2020 Subaru Outback Fuel System Problems

No warning lamps or messages. A driver in a pickup truck behind me came up close and signaled me to pull over. He got out of his truck, ran up to my window and yelled to me "get out of your car, it is on fire". I was completely unaware of any problem. I got out and could see fire coming from under the front of the car. We moved away and he called 911.

Only one issue was witnessed, that being when a fuel dispenser's auto shutoff clicked, fuel would shoot out and run down the side of the vehicle.

The contact owns a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stopped in the middle of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact engaged the hazard lights; the police arrived on the scene and helped to move the vehicle safely to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a faulty fuel pump. The fuel pump was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 11,000.

Car has twice stalled out when driving slowly in hot weather. When trying to restart vehicle the engine turned over just fine, but wouldn’t restart until much later after the car had a chance to cool down completely. Possible vapor lock or faulty fuel pump.

We are getting about 24.5 mpg highway on a car that was advertised at 33 mpg highway. We traded in a 2015 outback that did consistently get 32 mpg on the type of driving we do. (mostly Highway). I have taken the car to the dealer where we purchased the vehicle several times but they say the computer shows no problem. They cannot conceive that the sensors or the computer might be in error. This 30%reduction in gas mileage will cost us about $600/year. We are winter Texans and drive to Alaska every summer and there is the danger of running out of gas on some of the long stretches on the Alaska highway.

DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, MADE A STOP AT A LIGHT. WHEN I GOT THE GREEN ARROW TO TURN LEFT, CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. WAS FORTUNATE, 4 GOOD INDIVIDUALS JUMPED OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES TO PUSH US OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND AVOID COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. CALLED SUBARU FOR A TOW. DURING THE 2 HOUR WAIT, TRIED TO START A COUPLE OF TIMES WITH NO LUCK. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, WAS TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, SO ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN, WHICH IT DID. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP. STAYED THERE FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS. THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP, WHICH IN MY MIND, MAY NOT BE AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. MY THOUGHTS ARE THAT SOMETHING OVERHEATED, POSSIBLY A CIRCUIT OR SOFTWARE THAT CAUSED THE MALFUNCTION. IT WAS A 95 DEGREE DAY, THE CAR HAD BEEN IDLING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN A STORE PARKING LOT RIGHT BEFORE THE SHUTDOWN. IN TALKING WITH SUBARU, THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME ROOT CAUSE ONCE THEY DO FURTHER ANALYSIS ON THE PROBLEM. I FEEL AT GREAT RISK THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME GOING FORWARD, (IE ON THE INTERSTATE, AT AN INTERSECTION, ETC). I'M HOPING THAT LOGGING THIS INCIDENT WILL HELP OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS KNOW OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER THEY MAY BE IN.

WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AROUND 50-70 IT WILL HESITATE AND ACTS LIKE IT WANTS TO STOP. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON HAVE TAKING BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DO THIS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT COLD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT CAN BE AFTER I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE. THIS HAPPENS ON MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.