Subaru Outback Complaints

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11429460August 17, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
My problem is an intermittent one. The infotainment display goes blank and reboots. When this happens I have lost Rear Automatic Braking, the Eyesight System, cruise control, the backup camera display and driver monitoring along with other non-safety related systems (radio, environment control). The dealer has not been able to reproduce, but has gotten error codes to send to Subaru of America (SoA) along with print out of error messages received via the My Subaru website. The vehicle has been to the shop 6 times in the first 9,000 miles. There has been no inspection of the car by SoA, just dealer service. There is no warnings until the issue occurs. SoA has been notified via Certified Letter and has been unresponsive as to a fix since 7/19/2021.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429133August 14, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
During heavy rains, the vehicles leak water into the driver's side wheel well. Numerous times back to the dealer and the vehicle being piece by piece all seals are being replaced. As per numerous blogs on Subaru forums, an indication of a faulty windshield seal could be the issue, but the dealership refuses to replace or reset the windshield seal. Bought the car on June 28, 2021, and have been to the dealership 3 times for the same issue. The dealership is replacing seals on the skylight and door but as of yet no resolution. At the time of this complaint, the vehicle has been at dealership for 3 weeks with no resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429109August 14, 2021
ENGINE
The initial incident occurred on July 31, 2021. I used the push button start to start the car, put the vehicle in reverse, and the vehicle proceeded to roll uncontrolled down my driveway, which is on a slope. I had no power steering or power brakes. I was able to safely stop the vehicle with no incident other than damage to the plastic over the right rear taillight. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, and everything seemed operational. It seemed that the car's engine had not turned on, only the electrical system. The same issue happened repeatedly over the next few days. In observing what was happening, I have noticed that the push button ignition requires a significant press in order for the vehicle to start correctly - quite different from my experience with our previous two push-button start vehicles. In the "Getting Started Guide, Outback 2022", p. 41, instructions clearly state "briefly press and release the Engine START/STOP button." I submit that this is inaccurate, and that new vehicle owners should be advised as to what to do, and what to look for in the dashboard to understand that the vehicle engine has, in fact, started properly. I am a user experience researcher, including in automotive research, and we have an expression that there's no such thing as user error, just poor design. This is a clear example of poor design.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429098August 14, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
A little penny sized chip on the front windshield has turned into a severe crack from the middle of the windshield to passenger side as well as the the driver side.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428833August 12, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Record of Subaru Outback electrical issues 2021 April 25 purchased. May 5 ca.No startSalesman came to home and jump started. June 28-29No start, Recharged and had no further electrical issues until--- July 27No start. Briefly left vehicle. On return wouldn't start, dash lights crazy blinking.Jump box started it. July 28 Left it all morning at Subaru service for eval; result: "no problems were detected." Aug.5No start. Parked at friends for 3 hr. On return wouldn't start, dash lights crazy blinking. Jump box restart. Aug. 7No start. Left ignition on for 3 hr testing new solar panel.Purchase Solar panel, proves useless, ignition drained battery.Trickle charged for several hours, starts. Aug. 9 No start. Battery dead. Trickle charged for several hours, starts. Conclusion: Subaru Outbacks are: (1) inherently unreliable, (2) Subaru has known about this problem for several years, and (3) Subaru is dishonest in not admitting to and fixing the problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428746August 11, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The glass on my 2021 subaru outback that I purchased less than 2 months ago has started cracking from the bottom next to vin number and spread all the way to the center of the glass within 3 hours.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428181August 7, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Windshield cracked at bottom base without any impact from something hitting it. In standstill traffic, all of a sudden we heard and saw a crack just appear! Then is spread rapidly straight up, then to both sides sides. So scary. This was about 4:45pm on 8/4/2021. We noticed next day it spread even more. Then a day later 8/6/2021 at 3:30pm traveling, the right side base of windshield cracked again! And spread quickly. So now there are two cracks! It is the oddest thing! Never experienced anything like this with any vehicle. This is an AVIS rental car. We will bring it to the Suburu dealership in West Palm Beach, FL when we get home early next week. This windshield is obviously defective.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427874August 5, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Bought my 2021 outback June 16th. Last week my battery went dead in my driveway. Called customer care and they had to jump me. Yesterday morning it was dead in the driveway again. Again they had to come out and jump me. July 29th was the first time and august 4th was the second time. This is a brand new car!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427187July 30, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Problem has occurred twice when I put my cellphone in the same pocket as my key fob. The car will not start when I press the start button, although the ignition will be on and the dashboard instruments light up. Even if I separate the fob from the phone, it won't start. Holding the keyfob right up to the start button won't allow it to start. The battery in the fob is brand new. On this car, only the fob can start the car. I have had to use the MySubaru app via Starlink (a subscription service) to remote start the car using my cellphone. However, I cannot shift it into gear. I must turn the car off, and then restart the car by pushing the button. It will then start normally. If I did not subscribe to Starlink, I would have been able to start the car at all. The phone/fob proximity problem seems to create a logic fault in the vehicle programming which then prevents you from starting the car using the fob, even if you separate it from the phone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427092July 29, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
While driving on residential street, I heard a pop and saw my windshield crack. My speed at the time of this incident was 30mph. There was no impact with a foreign object. Crack is in front of the Eyesight camera and is affecting the functionality of vehicle's safety features. This is a 2021 Outback with approximately 3200 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11426401July 25, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2022 Subaru Outback is new as of June 2021. 2 times I have had to get a jump start. No light were left on and doors and hatchback closed
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11426016July 22, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Subaru has apparently integrated their Eyesight Collision avoidance system with their infotainment system and the infotainment system crashes constantly. When it crashes about 50% of the time Eyesight goes offline and kicks cruise control off. At highway speeds this is VERY dangerous. The vehicle will slow down 5-10 mph between when the system crashes and when someone realizes what has happened in order to put their foot on the gas pedal to keep their speed up. I've almost been rear-ended multiple times now because of this. Subaru has been aware of this issue for TWO FULL model years now and is going into a 3rd year with the SAME problem. The update they issues in Spring 2021 made the problem worse not better. Subaru must be forced to either fix the issue immediately or recall the entire system and replace it before someone dies in a highspeed accident caused by this system. Until two days ago Subaru of America's employees were arrogant, condescending, and beyond unhelpful. Wendy Clough has stated Subaru plans to issue an update in August has no actual confirmed timeframe. Subaru has done NOTHING to communicate with owners or dealers on mitigation options, if any, nor to warn customers of potential risks. Subaru must be forced to notify all owners of the issue immediately.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425744July 21, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Automatic braking system activated abruptly and forcefully when a vehicle in the adjacent lane slowed down to make a turn. This has occurred numerous time both on the highway and in city driving. I have called Subaru to report the issue. They did not recommend taking it to a service center, although I plan to. The car otherwise has shown no warning of automatic braking malfunction prior to or after the incidents. However the automatic braking system has continued to malfunction. I now deactivate the automatic braking every time I start the car to avoid further incidents. Potentially related to the automatic braking malfunction, the car regularly alerts me to keep my eyes on the road while I have my eyes on the road. Common situations when this happens include when I scan an intersection on approach for potential hazards (e.g., pedestrians, people running red lights, etc.), fixing my glasses or hat while continuing to look straight ahead, and simply scratching my face all trigger the warning. Occasionally, the warning is activated for seemingly no reason. At best, it’s a nuisance; at worst it’s a distraction and a liability. I now deactivate this feature when I start my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425481July 19, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield cracked shortly after purchase. We had the windshield replaced and within 4 months the windshield is now chipped in three places. This is a safety issue because a cracked windshield impairs visibility while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425476July 19, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I purchased this vehicle in May 2021 and since then have had four incidents where the battery was not able to start the vehicle. The first two incidents were when I was camping, so there was some heavy, battery only electrical system use, e.g. opening/closing the hatchback, turning on lights, etc.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425275July 17, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2021 Outback windshield just cracked. My 2020 Outback did the same thing. Apparently three class action lawsuits are not enough for them to fix the windshield problem. $1200 to fix, on a brand new car. looks like the St. Louis Arch.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11424796July 14, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle was purhased in early June 2021. Vehicle was being operated on State Highway Route 55 at Milepost 46.7, in Elk Township, Gloucester County. Traffic was heavy, with southbound transient traffic traveling to New Jersey Shore points. Vehicle simultaneously lost power and began to display several error/warning messages on dashboard at approximately 13:52 hours. Vehicle was pulled to the right shoulder of the roadway and I began to smell something burning. As I removed personal effects from vehicle I exited and saw smoke coming from the passenger's side wheel well. I walked back approximately 100 feet and called 911, by time a dispatcher came answered, the engine compartment of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. No modifications of any kind were done to the vehicle since its purchase. I was the sole occupant of the vehicle and not injured. The vehicle is fully insured and payments are current. It's mileage at the time of the incident are 3,042. That information along with the error messages were provided through the Subaru Starlink App.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11424705July 13, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield spontaneously cracked where the mirror was atached to the glass. There is a concave indentation where the mirror was attached and we found the mirror hanging by a wire and small glass pieces on the dash. Temps were in the low 90s. No one has modified or put any unusual pressure on the mirror, no decorations were attached. The outside of the glass has no chips or cracks anywhere in the glass which was confirmed by the local Safelite dealer. This vehicle was purchased new on May 7, 2021. Location of incident was Temecula, CA. I asked the local dealer to repair under warranty and was told that there is no manufacturer warranty on glass. Obviously having your windshield spontaneously crack and the rearview mirror falling off would be a distraction at highway speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11424070July 9, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We bought this car new about 3 weeks ago and tried to drive it this morning to find it completely dead. It was last driven about 60 hours ago. It has just over 1,000 miles on it. There was no warning lamp that came on when we last drove the car. I was able to jump the car and have it on a trickle charger now but this is completely unacceptable for a brand new vehicle. I've reached out to the dealer but have not heard back.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11423764July 7, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked on the bottom left of driver's side and continued up and across. There was no point of impact. Getting gas and got back in the car and the crack had formed. Crack grew by 3" just sitting in the driveway. Brand new car with approximately 1400 miles on it when it happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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