ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205563October 13, 2007
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 17,500+MI. 14 MOS. OLD REAR STRUTS [20365AG13A] HAVE FAILED [LEAKED] VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE DEALER & MFGR. HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED PROBLEM REQUEST FOR FAULTY PARTS DENIED FOR WARRANTY REASONS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199100August 10, 2007
SEATS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. SHE STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED, WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS BOTH WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN LAYING FLAT IN THE VEHICLE AND BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT WAS INJURED. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10197091July 20, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
2006 SUBARU OUTBACK GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT:26450 DATE OF PURCHASE:05/18/2007 ODOMETER AT PURCHASE:32743 DEALER:WALSER SUBARU INC. ADDRESS:14900 BUCK HILL ROAD BURNSVILLE, 55306 DEALER LICENSE:DT36027 ON 07/02/2007 FOUND OUTER EDGE OF REAR TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN, STEEL BELTS VISIBLE. CALLED DEALER TOLD THEM NEEDED VEHICLE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY, AS WE FELT IT WAS UNSAFE. DEALERSHIP THE STATED WE NEEDED TWO NEW TIRES AND A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PICKED UP THE VEHICLE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE AND THAT WE HAD ?OVER LOADED? THE VEHICLE. THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR ON THE TIRES. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE AXLE HAD BEEN DEPRESSED SUFFICIENTLY TO CAUSE WEAR MARKS FROM THE RUBBER STOPS ON TORSION ARMS?? ASKING WHAT CONSTITUTED ?OVER LOADING? WE WERE REFERRED TO THE STICKER ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR. SEATING CAPACITYTOTAL5FRONT2REAR3 THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NOT EXCEED 408KG OR 900LBS TIRESIZECOLD TIRE PRESSURE FRONTP225/55R17220KG/32LBS REARP225/55R17210KG/30LBS SPARET155/7017420KG60LBS THE FOLLOWING WAS THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE TRIP TO NEW YORK: 2ADULTSAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:210LBS EACH420LBS 110-YEAR-OLD CHILDAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:100LBS100LBS 1EACH BAG PER ADULTAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:40LBS EACH80LBS 1EACH BAG PER CHILDAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:30LBS EACH30LBS 120 QT COOLERAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:10LBS10LBS 1PLASTIC CONTAINERAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:15LBS15LBS MISC TOOLS, TOYS, ETCAPPROXIMATE WEIGHT:50LBS50LBS APPROXIMATE TOTAL WEIGHT:705LBS NEVER RECEIVED A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPORT. NO REPORT THREE DAYS CALLED DEALERSHIP TOLD THAT THE REPORT HAD BEEN MAILED BUT THYE WOULD CHECK AND SEND A COPY. JULY 14, 2007:- STILL NO COPY OF SERVICE REPORT BY MAIL. 7/16/2007 11:05 AM?BURNSVILLE SUBARU, STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED SERVICE REPORT. TO DATE WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COPY OF THAT SERVICE REPORT. WE ARE COPYING THIS LETTER TO SUBARU AMERICA AND NHTSA FOR THEIR COMMENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188036April 16, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181972February 8, 2007
TIRES
WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 SUBARU WITH BRIGSTONE TIRES. WE DRIVE IN WET AND SNOWY CONDITIONS REGULARLY. ON OUR FIRST DRIVE TO CO FROM WI, WE NOTICED POOR WET WEATHER HANDLING. ON OUR NEXT TRIP TO CO FROM WI, WE EXPERIENCED HORRIBLE TRACTION ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED PER WARRANTY, WE HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION CHECKED. THE TIRES APPEAR TO BE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE EMAIL THE MFR/BRIGSTONE TWICE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER. I BELIEVE THE OEM TIRES ARE NOT SAFE ON WET AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175528December 7, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
MY NEW 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WILL NOT FULLY DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY DEALER TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT! I FEEL IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169379September 27, 2006
TIRES
TIRES ARE FALLING APART. AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES SUBARU ADVISED US TO REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92A 225 55R 17. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166876August 29, 2006
TIRES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE TIRE BLEW OUT WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SWERVED IN AND OUT OF THE TWO LANES, MADE A U-TURN, AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161728July 6, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AS I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. CAR STOPPED ONLY AFTER JUMPING CURB AND PLOWING INTO BRICK WALL OF MY BUILDING. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10161538July 5, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO JUST MY CAR BUT IS WHAT I CONSIDER A FAULT FOR THE WHOLE CAR MODEL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS HARD-WIRED ON. THAT'S OK, BUT POSES A PROBLEM AT NIGHT AS ONE CAN SEE THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS ON, NOT REALIZING THAT THE TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT ON. YOU START THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF NOT REALIZING THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR IS NOT VISIBLE. THERE IS NO ALERT (SUCH AS NO OR DIMMED DASHBOARD LIGHTS) TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE DARK. NOT ONLY HAVE I MADE THIS MISTAKE MANY TIMES, BUT I HAVE ALSO NOTICED OTHER DRIVERS OF MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL DOING THE SAME THING. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD BE REMEDIED BY HAVING THE TAILLIGHTS BE HARD-WIRED AS WELL OR BY HAVING NO DASH LIGHTS UNLESS THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160826June 26, 2006
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS TOO LOW FOR RELEASE. MY WIFE HAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME RELEASING THE SEAT BELT FROM THE BUCKLE. IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT I FEAR THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE IS TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE WITH ONE OF THE SAME TYPE THAT IS USED ON THE DRIVERS SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148354January 23, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. HI, PROBLEM (1) HEAD REST IS SO BIG THAT BETWEEN THE SEAT BELT STRAP AND THE HEAD REST THERE IS NO VIEW TO SEE VEHICLES ABOUT TO PASS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. CAN RESULT IN SIDE SWIPING WHEN CHANGING LANES. ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IN THE WORLD WON'T HELP IF THE END RESULT OF THE FEATURE IS TO CAUSE INJURY OR FATALITY. SAFETY PROBLEM (2) THE SPEEDOMETER. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOOK "CUTE" YOU HAVE DESTROY THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT SPEED THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. NO NEED TO GO TO 140 MPH TO START WITH. THE JUMPS BETWEEN MARKINGS MAKE IT JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE TO QUICKLY DETERMINE THE SPEEDS 50, 60, AND 70 MPH AND FORGET TRYING FOR 55,65,75. WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO ABOUT THESE TWO VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS ON MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK?????? I AM "DEAD" SERIOUS ABOUT THIS AND WILL SEARCH ALL POSSIBILITIES FOR A REMEDY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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