2010 Subaru Outback Lighting Problems

This is not about my car, but instead many different cars. When a cars lights are set to it's parking lights or running lights position, often located on the turn signal stalk, at night it appears to the driver that their headlights are on, when in fact only the "parking lights are on in front. This is a problem, but not what I'm reporting. When in the parking light position (at night), it appears the headlights are on because there's some light out front AND the instrument cluster is lit up as well. Here's the defect in design, the brake lights are NOT on, completely dark at the rear of the vehicle, so drivers are driving on the highway thinking their headlights and brakes lights are on, when they're not. When the parking light position is active, it should include the brake lights. Can't imagine how many rear-enders are because of this design flaw. *The rotating light switch on turn signal stalks often get unknowingly rotated out of Auto or the headlight position when the turn signal is repeatedly used.

About three years ago; there was a recall for the headlights. Subaru did replace the headlights, but I have replaced the headlights two additional times since then. And I currently have a headlight out a marker light out. I also last year had all of my marker lights burn out.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS JUST GO OUT ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DRIVING HOME MY HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST BURN OUT AND IT LEAVES ME TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOME IN THE DARK. WHEN I GO TO MY SUBARU DEALER THEY OFFER ME NO SOLUTION. I ASK IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEN CHARGE ME $60+ TO CHANGE THESE HEADLIGHT BULBS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN THE SHOP WHEN THE BULBS NEED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO THE WEIRD DESIGN THEY USED. THE DATE FOR THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS SINCE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT'S IS NOT THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES BUT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS COSTLY AS SO MUCH HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY THIRD TIME REPLACING MY LIGHTS SINCE JANUARY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHLOSSMANN SUBARU CITY OF MILWAUKEE (LOCATED AT 4640 S 27TH ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53221, (414) 459-3677) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND DO NOT PROJECT A SAFE BEAM OF LIGHT. THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE NORMAL BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WELL.

I BOUGHT THIS VECHICLE NEW IN 2010. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND 5 TIMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT TAKES ALMOST 1 1/2 HOURS TO CHANGE THE BULB. YOU MUST REMOVE THE WHEEL, THE WHEEL WELL, THEN THE WATER PROOF COVER, THE SMALL RETAINING BRACKET AND THEN DISCONNECT THE BULB ALL THROUGH AN OPENING ONLY A CHILD HAND COULD FIT THROUGH EASILY. I HAVE NEVER HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, ON A DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS AFTER ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AGO.

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS THAT EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLOWS OUT.

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES NOW (8 BULBS TOTAL). FIRST TIME, IT BLEW OUT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. THEN THE SECOND 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT. THIRD TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE FOURTH TIME THE HEADLIGHT FAILED WAS TODAY (NOVEMBER, 2016). ALSO MY REAR NIGHT TIME LIGHT ALSO BLEW OUT THIS PAST AUGUST, 2016. WORST PART IS THE DIFFICULTY OF REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT WHICH JUST ADDS TO THE AGGRAVATION. SOMETHING LIKE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE EASILY REPLACEABLE BY THE CAR OWNER. REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS, THESE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS FREQUENTLY AS WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING.

MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LAST 3-6 MONTHS. I'VE REPLACED BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FIVE TIMES IN THREE YEARS.

REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULB REQUIRES REMOVAL OF WHEEL AND PARTIAL REMOVAL OF WHEEL WELL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY A KEY SAFETY FEATURE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE SERVICE AT AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. ONE BURNED OUT BULB RENDERS THE CAR UNUSABLE FOR NIGHT AND FOUL WEATHER DRIVING. THIS DESIGN FLAW NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND OWNERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR LABOR CHARGES INCURRED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BULBS.

REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULBS REQUIRES REMOVAL OF FRONT WHEELS, WHEEL WELLS, AND BUMPERS. HEADLIGHTS ARE A KEY SAFETY FEATURE ON A VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT AT ANY TIME. AS DESIGNED, IF HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT IT IS ESSENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO REPLACE THEM TO SAFELY CONTINUE THE VOYAGE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND DEALERS SHOULD REPLACE BULBS AT NO COST FOR SERVICE (PARTS ONLY).

REPLACING LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULBS EVERY 15K MILES OR LESS ON THIS VEHICLE. 4TH BULB IN 3 YRS JUST BURNED OUT ON 10/28/15. OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES - NO PATTERN. DISCONTINUED USING THE HEADLAMP AUTO ON/OFF FEATURE AND STILL NO IMPROVEMENT IN SITUATION. BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO PERIODS OF HAVING TO DRIVE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. IMPOSSIBLE FOR TYPICAL OWNER TO REPLACE LOW BEAM BULBS ON THEIR OWN DUE TO DIFFICULTY OF ACCESSING HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.

CONDENSATION CONTINUALLY GATHERS INSIDE ONE OF THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BULB AND FIXTURE ARE INSTALLED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS-THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE-WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION INSIDE THE LIGHT, THE ILLUMINATION OF ONE HEADLIGHT IS GREATLY DIMINISHED MAKING DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IN DIMLY LIT SITUATIONS. I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE COMBINATION OF ELECTRIC AND WATER INSIDE COMPONENTS IS "NORMAL" UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND SUBARU-THE COPY OF THE SENT TEXT FOLLOWS-THEY DO NOT RESPOND. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS COMPONENT IS MAKING A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT DECREASES SAFETY. I JUST WANT THEM TO REPLACE THE COMPONENT AT NO COST TO ME SINCE I'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG. SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA- "THIS IS PERTAINING TO PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2010 OUTBACK. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MY DEALER-GOLDSTEIN SUBARU-THAT "CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS IS NORMAL IN THE NORTHEAST" THEY ALSO TOLD ME I "COULD DRILL A SMALL HOLE IN THE LIGHT TO LET MORE AIR IN". QUESTION-IF IT IS "NORMAL" WHY SHOULD I DRILL A HOLE-THE LIGHT DESIGN SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR PROPER VENTILATION OF THE FIXTURE-SECONDLY HOW COME NO OTHER CARS ON THE LOT HAVE THIS, IT ONLY HAPPENS IN ONE LIGHT AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ONLINE? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE-ELECTRICITY AND WATER DO NOT MIX-THIS "NORMAL" CONDENSATION GREATLY REDUCES THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHT AND VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT DRIVING-IT'S LIKE DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM-MY LIGHT WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER-THERE IS NO DAMAGE AND ALL THE FACTORY SEALS AND BULBS ARE INTACT, YET WATER CONTINUALLY GETS INSIDE THE FIXTURE. I THINK SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE THIS SAFETY ITEM AT NO COST TO ME. (MY VIN WAS HERE). *TR

PROBLEM STARTED IN ABOUT JULY, 2014 WHEN MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I PURCHASED TWO NEW BULBS AND CHANGED THEM (AND THIS IS NO EASY PROCESS WITH THIS VEHICLE). I WORE LATEX GLOVES SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE NEW BULBS. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER INSTALLING THE NEW BULBS, MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT WOULD COME ON AND GO OUT SPORADICALLY. IT SEEMED TO COME AND GO WITH DAMP WEATHER OR WHEN I HIT BUMPS WHILE DRIVING, SO I QUESTIONED THE SEAL OF THE FIXTURE COVER AND/OR THE WIRING CONNECTION, SO I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN AND CHECKED THE SEATING OF THE BULB, WIRING CONNECTION, AND SEAL OF THE HOUSING, AND ALL WERE FINE. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THEN STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF ON/OFF OPERATION, IT WENT OUT FOR GOOD. I PULLED THE BULB AND CHECKED THE FILAMENT, AND IT WAS FINE, BUT I PUT THE OLD PASSENGER BULB (ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE) IN. IT WORKED AND DID NOT FLICKER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT EVENTUALLY STARTED TO SHOW THE SAME SIGNS AS THE NEWER BULBS I PUT IN. THEN IT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AGAIN, STILL WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS MANY TIMES IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE WIRING OR WITH THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHT UNIT ITSELF. OF COURSE, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I DREAD TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HEAR IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX. WITH SO MANY DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCES, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. *TR

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW FROM THE DEALER AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I'VE EVER OWNED THIS ONE HAS TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS. THE FOG LIGHTS, AND CLEARANCE LIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BUYING THE BEST LIGHTS YOU CAN GET BY SYLVANIA AT $70.00 PLUS FOR A SET AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 5 SETS OF THESE LIGHTS. LUCKY FOR ME THAT AFTER HAVING PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BY A MECHANIC THE FIRST FEW TIMES I WAS ABLE TO THEN DO IT MYSELF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR. I'M 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS PROBLEM.. I'M SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT KEPT RECORDS OF THE OUTAGES. THANK YOU.. *TR

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER THE OTHER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. 1 WEEK AGO A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. TODAY THE OPPOSITE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT IS BURNED OUT. THIS IS ABNORMAL HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT BURN OUT THIS OFTEN. THE BULBS WERE NOT TOUCHED ON THE GLASS WHEN REPLACED. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2012 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. BESIDES THE COST... IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING VISIBILITY IS HALF OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE WHEN THEY BLOW OUT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO PULL THE SWITCH AND NOT HAVE LIGHTS. *TR

LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE BURNING OUT RIDICULOUSLY FAST, AND WITH LOWEST BRIGHTNESS BULBS (LONGER LASTING YOU'D THINK) THEY ARE SO DIM, I HAVE GREAT VISION AND FIND THEM INCREDIBLY UNSAFE FOR VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 25MPH WHICH IS APPALLING FOR HIGHWAY VISIBILITY AND DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE SUBARU, 5150 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA) AND WAS REPAIRED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. THE DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN MAKING AN ABRUPT STOP AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.