Subaru Outback Complaints

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11619660October 14, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Front windshield cracked while vehicle was parked after a car wash. Crack started from the center bottom outside, from the base.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619453October 12, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked without warning and with no impact. Crack rapidly propagated and sounded like glass was going to break on highway. Took to Wagner Subaru dealer and they said this is typical and is not covered by recall or warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619443October 12, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracks spontaneously
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619353October 11, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MagSafe charger cause my iPhone to overheat every time I try to use it. My iPhone typically shuts down. This seems to be a disaster waiting to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618601October 7, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
My subaru outback windshield seems to use low quality glass or have poor windshield mount/frame design. Since purchasing the car new in April 2022, I have had 3 significantly cracked windshields; all of which propagated immediately after getting hit by a pebble mid-drive (not giving any opportunity to fix the chip). I am filing this complaint because I don’t think it should be standard for a windshield to propagate a crack so easily and consistently every time it gets chipped (this seems statistically improbable compared to other cars) - and it’s a legitimate hazard to visibility if I don’t have ample opportunity to get the chip repaired to prevent it from propagating to a crack. Essentially I’m saying that it’s almost guaranteed that getting a chip will result in a foot long crack during the same drive (I say almost because I have been able to repair a chip before it was too late once). Furthermore, the crack will often double in size over night (presumably due to temperature changes) - which leads me to speculate that the windshield glass accumulated internal stresses during install due to poor design. I have only replaced my windshield through official Subaru dealerships with their recommended glass vendor. I’ve attached two photos from my most recent cracked windshield; the first is the crack that propagated immediately after the pebble hit while driving, and the second is after leaving the car overnight stationary. Also note that this is usually at highway speeds; and i have effectively had 1.5 broken windshields per year of driving the car. The first broken windshield happened at ~200 miles driven on the brand new car (5 days in).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618489October 7, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked without any external impact. There was no crack when we parked the car in the evening, but the next morning there was a crack. There was no impact or visible reason that this should have happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617734October 2, 2024
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2024 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the ABS, All-Wheel Drive, Auto Start/Stop, Auto Vehicle Hold, Brake System, Traction Control, Parking Brake, and CTA warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the steering wheel became firm, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 2,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616805September 27, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Merging off the interstate at a speed of 75mph onto an off ramp at 7pm with 4 adults in the car and when I started braking the windshield cracked from the passages side a pillar in towards the center of the window approximately 7 inches. There were no other vehicles around us and no signs of a chip or previous damage that could have caused the break in the glass.The crack is halfway up/down the windshield and runs horizontal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616439September 25, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My EyeSight device stopped working correctly when I had the interior cleaned and the front windshield was spray cleaned. "Obstacle Detected" warnings started popping up and slowing down the car. Per the dealership, this was caused by the backsplash from the cleaner and now the entire device has to be replaced at a cost of $3300. Subaru later offered to replace it for $1800. I wish I was told to only spray the cleaner on a cloth or this could happen. Now I have to replace it or it could suddenly stop the car on the highway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615731September 21, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I came out this morning and I have a crack in my windshield that goes from the bottom of the glass up and over to towards the driver side. There does not appear to be any visible signs of impact that caused this crack.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614962September 16, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery keeps draining if car isn't driven for a few days battery is drained to point of it being dead, cannot get into car, will not start, leaves you stranded. This is the fourth time this year, dealer checks it out tells me nothing is wrong. I have read many problems with parasitic battery drain with subaru's even that the alternator is programed not to fully charge the battery to save gas. getting tired of the issue to the point where I am thinking of selling the car and finding something that will not leave me stranded. This time when I checked the battery voltage it was 5.80 volts and .29 amps.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614647September 14, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
1. The Subaru Outback OEM windshield has cracked and had to be replaced 3 times, so we are currently on our 4th windshield in just 2 years. The car has about 50k miles on it. 2. It is difficult to see through a broken windshield and puts us and others in danger. 3. Yes, the dealer has admitted that Subaru Outback windshields crack frequently and nothing has been done about it. 4. The manufacturer has ignored the issue. 5. No warnings that the windshield would break this frequently.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614261September 12, 2024
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The auto restart does not work and requires a car restart to fix. The latest software update caused this is to happen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614171September 12, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield developed a small crack when struck by a tiny piece of road debris. It appears unrepairable. This requires a windshield replacement and recalibration of the eyesight technology. Seemed to easily be damaged beyond repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614024September 11, 2024
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield cracked from bottom of passenger side to the center of glass for no reasons, while the car was fully stopped, without any external impact. There were no harms caused to passengers, but it is concerning because the windshield could crack anytime without external impact. This didn't get recognized by dealership as a defect, they claim it was due to external impact. Yes, dealership has inspected the vehicle. No warning lamps or messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11612727September 5, 2024
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Driving on a slightly curving road next to a lake a car started to pull from the left of the road so he could see. This was slow And I started to brake and then to continue when he stopped. He did not enter past the double yellow. Yes he was facing the wrong way. The car locked its breaks and I was shocked but the other driver was waiting still. I could not move!! It did release finally and I continued. Not able to move was terrifying that I was going to be rear ended.. But on Labor Day 3024 9/01/2025 , I went through a construction area and it locked up at a stop sign. I had floor the car to move. Pulled over and tried to fathom why the car was saying the brakes were on. The engine light on. The eye sight light on.... basically everything. . These brakes should not remain locked and I find the idea of locking brakes is not healthy. This can not be logical. Other problems of stupid risks. 1. The turn signal continues on after turns on less they are sharp? If a wheel is turned and straightens out the light should go off. Automatically. 2. The cruise control takes a 3 second wait for a response. Then it will decide to go not to 70 bit right up and past 80. It it not an easy set. Poor and distracts even trying to get it set. Maybe get used to slow. 3. The dynamic steering is a problem in that it is not adjustable. It drives what it considers the middle of the road. Trucks are in the right lanes and trying not to be so close I fight the controls and have a a sore steering arm muscles. Get used to being in the hands of truckers is not my thing. The idea they cann't adjust it is bizarre and illogical. I hate the pull to the right. Yeah. Don't use cruise and turn off the safety systems was the statements from Subaru. 4. The hatchback opens unexpectedly but not when you have hands full. Final: This car is too risky for me. I do not want to drive this machine ever again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611911August 31, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Parasitic Draw on battery: Original battery was dead after sitting 5 days; Bought new AMG and it has also died after 4 days sitting.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611738August 30, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON thursday night at about [XXX] i was driving in the carpool lane going north.in the [XXX] , with full tank of gas ; suddenly i felt and here a noise, and the vehicle (2021outback base) start losing power, at the point that totally stop. call 911, and few minutes after the hway patrol came and push us out of the freeway, there was not any shoulder to be safe out. when the police officer try to turn it on the vehicle star but no power was available even when the vehicle was on.. 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
#11611660August 29, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY
The car flashed “eye sight off” before flickering and shutting off while I was braking at a stop light. I tried putting my car into park and then turning it off and restarting it but it would not turn back on. I tried this a few more times but I was in the middle lane of a heavily trafficked street. The steering wheel was locked and I was not able to immediately remove it from the road and maybe an hour later it was able to be shifted into neutral and moved out of the street. However, it would still not turn on and when I did open my power gate, the gate would not secure closed. I took it to the dealership that I purchased it at and where it is also regularly serviced (with the last service date only over one week ago,) and they were not able to determine what happened but instead mentioned that my car had no internal data of any errors occurring and that the car was able to be started when they serviced it. I took a picture of the dash as it was flashing with all of the error codes and submitted that to the tech that was working on my car, but they asked me if I’d had someone “clear my codes” which is not something I’m familiar with or even capable of doing- I don’t even know anyone that would be capable of doing that for me. The whole ordeal cost me a day of work and now my peace of mind as I am unsure of if this may happen again and now I am worried it may happen while my kids are in the car. I’ve had similar issues with my center console messing up but nothing as urgent as my whole car shutting down and my steering wheel locking in the middle of traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611502August 29, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Battery drains quickly and renders the car inoperable. Possibly due to Controller Area Network (CAN) not entering sleep mode when vehicle is not being used resulting in a parasitic battery drain.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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