2008 Subaru Outback Complaint Log

IN JULY FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER I WROTE TO SUBARU TO INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $728.08. APPARENTLY ONLY SEVEN STATES ISSUED A MANDATORY RECALL. VIRGINIA ISN'T ONE OF THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED, ALL SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTATION. AT 97,600 MILES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WEARING OUT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PART ITSELF. REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN OUR FUTURE DECISION OF WHICH BRAND CAR TO BUY. IT'S KNOWN IN MARKETING IT COSTS A LOT LESS TO KEEP A CUSTOMER THAN TO GAIN A NEW ONE. *TR

DASHBOARD HAS SUDDENLY BECOME VERY STICKY/TACKY, AND EXTREMELY SHINY. ATTEMPTS TO CLEAN OR REMOVE APPARENT RESIDUE HAVE HAD NO EFFECT ON STICKINESS, AND LINT FROM RAGS OR PAPER TOWELS TENDS TO STICK TO DASH. IN SUNLIGHT, MOONLIGHT OR STREETLIGHT, DASHBOARD SURFACE REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. DASHBOARD PLASTIC APPEARS TO BE CHEMICALLY BREAKING DOWN OR MELTING. A SIMILAR ISSUE AFFECTED SEVERAL MILLION TOYOTA VEHICLES FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURE DATE (2007-8), PARTICULARLY IN SUNNIER STATES WITH MORE UV EXPOSURE (FL, AZ, CA) AND TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL. SUSPECT THE SAME/A SIMILAR SUBCONTRACTOR PROVIDED SIMILAR/IDENTICAL PLASTIC TO BOTH MANUFACTURERS. OUR CAR HAS BEEN KEPT MOSTLY OUTDOORS IN MD, CA AND HI. SUBARU HAS YET TO FOLLOW TOYOTA IN ISSUING A RECALL. SEVERE VISIBILITY HAZARD. *TR

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, DAMAGE OCCURRED OVER MANY YEARS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS BEING SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SUBARU DEALER. NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS DAMAGE WAS GIVEN TO ME UNTIL THE CAR WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF ITS WARRANTY. PREVIOUSLY SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE IF THAT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,400. UPDATED 08/25/14*LJ

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IN HEAVY SNOW, SUDDENLY LOST POWER, THE DASH LIGHT FLASHED, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDLES MOVED AS IF THE CAR WAS STARTING UP. COULD NOT RESTART ENGINE, WOULD NOT CRANK. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT WORKED. SAT IN HEAVY SNOW FOR TWO HOURS (NO TOW TRUCKS AVAILABLE UNTIL NEXT DAY). SUDDENLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART AFTER MANY FAILED ATTEMPTS, IT DID. DROVE IT HOME FINE. STALLED NEXT DAY ON WAY TO REPAIR SHOP. HAD CAR TOWED AND SHOP FOUND ONE CODE, BUT NOTHING ELSE WRONG. DROVE HOME FINE, RAN CAN FOR 45 MINS, FINE. NEXT DAY DROVE FOR 35 MIN TO WORK, FINE BUT LEFT WORK AND IMMEDIATELY STALLED JUST LIKE FEW DAYS BEFORE. TOWED TO SUBARU DEALER AND TOOK A DAY TO FIGURE OUT WAS MAIN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS. REPLACED WITH MINIMAL CHARGE OF $50, EVEN THOUGHT THREE MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN FINE SINCE THEN. *TR

THE LIGHTS AND THE RADIO ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONSTANTLY GO OFF AND ON SITTING STILL OR MOVING I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS NOT STOPPED AS OF 6/7/2017

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY ON DASH AND OVERHEAD. NOT SURE AIRBAGS ARE WORKING. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON SLIGHTLY SLICK ROADS IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN THE REAR WHEELS WOULD LOSE TRACTION AND START TO FISH TAIL. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT THE GAS APPLIED, WITH OR WITHOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED. THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS SLIDING SIDE TO SIDE IN THE BACK. THE TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING WITHOUT ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS GHOST WALKING IN ON LINE BLOGS. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. *TR

THE AIRBAGS LIGHT IS ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE TECH AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM IN THE CONNECTION IN THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE. HE INDICATED THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY CORRECTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 OUTBACKS AND OTHER POSTERS HAVE INDICATED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK IF DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. APPARENTLY MANY FOLKS HAVE FOUND A WEAK/AGED SOLDER POINT TO BE THE CAUSE OF AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION. GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF OWNERS ENCOUNTERING THIS PROBLEM, SUBARU SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL BASED ON THE SAFETY CONCERNS OF A AN AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES STAYS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL CAR AND THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COULD BE DEFECTIVE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY SUBARU AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS YEAR OUTBACK. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF AND IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS "GHOST WALKING" AS DEFINED IN THIS THREAD: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/16527-ALL-GHOSTWALKING-OUBACK-OWNERS-PRINT.HTML THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SLIDES FROM SIDED TO SIDE AT A CERTAIN FREQUENCY ABOVE 35 MPH IN SNOW CONDITIONS. THIS PROBLEM GETS WORSE AS MORE WEIGHT IS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE AUDIO AND THE WHOLE PANEL RELATED TO THE HEAT/AIR AND DEFROSTER FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUDIO AND H-BACK CONTROL PANEL LIGHTS WERE BLINKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT PERIODICALLY TURNS ON WHEN A PASSENGER SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SOMETIMES IT TURNS ON, SOMETIMES NOT. YOU CAN RESET THE SENSOR AND IT GOES AWAY, FOR DAYS OR WEEKS. NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE. MECHANIC CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM.

WIRES IN THE REAR HATCH BREAK REPEATEDLY. WIRING HARNESS COMES FROM THE ROOF AND INTO THE REAR HATCH; MOST OF THE WIRES WORN AND MECHANIC HAS SPLICED MORE THAN HALF INCLUDING THE ANTENNA WIRE.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 2010 DID NOT REPAIR AS THE CODE COULD NOT BE READ AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. NOW CONSTANTLY ON MECHANICS TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE INDICATOR CIRCUIT ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES CEILING CONSOLE PASSENGER INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE BAG IS OFF (SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WHEN LESS THAN 25 LBS IN PASSENGER SEAT) AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES DASHBOARD RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE MALFUNCTION WITH BAG AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT SHOWS DIMLY AS IF IT'S TRYING TO ILLUMINATE. SEEMS LIKE A WIRING PROBLEM BASED ON INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION BUT DEALER SAID NEEDED NEW $300 PLUS INDICATOR SWITCH BUT THEY WERE SURE AIRBAG WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE ALREADY HAD SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH QUALITY OF WORK DONE BY THIS DEALER SO UNSURE OF WHETHER THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHY NO RECALL FROM SUBARU? I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER BUYING CAR NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHILE DRIVING HOME. BEING A SAFETY ISSUE I STARTED INVESTIGATING. LOOKS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON. MAY BE ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. JUST WANTED TO REPORT IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. DEALER SAID SHOP DID NOT NOTICE LIGHT DURING THEIR INSPECTION. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND STAYED ON UPON DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PERRY SUBARU IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA), WHO SAID THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG INDICATOR ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THIS PART. A NEW AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (PART NO. 92151AG13AOR) WAS PURCHASED BY THE OWNER AND INSTALLED FOR A TOTAL COST OF $364.40. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHER MODEL YEAR SUBARUS FOR THE SAME AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NTSB SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING HUMMING NOISE FROM REAR END WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE REAR BEARINGS WERE BAD. I WAS TOLD THEY WEREN'T COVERED SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. EARLY FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERE OIL LEAKING FOR 4 YEARS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS, BUT ONLY OFFERED REPAIR AT FULL SHOP RATE PRICES. I SEE THIS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.

THE RADIO AND HEATER, A/C AND DEFROSTER CONTROLS ARE ALL ONE PIECE IN MY CAR. THE DISPLAY SCREENS ON BOTH GO BLANK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS NOTHING WORKS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DEFROSTER WHEN YOU BAD WEATHER WHILE DRIVING. THE OUTPUT TEMPERATURE AND FAN SPEED CANNOT BE CHANGED AND THE DEFROSTER CANNOT BE TURNED ON OR OFF. THE FACTORY RADIO-A/C CONTROL UNIT WENT BAD AND WAS USELESS. SUBARU WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE PARTS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE NEW, ONLY AS A REBUILT UNIT, AND SUBARU HAS NO CORES TO REBUILD NOR DO THEY KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET ONE. I BOUGHT A USED RADIO-A/C UNIT FROM A JUNKYARD AND INSTALLED IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW THIS UNIT IS STARTING TO GO BAD. I HAVE CONTACTED PANASONIC TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY MY RADIO EVEN WITH THE NUMBERS ON THE TAG THAT SAYS MADE BY PANASONIC, SO THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHERE I CAN GET IT REPAIRED. SUBARU HAS BEEN JUST AS USELESS. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT A RADIO, BUT WHEN MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AT 60 MPH AND I CANNOT TURN THE DEFROSTER ON OR IT'S 20 DEGREES OUT AND I CANNOT TURN THE HEAT ON, THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED A SUBARU OWNERS WEBSITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH 2005-2008 MODELS SAYING THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND BESIDES CHANGING THE OIL MYSELF, ALL OTHER REPAIRS ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN DONE BY A SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER EVEN INSTALLED THE JUNKYARD RADIO. THE LAST CONTACT I HAD WITH THE SUBARU FACTORY, THEY ARE BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON ME USING AN AFTERMARKET RADIO. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER CONFIRMED THRU SERIAL NUMBERS THAT THE RADIO FROM THE JUNKYARD IS THE EXACT SAME RADIO-A/C UNIT THAT CAME IN MY CAR WHEN NEW. SINCE SUBARU NO LONGER USES PANASONIC RADIOS, THEY ARE NO LONGER PROVIDING ANY PRODUCT SUPPORT ON PANASONIC PRODUCTS. SUBARU IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROVIDE SERVICE PARTS FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS AND THEY ARE NOT DOING IT. *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS WINTER IN WISCONSIN. THE ROADS WERE MOSTLY CLEAR, BUT IT WAS STARTING TO SLEET. WHILE DRIVING, ANY TIME I WOULD GO UNDER A BRIDGE, THE REAR OF THE CAR WOULD DRAMATICALLY SHIFT TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH, AND THE PROBLEM ALMOST SEEMED TO GET WORSE. IT WOULD BE FINE UNTIL I WENT UNDER A BRIDGE WHERE THE ROAD SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE ICY. IT WAS ACTING LIKE THE REAR TIRES WERE COMPENSATING TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR. MY TIRES HAD 75% TREADLIFE LEFT ON ALL 4 TIRES. THERE WAS A LITTLE EXTRA WEIGHT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE 3 PEOPLE IN THE CAR ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY 200LBS IN THE REAR CARGO AREA. WHEN THE ROADS GOT A LITTLE MORE ICE ON THEM, SO THAT IT WASN'T JUST UNDER BRIDGES, THE CAR WAS MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT IF THERE IS ANY WEIGHT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE REAR TIRES HIT A BUMP OR A CRACK IN THE ROAD, IT WILL SHIFT THE REAR END OF THE CAR TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USUALLY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A VERY COMMON THING KNOW AS GHOSTWALKING IN SUBARU OUTBACKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I PURCHASED THE 2008 OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED USED WITH 32K MILES. AT 41K MILES THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. YESTERDAY I WAS INFORMED THAT MY LEFT FRONT BEARING HAS GONE OUT, NOW AT 80K MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILEAGE). NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE 2 SHOPS I SPOKE TO REGARDING THE ISSUE STATED THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY COMMON ON THESE SUBARU MODELS AND THEY GENERATE QUITE A BIT OF BUSINESS. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE A TSB AND FIX THE ISSUE AS THEY HAVE SPEC'D FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT( OFF) STAYS OFF. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR COOLANT FLUSH. I ASKED SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE ISSUE HE STATED THAT IT IS IN THE MAPLIGHT AND IF THE LIGHT BURNS OUT THE AIRBAG ON THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A MALFUNCTION IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SO MEANING AS CONSUMER I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MAPLIGHT CONSOLE AND PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE OR MORE FAULT IN DESIGN. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ON AFTER IGNITION AND WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL I REPLACED THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE RECENTLY. PROBLEM SOLVED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT AFFECTS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE OF THE CAR, I.E., THE AIRBAGS. *TR

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ABOVE MAP LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2012 TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE (STILL ONGOING). SERVICE WRITER SAID COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY. HE INDICATED THE AIRBAG WOULD STILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, BUT THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS NOT ABLE TO READ THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER AND IF I HAD A SMALLER AND SHORTER ADULT IN THE FRONT SEAT, THEY COULD BE INJURED BECAUSE THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND WITH GREATER FORCE POSSIBLY INJURING THE PASSENGER. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING AND PREVALENT ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE, DRIVING OR PARKED, AND IF THERE IS OR IS NOT A PASSENGER. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. *TR *BF*JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON OUR DASHBOARD RECENTLY LIT UP. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE SAID THE CAR WAS NOT PRODUCING AN ERROR CODE. SOME BASIC RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING COMMON AND IS RELATED TO A FAULT IN THE PANEL CONTAINED IN THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS. HE REPLACED PANEL AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES THAT I HOPE YOU CAN ADDRESS. BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, THE OPERATION OF THE CAR'S AIR BAGS WERE IN DOUBT, IF NOT DISABLED ALL TOGETHER. SO, THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN OUR MECHANIC CALLED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER (GO SUBARU IN DENVER, CO) FOR THE PART AND ASKED IF THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK, THE PARTS DESK IMMEDIATELY SAID, "OH, IS THIS THAT AIR BAG THING?" SO, THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT. I TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU TO NOTIFY THEM, BUT THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT ALL RECALLS ARE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND MAKE THE APPROPRIATE RECALL. *TR

VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX (6) TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO ABOUT 5 MPH. THE "ENGINE" AND "CRUISE" LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 2500AND 3000 RPM DURING THIS TIME, . ONE MUST PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO RESET THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS AS DRIVERS BEHIND OUR VEHICLE NEEDED TO SWERVE AWAY FROM OUR VEHICLE AS IT LOST ACCELERATION. SUBARU PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING. 1. FLASHED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CODE TWICE. 2. REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLE TWICE 3. REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ONCE 4. REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ONCE. I HAVE THREE (3) SERVICES CASES RECORDED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA). THE CASE NUMBERS ARE AS LISTED. > 1-2810691799 FILED ON DECEMBER 17, 2012 > 1-2888482660 FILED ON DECEMBER 26, 2012 > 1-4032748404 FILED ON MAY 21, 2013 THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON MAY 29, 2013 AND WE HOPE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER DURING THIS TEN (10) MONTH PERIOD OF TIME SOA ALWAYS PROMISED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YET DID SO RELUCTANTLY. AS THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WENT FROM 3 TO 6 SOA CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NOT AT ALL CUSTOMER ORIENTATED. THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE END RESULT OF ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY BUT HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

ONE WIRE LEADING TO THE REAR CARGO HATCH (RIGHT SIDE) BROKE AND 3 OTHERS HAD CRACKED INSULATION DUE TO A LACK OF RESILIENCE AFTER FLEXING. THESE WIRES ARE FLEXED EVERY TIME THE HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED. ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS ON THE HATCH TRAVEL THOUGH THIS WIRING HARNESS (WIPERS, LOCK, ETC.). HAD THE FAILURE OF THE LOCK NOT BEEN NOTICED, FURTHER WEAR COULD HAVE CAUSED A SHORT AND A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS GOING BACK TO AT LEAST THE 2005 MODEL. *TR

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, DROVE TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION. RADIATOR FLUSHED AND TESTED FOR LEAKS, NONE FOUND. NO OTHER DETERMINATION MADE. CAR OVERHEATING, SLOW COOLANT LOSS. SUBARU DIAGNOSED MAJOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBABLY OCCURRED PRIOR TO 73000 MILES, BUT BEYOND POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. SUBARU HQ DECLINED TO HELP WITH COST CONSIDERING THE SERVICE TECH MGR STATED A 2008 MODEL CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS FAILURE. PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH SIMILAR GASKET FAILURE SOME TIME AFTER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED. COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A STORE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURY. THE KANAWHA COUNTY SHERIFF WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,837.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND THE VEHICLE SMOKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HOSE FRACTURED AND CREATED THE LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOSES AND THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,284.

ON MANY SEPARATE OCCASIONS (BUT REPORTED TO SUBARU AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER ON 03/28/12, 10/01/11, AND 09/21/11), OUR HOOD HAS PARTLY POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A RANGE OF SPEEDS AND IN A RANGE OF TEMPERATURES. IT IS AS IF THE INITIAL HOOD RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN PULLED FROM WITHIN THE CAR, BUT THE HOOD THEN CATCHES ON THE MANUAL RELEASE UNDER THE LID. ONCE LOOSE, THE HOOD WOBBLES (WITH INCREASED VIOLENCE AT HIGH SPEEDS) AND IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SECURE. THE SUBARU SHOP TECH INITIALLY ADJUSTED AND REALIGNED THE HOOD LATCH. ON A SUBSEQUENT VISIT, THE ENTIRE HOOD LATCH WAS REPLACED. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND ON VISITING AFTER THE THIRD OCCURENCE, THE SAID THEY HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EITHER ON THE ROAD OR IN THE SHOP, AND WERE SHOWING NO DIAGNOSTIC ISSUES WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT. SUBARU OF AMERICA WERE CONTACTED BY THE SHOP AND HAD NO AVAILABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BUT THE SUBARU SHOP AND IS CLEAR OF PRIOR BODY DAMAGE. THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THIS ISSUE IS MOST ALARMING -- WE CAN NEVER TELL WHEN OUR HOOD IS GOING TO COME LOOSE WHILE TRAVELLING, AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEED TO SECURE THE HOOD.

I BOUGHT MY 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK NEW. I HAVE DRIVEN IT IN ALMOST EVERY ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITION POSSIBLE. IT IS DRIVEN 90% OF THE TIME WITH JUST ME OR ME AND MY WIFE IN THE CAR. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH A FULL LOAD OF LUGGAGE, AND 3 ADULT PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. ROAD CONDITIONS BECAME ICY ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS A FAIRLY RAPID ONSET OF THE CAR KIND OF JERKING SIDE TO SIDE ALMOST LIKE THE BACK END OF THE CAR WAS BEING BLOWN FROM SIDE TO SIDE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NOT MUCH WIND. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH WHILE OTHER CARS AND SEMI TRUCKS WERE PASSING ME. I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND I THOUGHT AT ANY MINUTE WE WOULD END UP IN THE DITCH. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ME SUCH AS GIVING IT GAS OR BRAKING AND WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. THE CAR HAS NEW TIRES WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THEM. I JUST HAD THE 45000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR IS A 2.5I WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DID RESEARCH AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME AND FOUND THIS ISSUE WELL DESCRIBED IN A SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS "GHOSTWALKING". *TR

VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING BIT ROUGH WHILE IDLING AT INTERSECTION; UPON ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENT LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND CAR STALLED. RESTARTED NORMALLY. *TR

INFORMED AT SHOP WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGE THAT LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED AND REPLACED IT UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HEARD NO NOISE AND FELT NO UNUSUAL PERFORMANCE TO ALERT ME OF THIS POWERTRAIN FAILURE. DEALER STATED ALL THE OTHER WHEEL BEARINGS ARE OK. 2 YEARS LATER AT 70,000 MILES RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED WITH NO NOTICE OR NOISE JUST SUDDEN GRINDING AND SWAYING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. HAD IT TOWED HOME AND TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE OTHER TWO WHEEL BEARINGS ARE FAILING. DEALER COVERED COST OF NEW BEARINGS BUT WE TRADED IT IN. NO CONFIDENCE IN SUBARU. DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR ALL REPLACED AT FIRST FAILURE. *TR

DASH AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THIS DISABLES THE AIRBAG. DEALER STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT CAN ONLY FIX BY TRIAL AND ERROR REPLACING (EXPENSIVE) COMPONENTS. IT HAPPENS MOST ON COLD WET WEATHER DAYS, OFTEN GOES OFF WHEN CAR WARMED UP, SO PROBABLY ELECTRICAL. HAS CONTINUED FOR YEARS NOW, STILL HAPPENING AT 105,000 MILES. MANY MANY EXAMPLES ON INTERNET BOARDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT CONSOLE THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. WHEN OCCURRING, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BECOMES DEACTIVATED AND POSES A DECREASE IN SAFETY. SUBARU OF AMERICA WOULD NOT TELL ME HOW MANY OF THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR THEIR REPORTED RATE OF FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR EVERY SIX MONTHS WHERE THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TPMS VALVE STEM BROKE OFF WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. *TR

2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I DRIVING STRAIGHT ON COMPACTED SNOW OR ICY ROADS STARTING AT APPROX. 35MPH. REAR OF VEHICLE FEELS AS IF TRACTION IS BREAKING LOOSE AND FISHTAILING. TIRES ARE 1 YEAR OLD AND MADE FOR SNOW/ICE CONDITIONS AND ALIGNMENT WAS DONE 2 WEEKS PRIOR. PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS OR WEIGHT IS ADDED TO VEHICLE. UNABLE TO DRIVE OVER 40-45 MPH; 2-WHEEL DRIVE COMPACTS PASSING ME IN AN OUTBACK ON A FLAT SNOW COVERED ROAD DUE TO INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AT SPEED. ALIGNMENT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM A ROAD TRIP ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. NO SIMILAR ROAD CONDITION DRIVING BETWEEN THE TWO. *TR

GHOSTWALKING SUBARU OUTBACK, 2008. DRIVING MY FAMILY (2 ADULTS, 2 TEENS) TO A FAMILY EVENT, ALONG WITH LUGGAGE, EXPERIENCED REAR END SWAY BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING ON SLIGHTLY SLICK ROADS (SLUSHY CONDITIONS). IT FELT LIKE REAR END WAS SWAYING INTO TRAFFIC IN ADJACENT LANE. IT WAS EXTREMELY UNNERVING. OCCURS IN SPEEDS ABOVE 50 KM/H. PROBLEM CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 50 KM/H WITH SLICK ROAD. HAD TO SLOW DOWN BELOW 50 KM/H ON HIGHWAY (WHICH IS ILLEGAL). *TR

I HAVE A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK EQUIPPED WITH GOOD WINTER TIRES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON WINTER ROADS MY CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE. FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE REAR END OF THE CAR STARTS TO SWAY AND I AM ONLY ABLE TO BRING IT UNDER CONTROL BY BRINGING DOWN MY SPEED, AND I END UP TRAVELING MUCH SLOWER THEN THE TRAFFIC FLOW. MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS THE SAME CAR AND EXPERIENCES THIS PROBLEM AS WELL WITH HIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FLAW WITH THIS CAR AND SUBARU NEEDS TO COMES TO GRIPS WITH IT AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE ON SLICK WINTER ROADS. *TR

THREE FAILED WHEEL BEARING BY 100K. ONE AT 30K, THE SECOND AT 67K. THE THIRD AT 90K. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AT 90K. AT 103K, THERE IS A HALF INCH OF PLAY IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE WHEEL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A JET AIRPLANE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. IF THIS BEARING FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *TR

WE TOOK OUR SUBARU INTO THE DEALER TO GET REGULAR SERVICES. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY GROUND DOWN WHILE THE OTHERS WERE FINE AND OR NORMAL FOR OUR MILEAGE. OUR CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND ALTHOUGH THE DEALERS EXPLANATION WAS " A STUCK BRAKE CALIPER" THEY MADE US PAY FOR NEW BRAKES. AND, THEY FAILED TO GIVE US A NEW BRAKE CALIPER. WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE MANAGER, HE REFUSED TO HELP US AND BLAMED IT ON THE REGIONAL REPAIR MANAGER. WE COMPLAINED FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND WERE FINALLY GIVEN THE MONEY BACK JUST FOR THE BRAKE, BUT SINCE WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN , THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE BRAKE CALIPER AS WELL. THIS WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR "BRAND NEW" . WE THINK THIS IS A AN OVERALL MANUFACTURERS DEFECT BUT WHEN WE CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES , THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR IN OUR FACES AND WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO TALK TO A PERSON OTHER THAN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IN THE SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 SUBARU DEALERS AND ALL 3 REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AND SERVICES FOR FREE. WE HAVE EMAIL AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM. PLEASE HELP US. *TR UPDATED 11/14/12 *CN UPDATED 11/14/2012*JS

MY CAR ENGINE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A SIGNAL, WHILE WAITING ON THE RED LIGHT AND WHILE STOPING AND IDLING AT THE PARKING LOT. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH LIGHTS UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED. THIS ENGINE STALLING ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. SOME TIMES EVERY DAY IN A WEEK, 2 DAYS IN A WEEK OR 3 DAYS IN A WEEK. SOME TIMES THE ENGINE STALLS MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN A DAY. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE MY CAR AT THE DEALER SHIP OVERNIGHT TO SEE IF DEALER CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME HE COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE. SECOND TIME, DEALER FOUND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND USED THE DIAGONSTIC TOOL TO FIND OUT THAT MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IS BAD AND REPLACED IT. BUT THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THIRD TIME I CONTACT SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT THERE FOR 2 DAYS. ON THE THIRD DAY, DEALER SAID THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID HE COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE THIRD DAY, WITHIN FEW HOURS MY CAR ENGINE AGAIN STALLED. THIS TIME I TOOK THE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND I WAS TOLD THAT DEALER CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE UNLESS HE CAN RECREATE THE ISSUE. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP MORE THAN 3 TIMES, SPENT MORE THAN $1000 FOR PARTS, LABOR AND CAR RENTAL AND STILL THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. ACTUALLY IT IS GETTING WORSE DAY BY DAY. *TR

DASHBOARD IS MELTING

THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR SUDDENLY LOOSING POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. HAS OCCURRED OVER 6 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH, 4 TIMES IN THIS LAST WEEK. THE MOST RECENT ON 4/30/10 THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH. NO WARNING INDICATORS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. FIRST TIME WAS WHEN ACCELERATING UP AN ON RAMP AND SEVERAL MORE TIMES ON OTHER INCLINED RAMPS, THEN LEAVING A STREET TO ENTER A HWY 4/28/10, ANOTHER AT A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR SHUDDERED 4/29/10, SAME DAY TRAVELING AT 60 MPH LOST POWER FOR A BRIEF MOMENT THEN RESUMED, THESE TWO INCIDENTS WERE WITHIN 5 MINUTES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND SERVICED TO HAVE THEM LOCATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HAVE NOT RECEIVED INFORMATION AS YET. *TR

SUBARU OUTBACK 2008 2.5I SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION: RECURRING ISSUE IS CONSIDERABLY DANGEROUS AND PRESENTS ITSELF WHEN DRIVING ON WET AND OR SLIPPERY ROADS. YES, ALTHOUGH THE CONDITIONS ARE LESS THAN IDEAL THEY ARE NORMAL DRIVING SITUATIONS. TESTING HAS BEEN CONDUCTED WITH IDENTICAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER VEHICLES AND SIMILAR BEHAVIOR WAS NOT EXPERIENCED. THIS TESTING HAS BEEN REPEATED WITH IDENTICAL RESULTS. ISSUE: WHEN TRAVELING ON SLIPPERY ROADS - RAIN, SNOW, ICE THE SUBARU ALL WHEEL DIRVE/SUSPENSION CONFIGURATION CREATES SIDE TO SIDE "FISH-TAIL" LIKE BEHAVIOR. THIS MOTION CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SPIN-OUT. OTHER DIRVERS HAVE EXPERICED OVER CORRECTION ISSUES WHEN DEALING WITH THIS UNEXPECTED BACK-END MOTION. THE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A RESULT OF APPLICATION OF POWER. WTH POWER APPLIED OR COASTING THE MOTION IS STILL EVIDENT. *TR