2011 SUBARU OUTBACK Electrical System Problems

Coolant leak, steering power fluid leak, break pad leak, gasoline line leak, seat heater, clicking noise after turning off car, leaking seats and rear view mirror also leaking, steering wheel expanding due to possible air bag, heater and ac vents lose and also chemical smell/gas/coolant coming from front and back of car, sunroof not secured. Every wiring wet, charger port in middle compartment wet when plugging something in. Everything auto does not work. Car sounds like something is constantly leaking air or gas somewhere, even when off. My safety was at risk by having severe chemical burns on my skin everywhere, hair falling out due to exposure, almost passing out while driving due to inhaling components, low visibility due to auto dimming in rear view and side mirrors. The problem has not been confirmed due to me being in a financial bind at the moment. The car has not been inspected. due to financial problems I am not able to get the vehicle looked at. There were no warnings except for the blue temp light came on but immediately will shut back off. Car also severely vibrates when turning on. They started appearing around against of 2024

My car just dies on it's own while driving and it has trouble starting back up or somedays it just won't start up but after it dies while going down the road but after cranking it a few times it finally starts the check engine light comes on the traction control light starts flashing the brake light starts flashing and the cruise control light starts flashing I took it to a dealer and no codes were thrown in my car and after a few days of all the lights on and flashing they suddenly go away on their own this is extremely dangerous I can't control when or where this happens on the road I've almost been hit several times from this happening it does the exact same thing when I'm sitting still in park trying to start my car I get all the lights on the dashboard lit up and blinking on and off just like when it dies going down the road but nobody can find a cause or a reason why they say it's a manufacturer issue and subaru can't even figure it out

My son was driving the car when without warning the car shut down. I had the car in previously for a check engine light problem, which they diagnosed as a bad pin retention in connector in the bulkhead wiring harness. They replaced the harness but then found that the Unit EGI Con needed to be replaced probably due to the fault in the wiring harness (there words not mine). Previously I had the blower motor replaced, but it ended up being a bad connector. I asked to see the bulk head wiring harness, but the Subaru shop said they had already thrown it away. Previously I was told that wiring harness would be sent back to Subaru. I don't know if the wiring harness jacket/cover could have perhaps been damaged when it was installed when the car was assembled? There has not been any previous collision damage to car which I could see would lead to an issue with the wiring. I tried reaching out to Subaru about this problem, but they never responded.

I have owned this 2011 Subaru Outback since I purchased it brand new. Over the past 10 years, I have had to put approx 7 or 8 new batteries into the vehicle. The current mileage is approx 75,000. Over the past 10 years of owning this vehicle, I have kept the vehicle very well maintained almost exclusively at the dealership. I have been left stranded twice now in the past 2.5 weeks. I have been left stranded MULTIPLE times over the past 10 years. The battery cables have always corroded quickly the entire life of the vehicle in a way that I have never experienced with any other vehicle before. 2.5 weeks ago I arrived home from a 4 day trip to find my Outback dead at the airport. The battery was 3 years old at that time and had given no indication 4 days earlier that anything was wrong. AAA came out and attempted to jump start it without success. They then charged the battery but that also did not work. The engine didn't even attempt to turn over. The technician offered to put in a new battery and said he highly doubted it would help. Somehow it worked and I paid for the $150 brand new battery. But now 2.5 weeks later, the car is totally dead. AGAIN. There is nothing wrong with the battery, we charged it back up fully and yet the car will not work. I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle due to the fact that it's not only left me stranded multiple times but yesterday without warning the battery light started to flash on the dashboard followed by the the rest of the dashboard lights flashing while I was driving to pick up my child. As soon as I was able to pull over, the car stopped working and it was dead as a doornail. AGAIN. The vehicle is being towed to the dealership tomorrow. AGAIN.

The manufacturer, Subaru, admitted they have an issue with the ECU setting false error codes (P0128) when they issued a TSB, # 11-102-11R, calling for a software upgrade to fix the problem. This is an emissions related issue, in that it turns on various warning lights, including the SES light, making the car impossible to pass the routine smog check. So why should I, the owner, be required to pay the dealer to update the software for a problem Subaru has admittedly identified as a manufacturer error?

I have being experiencing shuddering and a few stalls on the highway and at red lights. While I have been able no maneuver through this, I find it do be extremely dangerous for myself and others, and in one instance it came really close to be a coalition.

THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP. I'M GOING 70 MPH, AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IS FLASHING FOR NO REASON. IT'S WAS NOT ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, JUST SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING 5 MINUTES INTO MY TRIP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD AND TRIED RESET MY E BRAKE. IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF NO MATTER WHAT I DID. ONCE IN PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THAT'S WHEN I HAD TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO TOW MY CAR HOME. MY MECHANIC USED A SCANNER TOOL TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY DESCRIBED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT A YEAR BEFOREHAND. I WAS ALMOST HOME FROM WORK WHEN MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT 50 MPH. TURNS OUT THE E BRAKE HAD ENGAGED WITHOUT IT BEING TOUCHED, AND THE LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL SO MUCH DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE. MY BREAKS HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT ONLY WAS THIS A VERY UNEXPECTED AND EXPENSIVE FIX, BUT ALSO PUT ME AND OTHERS IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IF MY BEAKS SUDDENLY LOCK ON ME OR GO OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AGAIN, SOMEBODY COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. PLEASE, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN. I NEED MY CAR TO WORK.

Mileage: 145,000

THE HEAD LIGHTS TO THIS VEHICLE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. SOMETIMES IF I HIT A BUMP THE LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON. TODAY I DROVE NEARLY FIFTY MILES IN THE DARK WITH EITHER THE HIGH BEAMS ON OR THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF.

Mileage: 48

LOW HEADLAMP BULB HOUSING MELTED SO BAD IT MUST BE REPLACED AT ESTIMATED DEALER COST OF $650. THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR REPLACING THE BULBS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNING OUT EVERY 6-9 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN BURNING UP DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE HOUSING THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE LOW-BEAM HOUSING UNIT AS IT POSES A FIRE RISK. THE EXTENDED BULB REPLACEMENT WARRANTEE IS A BAND-AID THAT DID NOT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.

Mileage: 157,400

MY CAR WENT IN FOR REPAIRS FOR STALLING AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE DAY AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK IT STALLED AGAIN AND THIS TIME CUT OUT THE ELECTRICITY TO THE VEHICLE , I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BREAK NOR COULD I PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I HELD MY FOOT ON THE BREAK BECAUSE OF A SMALL DOWNHILL AND I WAS AFRAID THE CAR MIGHT RUN INTO OTHER CARS AT THE INTERSECTION. THE PERSON AT SUBARU WAS WALKING ME THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW TO MANUALLY PUT THE GEAR IN PARK,WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO THIS A WOMAN YELLED AT ME TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE,ACCORDING TO SUBARU'S INVESTIGATION, THE FIRE STARTED AT THE LEFT REAR OF THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 95,000

HAVE HAD THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK, 2011, AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES EACH ONES, LEFT AND RIGHT. DON'T REMEMBER IF I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OR SAW IT ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM MANY OWNERS AND SUBARU HAVING A FIX FOR IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2017 AND THEY REPLACED THE BLOWN BULB AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A IMPROPER CONTACT THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 2 TIMES SINCE AND HAVE ONE BLOWN AGAIN. SUSPECT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND NEEDS A THROUGH FIX. IT CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS BLOW AT THE SAME TIME.

Mileage: 120,000

HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT TOO QUICKLY. I AM REPLACING MY HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12,000 MILES.

NOTICED THAT DOME/MAP LIGHTS NOT WORKING AND FRONT TIME CLOCK OUT. THEN WHEN GOING TO PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND RAN INTO A FENCE CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF VEHICLE. PARKING BREAK HAS NOT WORKED FOR SOME TIME EITHER.

Mileage: 120,000

WHEN WE WERE DRIVING THE 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THE ROAD ON JULY 5,2019, THE FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY SHIFTED FROM ALMOST FULL TO ZERO. THE CAR STOPPED AND WE PLACED IT IN PARK. SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR DID NOT EVEN IGNITE THE ENGINE, EVEN WHEN WE ADDED ANOTHER GALLON OF GAS AND TRIED JUMP STARTING THE CAR. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF A GAS LEAK. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED OUR CAR TO NEARBY COLEMAN SUBARU NJ, WHERE THE DEALER HAS NOW ASSUMED IT WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE AND HAVE ASKED TO ORDER ANOTHER COMPUTER TO FIX IT. THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR US. THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE IN THE CAR WHEN WE WERE DRIVING AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGH WAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. WE ARE CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH CAN GET PEOPLE HURT.

Mileage: 88,000

DOME LIGHT, CLOCK, SUNROOF, REMOTE KEY FOB, GARAGE DOOR OPENER ON REAR VIEW MIRROR, ETC. NOT WORKING. FUSES BLOW WITHIN A DAY OR 2 OF BEING REPLACED. ORIGIN OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN IN SPITE OF MANY ATTEMPTS AT FIXING IT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR OVER 5 MONTHS. THESE DEVICES DON'T WORK WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR IN PARK.

I WAS DRIVING HOME TONIGHT AND THE CAR STALLED EVERYTHING QUIT WORKING, THE CAR JUMPED A FEW TIMES AND TURNED BACK ON. I LOST BRAKES AND NO STEERING COMING DOWN A 8 % GRADE. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT KEPT DOING IT. I WAS OUT OF CELL SERVICE RANGE SO I COULD NOT CALL FOR HELP. IT WAS SCARY. I GOT HOME AND I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF THAT RECALL RANGE AT 100000 MILES. I JUST PAID 11,000 FOR THIS CAR. I BELIEVE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE.

Mileage: 150,930

MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR, IN THE GARAGE, THE MINUTE THE KEY IS TURNED, ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS NOT STARTED, ALL THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. PICTURE UPLOADED TAKEN WHEN CAR WAS IN GARAGE.

Mileage: 71,137

HEADLIGHT AND OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS DIE PREMATURELY. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU ABOUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COSTS. SO FAR I'VE HAD 3 HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS (AFTER 85K MILES) AND ALSO WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU DEALER YESTERDAY THAT 5 OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT IT'S A POWER SURGE IN THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT SUBARU ISN'T ADDRESSING. THE REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULBS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND RECOMMENDED THAT A SHOP OR DEALER DO THE WORK, MAKING IT VERY INCONVENIENT TO REPLACE LIGHTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT SO OFTEN WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND VISIBILITY IS REDUCED. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY SUBARU, THAT I KNOW OF, AND A LAWSUIT PENDING. HTTPS://LEGALNEWSLINE.COM/STORIES/510725171-COMPLAINTS-ABOUT-SUBARU-OUTBACK-S-LIGHTS-PRECEDED-CLASS-ACTION

Mileage: 95,000

TAMARA RECALL I HAVE HAD MY 2011 OUTBACK FOR 4 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. NOT SURE WHY THEY KEEP DYING PREMATURELY. I HAVE GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE BULBS EVERY TIME AND NOW THE $60 BULBS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. I FEEL THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FORUMS DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL.

Mileage: 99,351

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE PULLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY FOR AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS, BUT WENT AWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT GARAVEL SUBARU (10 TINDALL AVE, NORWALK, CT 06851, (203) 642-0620) FOR MONTHS DUE TO AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK THAT WAS IMPACTING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO ALERT THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS SEVERAL TIMES. THE RADIO, SPEAKER PHONE, AND GPS WERE ALSO SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

OVER THE PAST YEAR MY MECHANIC HAS PUT IN TWO NEW BATTERIES IN MY CAR. MY 2011 OUTBACK HAS A PROBLEM WITH STARTING, THIS WAS BACK WHEN I HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. THE CONNECTORS WHERE FINE AND HE CLEANED THEM. THE ISSUE STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, HE CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR. THE PASSENGER REAR BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES IN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, AGAIN NO CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN IT TO AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND THE ORIGINAL ONE I PURCHASED FROM TO NO PREVAIL. TODAY I WRITE WITH THE ISSUE OF MY CVT. THE FACT THAT I RECEIVED A ONE YEAR OR 100,000 MILES FROM DATE OF YEAR MADE IS OR WHICH EVER COMES FIRST IS COMPLETE CRAP. TODAY I STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CAR WANTING TO WHAT I DESCRIBE AS STALLING OUT. I WAS GOING DOWN MY ROAD WHICH WAS SLUSHY FROM SNOW/RAIN BUT MAINLY WET FROM THE RAIN THAT CAME. SUBARU TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, AND WON'T DO ANYTHING TILL SOMETHING BRAKES. SO IF THE PROBLEM WHICH HAS PLAGUED ALMOST FIFTY THOUSAND OUTBACKS CAUSING 'STALLING" LIKE MANUALS WHEN THE CLUTCH ISN'T ENGAGED AND BEING TOLD IT NEEDS TO BRAKE?? THIS IS NOT SAFE TO OWNERS. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO OTHER MOTORISTS.THIS IS DEATHS WAITING TO HAPPEN, THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND MADE A RECALL. ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES CAN A MANUFACTURER GET AWAY WITH SUCH THINGS AS THIS. I'M HEADING INTO WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND, LAST THING I NEED IS FOR MY CAR TO FAIL IN A STORM, MEDICAL SITUATION ETC.. AND BE STRANDED BECAUSE THE AUTOMAKER ISN'T TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY. SNOW BLOWS DON'T STOP ON A TIME, IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO CONTINUE TO NEGLECT THE PROBLEM ?? WHICH SHOULD BE A RECALL WHICH IS FAILURE ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT FORCING THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 93,900

THE SUBARU OUTBACK FRONT HALOGEN HEAD LAMP BULBS KEEP GOING OUT. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SIDES WITHIN THE LAST 8 MONTHS. NOW FRONT LEFT LAMP IS OUT AGAIN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

TWO LOW BEAM HIGHLIGHTS BURNED OUT AT SAME TIME AFTER STARTING CAR AT NIGHT AROUND 10:00 PM. AFTER THAT, THE BATTERY WAS GETTING WORSE AND DEAD AT THE SERVICE CENTER JUST BEFORE REPLACING THE HIGHLIGHT BULBS. THE MANAGER SAID THAT THE BATTERY'S SITUATION WAS NOT RELATED WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE HIGH LIGHT, AND THERE WAS NO CLUES.

Mileage: 74,000

MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER WQE41; NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 12V602000.PUDDLE LIGHTS FOR 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. IN JANUARY 2013, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU. . SINCE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS, REALLY, NUMEROUS, ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS RECALL ADDRESSED BY MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS RECALL ADDRESSED HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. MY PUDDLE LIGHTS HAVE CEASED WORKING WHICH IS AN INDICATOR OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN SMOKE OR FIRE ACCORDING TO THE NTSB. ON APRIL 8, 2017 MY LATEST ATTEMPT TO GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM MY LOCAL SUBARU CONCERNING REPAIR OF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS AND COMPLETION OF THE RECALL WAS AGAIN UNSUCCESSFUL.

Mileage: 24,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT POWER DOWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS FULLY FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ABS, BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, AND CRUISE CONTROL INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CONTACTED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A FUNCTION TEST OF THE ABS PUMP/MODULE AND WAS ABLE TO CLEAR ALL THE CODES. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER ONE YEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,986.

Mileage: 61,986

MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 6 TIMES! THE LAST TIME I SWITCHED TO AN LED SYSTEM AND NOW IT HAS BLOWN MY RF HEADLIGHT IN 6 MONTHS! LED IT SUPPOSED TO LAST LONGER! I DEFINITELY HAVE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

ONGOING FAILURE OF BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMPS. SAME COMPLAINT THAT OTHERS HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE AND THE HEADLAMPS ARE DIFFICULT TO REPLACE. SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN ALSO LEAD TO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE A FIX, NOT JUST A ONE-TIME REIMBURSEMENT OF REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS.

Mileage: 72,000

FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF LOW BEAM BULBS. NOT EASY TO REPLACE AND SUBARU SERVICE BEST EQUIPPED TO DO PROCEDURE. LABOR COSTS AT VARIOUS DEALERS FOR THIS SERVICE WIDELY VARY AND CAN INCREASE WITHOUT REASON. SUBARU OF AMERICA RECENTLY SENT OUT LETTER SAYING WARRANTY ON BULBS HAS BEEN EXTENDED (NOT THAT THERE IS ISSUE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). SOA WILL REPLACE OR REFUND, HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE OF CONTINUED (PERCEIVED) DEFICIENCY IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OVERALL AND REFUND REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY STRINGENT PER THE LETTER THEY SENT. I CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AS A SAFETY DEFECT. WE HAVE BOTH AN OUTBACK AND LEGACY THAT ARE BOTH AFFECTED BY THIS. HAVE OWNED LEGACY SINCE NEW AND REPLACED BOTH BULBS FOUR TIMES SINCE TAKING OWNERSHIP. HAVE TRIED OTHER BRAND BULBS TO NO BETTER RESULT (HENCE MY BELIEF IT IS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). PER ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISORS I'VE SPOKEN TO IN THE PAST, THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT WHEN ONE BULB BURNS OUT, MORE CURRENT FLOWS TO THE ONE BULB STILL WORKING AND WILL BURN IT OUT PREMATURELY (FURTHERING MY BELIEF THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE). THEY SAID THIS IN RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF BOTH BULBS AT ONCE. WOULD LIKE TO SEE RECALL OR GREATER EFFORT ON SOA'S PART.

Mileage: 62,000

I HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES ALSO WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE BRAKE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND MULTIPLE OTHER LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING WHILE DRIVING. THIS SCARED ME VERY MUCH. THE OWNERS MANUAL SEEMED TO IMPLY BRAKE FAILURE AND TO STOP IMMEDIATELY, WHICH I DID. CALLED AAA AND THEY TOWED MY CAR TO THOROUGHBRED TRANSMISSION IN LAUREL. THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND NOTHING MADE SENSE TO THEM. THE CALLED SUBARU AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM ANS SUBARU SAID IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND IT NEEDED TO UP UPGRADED. SINCE I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH SUBARU I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM. I ALSO TOOK THE SUBARU WVU31 BULLETIN WITH ME. SUBARU SAID THEY DID NOT SEE THE CODES AND EVEN THOUGH I TOOK THE THOROUGHBRED DOCUMENTATION WITH ME THEY REFUSED TO UPGRADE THE SOFTWARE. IT IS CLEAR THAT SUBARU WAS NOT INTERESTED IN FIXING THE ISSUE, REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME $70.00. SO NEXT TIME THIS DOES THE SAME THING AND I KEEP DRIVING I MAY IN FACT HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT NOT KNOW IT. I NEED SUBARU TO INSTALL THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE.

Mileage: 59,500

STARTED VEHICLE AND CENTER COUNSEL WOULD NOT LIGHT UP. HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS WORKED AND ELECTRIC WINDOWS WERE OK. SECOND INCIDENT: SAME AS FIRST - ALSO HEARD SOUND IN DASH THAT ACTED LIKE A LOOSE WIRE OR STRIPPED WIRE THAT HAD TOUCHED METAL AND SHORTED OUT. LATTER ON AFTER RESTING, THE ELECTRICAL CAME BACK TO THE COUNSEL.

Mileage: 38,000

ASCENDED STEEP HILL AND STOPPED AT STOP SIGN. PROCESSED TO DRIVE THROUGH INTERSECTION UPHILL. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND CAR STALLED OUT GOING DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF CAR. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART CAR, PLACE CAR INTO PARK, APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE, TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, AND THE POWER BRAKES AND STEERING WERE NOT PRESENT. I SPENT 5-7 MINUTES TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STABILIZE THE CAR SINCE I WAS CURRENTLY GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL WITHOUT ANYWAY OF STABILIZING IT. AFTER THIS TIME, SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD TO COAST CAR DOWN HILL INTO BUSY INTERSECTION AND TURN IT ONTO NEXT ROAD IN ORDER TO FIND A FLAT AREA TO STABILIZE CAR SO I COULD GET OUT OF IT. WHEN I GOT OUT, I BEGAN SEEING FLAMES DROP DOWN FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINE AREA. THE CAR QUICKLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MOST OF THE ENGINE BURNT OUT BEFORE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO START IN COMPUTER AREA. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, EXCEPT WE HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OWNING IT. AFTER I WITNESSED MY CAR CATCH ON FIRE AND AFTERWARDS DISCOVERED SUBARU HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE TORQUE CONVERTER, I BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHT ISSUE AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUES ARE ALL CONNECTED. I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED THAT DAY CAUSING AN OVER VOLTAGE/OVER DRAW OF POWER THAT WAS SO BAD IT TOOK OUT MY COMPUTER UNIT, I THEN BELIEVE THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO FEED THE COMPUTER UNIT, IN ITS UNRESPONSIVE STATE, UNTIL IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR TOLD ME SOMETIMES BULBS WILL BURNT OUT DUE TO AN OVER VOLTAGE SITUATION. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY OVERDRAWING POWER AND IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE IT ENDANGERS EVERY DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND ANYONE AROUND THESE CARS.

Mileage: 70,000

HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE NEW. AFTER ONE YEAR OF USE BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT. AT THIS TIME I HAVE REPLACED AT BOTH SIDES AT LEAST 5 TIMES. I DO NOT HAVE THIS AMOUNT OF TROUBLE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. I ALWAYS USE GLOVES WHEN REPLACING THE LIGHTS. REPLACING THE BULBS IS NOT EASY AS YOU MUST GO THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. THIS CAN LEAD TO DELAY ON REPLACING THE BULB. GIVEN THAT THEY FAIL FREQUENTLY, MY CONCERN IS THEY WILL BOTH FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. I AM NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS.

Mileage: 90,000

VEHICLE HAS REPEATED LOSS OF LIGHTING DUE TO FREQUENT HEADLIGHT BULB FAILURE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHT BULBS HAVE SUFFERED ELECTRICAL FAILURE 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS. BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED EACH TIME AT THE SAME TIME. THE BULBS FAIL IN THE SAME MANNER EACH TIME, IN WHICH THE FILAMENT BREAKS OFF INSIDE THE BULB. THIS FAILURE IS TYPICAL OF EXCESSIVE VOLTAGES BEING APPLIED TO THE BULB, AND NOT OF "NORMAL WEAR." ALL 3 REPLACEMENTS, THE BRAND OF BULB WAS CHANGED TO DETERMINE IF A FAULTY BULB WAS MADE. HOWEVER THE ISSUE PERSISTS. CONTINUED FAILURE COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT SHOULD THE UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE OCCUR AT NIGHT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS THIS FAILURE APPEARS TO BE COMMON AMONG MANY OWNERS.

Mileage: 80,000

HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO BURNOUT

Mileage: 75,000

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB BURNED OUT THREE TIMES IN THREE WEEKS, HARNESS APPARENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COMMON PROBLEM ON LEGACY WAGONS AND VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. LOTS OF DEER AROUND HERE, SO TWO HEADLIGHTS ARE A SAFETY ITEM FOR SURE.

Mileage: 53,000

THIS VEHICLE MUST HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. SINCE THIS AUTO WAS PURCHASED I HAVE EXPERIENCED LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT FAILURE FOUR TIME...TWO WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TAILLIGHTS/STOP HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. LIGHTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF SAFETY ON THE ROAD. SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM WHICH THEY HAVE NOT COME UP WITH ANY REMEDIAL HELP FOR THE CONSUMER.

Mileage: 70,000

I PURCHASED THE CAR (2011 OUTBACK) NEW IN OCTOBER OF 2011. SINCE THEN HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND NOW (SEPTEMBER 2015) OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO FAIL. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LESS THAN A MONTH AGO AND IT IS ALREADY BURNED OUT AGAIN. THIS IS A REPEATED PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THAT WE'RE GETTING LESS AND LESS LIFE OUT OF THE HEADLIGHTS AS TIME GOES ON. THE SUBARU DEALER SEEMS TO THINK THIS IS JUST AN EFFECT OF DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON (WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO, DRIVE WITHOUT LIGHT?) AND NOT AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR.

THE BATTERY WAS NOT PRODUCING POWER AFTER 4 YRS. SERVICE. REPLACED BATTERY WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATIONS OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE IS NONFUNCTIONAL. SEARCH FOR ERROR CODES USING OBDII WAS NON-PRODUCTIVE. A BRAKE SHOULD WORK WHENEVER NEEDED, NOT WHEN THE COMPUTER (OR OTHER PERIPHERAL DEVICE) DECIDES WHEN IT SHOULD WORK. THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM AUTOMOBILE DESIGN. THIS SHOULD BE A HIGH PRIORITY SAFETY CONCERN AS PROPERTY AND PEOPLE ARE AT RISK FROM NON-FUNCTIONAL BRAKES.

Mileage: 44,620

WE WERE COMING HOME FROM A FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT NIGHT AND MY SON TOLD ME TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS WHICH ALREADY HAD DONE, AND THE LOW BEAMS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE MARKER LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED TURNING SWITCH TO ALL POSITIONS AND THEY STILL DIDN'T COME ON. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK OKAY AND TURN SIGNALS FRONT AND BACK & BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. WE DROVE HOME WITH THE FOG LIGHTS WHICH STILL WORK. WE NEED THE CAR TO GO ON VACATION AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIX IT RIGHT AWAY AS WELL AS WHAT IT WILL COST THERE OR IF I HAVE TO HAVE SOME ELSE FIX IT. IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE ROAD WE DRIVE HOME ON HAS VERY LITTLE IF ANY LIGHTING AND THERE ARE TWISTS AND TURNS AND YOU COULD EASILY DRIVE INTO A STONE OUTCROPPING OR INTO HE WATER AT ANY POINT. I HAD MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG NEPHEWS WITH US AS WELL. I CHECKED THE LIGHTS AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WHAT ONES WERE OUT, I CHECKED THE FUSES AS WELL TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD BLOWN AND THEY WERE OKAY.THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES ABOUT THE SUBARU LIGHTS. WITH ALL THE RECALLS OF EVERY VEHICLES OF EVERY 'DESCRIPTION, THE WHOLE AUTO INDUSTRY IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND NEEDS TO BE REIGNED IN, IT'S A HUGE SAFETY AND OVERALL QUALITY ISSUE NOT TO MENTION THE MILLIONS OF WORK HOURS AND TIME LOST BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM

Mileage: 125,000

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS HAD A CONTINUE PROBLEM WITH LIGHT BULBS(HEADLIGHT - BRAKE LIGHT - PARKING LIGHTS) BURNING OUT. THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC LIGHT TELLING YOU WHEN A LIGHT HAS BURNED OUT. AND WHEN I ASKED THE SUBARU SERVICE REP ABOUT THE DIAGNOSTIC LIGHT, HE SAID THAT EVEN THE 2015 MODELS DON'T HAVE ONE. AT MY 60K SERVICE, THE SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. HAD TO REPLACE A PARKING LIGHT. TWO WEEKS LATER, I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN TO HAVE THEM REPLACE A BRAKE LIGHT AND ANOTHER PARKING LIGHT. IN THE PAST, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A HEADLIGHT AND PARKING LIGHT. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE NO WARNING WHEN THESE LIGHTS BURN OUT, IN PARTICULAR MY BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN I BRING THE CAR FOR SERVICE, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BULB REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT SUBARU NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, AND ADD A DIAGNOSTIC LIGHT TO ALL THERE MODELS.

Mileage: 60,000

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROX. 65 MILES PER HOUR. HEARD LOUD CLICKING AND ENGINE LOST POWER. I WAS JUST ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT BEING HIT BY OTHERS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR HAS RECEIVED REGULAR CHECKUPS/OIL CHANGES AND WAS NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE YET.

Mileage: 100,000

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT BOTH SIDES. LIGHTS BURN OUT INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER. SO FAR HAVE REPLACED LIGHTS 3 TIMES 6 IN TOTAL. PROBLEM REPORTED AS AN ISSUE IN SUBARU FORUMN

Mileage: 30,000

MERGING AND ACCELERATING ONTO INTERSTATE AND ENGINE CUT OUT FOR APPROX 3 SECONDS WITH NO ENGINE POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND STAYED LIT. DROVE OK AFTER THAT. THIS IS A REPEAT OF THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES LAST YEAR. DEALER ADVISED BOTH THEN AND NOW THAT AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS WORKING ITSELF LOOSE AND THEY WILL TIGHTEN IT. NO ASSURANCES GIVEN THAT IT WON'T RE-OCCUR AT AN INCONVENIENT TIME SUCH AS A RAIL CROSSING OR WHEN A SEMI IS BEARING DOWN ON ME. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

PURCHASED THIS CAR 7/2011. NO PROBLEM WITH EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS UNTIL ABOUT ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. HIGHBEAMS ARE FINE. NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THEM. RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE. AROUND 11/2012, REGULAR HEADLIGHTS(BOTH BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING )HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPLACED. IN OCT 2013, BOTH BULBS ON DRIVER SIDE WERE REPLACED. WENT SEVERAL WEEKS LATER FOR MY STATE SAFETY STICKER, THE SMALL BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THEN IN FEB 2014, THE LARGE BULB ON THE DRIVER SIDE BURNT OUT AND WAS REPLACED. MAY 2014, BOTH LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE OUT. REPLACED THEM. THESE NEEDED TO BE DONE AT A GARAGE EACH TIME. JAN 2015, BOTH REPLACED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.NOW, FEB 12, 2015 AND AGAIN, BOTH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE OUT, AND NEED REPLACING. GOING TO TRY MORE HEAVY DUTY BULBS. HUSBAND HAS LEARNED HOW TO REPLACE THE BULBS THROUGH THE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE PAPERWORK FOR AT LEAST 7- 8 BULBS IN 3 1/2 YRS NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THINK SUBARU NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM IN EXTERIOR LIGHTS IN THE SUBARU 2011. *TR

Mileage: 44,760

AFTER OWNING THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR, I HAD TO CHANGE THE LEFT HEADLAMP. I DO MY OWN WORK AND HAVE NEVER HAD AS MUCH TROUBLE WITH CHANGING A BULB THAN I HAVE WITH THIS OUTBACK. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WOULD BECOME A "ROUTINE" SERVICE, ALTERNATING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT HEADLAMP(S). AFTER CHANGING OUT THE 5TH ONE (3 LEFT HEADLAMPS & 2 RIGHT HEADLAMPS) I PHONED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, TSB OR IF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS OUTBACK HAD THE SAME TROUBLE. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIX THE PROBLEM AT MY COST. I WAS TOLD THEY KNEW OF A PROBLEM HOWEVER THERE WAS NO TSB ISSUED AND NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. JUST YESTERDAY (26-OCT-2014) I HAVE DISCOVERED THE 3RD HEADLAMP ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS OUT AGAIN (RIGHT ON "SCHEDULE"). I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY LOW BEAM VS. HIGH BEAM BULBS I HAVE CHANGED BUT KNOW I HAVE ALSO CHANGED OUT THE FOG LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE ONCE. *TR

Mileage: 15,345

CAR WAS JUST INSPECTED SEPT 2014. THREE LIGHT BULBS REPLACED. PRIOR TO THIS, WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING LIGHTBULBS EVERY FEW MONTHS. IT IS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE CANNOT CHANGE THE FRONT LIGHTS OURSELVES....IT HAD TO GO INTO THE SHOP. WE ACTUALLY NOW STORE BULBS IN THE GLOVE BOX BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT SO OFTEN. OUR MECHANIC SAID SUBARU HAS A PROBLEM WITH ITS WIRING HARNESS. SUBARU NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS THIS AS I SEE IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT HERE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

WITH NO PASSENGER SEATED, THE SEAT BELT CHIME STARTED RINGING. TO TRY TO STOP IT, I LATCHED THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. CHIMING CONTINUED. I NOTICE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS LIT. I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO MY SUBARU DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE SEAT AT WELL OVER $1000. I WAS STILL LEFT WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE SEAT BELT CHIME. THE DEALERSHIP WOULDN'T DISABLE THE CHIME SO I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR A SOLUTION. WHAT I FOUND IS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2011 OUTBACKS. I DID ALSO FIND OUT HOW TO DISABLE THE SEAT BELT CHIME. BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR AND A COMMON PROBLEM, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY SUBARU OWNERS DRIVING AROUND WITH UNPROTECTED PASSENGERS HAVING DISABLING THEIR SEAT BELT CHIMES AND HAVING NO AIR BAG PROTECTION. IN FAIRNESS TO SUBARU, I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OFFERED TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR. IT WILL STILL COST ME $798 FOR WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE REPAIR BUT BECAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING, A REPLACEMENT SEAT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

I WAS ON VACATION DRIVING HOME. WAS AT ABOUT 300 MILES INTO A 400 MILE TRIP. DRIVING 68 MPH ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY. TEMP APPROX. 85 DEGREES, SUNNY DAY. ATTEMPTED TO PASS A VEHICLE ON A HILL. ACCELERATED ABOUT MAX ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE COMPLETELY CUT OFF ALL POWER WHEN ACCELERATION ATTEMPT OCCURRED. I HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY W/O ANY POWER. TRIED TO RE-START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR DID TURN OVER FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND THEN SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. RESULT WAS A NEED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT. WHEN THE DEALER TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT STARTED. AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS SITUATION. BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN IN A SITUATION OF BEING ON A LONG TRIP, IN 85 DEGREE TEMP AND ATTEMPTING A HARD PASSING ACCELERATION ON A STEEP HILL. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

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

Mileage: 47,500

I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM SUBARU, ON APRIL 2013, THAT REQUIRE TO REPLACE IMMEDIATELY MY REMOTE STARTER. I CONTACTED TWICE THE DEALER, SUBARU OF EVANSTON, SKOKIE, ILL AND AFTER 2-3 MONTHS THEY DID NOTHING. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS A WEB ADDRESS WHERE A CUSTOMER CAN NOT REACH THEM. *TR

ON JUNE 30, 2011 AT 11PM I LOOKED OUT OF MY WINDOW AND OUR ENTIRE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THIS BUILDING WAS NOT COMPLETED AND HAD NO ELECTRICAL OR HEATING SYSTEM. I BELIEVED AT THAT TIME THAT IT WAS THE CAR(SUBARU) THAT STARTED THE FIRE. ,AS THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS PARKED.I HAD JUST HAD IT DETAILED THE DAY BEFORE THE FIRE, AS THE DEALERSHIP HAD DONE SOME EXTRA ELECTRICAL WORK AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US FILTHY. I HAD ALWAYS SUSPECTED THAT IT WAS THE SUBARU THAT STARTED THAT FIRE AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I RECEIVED A LETTER FORM SUBARU STATING THAT THE "PUDDLE LIGHTS" WIRING COULD OVER HEAR AND START A FIRE. GUESS WHERE I HAD ELEC. WORK DONE?I HAD THE LIGHTED FLOOR BOARD LIGHTS INSTALLED (RIGHT ABOVE THE PUDDLE LIGHTS) THIS FIRE HAS LEFT MY HUSBAND(STILL) VERY DEPRESSED AS WE LOST ALL HIS TOOLS AND EVERYTHING IN THAT GARAGE WHICH INCLUDED ITEMS TO FINISH THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANY VALUABLE PERSONAL ITEMS. I REALIZE THIS IF AFTER THE FACT, BUT AFTER RECEIVING THAT LETTER FORM SUBARU, I FEEL THAT MY SUSPICION IS JUSTIFIED AND THINK THAT SUBARU SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT.THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED FOR OVER FIVE YEARS AND THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IN THERE THAT WOULD OF STARTED THAT FIRE, OTHER THAN THAT CAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US. *TR

Mileage: 4,000

THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND RADIO BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE VOLUME CONTROL. THE SYSTEM REFUSED TO CHANGE CHANNELS OR ALLOW YOU TO CONTROL THE VOLUME. IT EITHER BLASTED TO EAR-SPLITTING VOLUMES OR STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. *TR

Mileage: 43,578

THIS CAR IS A SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I MANUAL 6SPD TRANSMISSION. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH CAR IDLING, THE RPM'S GET VERY LOW AND CAR DIES. STARTS BACK UP RIGHT AWAY, BUT THEN AFTER IDLING FOR 15-20 SECONDS, THE CAR WILL DIE AGAIN. CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AS I HAVE READ REPORTS OF MANY OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME CAR DOING THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THEY WILL CHARGE A TON OF MONEY TO COME BACK AND TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. IT IS A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR CANNOT HOLD AN IDLE AND/OR DIES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 42,343

SUBARU OUTBACK LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. PURCHASED 2011 OUTBACK IN NOV 2010. JULY 2011 DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT DEALER. NOV 2011 PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT DEALER. JULY 2012 DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT REPLACED AT DEALER. DEALER CHECKED OUT LIGHTING SYSTEM AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. DEC 2012 BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS OUT. CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM (EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE LOTS OF DISCUSSIONS ONLINE). REPLACED AT LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WAS 17 DEGREES OUT AND THESE BULBS ARE NOT EASY OR CHEAP TO CHANGE (MY COST WAS $40+ FOR 2 BULBS PLUS $38 FOR MECHANIC INSTALL). IDENTIFIED THAT DEALER BULBS REMOVED WERE PHILIPS. REPLACED WITH SYLVANIA. MARCH 2013 DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT OUT AGAIN. CALLED CORPORATE AGAIN. THEY SUGGESTED TAKING TO LOCAL DEALER (45 MINUTES AWAY) TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE CAR OUT. CORPORATE AND DEALER ARE SORRY TO HEAR OF PROBLEM AND WILL CHANGE THE BULB ... BUT THAT DOESN'T ELIMINATE THE SAFETY ISSUE. IN ADDITION, IT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THE HASSLE OR THE COSTS. IF YOU NEED MORE EXAMPLES OF THIS SAME PROBLEM (TO PROVE IT IS NOT JUST MY CAR), CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CASES LISTED ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE: 2011 ------------------------- DATE OF INCIDENT: 03/01/2013 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10500919 DATE OF INCIDENT: 05/03/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10487940 DATE OF INCIDENT: 09/13/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10475296 DATE OF INCIDENT: 08/17/2012 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10471366 2010 ---------------------------- DATE OF INCIDENT: 11/01/2011 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10498055 DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/01/2010 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10486749. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CRUISE DISENGAGED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAR'S LOSS OF SPEED COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS THE LOSS OF SPEED WAS FAIRLY DRAMATIC. DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP, IT DID, BUT ONLY FOR A DAY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY 12/17/2012. *TR

Mileage: 30,200

AS I WAS PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND I LOST POWER TO THE ENGINE. I WAS IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OF A TWO LANE ROAD AND HAD TO SQUEEZE MY WAY BACK INTO MY LANE BEFORE A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH AN ON COMING CAR. AFTER I SAFELY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR HAD NO IGNITION CONNECTION. THE CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT RUN. WHEN THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TESTED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD BEEN BROKEN. AFTER THE KEYS WERE REPROGRAMMED THE CAR RAN JUST FINE. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND PLACE MY FAMILIES LIVES IN DANGER AGAIN. I HAVE RECEIVED NO ASSURANCES THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION AND ENGINE OFF *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO REST IN HIS NEIGHBOR'S YARD. THE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE. THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, THE KEY WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, UNLESS THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 6, 2011, WHEN HE RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED SUBARU. THE SUBARU EMPLOYEE STATED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM THE KEY OR THE SECURITY SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT, UNLESS THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION.

I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF HEADLIGHT BULBS CAR IS 23 MONTHS OLD AND BULBS KEEP BURNING OUT. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND NO RESOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND. THIS IS THE LOW BEAM BULBS THAT BURN OUT. NOT AT THE SAME TIME USUALLY WITHIN 2-4 WEEKS OF EACH OTHER. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

THERE IS AN INTERFERENCE WITH THE CAR AUDIO SYSTEM. THERE IS AN 'AM' TYPE BUZZING SOUND THAT COMES THRU THE SPEAKERS AT RANDOM TIMES. SOMETIMES IT IS VERY LOW IN VOLUME AND IS SPORADIC. EARLIER THIS MONTH WHILE DRIVING OUT OF TOWN FOR A 3 HOUR DRIVE, THE BUZZING WAS VERY LOUD AND CONTINUED WHETHER THE RADIO WAS ON AM, FM, CD, SATELLITE AND EVEN CONTINUED WHEN WE TURNED THE RADIO OFF. THIS LOUD BUZZING SOUND WENT ON FOR OVER 1/2 HOUR AND WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. REPORTED TO MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW WITH NO RESOLUTION. I AM SURE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND I EXPECT THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND IT AND FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 8,766

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FAILS TO ACTIVATE OR CYCLES ON AND OFF WHILE THE ADULT PASSENGER REMAINS SEATED IN THE PROPER POSITION. DEALER CLAIMS NO DEFECTS DETECTED YET IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE IS ALSO UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE IN THE RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM EVEN TO THE POINT OF NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU CANNOT RELY ON WHETHER OR NOT THE AIRBAG WILL BE PROPERLY ACTIVATED OR EVEN DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 606

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS FILLED WITH DIRT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE POSSIBLY OF THE VEHICLE STALLING OR RESULTING IN A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

Mileage: 14,000

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SWITCH IRREGULARLY CHANGES STATE WITH LIGHTER OCCUPANT. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS OFF EVEN THOUGH OCCUPANT IS WITHIN LIMITS STIPULATED VERBALLY BY SUBARU SALESMAN. THE INDICATOR LIGHT CHANGES STATE WITH OCCUPANT IN SEAT, EVEN THOUGH THE OCCUPANT REMAINED COMPLETELY STILL.

Mileage: 50

VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE IN SECOND GEAR. LOST ALL POWER, PLUS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER TURNING VEHICLE ON AND AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A TURN. I QUICKLY CLUTCHED AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON TO AVOID CRASHING. *TR

Mileage: 649