Subaru Outback Complaints (2001)

171 consumer complaints on file.

#10018329May 7, 2003
TIRES
HI, ON FEBRUARY 25, 2003 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK BLEW UP. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS NEXT TO MY CAR AT THE TIME THE TIRE BLEW AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE. THE TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225 60-16 H-RATED. PART # 074772. THE CAR IS A SUBARU 2001 AND IT HAD ONLY 21000 MILES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND THE FIRESTONE SHOP ON DEMPSTER IN SKOKIE, ILLINOIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES BECAUSE IF I REPLACE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, IT WILL DAMAGE MY TRANSMISSION. I ASKED WHY THE TIRE BLEW WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN BUT SAID THEY WILL SEND IT BACK TO THEIR FACTORY FOR INVESTIGATION. THEY WERE WILLING TO PRORATE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, NOT ALL 4 NEW TIRES. I HAD TO PAY CLOSE TO $400 FOR 4 NEW TIRES. I CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE BY PHONE THE SAME WEEK AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO A LADY IN YOUR OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WILL GET A FORM IN THE MAIL TO BE FILLED OUT BY ME BUT I DID NOT GET IT SO I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU BY E-MAIL. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHEN I CHANGED MY OIL AT THE SUBARU DEALER ON GRAND AVENUE IN NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS, AN EMPLOYEE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER THAT A LADY CAME INTO THE SHOP WITH A SIMILAR BLOW OUT ON THE SAME FIRESTONE TYPE WILDERNESS TIRE AND SHE HAD TO BUY 4 TIRES ALSO. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE MORE SUCH INSTANCES AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THE TIRE SEPARATED 360 DEGREES ON ITS SIDE AROUND WHERE THE WHITE CIRCLE IS ON THE SIDEWALL. I TOOK A NUMBER OF DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE TIRE THAT BLEW BEFORE FIRESTONE TOOK IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND THEM TO YOU EITHER BY E-MAIL OR I CAN MAKE PRINTS. *JB PLEASE ADVISE. ZELIG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018125May 5, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THERE IS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DUE TO BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE. THESE PART ARE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE TIRE A THINNER BRAKE PAD WAS USED TO COMPENSATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016962May 3, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
WHILE CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR, INNER PANELS OR STRUCTURES PARTIALLY SEPARATED OR DELAMINATED FROM THE OUTER METAL PORTION OF THE DOOR IN TWO LAYERS. DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, IT WAS WINTER *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018028May 2, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE BRAKE ROTORS WORE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016743April 30, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. THIS CAUSES SHUDDERING AND PULL TO BOTH LEFT & RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS ETC. ( 1ST @ 18000 MILES) BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS (CURRENT MILAGE 28500) I HAVE BEEN HEARING OF OTHER INDIV. WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL YEAR...RUMOR : ROTORS ARE TOO THIN /UNDERSIZED? FOR CAR HEAT BUILD UP ETC. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL . CAR IS HARD TO STOP IN A STRAIGHT LINE...I AM ALSO CONCERNED AS TO SUBARU BACKING UP THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE BEEN HEARING SOME "HORROR STORIES" . CAN YOU EXPLORE THE SAFETY/WARRANTY ISSUES ON THIS PROBLEM?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016268April 21, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES IN MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AFTER 20,000 MILES. I LIVED THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ALASKA AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE THE SALT FROM THE ROADS CREATED EARLY CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC. THE OUTBACK IS DESIGNED FOR MORE RUGGED DRIVING AND FOR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITH HARSHER WINTERS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES CAUSES THE SALT AND DIRT FROM WINTER ROADS TO CHANNEL UP THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. I JUST PAID FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AS THE FRONT PADS WERE NO LONGER ENGAGING CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKES ARE VERY WORN DUE TO THE SALT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011715March 14, 2003
TIRES
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITH NO WARNING. *JB THE CONSUMER EXCESSIVELY CHECKED FOR CRACKS WHICH WERE FOUND ON ALL FOUR TIRES. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010279March 11, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT HESITATION DURING PERIODS OF ACCELERATION, USUALLY AROUND 2500-3500 RPM. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN MANY DRIVING SITUATIONS. HAVE REPORTED TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. RESPONSE IS ALWAYS "CANNOT REPRODUCE - COMPUTER SHOWS OPERATING AS DESIGNED". CAR ALSO HAS SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED, SUCH AS FIRST TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009497February 27, 2003
TIRES
THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002568January 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE IN MOTION AND DESCENDING A STEEP GRADE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UP TO 4500 AND 5000 RPM'S. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003147January 22, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
DURING COLD WEATHER (TODAY WAS 15 F), BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FIRST APPLICATION FROM A COLD START. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICE TWICE (PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED) BUT DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAS WARMED UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002897January 18, 2003
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
REAR HEADRESTS DO NOT LOCK INTO UPRIGHT AND DOWN POSITIONS BECAUSE THE METAL SLEEVE INSIDE SEAT SLIPS OVER TIME. HAPPENED EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED ONCE BY DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002900January 18, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TWO CATASTROPHIC WIRING FAILURES IN MAIN COMPUTER WIRING LED TO VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOING DEAD. FIRST AT 3000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN MAIN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED. SECOND AT 16,000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL. POOR DESIGN PLACED THE ESSENTIAL COMPUTER WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL WHERE IT GETS CONSTANT PRESSURE WEAR. DEALER REPLACED WIRES INSIDE HARNESS AND ADDED CUSHIONING AROUND IT. THE SECOND FAILURE CREATES DOUBT THAT THE FIRST FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MAIN RELAY. BOTH FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE DEAD. BOTH HAD NO WARNING EXCEPT THE FIRST TIME THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CAR WENT DEAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002557January 10, 2003
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, CONSUMER STATES RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW 2 1/2 INCHES FROM THE RIM, AND THERE WERE SPLITS GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001729December 31, 2002
WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WOULD GET STUCK. DO TO DRIVING IN THE SNOW. CONSUMER STATES THE RIM SIZE ON THE VEHICLE IS 16". DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001077December 17, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022682November 13, 2002
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY (HINGES). DEALER REPAIR AN CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS REOCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. WE DON'T HAVE NO RECALL LIKE THIS PROBLEM. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018946September 18, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AND WITH NO WARNING THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER, THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR BUT THE VEHCIE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SUBARU REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THE CONSUMER SIGN A RELAEASE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PAID FOR BY THEM, CONSUMER REFUSED. *AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567184August 21, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHILE DESCENDING A 1.5 MILE GRADE. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765590August 13, 2002
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THERE IS A DANGEROUS CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS. CAR CAN STALL IN BAD INTERSECTIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HERE: HTTP://PUB1.EZBOARD.COM/FULTIMATESUBARUMESSAGEBOARDSTHENEWGENERATIONOFSUBARUS.SHOWMESSAGE?TOPICID=3533.TOPIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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