1996 SUBARU OUTBACK Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
WHENEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS, THE CHECK VALVE IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WILL FREEZE IN PLACE AND RESULTS IN NO POWER ASSIST BRAKING. THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD BE NORMAL AS THERE WAS RESIDUAL VACUUM IN THE BOOSTER. ADD...
Mileage: 258,000
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4...
Mileage: 87,696
WHILE DRIVING VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO "H". I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SOME STEAM UNDER HOOD. ADDED SOME WATER. A LITTLE LATER, STILL ON "H". MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE I GOT IT IN 1998 SAID IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, COMMON WITH SU...
Mileage: 100,000
CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. SUSPECT HEADGASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT . (POTENTIAL FOR CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY STALL ON INTERSTATE) UPON INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES SUFFER FROM SAME CONDITION (1995-1999). HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/...
Mileage: 166,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, IT SPED OFF ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AS WELL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHIC...
Mileage: 186,000
1. JUST BOUGHT FROM DEALER. GOING TO GET GAS. 2. OVERHEATING. AUTO MECHANIC SAID OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. HEAD GASKET. 3. REPAIRED HEAD GASKET ETC. *TR
Mileage: 161,423
ACCORDING TO SUBARU IN NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-216, THE PROTECTIVE PAINT WAS APPLIED INCORRECTLY TO '96 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK SPRINGS WHICH LEADS THEM TO RUST AND BREAK. SUBARU WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON BOTH FRONT AND RE...
Mileage: 169,000
CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT RADIATOR TEMP WAS HIGH. TOOK CAR INTO REPAIR SHOP, CRACKED HEAD GASKET. CALLED SUBARU, THEY OFFERED NO HELP OR ADVICE. COST TO REPAIR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS TO ME, A COLLEGE STUDENT. SUBARU DEALER SAID CRACKED HEAD GASKET IS A PROBLEM IN SUBARUS. I WOULD HAVE NOT B...
Mileage: 185,000
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK FILLER GUARD AND PIPE. THE GUARD RUSTED FROM DEBRIS OVER THE YEARS, AND DIRT AND DEBRIS WERE GETTING UNDERNEATH THE GUARD. THE RESULT WAS RUSTING AND LEAKING GAS FROM THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK WAS NOTICED ...
Mileage: 135,906
DT: 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FUEL INJECTION .SYSTEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED, THE SPEED ODOMETER WAS 60 MPH WHEN GOING 40 MPH. SOMETIMES IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ...
Mileage: 903,086
WHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK
A PERMANENT HAZING OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS CAUSED SAFE NIGHT DRIVING ILLUMINATION TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.*AK
Mileage: 80,000
CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. POKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULT, AND PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK DOWN. HELD SPEED OF VEHICLE DOWN WITH BOTH FEET HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHI...
Mileage: 97,600
I DRIVE A 1996 OUTBACK WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE READ ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSMISSIONS BINDING IN TURNS, WHICH IS WHAT I'M EXPEREINCING NOW. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF IT GETS TOO BAD, IT MAY BREAK AN AXLE OR SOMETHING. IF IT IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM/MISTAKE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO...
BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800
Mileage: 115,000
BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800
Mileage: 115,000
BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING WITH TWO CHILDREN. BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD WITH ONE YEAR OLD AND TWO YEAR OLD. THE CAR,A 1996 OUTBACK ONLY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT. REAL LOW FOR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *NLM
Mileage: 115,000
COMPLETE SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BODY AND SIDEWALL OF RIGHT FRONT MICHELIN HARMONY TIRE. TIRES IN SERVICE FOR THREE MONTHS ON A SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *JB
CONSUMER STATES WHEELS ARE OXDIZING/CORRODING AND AIR IS LEAKING IN ALL TIRES. CHECKED BY DEALER WHO OXIDIZED THE TIRES.*JB
ON SEVRAL OCCASIONS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY. BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT
IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH BOTH CARS AT 30 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BURST THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENDED UP ON THE HOOD. PASSENGER NEVER TOUCHED THE AIR BAG, BUT WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT/SHOULDER BELT. NO OTHER KNOWN REASON FOR WINDSHIELD DAMAGE BEFORE OR DURING ...
IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH BOTH CARS AT 30 MPH, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BURST THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENDED UP ON THE HOOD. PASSENGER NEVER TOUCHED THE AIR BAG, BUT WAS RESTRAINED BY THE SEAT/SHOULDER BELT. NO OTHER KNOWN REASON FOR WINDSHIELD DAMAGE BEFORE OR DURING ...
ALL 4 ALLOY WHEELS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT TIRES WILL NOT RETAIN SUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE. OTHER BRAND VEHICLES WITH ALLOY WHEELS (EX. AUDI) DRIVEN IN IDENTIAL CONDITIONS AND HOUSED IN SAME GARAGE HAVE SHOWN NO ABNORMAL DETERIORIATION AS HAS THE SUBARU. TIRES DEFLATE RAPIDLY WHEN CA...
AT VERY LOW SPEED SPRING OF LEFT FRONT STRUT BROKE AND WENT THROUGH TIRE.*AK *SLC
MICHELIN XW4 TIRE P205/70R15, DOT M3H342DX079, OUTSIDE SIDEWALL SLIT OPEN BELOW THE TREAD EDGE, MICHELIN STATED THE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO A ROAD HAZARD OR UNDERINFLATION, CONSUMER CHECKED OVER TIRE AND FOUND NO INDICATIONS OF A PUNCTURE. *SLC
THE ANTI SKID SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR FLAW IN OPERATIONAL DESIGN THAT ONLY BECOMES EVIDENT IN PACKED SNOW & ICE CONDITIONS, AND AT VERY LOW INITIAL SPEEDS, WHEN FIRST BEGINNING TO MOVE ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE. ON SUCH SLIPPERY SURFACES, WHEN THE CAR IS BARELY MOVING FORWARD DOWNHILL BY GRAVI...
CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BROKE AT THE MACPHERSON STRUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER ONCE AND COME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. CONSUMER WALKED AWAY WITH ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. *NLM
THE DESIGN OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) SEEMS TO OVERCOMPENSATE IN ICY OR SLICK CONDITIONS, TO THE POINT THAT NO SIGNIFICANT BRAKING OCCURS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SAIL THROUGH INTERSECTIONS DURING ICY CONDITIONS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT PERFORM AS OTHER ABS SYSTEMS SUCH ...
WHEN TRAVELING 45 AND MPH UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDEN STOP, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCLERATE ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. CON...
WHEN TRAVELING 45 AND MPH UPON APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDEN STOP, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCLERATE ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. CON...
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BUCKING ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN THE FOOT IS TAKEN OF THE ACCELERATOR / WHEN MAKING A TURN DUE TO SOLENOID FAILURE. REPAIRS WERE DONE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC
THE REAR OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAK. *YC
CAR JUMPS WHEN STEERING AT LOW SPEED. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION DEFECT. I FEEL IT IS A CONSTRUCTION DEFECT. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE FUEL TANK AREA DUE TO IMPROPER TIRE SIZE AND THE OVERHEATING OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE FUEL TANK AREA DUE TO IMPROPER TIRE SIZE AND THE OVERHEATING OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE DID A 360 DEGREE SPIN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ROLLED OVER, NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ROOF AND THE FRONT END CAVED IN. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. *AK
VEHICLE DID A 360 DEGREE SPIN ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ROLLED OVER, NEITHER DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ROOF AND THE FRONT END CAVED IN. ALSO THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD. *AK
MICHELIN TIRES AND ALUMINUM RIMS APPEAR TO BE INCOMPATIBLE. DEALER CANNOT DETECT REASON FOR CONTINUING AIR LOSS. HAVE BEEN FILLING TIRES WITH AIR ALMOST AS FREQUENTLY AS FILLING TANK WITH GAS. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND BECAUSE IT IS ALL TIRES OR AT LEAST TWO OR THREE, I NEED AN ANSWER ...
VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THEN OUTBACK REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG COVER DISENGAGED & SHATTERED WINDSHIELD. RESTRAINT COVER CAME OFF COMPLETELY. PASSENGER WAS INJURED BY AIR BAG. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTANTLY.
DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN LESS THAN 5 MPH FRONT END COLLISION. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND DISLODGED THE REAR VIEW FRONT MIRROR OF ITS MOUNTING BRACKET.
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL 0VER IMPACT AT VERY LOW SPEED 2 OR 3 MPH W/NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
OIL PLUG BROKE RESULTING IN FAILURE.
WARPED ROTORS CAUSED BRAKES TO PULSE.
PASSENGER POWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO BE STUCK OPEN.
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT STILL DOES NOT WORK.
DRIVING 58MPH W/TRAFFIC SPEED, W/CRUISE CONTROL ON; VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWING DOWN; TAPPED BRAKES, BUT CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE; SHIFTED LEVER FAIL TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL. WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP UNTIL SWERVED TO MISS ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND HIT SIDE OF MOUNTAIN; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. OCCUPANT...
WHEEL WELL LINER WAS TORN OFF.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE BACK TIRE OF A DUMP TRUCK AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
THE RECEIVING PART OF THE BELT BUCKLE IS EXTENDED TOO LONG FROM THE SEAT, LEAVING A GAP WHEN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE'S BACK SEATS. *AK
CONSUMER HAS NOTICED EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS UP. *AK
WAS DRIVING HIT AN ICY SPOT, LOST CONTROL AND THE TRUCK ROLLED OVER AND HIT A DITCH. *AK