2005 Subaru Outback Lighting Problems

THIS IS THE FIRST SUBARU I'VE EVER OWNED AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE. I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR: AN OIL LEAK IN THE ENGINE THAT REQUIRED THE WHOLE ENGINE TO BE TAKEN APART. WHILE REPLACING A SEEMINGLY SIMPLE PART, THE HYDRAULIC LIFTS THAT KEEP THE BACK HATCH OPEN, THE THREADING THAT HOLDS THE SCREW IN BROKE OFF AND I HAD TO HIRE A MECHANIC YET AGAIN TO WELD THAT PART TO BE ABLE TO SCREW IN THE SCREW TO HOLD THE LIFT IN PLACE. AND NOW, THE ENTIRE INTERIOR LIGHTING DOESN'T WORK, INCLUDING THE STEREO, ALL THE DOME LIGHTS AND THE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE REAR WIPER DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY.

DEFROSTERS AND ALL DIGITAL CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE UNRESPONSIVE. I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY VEHICLE

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DANGEROUSLY DIM, BARELY LIGHTING UP THE ROAD. BOTH THE FOG LAMPS AND ALSO THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WELL, BUT THE LOW BEAM LIGHT (WHICH IS PRODUCED FROM A DIFFERENT BULB THAN THE HIGH BEAM) IS VERY INADEQUATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH HIGHER INTENSITY BULBS. THIS OFFERED LITTLE IF ANY INCREASE IN LIGHTING. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED TO ASSURE THE PROPER VOLTAGE IS BEING SUPPLIED. GOOGLEING THIS PROBLEM HAS TOLD ME I'M NOT ALONE. OTHER SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE. HERE'S WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DETERMINED TO BE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN INNER REFLECTIVE CAVITY IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS HOUSED. THE REFLECTION PROCESS WITHIN THIS HOUSING MAGNIFIES THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB. THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A REFLECTIVE PRISM INSIDE A LIGHTHOUSE. IN THE CASE OF OUR SUBARU, THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT BULB HOUSING HAS EITHER WORN AWAY OR BECOME CLOUDED TO THE DEGREE THAT THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULBS NO LONGER REFLECTS ADEQUATELY TO PRODUCE A BRIGHT LIGHT. THESE HEADLIGHTS NEED TO EITHER BE REPLACED OR PERHAPS SOMEHOW REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, OPENED UP AND THEN REPAIRED. IN EITHER CASE THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO THE DEGREE IN WHICH MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO INCUR THE COST, THEREBY CONTINUING TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH UNSATISFACTORY HEADLIGHTS. MY QUESTIONS: IS THIS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE? IF SO, IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY CORRECTIONS? I'D BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN OFFER TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

DRIVING AT NIGHT. STOPPED TO GET GAS. WENT TO START CAR AND TURN ON LIGHTS. BOTH HEADLIGHTS OUT-JUST LIKE THAT. HAD TO DRIVE HOME ON RUNNING LIGHTS; LUCKILY LESS THAN 5 MILES. HEADLIGHT ISSUES STARTED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO WHERE INDIVIDUAL LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT; HAVE REPLACED IND LOW BEAM LIGHTS 4X IN THE LAST 10K MILES. NEVER HAD 2 GO OUT AT ONCE LIKE THIS-AT NIGHT. DID A SEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SUBARU IS TOO INTERESTED IN RESOLVING WHEN LEFT TO ITS OWN ACCORD. *TR

WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. WAGON IN AUGUST OF 2008 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE REPLACED 3 MORE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS AND 2 RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS. SUBARU TELLS US THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, YET THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES NOW AND THAT THEIR BRANDED BULBS SHOULD WORK. AT APPX. $20.00 EACH, THEIR SOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $100.00 REPLACING BULBS THAT SHOULD LAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS, NOT 2-3 MONTHS! WE ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA OF COLORADO WHERE THERE ARE FEW STREET OR HIGHWAY LIGHTS AND WILDLIFE IS ALWAYS A CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. YOU NEED PROPER VEHICLE LIGHTING TO REMAIN SAFE ON THE ROAD AND THIS KNOWN DEFECT BY SUBARU NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. HEADLIGHT FAILURE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN NEAR A SUBARU DEALER. OFF THE SHELF REPLACEMENT BULBS SHOULD DO THE JOB, BUT DON'T BECAUSE SUBARU IS NOT SHARING THE CORRECT LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY WITH THE AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURERS. THIS MAY NOT BE THE FIRST COMPLAINT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. WE SEE MANY 2005-2006 SUBARU'S LIKE OURS WITH BURNED OUT HEADLAMPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR COMPLAINT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WE OWN A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LLBEAN WAGON WITH PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR USUALLY, BUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS I DROVE IT QUITE A BIT ESPECAILLY AT NIGHT. I NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE BLACK LINE RUNNING HORIZONTALLY WITH THE VEHICLE AT 180 DEGREES THAT ALSO RUNS ACROSS THE HORIZON OF THE ROAD SIMILAR TO WHAT AN OLD PROJECTOR DOES ON A WHITE SCREEN. (CREATES A BOX OF LIGHT FOR THE IMAGE. BUT OUTSIDE THE BOUNDRY OF THE PROJECTOR THERE IS NO IMAGE OR LIGHT. WHEN DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL ROAD THE PROJECTOR LIGHTS EXTEND OUT LET'S SAY 250 YARDS +/-. BUT WHEN THE ROAD UNDULATES THE HEADLIGHT PROJCETION OF THE ROAD AHEAD IS CUT OFF! IT'S LIKE SOMETHING SHUTS OFF THE PROJECTED LIGHT AHEAD AND THE ROAD BECOMES SEVERLY DARKENED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TURN ON MY HIGHBEAMS THE ENTIRE ROAD FRONT AND SIDES ARE ADEQUATELY LIT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A PONTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE DRIVING IN FOG, HEAVY RAIN, OR SNOW. HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE CONDITION IF YOUR FORWARD LIGHT IS ESENTIALLY CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION OF THE PROJCETOR DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT? I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ACCORDING TO PERSON I SPOKE TO. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH MY CONCERNS. APPARANTLY ACCORDING TO THE SUBRU MECHANIC I SPOKE TO TODAY, OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRIBECA WHICH HAS THE SAME HEADLIGHT SET UP. SINCERELY, AP GULLA. *NM

WE OWN A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LLBEAN WAGON WITH PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR USUALLY, BUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS I DROVE IT QUITE A BIT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE BLACK LINE RUNNING HORIZONTALLY WITH THE VEHICLE AT 180 DEGREES THAT ALSO RUNS ACROSS THE HORIZON OF THE ROAD SIMILAR TO WHAT AN OLD PROJECTOR DOES ON A WHITE SCREEN. (CREATES A BOX OF LIGHT FOR THE IMAGE. BUT OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY OF THE PROJECTOR THERE IS NO IMAGE OR LIGHT. WHEN DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL ROAD THE PROJECTOR LIGHTS EXTEND OUT LET'S SAY 250 YARDS +/-. BUT WHEN THE ROAD UNDULATES THE HEADLIGHT PROJECTION OF THE ROAD AHEAD IS CUT OFF! IT'S LIKE SOMETHING SHUTS OFF THE PROJECTED LIGHT AHEAD AND THE ROAD BECOMES SEVERELY DARKENED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TURN ON MY HIGHBEAMS THE ENTIRE ROAD FRONT AND SIDES ARE ADEQUATELY LIT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A PENITENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE DRIVING IN FOG, HEAVY RAIN, OR SNOW. HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE CONDITION IF YOUR FORWARD LIGHT IS ESSENTIALLY CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION OF THE PROJECTOR DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT? I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ACCORDING TO PERSON I SPOKE TO. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH MY CONCERNS. APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU MECHANIC I SPOKE TO TODAY, OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRIBECA WHICH HAS THE SAME HEADLIGHT SET UP. SINCERELY, AP GULLA. *NM

I PURCHASED MY 05 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK IN SEPTEMBER 04. THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN OCTOBER 05 AND I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE IT WITH THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BULB. I NOTICED THAT NOW THE RIGHT LOW BEAM IS MORE ANGLED DOWN THAN PREVIOUSLY, MAKING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT MORE LIMITED THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT. IN DECEMBER 05 THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ALSO EXPIRED AND MY FATHER AND I REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME COMPATIBLE PART. I NOTICED THAT NIGHT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM WAS NOW ONLY ILLUMINATING ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR (LESS THAN THE RIGHT LOW BEAM NOW) AND SO I HAD TO CRANE FORWARD OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE THE PART OF THE ROAD THAT WAS ILLUMINATED. MY DAD AND I ADJUSTED THEM AS MUCH AS WE COULD BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO ADJUST. NOW, WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT I'M MOSTLY RELYING ON STREET LIGHTS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD RATHER THAN MY LOW BEAMS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T SHOW YOU ANYTHING OF THE ROAD MORE THAN 10-20 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU (FORTUNATELY I LIVE IN THE CITY SO IT'S PRETTY WELL ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT). THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE ROAD SAFELY IF I'M IN A POORLY LIT AREA IS WITH THE HIGH BEAMS NOW AND JUDGING FROM OTHER POSTED COMPLAINTS THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THE DEALER CAN DO TO ADJUST THEM. *NM

DT: WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ARE ON THE TAILLIGHT ARE OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUEMR DID NOT REMEMBER TO TURN LIGHTS ON WHEN IT WAS DUSK OUTSIDE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUEMR FEELS THAT HTIS MAY BE A SAFTEY ISSUE THEREFORE CONTACTED TEH MANUFACTURER. *AK IPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK DO NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH ILLUMINATION. THERE IS A SHARP LOW JAGGED LINE LIKE A CURTAIN OF DARKNESS WHERE THE LIGHT ENDS. AT NIGHT, WHEN THE CAR ENCOUNTERS A DIP IN THE ROAD, VISIBILITY OBSCURED ALL BUT FOR A FEW FEET. IT IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

DT: 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK - THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THEY DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHT TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE. THERE WAS VERY LIMITED ROAD WAY VISION, WITH ONLY A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR THAT WAS LIT UP PROPERLY, FROM THAT POINT ON IT WAS JUST BLACK. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON TO GET HOME SAFELY. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO TO ADJUST THEM. *JB

DT CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TOO LOW, THEY PROJECTED DOWNWARD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY RAISED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEM, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER AGAIN ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED THREE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STILL HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT ALL VEHICLES WITH PROJECT BEAM BULBS WERE LIKE THAT. *AK

HEADLIGHTS. THE LOW BEAMS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY BEYOND, PERHAPS 50 FEET. CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD AT NIGHT ON DARK ROADWAYS. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN NH WHERE DEER AND MOOSE IN THE ROADWAY ARE A REAL PROBLEM. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH OUT AND IT RESULTS IN BLACKNESS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SHINE WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO. THE DISTANCE OF THE LIGHT DOES NOT CARRY AR ENOUGH WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. ONE SEES BRIGHT LIGHTS WHICH NOT GO TO DIM, THEY GO FROM STRAIGHT TO DARKNESS. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE THEY ARE TO SPECIFIC. *AK

THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE LIGHTING AND THE ADJUSTMENT CAUSED LOW BEAMS TO CREATE A GLARE TO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *BF THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM FILAMENTS WERE IN ONE BULB AND THE BULB WAS SURROUNDED BY A COLLAR WHICH MAY HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE LOW BEAMS WERE ON OR WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN RURAL AREAS, IT LOOKED AS IF A DARK SHADE WAS PULLED DOWN MAKING THE LIGHTED AREA ONLY ABOUT 6 FEET OFF OF THE GROUND THROUGHOUT 180 DEGREES HORIZONTALLY. *SC

THE HEADLIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATED 20 TO 25 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *NM THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATE ONE FOOT ON EITHER SIDE MAKING NIGHTIME DRIVING FRIGHTENING AND STRESSFUL. A DARK SHADOW APPEARS TO DROP 25 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TC

CONSUMER FEEL THAT THE HEADLIGHT ARE POINTED TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED AND THAT IT MET THE SPECS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT VISIBILITY WAS CUT IN HALF. ONLY HALF OF THE ROADWAY WAS ILLUMINATED DURING NIGHT DRIVING. THE UPPER HALF OF THE BEAM WAS BLOCKED OUT. *TC

2005 SUBARU OUTBACK: WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED, ACCELERATION BECOMES EXTREMELY IRREGULAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER CRESTING A HILL, ENGINE PULSATES AS IF GAS FLOW TO THE ENGINE IS BEING INTERRUPTED IRREGULARLY, CAR BUCKS OR PULSES. LOW BEAMS ON HEADLIGHTS BLEW AFTER ONLY 10,000 MILES, RAIN AND/OR DEW DRIPS INSIDE CAR BECAUSE OF CAR DESIGN-DRENCHING ALL PASSENGERS FRONT AND BACK-SEAT-NO WINDOW VENTS AVAILABLE ACCORDING TO SUBARU. NO FRONT SEAT ARM-RESTS..MOST UNCOMFORTABLE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED

IT WOULD BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO SEE DURING NIGHT TIME WITH THE FRONT GLASS HEADLIGHTS LENS. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK