2007 Subaru Outback Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED IN FEBRUARY THAT IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BUT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF PARTS. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT.

TL* TAKATA RECALL.THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TAKATA RECALL HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH MANUFACTURER 3 TIMES AND ALL I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THE LOCAL DEALER HAS ORDERED THE PART . . .

TAKATA RECALL - NOTIFIED IN FEB 2016, IT'S NOW LAST DAY OF SEP 2016, AND ALL I HAVE IS THE INITIAL LETTER, NO FOLLOW-UP, NO ESTIMATE OF WHEN THIS WILL GET FIXED. I CAN'T USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE, A GREAT INCONVENIENCE. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO GET FIXED???

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TAKATA RECALL; I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU IN FEBRUARY 2016 STATING THAT MY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS IN DANGER OF DEATH FROM THIS RECALL. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS SINCE RECEIVING THIS LETTER AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS TO HOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT I CANNOT USE MY VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. WHY AREN'T THESE ISSUES GETTING FIXED OR AT LEAST SCHEDULED TO BE FIXED? RECALL WAS INITIATED IN DECEMBER 2015 - ONE YEAR AGO! PASSENGER CAN DIE FROM THIS! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 249,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH DISABLED THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SENSORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ON, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WIRE HARNESS, THAT PASSES THROUGH RUBBER ARTICULATED GASKET THAT CONNECTS BETWEEN VEHICLE BODY AND REAR HATCH DOOR OF WAGON, SUFFERS FROM WIRE FATIGUE THAT CAUSES INDIVIDUAL WIRE INSULATORS TO CRACK AND CONDUCTING WIRES TO BREAK, LEADING TO FAILURE OF CRITICAL AUTOMOBILE SAFETY EQUIPMENT; NAMELY, REAR WIPER MOTOR, REAR BACK-UP LIGHTS, REAR MIDDLE BRAKE LIGHT, REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER. THIS DESIGN DEFECT HAS BE REPORTED BY NUMEROUS OWNERS AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ON YOUTUBE (HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=AMEKPTVGMHS) AND OUTBACK OWNERS' BULLETIN BOARD WEBSITES (HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/20718-REAR-WIPER-DOES-NOT-RETURN-PARK-HOME-POSITION.HTML). PROBABLE MANUFACTURING DEFECTS INCLUDE: (I) ORIENTATION OF RUBBER ARTICULATED GASKET THROUGH WHICH REAR DOOR WIRING HARNESS PASSES IS SUCH THAT IT CAUSES UNDUE FLEXING OF WIRE HARNESS WIRES UPON OPEN / CLOSE SEQUENCE OF REAR TAILGATE, AND (2) DEFECTIVE AND/OR UNDERSIZED WIRE HARNESS WIRES UNABLE TO WITHSTAND THE OPEN / CLOSE SEQUENCE OF REAR TAIL GATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

IN 2015 AT 90,000 MILES THE HEAD WAS LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. HAD TO HAVE THE TOP END OF THE MOTOR TOTAL REBUILT. I HAVE READ THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUES.

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS LIT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2007 OUTBACKS DUE TO FAULTY SOLDERING OF THE OVERHEAD CHIP.

WELL I LOST ALL THROTTLE CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME. ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON WHICH DISABLED THE VDC AND CRUISE AND THE GAS PEDAL. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. WHEN SHUTTING THE CAR OFF IT IS VERY HARD TO RESTART. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU TRY TO STOP THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO IT JUST PULSES FORWARD SO MORE BRAKE PEDAL IS NEEDED. IF YOU PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE REVS HIGH. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TPS NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE THROTTLE SERVO VIA THE TCM. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS AT RANDOM. USUALLY WHEN I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON AND OFF FOR SOME TIME, BUT NOW BLEEPS ALMOST CONTINUALLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER (ST. JOHNSBURY, VT) AND FOR APPROX. $280 THEY TRIED TO FIX IT. WHEN THIS DID NOT WORK, THEY SAID WE NEED TO CAME BACK AND PAY A FURTHER $500++ TO FIX THIS. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ON-LINE THAT THE PROBLEM IS FAULTY SOLDERING OF THE OVERHEAD CHIP FOR THE AIRBAGS. $780++ SEEMS LIKE A BIG EXPENSE FOR A SAFETY ITEM THAT SHOULD HAVE A LONGER LIFE SPAN. *TR

DRIVER'S AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS WILL CAUSE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THE SAME ISSUE IS ONGOING FOR MANY 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK MODELS. IT IS BELIEVED TO BE DUE TO FAULTY SOLDERING OF THE OVERHEAD CHIP FOR THE AIRBAGS. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS SAFETY INCIDENT. *TR

A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY FOR A PEDESTRIAN, AND I REAR ENDED IT. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION. HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE THINKING AND SLEEPING - AND FINALS ARE NEXT WEEK! *JS

SEVERAL BROKEN WIRES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FLEXIBLE JOINT WHERE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING TRAVELS BETWEEN THE REAR CARGO AREA AND THE TAILGATE WERE DISCOVERED. IT APPEARS THAT INFERIOR WIRE INSULATION BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND LEADS TO BROKEN WIRES. SYMPTOMS WERE THAT THE REAR WINDOW WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS SPORADICALLY / DOES NOT RETURN TO HOME LOCATION, AND THERE IS NO POWER AT THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. WIRING FOR REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND LOCKS ALSO TRAVEL THROUGH THIS JOINT AND CAN BE AFFECTED. MANY SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS ARE DISCOVERING THIS ISSUE AND DISCUSSING ONLINE. SINCE THIS CAN AFFECT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND THE REAR LIGHTS, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS DISCOVERING THE ISSUE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NO HEAT, ENGINE TEMP. CLIMBED. ENGINE COOLANT BOILED OUT A MILE LATER. 2.5 ENGINE. *TR

AUDIO/HVAC CONTROLS FLASH AND DO NOT RESPOND TO ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE MODES OR CUT OUT ALTOGETHER. PROBLEM STARTED ON A VERY HOT SUMMER DAY FOUR YEARS OR SO AGO. WHEN CONTROLS ARE ACTING UP, NOT ONLY DOES THE PANEL NOT DISPLAY PROPERLY, BUT ALSO FAILS TO RESPOND TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS. NOT BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE AUDIO OR CLIMATE CONTROL IS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST FRONT OR REAR WINDOWS WHEN NEEDED IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SUBARU FORUMS (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/80-ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS/23909-08-O-B-RADIO-HVAC-CONTROL-LIGHTING-PROB.HTML). PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER IGNITION. GOES AWAY SOMETIMES ON ITS OWN, SOMETIMES WHEN TURN OFF CAR AND TURN BACK ON, SOMETIMES DOESN'T RESOLVE EVEN WITH RE-IGNITION. HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON HIGHWAYS BUT I SPEND MORE TIME ON CITY STREETS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

ENGINE MADE A SUDDEN RATTLING SOUND THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER, THEN HAD A LOUD BANGING SOUND.AFTER A FEW DAYS OF INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER BOLT CAME LOOSE,BOUNCED AROUND IN MY ENGINE, DAMAGING A PLATE AND "TAKING A FEW 'CHUNKS' OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK,ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC.THE MECHANIC SAID IN HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION,THE ONLY WAY THE BOLT COULD HAVE BEEN LOOSE,IS THAT IS WAS NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO A SUBARU THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF.THE CAR IS 6YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR 5YEARS(BOUGHT IT IN 2009 WITH 33 MILES ON IT,AS IT HADN'T SOLD IN 2008), AND IT HAS ONLY 23,000 MILES ON IT. THERE IS NO RECALL, AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 7MONTHS AGO. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD COVER HALF THE COST OF REPAIRS, BUT WE ARE STILL PURSUING OPTIONS. *TR

I WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND A FULL SIZED PREGNANT DEER JUMPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE DEER FULL SPEED. IT DID OVER $8000. IN DAMAGE TO THE CAR, BUT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. IT WAS LIKE AN EXPLOSION, AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS MASHED UP AND HEAD LIGHTS KNOCKED OUT, ETC. THE DEER WAS CUT IN 1/2 AND FLEW AROUND THE CAR, BUT IT DID NOT HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, I REPEAT, AND I'M KIND OF CONCERNED THAT IT WOULDN'T WORK IN A COLLISION. *TR

HATCH WON'T LOCK, AND BACKUP LIGHTS DON'T WORK. FOUND 2 BROKEN WIRES ON RIGHT SIDE WIRE HARNESS, I HAVE READ LOTS OF OTHER POSTINGS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IS SUBSEQUENTLY DISABLED, EVEN IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SOURCE OF PROBLEM IS TRACED BACK TO INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE OVER HEAD CONSOLE. THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP AS THEY SHOULD. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT OR OFF LIGHTS DO NOT APPEAR WHEN THEY SHOULD SOMETIMES THEY ARE DIM AND RESOLVE WITH A LIGHT TAP OR CHANGE IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS COMMON AND IS THE RESULT OF FAULTY SOLDER IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. DEALERSHIP ADVISES REPLACE THE ENTIRE CONSOLE AT OWNER EXPENSE. PART COSTS $130, LABOR IS EVEN MORE. I AM NOT AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE NO IDEA IF SOLDERS SHOULD FAIL AT 8 YEARS. THIS PARTICULAR SOLDER IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SUBARU SHOULD REMEDY THIS WITH A RECALL OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE MY COST. I WILL PROVIDE THE DEALERSHIP WITH A COPY OF THIS REPORT.

OIL LEAKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE HEAD GASKET ONTO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. READ WEB AND SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE ITEM FOR SUBARU ENGINES 2000 THRU 2009. MY CONCERN IS POTENTIAL FIRE. REPAIR COSTS $1800-3000. WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND FIRE HAZARD THUS I HOPE SUBARU WILL ADDRESS THIS DESIGN ISSUE MORE PROACTIVELY. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS COLD OR WET OUTSIDE. *JS

REFER TO NHTSA COMPLAINT 10558038 VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A COUPLE OF TIMES ON GOOD DRY ROADS AFTER DECEMBER COMPLAINT ABOUT REAR END STABILITY AND TRACTION PROBLEMS. ON JAN 29TH, MID MORNING DRIVER WAS DRIVING WITH 1 PASSENGER ON A SLIGHTLY SNOW COVERED GRAVEL ROAD. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM TURNED OFF AND WHEN HE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE, HE STATED "THE CAR STARTED DRIVING ITSELF AND BECAME TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE." HE SAID "IT SPUN AROUND ONE WAY THEN THE OTHER" BEFORE GOING THROUGH A DITCH, RUNNING THROUGH A FENCE AND INTO A RAILROAD TIE POST. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TRIED EVERY THING POSSIBLE TO AVOID THE CRASH AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS IS THE SAME DRIVER IN PREVIOUS COMPLAINT THAT IS A EX-RACE CAR DRIVER, HAS HAD NUMEROUS SPIN OUTS AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE TRACK AND IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER. HE DROVE AN OLD 2 WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCK LATER THAT DAY UNDER WORSE ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE TO GET IT HOME. ON THE WAY TO THE BODY SHOP, 40 MPH IT AGAIN STARTED SWAYING BACK AND FORTH ERRATICALLY WHEN HE DROVE OVER A PATCH OF ICE ON THE ROAD. THE CAR IS AT THE BODY SHOP WITH OVER $3000 DAMAGE. *AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR END SWERVED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. A LOCAL AUTO SPECIALIST PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF

THIS IS THE 5TH SUBARU I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THEM WITH STABILITY IN SNOW AND ICE. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER AND HAVE DRIVEN IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES AND 4. I PURCHASE THIS CAR IN JUNE OF 2012 AND ALWAYS FELT THAT IT WAS NOT STABLE ON THE ROAD. WHEN THE SNOW FELL, I WAS TESTING THE ROAD CONDITIONS ON VERY DRY CRUNCHY SNOW, WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE TO GO AROUND A LEFT CORNER. (THIS IS SOMETHING MY OTHER 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH.) THE VEHICLE STARTED TO TURN AND THE REAR END CAME UNDONE AND THE CAR SLID INTO A 4 WHEEL SKID. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE WHOLE REAR END HAD LOST ANY TRACTION. IT TOOK ACCELERATION TO GET IT TO ENGAGE AGAIN. BOTH OF MY SUBARU'S HAVE ALL SEASON RADIALS THAT ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. LATER IN DECEMBER MY HUSBAND (WHO IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER) AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 38 DEGREES AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS WET. WE HAD JUST A FEW GROCERIES IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT HEAVILY LOADED. WE HIT A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED SWAYING AND WOBBLING LIKE ON ICY ROADS. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL, BUT BOTH OF US WERE SHOCKED AT HOW UNSTABLE IT WAS. WE AGAIN CHECKED THE ROAD SURFACE AND IT WAS NOT ICY. I HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED INSTABILITY IN SNOW AND SLUSH, THAT IS NOT NORMAL TO THE SUBARU OUTBACK. MY OTHER CAR HAS NO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

LEAKING HEADGASKET ON A 6 YEAR OLD SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 WITH 79,000 MILES. REPAIR JOB COST OF $2,000. HEAD GASKET ISSUES ARE A MAJOR COMPLAINT/DEFECT ON SUBARU 2.5 4CYL ENGINES. SUBARU SHOULD EITHER OFFER TO SUBSIDIZE OR COVER MAJOR REPAIR COST. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG MONITOR IN OVERHEAD CONSOLE FAILED. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A FAULTY PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE, AND HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED. *TR

IN JUNE OF 2013 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER FOR SERVICE AFTER NOTICING A BURNING SMELL. I WAS TOLD MY FRONT RIGHT AXLE WAS BROKEN. SEVEN MONTHS LATER (JANUARY 2014) I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THIS TIME THE LEFT AXLE AND LEFT WHEEL BEARING WERE BROKEN. TWO MONTHS LATER (MARCH 2014) I WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AND MY RIGHT AXLE AND RIGHT AXLE SEAL WERE BROKEN AGAIN. THAT IS THREE AXLES IN NINE MONTHS! THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AT SUBARU TOLD ME THIS WAS NOT ABNORMAL; THAT THE CAR HAS A "DESIGN FLAW" WHERE THE AXLE BOOT SITS VERY CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SO IT HEATS UP, WHICH CAUSES THE AXLE TO CRACK AND BREAK. *TR

THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE OIL. ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL HEAD GASKET REPLACED. SUBARU USED IN 2007 A PAPER GASKET WHICH HAS BEEN FOUND NOT TO HOLD UP. NEW HAD GASKET MUCH STRONGER. TRYING TO GET SUBARU TO WARRANTY THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS ONLY 43,800 MILES ON IT. *TR

VEHICLE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT DURING RUSH HOUR. TRIED TO ACCELERATE FOR RIGHT TURN, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. CHECKED THE DISPLACE FOR INDICATOR LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ON STEADILY WHILE CRUISE CONTROL WAS BLINKING. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF HEATER, SEAT HEATER, AND RADIO, AND PROCEEDED TO COAST DOWN A HILL AT IDLE. GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AFTER 0.3 MILES. RESTARTED THE CAR TWICE AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AND GAS PEDAL STILL DID NOT WORK. A THIRD ATTEMPT TO RESTART RESULTED IN THE ENGINE TURNING OVER BUT NO IGNITION. AFTER SEVERAL MORE RESTARTS THE GAS PEDAL WAS RESPONSIVE BUT INDICATORS LIGHTS WERE STILL PRESENT. DROVE TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP WITH NORMAL SPEED CONTROL WHERE THE INDICATOR LIGHTS PROMPTLY TURNED OFF. SENSOR HISTORY INDICATED P2138 CODE FOR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AFTER MARKET FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PADS HE PURCHASED WERE A FULL HALF-INCH SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE ORIGINAL PADS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE. THE ESTABLISHMENT INSISTED IT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE BRAKING FORCE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE PADS AND WENT TO ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT, WHO PROVIDED HIM WITH THEIR FRONT PADS WHICH WERE THE SAME LENGTH AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.

WHILE DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROADS WITH THREE PEOPLE AND SKI EQUIPMENT IN THE VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS, ABNORMAL HANDLING. THIS PHENOMENON HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER 2005-2009 SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS, AND IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE OUTBACKS APPEAR TO HAVE A CHASSIS TUNING ISSUE WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION OSCILLATES IN SUCH A WAY TO CAUSE REAR-STEER. WHEN THIS OCCURS ROAD FEEL AND HANDLING CONFIDENCE ARE COMPLETELY LOST. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND SEE THAT IT IS PROPERLY ADDRESSED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO RESPONSE FROM GAS PEDAL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT AND BEGAN TO TURN RIGHT AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED TO AROUND 20 MPH AND WOULD NOT GO ANY FASTER. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND STOP, AS THERE WAS A SCRATCHING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS TURNING ABOUT 2,000 RPM AND WAS RESPONDING TO THE AIR CONDITION CYCLING. WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, THE IDLE SPEED WENT UP TO AROUND 2,400 RPM. ALSO, A FLAG WAS SET FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE ENTIRE TIME, WHICH HE WAS INFORMED IT WOULD CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT TO BLINK AT A VERY SLOW RATE.

MY 2007 OUTBACK WITH LESS THAN 85,000 MILES ON IT HAS REQUIRED 2 WHEEL BEARINGS PREVIOUSLY. TODAY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TWO MORE, REPLACING ONE THAT HAD LESS THAN 6 MONTHS ON IT. SUBARU EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE 2006 MODELS BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. FROM REVIEWING THE FORUMS IT SEEMS THIS PART IS PRONE TO EARLY FAILURE. I THINK IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AT WARRANTIED TO AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AS THEY DID WITH THE 2006 MODEL YEAR. *TR

PROBLEM P2138 THROTTLE CEASES TO CONTROL CAR ENGINE SPEED. IN NEUTRAL IT SETTLES AT ?4000 RPM. STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR STOPS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES FOR 1-2 DAYS. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT FUNCTIONAL WHILE IN THIS STATE. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, BUT TYPICALLY AT 55-60. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, NOW 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. HAD THE THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO, AND WE HAD NO PROBLEM FOR 11 MONTHS UNTIL THE PAST MONTH. *TR

THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKING ACTION WHATSOEVER. I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND EVENTUALLY STOP BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED (60K INTERVAL) BY THE DEALER INCLUDING FLUSHING THE BRAKE LINES AND INSTALLING NEW REAR BRAKE PADS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY A DIFFERENT DEALER REVEALED THAT THE CALIPER AND BRAKE PAD HAD FALLEN OFF THE CAR, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND PUTTING OCCUPANTS (INCLUDING A 4 YEAR OLD) AT EXTREME BODILY RISK. *TR

WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 32 DEGREES F, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES OR GAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN YOU TURN THE CLIMATE CONTROL TO THE CABIN AIR RECIRCULATING POSITION THE SMELL DECREASES DRAMATICALLY. THIS CAR MUST BE DRIVEN WITH A WINDOW PARTIALLY OPEN FOR FRESH AIR FOR SAFETY. THE ODOR IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE NAUSEA. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH SUBARU. SUBARU HAS NEVER ISSUED A RECALL TO THE BEST OF BY KNOWLEDGE. *TR

'07 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I W/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS COOL CODE P0720 WAS SET FOR VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE ERROR WOULD RESET AS SENSOR PRESUMABLY WARMED AND BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY. I IDENTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE FRONT VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR WAS THE PROBLEM. A WEEK AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE, AND PRIOR TO MY BEING ABLE TO REPLACE THE SENSOR, THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FAILURE CHANGED: AT HIGHWAY SPEED (60-65MPH) THE CAR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AND FEEL LIKE THE BRAKES WERE SLAMMED ON. THIS BEING AN OBVIOUSLY DANGEROUS AND SCARY SITUATION, MY SHORT TERM SOLUTION WAS TO CUT THE WIRE GOING TO THE SENSOR UNTIL I COULD REPLACE IT. (THE SENSOR IS HARD-WIRED INTO A 3-SENSOR WIRE HARNESS THAT REQUIRES ACCESS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REPLACED). JUST PRIOR TO THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING INTO FIRST GEAR I ALSO HEARD THE SAFETY SOLENOID IN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY (THE ONE THAT PREVENTS THE OPERATOR FROM PUTTING THE SHIFTER INTO PARK WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING) QUICKLY CYCLING ON AND OFF, SO MY ASSUMPTION WAS THAT A PARTIAL SIGNAL WAS BEING SEEN BY THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AND INTERPRETED AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN IT REALLY WAS. AFTER CUTTING THE SPEED SENSOR OUT OF THE CIRCUIT THIS ASPECT OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT REPEATED ITSELF. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM SOMETIMES IS NOT ACTIVE UPON STARTING VEHICLE. THIS IS INDICATED BY THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WHICH IS ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IN THIS SITUATION (AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED) THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. NUMEROUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET CONFIRM THIS. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY DANGEROUS AND COMMON SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY SUBARU THROUGH A RECALL. UPDATED 09/24/14*LJ UPDATED 02/20/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPILL BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VENT VALVES IN THE DUEL FUEL CANISTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF MECHANIC STATED THE EVAP WAS FROZEN SO GAS COULD NOT GO IN AND FUMES COULD NOT PASS THROUGH. UPDATED 08/05/11

I HAVE HAD TWO WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. FRONT PASSENGER AT 65,000 AND REAR PASSENGER AT 73,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS OR TREATED BADLY. SUBARU'S IN THE PAST HAVE HAD RECALLS ON THIS PART. I THINK THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK SW ON A 6 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND LOST ALL GAS PEDAL RESPONSE. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALTHOUGH SHE ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THE CAR STARTED FLASHING THE CRUISE CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CHECK ENGINE DASH LIGHTS. AFTER ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND GET HOME. I CHECKED THE ERROR CODES AND GOT A P02138. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SUBARU BLOGS. ALL OF THE OTHER REPORTS POINTED TO THE SAME SOURCE(S) THE GAS PEDAL POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. MOST REPORTED SUBARU SERVICE DEPARTMENTS CLAIMING NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE EVER HAPPENING BEFORE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IN BOTH LOCAL AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. I HAVE CLEANED THE TERMINALS ON BOTH SENSORS AND THIS SEEMS TO HELP, BUT THE PROBLEM ALWAYS RETURNS. I READ WHERE SEVERAL OTHER DRIVERS HAD THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLY CHANGED AND THE ISSUE SEEMED TO BE RESOLVED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. HAVING A CAR SUDDENLY BECOME DEAD ON THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IS DANGEROUS TO ANYONE AROUND. *TR *JS

OUR 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK FISHTAILS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON ICY ROADS THAT ALL OTHER VEHICLES SAFELY TRAVEL ON AT TWICE THE SPEED AS WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN OUR OUTBACK. THIS ISN'T THE DRIVER OR THE TIRES. THIS IS THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED (HONDA CRV, SATURN SW2, 2WD GMC S-15, CHEVY CORSICA) AND I HAVE DRIVEN IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS MANY TIMES. IT IS MISERABLE AND FEELS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL IN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AT 30 MPH ON ICY ROADS THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS TRAVELING 50-60 MPH ON. I'VE ONLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY LOADED. THE CAR FEELS EXTREMELY STABLE ON SNOWPACK AND DRY/WET PAVEMENT. BUT AS SOON AS ROADS HAVE SOME ICE ON THEM, THIS CAR BECOMES GARBAGE (JUST WHEN YOU NEED A CAR TO BE AT IT'S BEST). I HAVE WITNESSED THIS EVENT TWICE NOW IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. ONCE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, AND ONCE IN NORTHERN COLORADO. THESE ARE ALSO THE ONLY TWO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN ON. I WOULD EXPECT THIS VEHICLE TO BEHAVE THIS SAME MISERABLE WAY EVERY TIME AS IT HAS EXHIBITED THIS CHARACTERISTIC 100% OF THE TIME ON ICY HIGHWAY ROADS. *TR