2003 Subaru Outback Complaint Log

MY WHEEL BEARING FAILED IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS--PASSENGER SIDE AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES AND DRIVERS SIDE AT ABOUT 84,000 MILES. THE CAR IS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE BOUNCES, SHAKES, AND WOBBLES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE FAILURE IS ALSO FOLLOWED BY A BUMPING SOUND. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IT IS CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE. SHE IS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING THIS WAY DUE TO THE ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VISCUS CUP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THERE IS FAILURE WITH THE STRUTS, BEARINGS, AND SUSPENSION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PASS INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE HIGHEST RPM'S AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE VEHICLE STEERING, BRAKES, GEARS WERE ALL LOCKED. THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF BY USING THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END IN THE FENDER AREA WAS DAMAGED AND THE PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT OPEN. SHE SUSTAINED A BRUISE FROM MID PALM TO HER WRIST, AND SKIN REMOVED FROM KNUCKLE TO WRIST FROM THE LEFT HAND. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE'S REAR END AND PASSENGER SIDE PANEL WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS 10/2003.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.

THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK. *TR

HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK. IT WAS LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM THE WARRANTY RUNNING OUT. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE WARRANTY WORK BUT SAID THEY COULD NOT DO THE OTHER HEAD GASKET BECAUSE IT HAD NOT FAILED AND THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO REPLACE IT. IT ONLY MAKES SENSE IF THE ONE SIDE FAILED THAT THE OTHER SIDE WAS RIGHT BEHIND IT. *TR

I TOOK MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK IN FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE. THE AUTO MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS QUITE NOISY AND THOUGHT IT MIGHT NEED VALVE ADUSTMENTS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THINKING THAT THE DEALER WOULD COVER THIS UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT, THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE. BEING THAT OUR VEHICLE ONLY HAD 27,000 MILES ON IT, THE MAINTENANCE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY. IF WE HAD NOT CAUGHT THIS AT THIS TIME, IT COULD HAVE CAUSE CONSIDERABLE ABOUT OF DAMAGE TO THE TIMING BELT OR ENGINE. THE WARRANTY COVERS 6 YEARS ON THE POWERTRAIN, BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THIS EXPENSE OF THIS PART.

WATER IS GETTING INTO THE REAR DOOR OF OUTBACK SUBARU WAGON CAUSING THE CORRODING OF REAR LIGHT HARNESSES. TAILLIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE AND HAD ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW/WHY WATER IS GETTING INTO THE REAR DOOR. AFTER HEAVY RAIN, THE WATER CAN BE HEARD MOVING AROUND IN THE DOOR. WATER DRAINS OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT A COMPANY VEHICLE, A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK , HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS MENTIONED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02V235000. ON 02/10/07 WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH UNDER GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO NOTICE OF THE WHEEL HAVING ANY PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL STATED THAT THE WHEELS MAY HAVE AN OFF-CENTER DIAMETER. HE CHANGED THE TIRE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111500.*AK

ON JANUARY 26,2008 AT 8:10 PM MY HUSBAND AND I ARRIVED HOME FROM A DINNER OUT. HE STOPPED AT THE TOP OF OUR VERY STEEP DRIVEWAY AND PLACED MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK IN PARK. THE CAR WAS RUNNING.. . AS I WAS IN THE CAR I DIDN'T NOTICE IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS ROLLING. IT MADE NO GRINDING SOUND AS IT SHOULD HAVE IF IT WAS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. HE YELLED AT ME (I WAS STRAPPED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT) TO HIT THE BRAKE BUT I COULD NOT BECAUSE I WAS STRAPPED IN MY SEAT. I NEVER THOUGHT OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS I WAS PANICKED. IN MARCH OF 2007 I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A VERY SERIOUS SPINAL CONDITION AND HAD TO GET A FIVE LEVEL NECK SURGERY TO KEEP FROM BECOMING PARALYZED. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I GOT HIT ON THE BACK OF THE NECK OR WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT I COULD BE PARALYZED. THE CAR REACHED A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR AND I SLAMMED INTO OUR 1997 RODEO ISUZU. THANKFULLY THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND JOLT MY HEAD AND I BRACED MY HANDS ON THE DASH. I SUFFERED ONLY MINOR WRIST SPRAINS AND MULTIPLE BRUISES AND SOME NECK SORENESS AND ABSOLUTE PHYSICAL SHOCK. I HAVE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE ACCIDENT. WE CALLED HIGHWAY PATROL AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. I DID NOT FEEL IT NECESSARY TO GET MEDICAL ATTENTION AS I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. AFTER THIS WAS OVER MY HUSBAND WENT ON THE INTERNET AND READ ABOUT A RECALL OF 2002 AND 2003 LEGACY OUTBACKS BECAUSE OF A DEFECT OF THE PARKING ROD THAT FAILS TO ENGAGE. MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST BUT IT SHOULD BE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM OUT AND THEY, AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS ONLY CHECKED THE PARKING BREAK AND THE SHIFTER AND SHIFTER LINKAGE WHICH DIDN'T ADDRESS MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PARKING ROD AT ALL. I AM CURRENTLY OUT $500 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY SUBARU AND $3000 FOR THE BODY DAMAGE TO MY OTHER CAR AND MOSTLY I AM STILL MAJOR CONCERNED THAT THIS ROLLING IN PARK THING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON WET ROADS, THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH, AND DID NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BUCK, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS FOUND TO BE EMPTY, AND WAS REFILLED. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER SEVERAL DAYS LATER, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. WATER WAS LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SUNROOF WITH SILICONE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AGAIN WITH THE SAME SILICONE. THE SUNROOF WAS NEVER USED. THE WATER DID NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,700.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS A VIBRATION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD WHICH SEPARATED FROM ITS CORRESPONDING PLATE. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A BURNING OIL SMELL. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

INTERNAL COATING INSIDE COMPASS MIRROR WITH AUTO LIGHT DETECTION. THE GOLDEN COATING INSIDE THE MIRROR DECOMPOSED AND RAN INTO THE MIRROR ALL WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO. IT WASN'T HOT, I JUST GOT INTO MY CAR AND IT BEGAN TO SORT OF MELT. THE USED REPLACEMENT IS $225...THIS IS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK LL BEAN EDITION....THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! *NM

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: NO ABNORMAL EVENTS PRIOR TO FAILURE (NO TIRE VISUAL INDICATIONS, NO SOUNDS, NORMAL STEERING AND SUSPENSION BEHAVIOR, NO TIRE IMPACTS). TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED MONTHLY AND TIRES ROTATED REGULARLY (~ EVERY 8,000 MI). 2. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: A SINGLE OEM TIRE (BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P225/60R16 E92QZ) WITH 43,700 MILES LOST ALL PRESSURE DUE TO FAILURE OF SIDEWALL, WITH SEPARATION APPARENT AROUND ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE. FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE PARKED ON LEVEL PARKING LOT SURFACE AFTER DRIVING 10 MINUTES AT MODERATE SPEED. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE): INTEND TO REPLACE TIRE SHORTLY. OLD TIRE IS AVAILABLE. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER HAVING THE 30,000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE GAS MILEAGE DECREASED 50 MILES PER TANK. THERE WAS AN OIL SMOKE SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN THE FAN WAS ON. A PINGING NOISE COULD BE INTERMITTENTLY HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK, LL BEAN MODEL WITH 17,378 MILES, DEVELOPED A SERIOUS WATER LEAK THROUGH THE ROOF, ON JUN. 2, 2005. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 17TH WITH THE INTERIOR FLOODED WHICH NECESSITATED THE CARPETING IN THE REAR TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. ON NOV. 10TH, 2005, AFTER A LIGHT RAIN, THE ROOF LEAKED AGAIN FOR THE 3RD. TIME. THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER SERVICE NOW. *NM

ACCELERATOR ON VEHICLE STUCK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL HOWEVER RPM'S SPUN TO 7000. HAD TO EVENTUALLY TURN CAR OFF IN DRIVE AFTER RIDING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES, AND TOLD ME "IT'LL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN"

2003 SUBARU OUTBACK CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR SUBARU WAS UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STALLING PROBLEM. *SC *JB

ON A VERY COLD MORNING THE VEHICLES GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO 4 OTHER CARS. *AK *SB *NM

2003 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK'S SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER READ INACCURATELY. *CC THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER HAD AN INACCURACY RATE OF 8-11 PERCENT. THERE WAS WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WINDOW. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE L/F DOOR. THE A/C WAS NOT GETTING COLD ENOUGH. THE TECH RESECURED HOSE FROM A/C CONDENSER AND RECHARGED THE SYSTEM. *NM

NOTICED PINGING NOISE FROM ENGINE. SUBARU REPLACED BLOCK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, HAD PINGING NOISE AGAIN, AND CAR WAS STALLING AFTER COLD NIGHT, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. SUBARU SAID THEY DIDN'T NOTICE ANY PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE A FEELING I'LL BE GETTING ANOTHER BLOCK IN A YEAR OR SO.*AK

BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON ICE. THE PARKING BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

WHILE PLAYING THE CD PLAYER ON THE 7TH TRACK THE CD WOULD SKIP BACK AND FORTH. CONSUMER REMOVED THE CD AND NOTICED THAT THE CD WAS EXTREMELY HOT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THE CD PLAYER WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT COMPLETELY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO ADVANCE WARNING. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD THE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK.......SUBARU REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH OWNER'S HUSBAND AND HAD DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDER SEN TTO SUBARU FOR EVALUATION. REPRESENTATIVE CALLED AFTER A FEW WEEKS AND REFUSED TO DISCUSS REASONS FOR FAILURE. *AK

SERIOUS HESITATION IN FIRST GEAR WHEN STARTING AT INTERSECTIONS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 2.5L ENGINE). ENGINE SPEED DROPS SHARPLY. MUST STOMP GAS PEDAL IN UNSAFE MANNER TO RECOVER. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC - SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MODULATE IN FIRST GEAR WITHOUT USING CLUTCH. ENGINE IS STRONG AND PREDICTABLE IN ALL OTHER GEARS. *JB

TWO ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES ON OUR SUBARU 2003 OUTBACK FAILED AT 9,800 AND 11,700 MILES OF USE, WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. BOTH STARTED AS SLOW LEAKS FOR ABOUT A WEEK,WHICH WE MONITORED AND FILLED. THEN SUDDENLY A BIG WHITE CIRCULAR SPLIT APPEARED IN THE SIDEWALL ABOUT AN INCH AWAY FROM THE TREAD, AND TIRES WERE DEAD FLAT AND RUINED. FIRST TIRE WAS DRIVER-SIDE REAR; SECOND WAS PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT. WHEN BROUGHT TO FIRESTONE DEALER FOR WARRANTY FULFILLMENT FOR FIRST TIRE, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS OUR FAULT (?!) AND WE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR EXPLANATION FOR SECOND INCIDENT...BUT NOT SURE I WANT ANOTHER OF THESE ON MY CAR. LOCAL SUBARU DEALER SAYS THIS IS FIRST HE'S HEARD ABOUT THESE TIRES, BUT I SEE THREE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE SPECIFIC TO SUBARUS AMONG THE 92 "GENERAL" AND 37 "SIDEWALL" POTENZA COMPLAINTS. TIRE IS P225/60 R1697H. NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY 30 YEARS OF DRIVING.*AK

THROTTLE STIFF WHEN FIRST OPENED. RPM'S WILL JUMP WHEN THROTTLE PRESSED. NOT SMOOTH AT ALL. HARD TO REGULATE SPEED, WITHOUT BUCKING. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR COMPUTER REGULATED CAR. BALONEY.*AK

WHEN CAR WAS SLOWING FOR A STOP SIGN IT WOULD STALL, HOWEVER IT COULD ALWAYS BE RESTARTED. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART. *AK THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

WHEEL WELLS OF SUBARU OUTBACK PACK UP WITH ICE WHILE DRIVING IN HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT SNOW AND SLUSH, CAUSING TIRES TO RUB ON ICE IN WHEEL WELLS WHILE DRIVING, IMPEDING TURNING RADIUS AND ABS SYTEM.*AK

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO FROM SENATOR SUBARU, 3655 FLORIN ROAD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95823, 916-427-1234. I PICKED IT UP ON OCTOBER 27, 2003. ON OCTOBER 31, 2003 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE IT WAS SHAKING BADLY AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND ON STARTUP. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON NOVEMBER 1, 2003, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER HAD TO BE RESET AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I DID NOT RECEIVE A SERVICE REPORT CHECK OUT SLIP. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2003 IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND ON NOVEMBER 2, 2003, UPON START UP THE VEHICLE EMITTED A NOXIOUS CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE REAR. THE AT OIL TEMP LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE DURATION OF A SHORT DRIVE OF APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2003. THE MANAGER, MOE, TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT SENATOR SUBARUS PROBLEM; IT WAS SUBARU OF AMERICAS PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE UPSET TOO IF THIS HAPPENED TO HIM. THE DEALER FOUND A CODE 11" WHICH WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE NOT ACCOMPANIED BY AN ENGINE CODE. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS INDICATED THAT THE CAR STALLED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FOUR OTHER COMPLAINTS REGISTERED WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OF STALLING WHILE BEING DRIVEN OR ON STARTUP FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. (SEE ATTACHED COPIES OF COMPLAINTS). ON NOVEMBER 4, 2003, THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER ASKED ME TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2003, THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER AGAIN CALLED ME AND SAID HE COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE SAID HE CLEARED THE CODE 11; THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HE ADVISED ME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS A DANGEROUS CONDITION (STALLS WHILE BEING DRIVEN) WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP UNSUCCESSFULLY TWICE.*AK

CONSUMER HAD A DIFFICULT TIME DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER STATED CLUTCH PEDAL WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, MAKING IT HARD TO ENGAGE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN A MIDDLE LANE ON I-270, I SUDENLY BECAME AWARE OF A BUMPING NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER THROUGH SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC. WHEN I CHECKED THE TIRES, I SAW THAT THE SIDEWALL OF MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD BECOME COMPLETELY DISATTACHED FROM THE TREAD. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. A FIRESTONE DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRE IN DETAIL, BUT COULD FIND NO PUNCTURE OR OTHER CAUSE OF TIRE FAILURE BESIDES SPONTANEOUS DISINTEGRATION. FIRESTONE WANTED $56 TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER TREADWEAR MEASUREMENT, EVEN THOUGH TIRE HAD ONLY 6800 MILES ON IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. ORINGINAL TIRES ON VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *ND WHEN BRAKING TO STOP OR MAKE A TURN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEE ARE OTHER VEHICLES (SAME MAKE/MODEL) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *SCC

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AND WITH MULTIPLE DRIVERS, I HAVE HAD 2 2003 OUTBACKS WITH FREQUENT STALLING WHEN MOVING FROM NEUTRAL TO FIRST, OR TO REVERSE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SUBARU DENIES RECEIVING PRIOR COMPLAINTS (DESPITE THE MATERIAL ON YOUR SITE) AND IN GENERAL DENIES THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. THEY ALSO COMPELLED ME TO SIGN A "GAG" CLAUSE AS PART OF A DEAL WHEREBY THEY EXCHANGED CAR # 1 FOR CAR # 2. I HAVE ARBITRARILY PUT IN A SPECIFIC MONTH, DAY AND YEAR BUT IT HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. ALSO CAR # 1 HAD 2 INCIDENTS OF THE ENGINE RUNNING TOO ROUGH TO BE DRIVEN, PROGRESSIVELY LOSING POWER AND THEN QUITTING - WHEN RESTARTED, RAN FINE. ALSO CAR # 1 HAD 1 EPISODE OF TURNING OVER WELL BUT REFUSING TO START.*AK

NAR 03-27-2003 MR THE CAR DIES INTERMITTENTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 20-25 MPH ON DECELERATION. THE POWER IS COMPLETELY LOST WITH NO POWER STEERING CONTROL. ADDITIONAL ITEMS NOTICIED .. SHIFTING IN TRANSMISSION AT LOW SPEEDS, DASHBOARD CREAKS AND DRIVERS WINDOW FAULTY. *CB

NAR 07-15-2003 THE CONSUMER VEHICLE MADE HIGH FREQUENCY NOISES THAT EFFECTED THE HEARING ON THE DRIVER INSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED ABOVE 50 ML HR, ALSO SERIES OF STRONG MULTIPLE JERKING OCCURRED. *CB

THE VEHICLE SURGED AFTER COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SURGED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THAT, ALWAYS AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE COMPUTER BE REFRESHED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SURGED SINCE THEN. *AK *SCC *JB

THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURED ON 11/14/2002. CAR WAS NOT MOVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DEAD, CAR DID NOT TURN OVER. DT

DEALER SUBSTITUTED CHEAP AFTERMARKET SECURITY SYSTEM FOR REQUESTED SUBARU UPGRADE, TAMPERING WITH FACTORY WIRING IN PROCESS. WHEN CHALLENGED, DEALER REPLACED SYSTEM WITH SUBARU UPGRADE. HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE STRIPPED, SOLDERED AND MOST LIKELY CUT WIRES IN THE FACTORY HARNESS COULD PRODUCE A SHORT OR BACKFEED THAT MAY DAMAGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OR LEAD TO FIRE. IN ADDITION, ONE BUNDLE OF WIRES INTERFERES WITH THE MOVEMENT OF MY RIGHT FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO BRAKE. DT

CAR KEEPS SHUTTING OFF IN INFREQUENT INTERVALS. FIRST AT 375 MILES AND BY 9000 MILES IT DID IT 9 TIMES. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 6 TIMES AND JUST NOW SUBARU IS ADMITTING TO HAVING OTHER CARS WITH THIS ISSUE. ALL 2003 6 CYLINDER ENGINES. I WAS TOLD AFTER THE 4TH TIME AT THE DEALER THAT THEY CANNOT FIX IT, END OF STORY. THEN AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE THEY ARE WORKING ON IT AGAIN. THEY ARE NOW STARTING TO REPLACE STUFF AND WANT TO PUT A BLACK BOX IN. THIS CAR SHUTS OFF ONLY AT A STAND STILL SO FAR BUT THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SUBARU ADMITS TO HAVING MORE CARS LIKE THIS AND THEY ONLY COULD FIX HALF OF THEM. *JB

2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR COST. *KB AT AROUND 80,000 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING OIL. THE CONSUMER STATED SUBARU RECALLED OTHER MODELS BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE EXTERNAL LEAK AT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. THE CONSUMER STATED HER MODEL HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE OTHER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED SUBARU WAS ONLY WILL TO COVER 50% OF THE COST. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN WHEN NEEDED. *NLM *TS