2008 Subaru Legacy Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD MOSTLY ILLUMINATE WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE OCCUPANCY AIR BAG MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 12/13/12*LJ UPDATED 12/13/12

I BOUGHT CAR NEW & IT DEVELOPED ISSUE @ 3 1/2 YRS. I ALSO HAVE THE SUBARU EXTENDED WARRANTY.CAR HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY SUBARU, INCLUDING TIRE CHANGES. 10/11 @ 38,000 NOTICED FRONT & REAR PASSENGER TIRES WERE LOSING AIR. I HAVE TPMS W/ METAL VALVE STEMS. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE TWO SETS OF TIRES SO I BROUGHT CAR IN 11/11 TO PUT ON SNOWS. MONITORED TIRE PRESSURE EVERY FEW DAYS AND WAS STILL LOSING AIR. 10/12, I SPRAY SOAP/WATER MIXTURE ON TIRES, BUBBLES FORM AT THE BASE OF THE TIRE VALVE. FOUR VALVES SHOULD NOT BE FAILING PREMATURELY. OVER TIME, THE BOTH DRIVERS SIDE TIRES DEVELOPED SLOW LEAKS AS WELL. 10/12, I CALLED SUBARU WARRANTY DEPARTMENT & EXPLAIN THAT I'M LOSING AIR FROM THE VALVE. I ASK IF TPMS FAILURE IS COVERED & WAS TOLD IT IS. 11/12 45,044 BRING CAR IN TO PUT ON SNOWS. TELL DEALER THAT ALL FOUR VALVES ARE LEAKING. I'M TOLD IT MAY BE CORROSION & THAT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I EXPLAIN THAT FOR ALL FOUR TO BE LEAKING IS PREMATURE. TECH CONFIRMS THAT THREE ARE LEAKING & REPLACES THEM. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ISN'T A WARRANTY CODE FOR AIR LEAKING BUT WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE IT'S COVERED. THE TPMS UNIT IS ONE PIECE SO IF THE VALVE STEM FAILS OR A RUBBER SEALING GASKET THE WHOLE UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND CORROSION CAN CAUSE THE METAL VALVE STEMS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE EVERY TWO WEEKS BY RULE & DON'T WAIT TILL THE TPMS LIGHT COMES ON. *TR

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I AM FINALLY REPORTING THIS AFTER GIVING UP ON SUBARU AND ITS SERVICE NETWORK. CAR EXHIBITS SURGE AND DIP IN ACCELERATION AT CONSTANT THROTTLE, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. TAKING FOOT OFF THROTTLE ALSO CAUSES SURGE WHEN GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES; THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS TO A LOWER GEAR. ALSO, THE CHANGE FROM 2ND-3RD GEAR IS VERY ABRUPT; THE ENGINE RPMS RISE BY 200 IN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND THEN SLAMS INTO 3RD GEAR. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. DEALER EITHER SAYS THAT IT CANNOT BE REPRODUCED, OR THAT IT IS NORMAL. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THAT IT ALMOST STALLS WHEN STARTING OFF FROM STANDSTILL AND IN INTELLIGENT MODE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM A CAR THAT IS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. THIS MIGHT BE MY FIRST AND LAST SUBARU. *TR

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH, I WAS TURNING AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY CAR TOOK OFF. I HAD NO TIME TO REACT, EXCEPT TO TRY TO USE MY BRAKE. WHAT STOPPED ME WAS HITTING A TREE. MY CAR IS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY WITH OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGES. THE POLICE INVESTIGATED AND I WAS NOT CITED. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WERE COMMON IN SUBARU'S. I DID FIND THAT FORESTERS HAS PROBLEMS; BUT I ALSO FOUND THAT SOME LEGACY'S ALSO HAS ACCELERATION PROBLEMS, IN PARTICULAR I FOUND A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY WITH THIS PROBLEM. I REPORTED MY FINDINGS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND TO SUBARU. SUBARU DID NOT GET BACK TO ME; MY INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE ME YOUR WEBSITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY LOGIC IS, WHY SHOULD I OR MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL AND WAS THE FAULT OF THE CAR. EVIDENTLY, THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR SUBARU'S FOR THIS PROBLEM. I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN - NEXT TIME I MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY. *TR

VEHICLE HAS A SUBSTANDARD POORLY FUNCTIONING AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. IT HAS A DEFECT WHEREBY IT CYCLES ERRATICALLY AND THEREBY CREATES WARM/COLD/WARM/COLD AIR CYCLES. ON HOT HUMID DAYS, THE PROBLEM IS SO BAD, THE CABIN CANNOT COOL. THE MANUFACTURER, SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS DETERMINED THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" ALTHOUGH IT TOOK THEM OVER A MONTH TO COME TO THIS CONCLUSION. MANY OTHER SUBARU LEGACY OWNERS REPORT THIS SAME PROBLEM ONLINE, HOWEVER NO FIX SEEMS TO BE COMING. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ON 3/31/09 @ 13,454 MILES IS WHEN THE DRIVER'S FRONT LEFT TIRE STARTED MAKING A ROTATIONAL METAL CLICKING/SQUEALING SOUND. IT CAN BE HEARD UNDER 25MPH AND THE SOUND WAS INTERMITTENT. I TOLD DEALER I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARING. SEVERAL TIMES, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T MAKING A NOISE THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. THEY CHECKED ALL COMPONENTS, BALL JOINTS, STEERING ETC. AND CHECKED THE BEARINGS SAID CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I NOTICED THERE WERE OTHER OWNERS W/2005-06 SUBARU ISSUED A RECALL FOR WHEEL BEARING. IF YOU LOOK AT 08 LEGACY A FEW OTHERS HAVE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. ON 6/21/10 @26,351 A TECH RODE W/ ME TO CONFIRM THE NOISE I HAVE DEALT W/ FOR OVER A YEAR. MY SERVICE INVOICE STATES TECHNICIAN FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE OF LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY. REPLACED HUB UNIT. IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON A FAILED BEARING, TIRE CAN SEIZE AND LOSE CONTROL OF CAR AND DAMAGE OTHER PARTS OF CAR SUCH AS AXLE. I DROVE FOR A YEAR LIKE THIS AND WAS LUCKY NOTHING HAPPENED. THOUGH, I DON'T KNOW THE LONG TERM DAMAGE DONE TO MY VEHICLE. I CONTACTED SUBARU TO TELL THEM OF MY ISSUE AND EXPLAIN THAT PERHAPS THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO THE MFG. WHO MAKES THE BEARINGS AND STUDY WHY THEIR BEARINGS ARE FAILING PREMATURELY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND RECALL. I HOPE THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME I HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED, SINCE IT COULD GET QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX EACH TIME. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND WANT IT TO LAST. I DIDN'T PAY $24,000 TO HAVE IT FALL APART. *TR

I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY ON A SECONDARY ROAD ON MY WAY HOME, WHEN AFTER THE SECOND STOP SIGN TRYING TO CROSS THE INTERSECTION THE CAR STALLED ,LOSING ITS GEARS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, BUT NO ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON,THE MODE DRIVING LIGHT AND THE CRUISE LIGHTS BLINKING. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF ,THEN ON AND I PROCEEDED WITH THE ONLY GEAR LEFT TO A SAFE LOCATION. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SECONDARY ROAD OR I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND HURT OR WORSE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO IS TELLING ME THAT IT HAS TO BE REPROGRAMMED DUE TO A SLIPPAGE(TIME GAP BETWEEN THE 2ND & 3RD GEAR) ; HE ALSO TELLS ME THAT THE BRAKES ARE VIBRATING SHOULD I WORRY ABOUT DAMAGE TO MY GEAR BOX? AT THIS POINT I AM WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR EVEN WHEN IT'S FIXED *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE STRUCTURE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 07/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/13/10.*JB

2008 SUBARU LEGACY GT WITH MOISTURE/CONDENSATION BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT. AUTOMOBILE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR 15K SERVICING AND WAS TOLD THAT CONDENSATION BUILDUP IS NORMAL DURING TRANSITIONAL SEASONS (SPRING/FALL). HOWEVER I PRESUME THAT THE MOISTURE IS CAUSING TEMPORARY DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS THE LIGHTS FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, ONLY ONE OF THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON. AFTER TURNING THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES THEY WILL BOTH WORK. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE IN A POSITION WHERE BOTH LIGHTS STAY OFF AND WILL NOT COME ON FORCING ME TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. *TR

MY 2008 SUBARU LEGACY HAS NO MANUAL RESET BUTTON FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. WE CHANGE OUT TIRES UP HERE 2 TIMES A YEAR AND THE DEALER CHARGES US $50.00 EACH TIME TO RESET THIS SYSTEM. WHEN THIS WAS PASSED IN TO LAW,WHY DIDN'T IT HAVE A RESET ON IT FOR THIS TYPE OF THING. I CAN SEE WHERE A LOT OF THE DRIVERS WILL JUST IGNORE IT AND LET THE LIGHT GLOW OR BURN OUT. ALSO THE TIRE VALVE STEMS ARE EXPENSIVE(35.00 EACH) I CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT REPLACING THEM OR TAKING THEM OUT OF THE RIMS IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS A BAD LAW WITH MONETARY LOSS TO THE CONSUMER AS USUAL.... *TR

AIR BAG PROBLEM LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY WHENEVER IT'S COOL AND HUMID, OR COLD OUTSIDE. I'VE SCANNED FOR TROUBLE CODES, BUT NO CODES ARE PRESENT. A NON-SUBARU GARAGE DID TROUBLESHOOTING BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY CAUSE. GIVEN OTHER COMPLAINTS, I'M DISTRESSED THAT THIS IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THESE ISSUES BEFORE ANYONE LOSES THEIR LIVES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ON ITS OWN FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S ALSO REVVED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT IT WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE ABS, CRUISE CONTROL, OIL, AND SPORT INDICATORS WERE FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE GEAR DISPLAY ONLY DISPLAYED A WHITE DASHED HORIZONTAL LINE. IT DID NOT DISPLAY A RED BOX AROUND THE GEAR THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THIS ONLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO REV. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND, ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED, IT DROVE NORMALLY. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP, BUT WILL BE TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,542.

THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON MY SUBARU LEGACY 2008 FAILED AT 31,000 MILES. *TR

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE (THE DAY THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO ME) BOTH HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES CONTAIN VISIBLE SIGNS OF MOISTURE THAT NEVER GOES AWAY. DEALERSHIP PROMISED TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ENCLOSURES WHEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THE DAY I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP HANDED ME A TSB THAT DESCRIBES A SIMILAR CONDITION WITH MY CAR THAT DISAPPEARS AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON. MY PROBLEM NEVER GOES AWAY AFTER ANY AMOUNT OF DRIVING. ESCALATED TO SUBARU OF AMERICA. THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM STATING "THIS IS A NORMAL CONDITION" SO, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION TAKEN TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM TO DATE BY THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

WE JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT HOME AND TOOK IT FOR A RIDE WE DISCOVERED THAT AT NIGHT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL YOU CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 20 FEET AHEAD OF THE CAR WE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED FOR FEAR OF HITTING SOMETHING IN THE ROAD AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IF THE ROAD STAYED STRAIGHT OR TURNED. I FIRST CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SAID THE LIGHTS MEET STATE SPECIFICATIONS HOWEVER THEY DON'T CHECK THE LIGHTS GOING DOWN HILL. I THEN CONTACTED SUBARU WHO PUT ME BACK IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN ISSUE AND NOT A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS CAR HAS THE NEW PROJECTOR LIGHTS AND EVEN ON LEVEL ROAD YOU CAN SEE A VERY DEFINITIVE LINE OF DEMARCATION WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR AT NIGHT WITH THESE NEW HEADLIGHTS THAT WE CANNOT ADEQUATELY SEE THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING DOWN HILLS. *JB