NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
airbag light is on.
The contact owned a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle had failed to accelerate above 60 MPH without warning. The contact soon began to notice heavy white smoke in her rear-view mirror as the smoke quickly spread to the front end of the vehicle. The contact immediately pulled over, grabbed vital items, and exited the vehicle. The contact called 911 as flames quickly engulfed the vehicle, and a deputy who witnessed the fire pulled over to assist the contact. The fire department arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire. The contact sustained emotional distress as a result of the accident but did not seek medical attention. The contact was not given a police or fire report. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard before the contact's insurance had the vehicle towed to another location. The insurance company later deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to slow the vehicle, the brake pedal was extremely soft. The contact stated that the vehicle required an extended distance to slow down or come to a complete stop, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the braking system due to brake fluid leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 188,000.
When I parked my vehicle in the garage, I smelled an odor coming from the engine compartment. I found that the front right inner axle boot had leaked grease. I then saw that the grease covered the catalytic converter. I am not sure when this started to be a problem, but my main concern was it could have started a fire.
The contact owned a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact swerved to avoid a crash and moved over to the median. The contact stated that the vehicle spun around, and the contact used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The contact was unaware of a warning light being illuminated. The contact stated that on another occasion, the air bag warning light intermittently illuminated weeks before a crash. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags failed to deploy. A Police report was not filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The Insurance company was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that there was a gasoline odor coming from the engine weeks prior to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
The rear hatch on this Outback won't lock. As a woman on her own, my safety is at risk. I have read of other people who have this issue and has been able to fix this on their own. This is a safety issue if your vehicle won't lock completely because the wires in the hatch are compromised.
The dashboard becomes sticky and shiny and therefore makes it difficult to see. Subaru offered a limited recall but too many vehicles such as mine were overlooked. Also apparently the repair they offered only replaced the dashboard with one of the same caliber. So eventually more cars will be affected by the sticky and shiny dash as time goes on.
Passenger Side - rear brake line failed. Upon inspection the brake line rotted out at 4 way junction box - just in front of the rear tire- passenger side. Had to remove the plastic shield to get to the problem. I was driving at the time when it failed. Pretty scary as the car almost did not stop. I lost about half of the brake fluid. I know Subaru of America had a recall and this car was inspected years ago. Their fix was to spray a wax coating on the lines. They should have replaced the brake lines on all the cars subject to the recall. There is obviously an issue here with the quality of the lines they used as I see that 2005 to 2009 subarus have this problem. Safety put me or others at risk - yes
Car stalling at stops. Received a report on all work done on this car stating issues with catalytic converter and that Subaru repaired before I bought the car. I also had loss of all brakes when the lines leaked out November 2022 . I had brakes repaired cost of $1000.so far since buying this car I have not been able to drive the car because of the stalling issues.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart after being parked. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was charged to start the vehicle. The contact was informed by a tow truck mechanic, who assisted with jumping starting the vehicle, that the end switch needed to be replaced. The information was confirmed by another certified mechanic. The contact stated that a certified mechanic was contacted to schedule a repair however, the vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while attempting to come to a complete stop, the contact stated that the brake pedal depressed fully to the floor without applying the brakes. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed with needing the junction box and brake lines replaced. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
While coming down a hill, I applied the brakes, and suddenly lost all brake pedal pressure, only being able to stop using a handbrake. This complete loss of the braking system put me and other drivers at risk. Had I been traveling at higher speeds, an accident could have occurred. The brake system warning light came on at the same time as I pumped the brake pedal, and there were no prior indications that the brake system was about to fail. When I inspected the car for fluid leaks, I found that the brake master cylinder was empty and a lot of fluid had collected just in front of the rear passenger-side wheel. The brake line union block at the rear of the car was severely corroded as were the brake lines into and out of the union block. This exact problem was supposedly addressed by NHTSA recall 14V-311 (Subaru Recall WQK-47). The fix involved either applying an anti-corrosion coating or replacing the faulty brake lines. The recall was marked as completed in 2014. However, the completed recall did not prevent the problem from recurring. Since the recall was marked as "completed", Subaru has refused to conduct necessary repairs on the vehicle. This is a known failure point and serious safety concern in many Subaru vehicles, acknowledged by both NHTSA and Subaru. I claim that the fix completed under the recall was insufficient in preventing brake line corrosion and failure.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that both the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts failed to retract upon release. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where the parts to repair both seat belts were ordered. When the vehicle was returned to the contact, both the driver’s side seat belt and the passenger’s side seat belt were replaced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be serviced. The failure mileage was 70,198.
THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY BUCKS/CHUGS WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STALLS. ALL THE LIGHTS FLASH ON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. IT HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL STREETS. IT ALSO IDLES VERY ROUGH WHEN AT STOPS OR IN PARK AND SHUDDERS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL - SOMETIMES IT DOES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 MONTHS NOW. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND IT STALLED CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. MY MECHANIC HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT AND THEN HE HAS TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE IT HAS SPENT ALMOST 2 MONTHS OFF & ON WHILE THEY "FIXED" IT. THEY GIVE IT BACK AND IT IS BACK TO THEM WITHIN A WEEK WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE LAST TIME THEY REPLACED A MAP SENSOR AND SOME WIRING. THIS IS HAZARDOUS AND THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. IT FEELS LIKE THEY JUST KEEP CLEARING OUT THE ERROR AND GIVING IT BACK TO ME.
PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED COMPLAINT REGARDING MY SUBARU OUTBACK STALLING. I WAS ASSIGNED COMPLAINT NUMBER 11414502 (ATTACHED) BUT WHEN I DIDN'T RECEIVE THE EMAIL, I CHECKED AND IT DIDN'T PULL UP SO I'M RESUBMITTING.
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shut-off with the check engine, traction control and cruise control warning lights illuminated. On several occasions the vehicle would not immediately restart. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer for service. No further information was available. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000. The VIN was not available.
CAR INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AND IS HARD TO RESTART. HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR CODE IN THE ECU. HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT INTERSTATE SPEED AND WHILE STOPPED. WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. ROUGH IDLE AT RESTART THEN BACK TO NORMAL. MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THUS UNABLE TO REPAIR. CREATES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY, INTERSECTION, ETC. *TR
2009 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THE ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH LIGHT ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEEDS (5-20 MPH) WITHOUT WARNING. WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE THE CAR STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARA SOUTH BLVD DEALERSHIP SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE. PRIOR TO THE ABOVE INCIDENCE THE CAR, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, WOULD OCCASIONALLY SHUDDER AND THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON THEN GO OFF. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T. NOW IT IS SHUTTING OFF. IT'S COMPLETELY UNSAFE.
WENT TO LOCAL SUBURB DEALERSHIP AND WAS EXPECTING A FREE LOANER VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT AND THAT WAS IN THE RECALL SO THEY LOCAL DEALERSHIP DID NOT DELIVER THE SERVICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIX FOR THE RECALL!
Both the head gasket and valve cover gasket are leaking oil. The head gasket started leaking at 52k miles and the valve cover at 65k miles. Both need to be replaced. Subaru has had issues with these gaskets for decades. There should be a recall for these issues.
WHILE DRIVING THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. IF CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IT GENERALLY STAYS OFF. RESEARCH STATES THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THIS LIGHT IS ON WHEN AN ACCIDENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO PART NEEDING TO BE SOLDERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THE VEHICLES INVOLVED. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY CARS.
THERE IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FAULTY DESIGN ISSUE THAT LEADS TO FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS (REAR GATE CORD) TO THE REAR WAGON DOOR/GATE OF THIS MODEL SUBARU OUBACK WAGONS. FAILURE OF THE WIRING HARNESS HAS AFFECTED ME WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. AS THIS ISSUE HAS PROGRESSED, MORE AND MORE WIRES BREAK, COMPLETELY SEVERED, AND LEAD TO THE REAR LOCK NOT WORKING, THEN BACKUP LIGHTS NOT WORKING, REAR DEFROSTER NOT WORKING, WIPER NOT WORKING, AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NOT WORKING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY THE BACKUP LIGHTS, REAR DEFROSTER, REAR WIPER, AND LOCKING MECHANISM NOT WORKING AT ALL! THESE COMPROMISE VISIBILITY AND CAR SAFETY. THIS FAULTY DESIGN, OR FAULTY MATERIAL CHOICE IS CLEARLY SUBARU'S FAULT: SEVERED ELECTRICAL WIRES, AS A RESULT OF NORMAL USE, SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY COMPROMISE SAFETY BY DISABLING BACKUP LIGHTS AND THE REAR LOCK. WHILE THE REPLACEMENT CABLE ITSELF IS ONLY $63, THE SUBARU DEALERSHIPS WANT TO CHARGE OVER $500 IN LABOR. I AM REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL, OR SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. I CANNOT FIND ANY OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM SUBARU ON THIS ISSUE. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO HAVE LOYAL CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF, PAY EXCESSIVE LABOR CHARGES TO FIX A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM SUBARU.
DASHBOARD IS VERY STICKY AS THOUGH MELTING. NOTICED FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND GETTING WORSE.
WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, THE RED AIIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CONSOLE STAYS ON. A SUBARU DEALER MENTIONED THE CONTROL MODULE (CIRCUIT BOARD) IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT CONSOLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SOLDERING ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS FLIMSY AND PRONE TO CRACKING. APPARENTLY THERE IS A DANGER THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON.THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ONLINE FORUMS THAT DETAIL OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE FORUMS RECOMMENDED FIX IS TO APPLY SOLDER. HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/109-GEN-3-2005-2009/42574-2006-OBW-AIRBAG-LIGHT-MY-FIX.HTML
TAKATA RECALL I COMPLIED WITH THE RECALL BY TAKING IT TO KENDALL SUBARU IN EUGENE, OREGON ON MARCH 1, 2018 AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I HAD SPOKEN TO ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT THIS AND SHE GAVE ME A RA#1271579.
VEHICLE WITH ONLY 105 K MILES REQUIRES NEW HEAD GASKET DUE TO LEAK.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED ONCE BACK IN 2013. THIS WEEK HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN DUE TO PROBLEM WITH CATALYTIC CONVERTER. MILEAGE AT 105,000.
THE WIRING IN REAR HATCH IN REALLY BAD SHAPE SOME SHOWING THE COPPER AND TWO COMPLETELY BROKE APART. CAUSING THE LATCH NOT TO WORK AND ALARM GOING OFF. REAR WIPER NOT WORKING.
THE HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY CAUSING THE HOOD TO BECOME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING, PRESUMABLY RISKING THE HOOD FLYING UP AND IMPAIRING VISIBILITY. A DIFFERENT SUBARU MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THIS FAILURE BUT NOT THE OUTBACK MODEL (2009 OR OTHER). THIS KEEPS HAPPENING.
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK -- VEHICLE HAS 113,000 MILES ON IT AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR TWO WEEKS HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE . -- 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN TK HOLDINGS POSTCARD CB
TAKATA RECALL: NO ISSUE YET BUT SCARED TO DRIVE CAR -TKA-16
POSITIVE WIRE TO THE FUEL PUMP BURNED THROUGH TO THE OPEN GAS TANK LEAVING THE CAR ABLE TO RUN INTERMITTENTLY. THE PLASTIC HOUSING WAS MELTED AND BURNED AND THE WIRING CONNECTOR WAS RUINED. MY CONCERN IS THE HOT WIRE CONNECTOR, HOT ENOUGH TO MELT AND LEAVE THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR BURNED, WAS HANGING INTO THE AREA OPEN TO FUEL. I HAVE PICS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND OCCUPIED .
THE HEAD GASKETS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE DEVELOPED LEAKS AT JUST OVER 80,000 MILES. THIS IS A FREQUENT (AND KNOWN) PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THIS VEHICLE. ALL SUBARU-SPECIFIC MECHANICS, MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AND EVEN SUBARU DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES HAVE EXPRESSED KNOWLEDGE OF HIGH FAILURE RATES FOR THIS HEAD GASKET AT APPROXIMATELY 80-100K MILE INTERVALS. THIS IS WAY SHORTER LIFE THAN SHOULD OCCUR AND RESULTS IN A $2000 OR GREATER COST OF REPAIR (IN MY CASE, $3200!). SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS DEFECT ON PREVIOUS MODELS AND EVEN HAD CLASS ACTION SUITS RESULTING IN RECALLS FOR PREVIOUS GENERATION OUTBACKS YET HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE DEFECT.
TAKATA RECALL - THE LETTER FROM NHTSA VIA SUBARU RE. THE RECALL WAS MISLEADING. 1. IT SAID THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE APPROX. 1 HOUR 48 MINUTES. IT TOOK ALL DAY. I UNEXPECTEDLY HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT GREAT INCONVENIENCE TO ME. 2. THE DIRECTIVE NOT TO LET ANYONE RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE AND ONLY ONE CAR! ALSO, THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A DANGEROUS CAR FOR 8 YEARS! 3. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO SUBARU OF AMERICA THEY SAID THE WORDING OF THE RECALL LETTER WAS ENTIRELY NHTSA'S. ASSUMING SUBARU'S ASSERTION IS TRUE, YOUR COMMUNICATION ABOUT THIS MATTER WAS HORRIBLE, MISLEADING AND FRIGHTENING.
I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR.THEY TOLD ME THEY DO HAVE THE PARTS BUT ARE NOT FIXING ALL CARS SO I AM ON A LIST AND CAN NOT GET MY CAR IN FOR MANY MONTHS. MEANWHILE MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN STILL DRIVE THIS CAR. THEY SAID IN AUGUST APPROX. 6 MONTHS AFTER I TRIED TO GET THEM TO FIX IT WE ARE ON THE SCHEDULE.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF WITH NO APPARENT CONSISTENCY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. SOMETIMES, ITS ON, SOMETIMES NOT, I MADE AN APPT TO TAKE IT TO A SUBARU DEALER, MONTHS AGO, THEN A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE, IT WENT OFF AND STAYED OFF FOR MANY WEEKS. (I HAD CANCELLED THE APPT.) THEN IT CAME ON AGAIN, SO I TOOK IT TO A SUBARU DEALER THAT DAY AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A PROBLEM WITH THE OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THEY SCANNED THE SYSTEM AND FOUND CODE 26. APPARENTLY THE AIRBAG SENSOR RUNS THROUGH THAT ASSEMBLY AND THERE IS A CONNECTION THAT WEARS OUT AND BECOMES DISCONNECTED, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG NOT BEING ABLE TO DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED. THE SUBARU SERVICE REP SAID THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE MADE MANY OF THOSE REPAIRS. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT SUBARU DEALERS CHARGE BETWEEN $200-$500 TO REPAIR THIS. THERE ARE ALSO VIDEOS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FIX THIS BY TAKING APART THE ASSEMBLY AND RE-SOLDERING THE CONNECTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO SUBARUS THAT HAVE LOW MILEAGE AS WELL AS SOME WITH HIGHER MILEAGE. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS SEEM TO COME FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN AREAS WHERE IT IS VERY COLD IN THE WINTER, WHICH IS MY CASE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN ILLUMINATED THE AIRBAG WILL NOR DEPLOY. THIS NATURALLY SCARES PEOPLE SO THEY OPT FOR THE REPAIR ASAP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCERN THAT SUBARU SHOULD ADDRESS. I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED!
THE FUEL PIPE FILLER AND VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILED AND ALLOWED GASOLINE TO LEAK. THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE LOCATE ON THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS. THE LEAKS WERE MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED A FIRE.
AFTER FUSES BLOWN REPEATEDLY AND REPLACED, REAR WIPER, WASHER PUMP AND LOCK CEASED TO OPERATE FOR PERHAPS A YEAR. RECENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS GOT REAL FUNKY - WOULD NOT OPERATE IN NORMAL "ON" POSITION. BUT THEN SOME STRANGE BEHAVIOR WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE (IGNITION ON WITHOUT STARTING TO ALLOW SHIFTING). HEADLIGHTS STILL NOT LIT IN EITHER OFF OR ON POSITION, BUT THEN CAME ON AS SWITCH MOVED BACK FROM HEADLIGHTS ON TO RUNNING LIGHTS POSITION! I HAPPENED UPON THE VIDEO MENTIONED IN AN EARLIER POST ABOUT REAR WIRING HARNESS ISSUE WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO WIPER/LOCK ISSUE, SO TOOK A LOOK. INSPECTION REVEALED 11 SEVERED WIRES WITH A CLUMP OF 5 OR SO MELTED TOGETHER AND ANOTHER 3 WIRES NEARLY SEVERED (SEE PHOTOS). DEALER SAYS HE'LL REPLACE WIRING HARNESS FOR $350 -500, AND HAD A SAME GENERATION OUTBACK IN THE SHOP FOR SAME WORK. SERVICE MGR SUGGESTED A CALL TO SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE LINE. IF YOU HAVE GOOFY ELECTRICAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN REAR, CHECK THE WIRING INSIDE BOOT FROM BODY TO DOOR ON UPPER RIGHT SIDE. IT'S NOT EASY TO GET AT AS WIRES ARE SHORT, WHICH MAY HAVE LED TO QUITE A SERIOUS, UM, SHORT. CALL SUBARU BEFORE YOUR HEADLINER IGNITES...
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED ROAD AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE. THE ENGINE WOULD START, RUN FOR ABOUT ONE SECOND, THEN DIE. WHILE WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK, A GEARHEAD-TYPE FRIEND THAT I HAD CALLED TO TAKE MY WIFE HOME ARRIVED, THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROBLEM A BIT, AND UNPLUGGED THE MAF SENSOR. THE ENGINE RAN GREAT. IT TURNED OUT THAT A DEFECTIVE AIR FILTER HAD ALLOWED DEBRIS TO CLOG THE SENSOR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT AN INVALID READING FROM A NON-CRITICAL SENSOR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PULL THE ENGINE FUEL/AIR/TIMING PARAMETERS SO FAR OFF THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT RUN. OBVIOUSLY THE ENGINE COMPUTER KNOWS APPROXIMATELY WHAT THOSE VALUES SHOULD BE SINCE IT RAN GREAT WITH THE SENSOR DISCONNECTED. SENSOR READINGS BEYOND WHAT WOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED SHOULD BE IGNORED. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ON A COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD WE BEEN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A BUSY FREEWAY, OR DARTING ACROSS FOUR LANES OF BUSY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY DURING HOT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FAILED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT SPECIFY IF THE AIR BAG MODULE OR INFLATER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
"TAKATA RECALL" 9/7/2016 VOICE MAIL SVC.MGR @ LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP ([XXX]), NO REPLY 9/12/2016 CALLED SVC REP TOOK VIN, WILL HAVE SVC ADV CALL ME. 9/13/2016 SVC. ADV. [XXX] CALLED ME - BACK ORDERED AIRBAG, WILL CALL ME BACK. 10/28/2016 CALLED [XXX] DEALERSHIP FOR STATUS, THEY NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
BROUGHT IT TO HONDA DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT USED. 18 MONTHS LATER, I'M HAVING THE CURRENT ISSUE. THOUGHT IT WAS AS SIMPLE AS USING WHITE LITHIUM GREASE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAK IN THE CLUTCH. THEY SAID IT WAS A RUBBER GASKET THAT IS PART OF THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE FOOT PEDAL ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED REPLACING, THE SUBARU DEALER SHIP ALSO CLAIMS THE NOISE TRANSFERS THROUGH THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FROM THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE NOISE OCCURS WHEN PUSHING AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH AND IS DRIVING ME MAD. MUSCATELL SUBARU INFORMED ME IT WILL MAKE THIS NOISE AND EVENTUALLY BREAK AND MY CLUTCH WILL THEN BE DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT FOR THIS TO OCCUR AND ITS AN EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THATS JUST ANNOYING AT THE MOMENT. BUT APPARENTLY THEY'LL HAVE TO LIFT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE AREA WHERE THE REPAIR WOULD OCCUR. I'VE SEEN EARLIER YEARS OF THIS MODEL HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS AND SUPPOSEDLY 2009 MODELS HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED, BUT IT SEEMS THAT MY 2009 IS HAVING THIS ISSUE... *TR
AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. ON 7/29/16 WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE RECALL FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. WE CONTACTED HANSEL SUBARU IN SANTA ROSA TO SCHEDULE THE REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND PUT US ON A WAITING LIST. I'VE TRIED TO CALL THEM AGAIN 10/13/16 & LEFT VOICE MESSAGE, SENT THEM EMAIL 10/14/16. HANSEL IS NOT RETURNING CALLS OR ANSWERING CALLS TO THEIR SERVICE DEPT. I CALLED THE SUBARU OF AMERICA NUMBER TODAY, 10/17/16 AND ONLY GOT A BUSY SIGNAL. AS INSTRUCTED, WE ARE NOT USING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A REAL INCONVENIENCE AND WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DELAY IN GETTING THE REPLACEMENT..
TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL ON JULY 27, 2016. WITHIN TWO HOURS OF RECEIPT I WENT TO CLASSIC SUBARU OF ATLANTA (7700 ROSWELL RD., ATLANTA, GA) TO DROP OFF MY CAR FOR THIS RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL DECEMBER 2016 AND THAT UNTIL THEN I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OVER FIVE MONTHS LEAD TIME TO REPAIR A KNOWN SAFETY RISK SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
I RECENTLY FILLED OUT THIS FORM (COMPLAINT # 10837114) CONCERNING MY HOOD LATCH BECOMING UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER AN APPROXIMATE 16 MILE ROUND TRIP DRIVE I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTED THAT THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAD BECOME UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. SHOULD I REPORT THIS EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD POPPED UP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RE-FASTEN THE HOOD. AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES, THE HOOD POPPED UP AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,811.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026