NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHEN ACCELERATING THAT I NOTICED IN FEB 2017. TOOK THE CAR IN TO SUBARU DEALER AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AND SAID "NOISE WILL GO AWAY WITH TIME." LIKE ANY CAR ISSUE, IT DID NOT GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. OCT 2018 TOOK THE CAR IN TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION. ALSO SAID THAT MY CAR COULD STALL AT ANY TIME SO I DID NOT DRIVE IT. TOOK IT TO SUBARU FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THEY AGREED, NEW CVT TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT ENDED JULY 2018, BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. SUBARU OFFERED TO PAY 50% OF A $10,000 REPAIR SO WE PAID $5,000. STILL A VERY UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A CAR ONLY WORTH $10,000. THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AS IT CAN CAUSE STALLING AT ANY TIME. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU AT THIS TIME.
MY FRIENDS' SON AND WIFE HAD A CRASH ON I 55 NORTH NEAR MEADOWBROOK ROAD ON JANUARY 28, 2018. THE CAR HIT A HIGHWAY BARRIER AND SPUN AROUND AND RESULTED IN AN EXTREME FIRE AFTER IMPACT AND THE SIDE AIRBAG, NOR THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON DRIVERS' SIDE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT GET CONSENT FROM MY FRIEND TO TAKE IT FROM THE TOWED DESTINATION TO ANOTHER DESTINATION. SHE HAS YET TO RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING HER CLAIM STATUS WHICH SHE WAS INFORMED OF ONLY WHEN SHE INITIATED THE CALL. INSURANCE ADJUSTER INQUIRED WHO AND WHY SOMEONE ELSE WANTED TO LOOK AT CAR WHEN TELLING ADJUSTER SHE WOULD BE HAVING A THIRD PARTY TO VIEW HER WRECKED CAR. AS OF TO DATE FEBRUARY 6, 2018, SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY CALL FROM INSURANCE COMPANY? THE AIRBAGS (SIDE SEAT AIRBAG AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND THE EXTREME INTENSITY OF THE FIRE ARE OF MAJOR CONCERN) ESPECIALLY NOT DEPLOYING ON HER SONS' SIDE OF THE CAR. BOTH SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER EMERGENCY ROOM BY WAY OF AMBULANCE BUT WERE DISCHARGE THAT NEXT MORNING, BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE PTSD LIKE SYMPTOMS AND ALSO INJURIES THAT LINGER ON. SEE PICTURES ATTACHED.
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE OTHER DRIVER FAILED TO YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT AN INTERSECTION AND SLAMMED INTO MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND LIKE A SHOTGUN AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED, COMPLETELY SHATTERED, FOR NO REASON.
BACKUP CAMERA SHOWS BLUE SCREEN AND BACKUP GUIDE LINES BUT NO CAMERA IMAGE WHEN TRANSMISSION IS PLACED IN REVERSE. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. CAN OCCUR EITHER WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY (E.G., IMMEDIATELY ON PUTTING CAR IN REVERSE) OR IN THE MIDDLE OF BACKING UP. SOMETIMES CAMERA IMAGE WILL COME BACK ON MOMENTARILY OR NOT AT ALL. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAS THE CAMERA DISPLAY INTEGRATED WITH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAULT IS UNKNOWN TO ME, AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY A PATTERN OF OCCURRENCE. CAMERA IMAGE IS CLEAR AND CRISP WHEN IT DOES APPEAR SO THE PROBLEM IS PRESUMABLY EITHER SOFTWARE RELATED OR PERHAPS A WIRING FAULT. STARTED OCCURRING SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN COUNTY ROUTE 80 ON A GOOD WEATHER DAY SLOWED DOWN GOING TO TURN INTO A SHOP AND TAKATA AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WAS LOUD BANG AND HORN WOULD NOT STOP GOING OFF. PULLED OFF ROAD IN FRONT OF A ART GALLERY, CALLED AAA THEY TOWED CAR TO A GARAGE CALLED "DON'S AUTO BARN" IN NEW WOODSTOCK, NY. DRIVERS HAND HURT BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF SEEING MD. HE IS A MD SO HE CARED FOR IT AS NECESSARY. SUBARU WON'T COVER AS WARRANTY IS UP. INSURANCE WON'T COVER AS IT WAS NOT A ACCIDENT. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS. WE ARE NOW WITHOUT A CAR AS IT IS NOT REPAIRED AND NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR SUBARU. IT'S LIKE DRIVING AROUND WITH A RANDOM GUN GOING OFF WITH THIS JUST DEPLOYING. WHEN DON'S AUTO SCANNED CAR THERE WERE 2 CODES THAT SHOWED UP. OUR CAR BEEN TO DEALER IN OCTOBER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, NOT EVEN FROM TAKATA!!
I HAVE A LEGAL NOTICE FOR AIRBAGS. THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY RECENTLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
ELDERLY WOMAN NEARLY RAN US OFF THE ROAD. HORN WOULDN'T WORK. BARELY AVOIDED CRASH. RELIABLE SUBARU IN SPRINGFIELD, MO CHARGED US $117 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND DIDN'T FIX: NO PART ON HAND. IF I HAD OKAYED, IT WOULD HAVE COST ANOTHER $548 TO REPAIR, TOTAL OF $665 TO FIX WHAT I REGARD AS A SAFETY ISSUE. ART FLETCHER SUBARU IN JOPLIN, MO REPAIRED FOR $237. MY OPINION: THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SUBARU SHOULD PAY FOR. HORN PROBLEMS WITH SUBARU ARE COMMONPLACE.
WHILE DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS BETWEEN 10-20 MPH, USUALLY IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL IN SESSION, THE SPEED SURGES FROM THE CURRENT SPEED TO A LOWER SPEED BACK TO THE SAME SPEED. IT IS NOT CONSISTENT BUT IT OCCURS AT LEAST 3-5 TIMES PER WEEK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR BUT OVERTIME IT IS TAKEN IN TO THE SUBARU DEALER, THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND ALWAYS STATE THAT THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET CONCERNING THIS ISSUE, OTHER INDIVIDUALS HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, SOME EVEN WORST AND THEY ALL STATE THAT THE DEALER ALWAYS TELLS THEM THE SAME THING: THEY FIND NO ISSUES.
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT AT A CONSISTENT SPEED OF AROUND 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. HAD TO STOP, PUT THE TRANSMISSION BACK IN PARK, RESTART THE VEHICLE, AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE AGAIN.
I HAVE A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN SACRAMENTO IN APRIL 2014. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. I'VE REPLACED IT TWICE, ALL PAID OUT OF POCKET. WHILE THERE APPEARS TO BE A POINT WHERE THE CRACK STARTS, IF A ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT THE WINDOW IT WASN'T OBSERVED OR HEARD. ALL CRACKS HAVE OCCURRED ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE WINDOW AND SPLINTER INWARD. HERE IS THE HISTORY OF THE DAMAGE: OCTOBER 8, 2015 - REPLACED CRACKED WINDSHIELD (PD $324.87) JUNE 15, 2016 - REPLACED CRACKED WINDSHIELD (PD $326.80) AUGUST 7, 2017 - NEW CRACK APPEARED WHILE DRIVING OUT OF COSTCO PARKING LOT (BEGAN INVESTIGATING ISSUE) AUGUST 14, 2017 - ANOTHER CRACK APPEARED WHILE LEAVING PUBLIC PARKING LOT IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE CURRENT DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. I VISITED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THIS AFTERNOON AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND TO CONTACT THEIR CUSTOMER DEALER SERVICES NUMBER (OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY).
OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED SUBARU OF SONORA, CA TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS AND RELATED ITEMS/PARTS. THE WORK WAS STARTED ON 8/2/17 AND COMPLETED ON 8/29/17 WITH 95,007 MILES ON THE CAR. THIS REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE A 3 PAGE RECEIPT FROM SUBARU OF SONORA FOR THIS WORK.
SABARU HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN 2010 THO 2015 VEHICLES. I HAVE 2013. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A MONTH NOW AND PARTS ( A NEW TRANSMISSION} ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I'M COMPLAINING SO IT IS NOTED THAT SABARU IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THE LEAST SABARU COULD DO IS INFORM THE CUSTOMER AS TO A DATE WHEN THE PARTS WILL AVAILABLE. I NEED TO USE THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WHEELS SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SENDELL SUBARU (5085 US-30, GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 15601, (724) 837-1600) REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: SR#: 1-35673914925. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILURE AFTER 70,00 MILES
HAVE REPLACED THE LOW BEAM H7 BULB 5 TIMES THIS YEAR AND HAS EVEN BLOW LESS THAN 1 HOUR AFTER FIXED BY A SUBARU DEALERSHIP. TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 8 MONTH. HIGH BEAM LIGHTS 3 TIMES IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. FIXTURES TWICE. CHARRED FROM EXTREME AMP SPIKES IN WIRES. NOW TO TOP IT ALL OFF ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS FOR PASSENGER SIDE IS OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED. UPON ACCELERATING, IT TOOK THREE TO FIVE SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH BOARD CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SUBARU AND THEY SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE COST FOR PARTS AND LABOR IS $1500.00.
WHILE DRIVING THE COVER OF THE SUNGLASS HOLDER POPPED OPEN. THE OUTBACK HAS A SUNGLASS HOLDER LOCATED RIGHT BELOW THE CENTER REAR VIEW MIRROR. THERE ARE TWO TINY CLIPS THAT HOLD THE COVER OF THIS THIS HOLDER CLOSED. THE CLIPS HAVE FAILED AND THE COVER REMAINS OPEN. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A TRIVIAL PROBLEM, BUT IT OBSTRUCTS PART OF THE MIRROR. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CONDITION. IF YOU DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON <SUBARU "SUNGLASS HOLDER" PROBLEM>, YOU WILL FIND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE OUTBACK, LEGACY AND FORESTER MODELS.I AM NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I FLIP THE MIRROR TO NIGHT MODE, BUT I THINK IT WILL OBLITERATE THE VIEW ENTIRELY. EXAMPLES CAN BE SEEN AT: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/79345-2013-SUNGLASS-HOLDER-NOT-WORKING.HTML
EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE, ABOUT EVERY 2,000 MILES THE ENGINE OIL SEEMS TO VANISH, AND I HAVE TO ADD ABOUT A QUART. I RUN THROUGH ABOUT 7 QUARTS A YEAR. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I ASKED THE DEALER WHY THE OIL DIPSTICK INDICATED THE OIL LEVEL WAS WAY ABOVE THE FULL LEVEL. THE DEALER JUST SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN FILLED TOO MUCH IN THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I THINK IT WAS OVER FILLED SO I WOULDN'T NOTICE IT LEAKING OUT UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE TO KEEP A SPARE QUART IN THE CAR AT ALL TIMES. IF THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT EVER FAILS, I'M WORRIED I COULD SEIZE THE ENGINE.
I TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE TO REPORT AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY, REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE JUMPED STARTED IF LEFT SEVERAL DAYS PARKED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT TESTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. CAR WAS PARKED IN THEIR LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND ON RETURN THE CAR WAS WAS FOUND TO BE HEAVILY DAMAGED BY SMOKE AND FIRE FROM PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
ISSUE: OCCASIONAL NON-RESPONSE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. 1ST OCCURRENCE ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO HAPPEN WHEN I STOPPED FOR A LIGHT AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. DEPRESSING THE PEDAL HAS NO RESPONSE, ATTEMPTED THIS THREE TIMES. THE RPM GAUGE REFLECTED IT WAS RUNNING. I TURNED ON THE CAR AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WORKED. 2ND OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER A STOP. SAME AS ABOVE. 3RD OCCURRENCE MAY 6 2017 RETURNING FROM BWI IN BALTIMORE ON THE INTERSTATE, I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAD TO SLOW QUICKLY FOR A TRUCK AND THEN SAW AN OPENING IN THE LEFT LANE AND PULLED OUT INTO THE LEFT LANE AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE. A CAR MOVING FAST IN THE LEFT LANE ALMOST HIT ME SINCE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR TWICE AND IT THEN ACCELERATED. 4TH OCCURRENCE MAY 6TH 2017 DEPARTING A PARKING LOT I WAS MOVING SLOWLY THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND EXPERIENCED A DELAYED RESPONSE. PUMPED THE PEDAL TWICE TO GET THE RESPONSE. WENT TO A SUBARU DEALER AFTER THE FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CALLED AGAIN AND REQUESTED WE BRING THE CAR IN AGAIN APRIL11TH. A WEB SEARCH REVEALED ABOUT 24 OTHER LIKE OCCURRENCES WITH OUTBACK ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DREYER & REINBOLD SUBARU (1301 SOUTH, US-31 STE 2, GREENWOOD, IN 46143), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
ABOUT EVERY 3,000 MILES, I HAVE REFILL ENGINE OIL TO REQUIRED LEVEL. ALL HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY - THE ENGINE CONSUMES TOO MUCH OIL
I HAVE ONE OF THE SURRAUS THAT HAVE THE OIL CONSUMPION PROBLEM. HAVE HAD 2 OIL CONSUMPION TEST AT 2 DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND HAVE PROVED THAT THEY OVERFILLED THE OIL INTO MY CAR. HOW DO I GET A FAIR TEST. WHY ISN'T THIS PROBLEM A SAFETY RECALL? THE PROBLEM AFFECTS THE OIL RINGS, PISTONS AND SMALL BLOCK OF ENGINE. OIL IS BEING WASTED FROM THIS PROBLEM ACROSS THE US. MY CAR LOSS SO MUCH VALUE BECAUSE OF THIS I CAN'T SELL IT. PROBLEM WILL IN TIME CAUSE PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING. HELP
SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE, I HAVE REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FIVE TIMES, HIGH BEAMS THREE TIMES, FRONT RUNNING LIGHTS FOUR TIMES, REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TWICE, AND REAR RUNNING LIGHTS FIVE TIMES. SUBARU HAS OFFERED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE LIGHTS, BY SENDING THEM THE RECEIPTS. ALTHOUGH THIS IS ADMIRABLE, I'M WORRIED ABOUT ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND SMALL FIRES FROM SHORT CIRCUITS.
FOR THE LAST 50K MILES, OIL CONSUMPTION HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. NOW IT NEEDS A QT OF OIL EVERY 600 MILES.
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED, AS IN THE ENGINE DIED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. USUALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ENGINE WILL DIE, THIS WILL HAPPEN 2-3 TIMES ON EACH OCCURRENCE. IT DOES EVENTUALLY START AND RUN CORRECTLY. A SIMILAR ISSUE OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE ENGINE WILL "FLUTTER" ALMOST DIE AND THEN RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. SO FAR IT HAS NOT LEFT US STRANDED, HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND AT WHAT POINT WILL IT STALL AND NOT START AGAIN. I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT, HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON SO I DON'T EXPECT THE COMPUTER HAS STORED ANY CODES FOR THE MECHANIC TO BE ABLE TO TROUBLESHOOT.
REPEATED LIGHTING FAILURES ON EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALL AROUND CAR. HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS, TAIL AND SIDE LIGHTS REPEATEDLY AT MY COST. SOME COMPLETED AT DEALERSHIP, SOME COMPLETED AT HOME AFTER COST TOO MUCH.
ON 11/24/16 WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, (60- 65 MPH), ON THE PA.TURNPIKE MY 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND 94,000 MILES ON THE CAR, SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WITH NO WARNING, OTHER THAN SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN NORMAL ENGINE RPMS, THE TRANSMISSION, WITH VERY LOUD NOISES AND SHAKING THE CAR, ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR SKIDDING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 200 AND 300 FEET. JUST BEFORE THE CAR STOPPED SKIDDING, THERE WAS ONE LAST LOUD BANG/CLANGING/ SHAKING OF THE CAR. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE IN THAT THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC AT THE TIME, AND WE AVOIDED ANY COLLISION DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURIES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED OFF THE HIGHWAY. WHILE BEING LOADED ONTO THE FLATBED TRUCK, THE FRONT WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP, WHILE THE REAR WHEELS WERE TURNING. THIS WAS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED 300 MILES BACK HOME TO A LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP. ( NOT WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR NEW) THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED BY GEAR LUBE. THEY BASED THIS ON A VISUAL EXAMINATION OF THE CVT FLUID FROM MY CAR. THIS WAS DISPROVED BY MY HAVING THE CVT FLUID ANALYZED BY AN INDEPENDENT LAB. THEIR CONCLUSIONS WERE THAT THE FLUID HAD BEEN SEVERELY OVERHEATED, AND THE VISCOSITY CHANGED TO WHERE IT NO LONGER PROVIDED PROPER LUBRICATION AS OF 1/24/17, SUBARU OF AMERICA,(CORPORATE OFFICES) HAS DENIED MY CLAIM OF A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, AND WILL NOT ASSIST ME WITH ANY REPAIR COSTS, OR REPLACEMENT. THE LOCAL DEALER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT ARE STILL AMAZED WITH WHAT HAPPENED, AND THE RESULTS OF THE CVT FLUID REPORT. THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE VERY OFTEN. *TR
THE ENGINE MAKES A PINGING TYPE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX. I GUESSING ITS A POSSIBLE BAD VALVE SPRING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, THE WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY). 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY) 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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
CRUISE CONTROL BUG. IF I DECREASE MY SPEED BY 3 OR MORE MPH IN RAPID SUCCESSION, THE CRUISE CONTROL RESETS TO THE ORIGINAL SPEED, I.E. THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED CHANGES FROM 60 TO 59 TO 58 TO 57 TO 56 TO 60. THIS SEEMS LIKE A DANGEROUS BUG SINCE IT CAUSES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I HAVE A VIDEO THAT I CAN SHARE FOR DOCUMENTATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND ADDITIONAL OIL HAD TO BE ADDED BY THE CONTACT. IN ADDITION, THE LOW OIL WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION SUBARU ARAPAHOE (9955 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (303) 578-6119) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND OIL CHANGE WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1-35088528581. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
ON A CLEAR DRY MORNING I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN FRONT OF A BRICK OFFICE BUILDING. WHEN I RELEASED THE SERVICE BRAKE (HAVING REACHED THE END OF THE PARKING SPACE) THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD, JUMPED THE CURB, CROSSED A SIDEWALK, WENT THRU SHRUBS, AND HIT THE BRICK WALL, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND BUILDING. THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ABOUT 10 FEET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LOCKED UP DUTY SOLENOID CIRCUIT FAILURE. THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,610.
2013 SUBARU OUTBACK FRONT WIPER MOTOR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. JUST PRIOR TO FIRE, WIPERS HAD BEEN ACTIVATED BUT WOULD NOT RETURN TO HOME OR STOP WHEN TURNED TO OFF POSITION. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2012. ROOT CAUSE OF WIPER MOTOR AS DETERMINED BY SUBARU DEALER SHOP. SUBARU CLAIMS THIS IS UNRELATED TO PRIOR RECALL FOR WIPER MOTORS WVW32 WHICH HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 2012 MODELS.
I AM INITIATING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE RECALL FOR THE BELOW SPECIFIED PROBLEM REMAINS UNCOMPLETED, WHEN IN FACT IT HAS BEEN FIXED AND REMAINS UNPROBLEMATIC. MOREOVER, I HAVE REPAIRED THE RECALL PROBLEM REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ON MY VEHICLE, MYSELF, WITH MY OWN MONEY, WITH PARTS SUPPLIED BY THE SUBARU DEALER. PLEASE CLEAR THE STATUS OF THE RECALL NOTICE TO REFLECT COMPLETED REPAIRS. CONSIDER THIS LETTER AN AFFIDAVIT CONFIRMING THAT, I AS THE OWNER, HAVE DONE THE REPAIRS FOR WHICH I AM COMPLETELY WITHIN LEGAL RIGHT TO PERFORM ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE.
TAKATA RECALL- WE HAD A CAR ACCIDENT 4-4-2016. WE WERE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND ANOTHER CAR DID NOT STOP AT THE STOP LIGHT AND HIT OUR CAR ON THE LEFT SIDE. POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN UP.
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2-7-16 USED WITH 28,000 MILES.WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OVER 50 VEHICLE WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD WE CONSTANTLY HAD TO CORRECT THE STEERING TO KEEP BETWEEN THE WHITE LINES.DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE WAY RACK AND PINION STEALING WORKED.AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATION ON YOUR WEB SITE THIS SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES.SEEMS THAT SUBARU HAS DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 3013 OUTBACK.WE PUT UP WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR TWO WEEKS AND TRADED THIS LEMON IN AT THE SAME DEALER THAT SOLD US THIS JUNK.WE LOST ABOUT 5 K IN THIS TRANSACTION BUT OUR SAFETY IS MUCH MORE INPORTANT THEN THE MONEY.IN 40 YEARS PURCHASING AND DRIVING ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST EVER.WE WILL NEVER LOOK FOR A SUBARU AGAIN. HOPEFULLY OUR GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK INTO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION.
RANDOMLY, THE FLOOR SHIFT LEVER LOCKS WHILE IN PARK AND I CAN NOT START THE CAR OR TURN THE KEY. I HAVE TO PULL BACK AND FORTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND JIGGLE THE SHIFT LEVER UNTIL I AM ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I AM STUCK WHERE EVER I HAVE PARKED UNTIL I CAN GET THE KEY TO TURN AND START THE CAR AND SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE WHAT EVER THE CASE MAY BE. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AS I PARK, JUST RANDOM AND NOTHING SEEMS TO TRIGGER THE LOCKING EVENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE MOON ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY MILEAGE WAS 31,000.
THIS CAR CONSUMES OIL. IT'S BEEN A CONSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE TURNING 25K, WE HAVE HAD 3 OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS AND SUBARU STATES THAT LOSING BETWEEN 1.1QTS BETWEEN SERVICE INTERVALS IS NORMAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THESE ENGINES ARE FLAWED. NO MODERN CAR SHOULD CONSUME/LOSE OIL. HAVING OWNED A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK IMPREZA SPORT AND KNOWING OTHERS WITH SUBARU OUTBACKS W/OUT THIS PROBLEM IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SUBARU DOES NOT WANT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I URGE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AND FORCE SUBARU TO RECALL THE EFFECTED ENGINES.
EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE, REGULARLY OCCURS WITHIN 6000 MILES OF OIL CHANGE BURNS ONE QUART OF SYNTHETIC ENGINE OIL. ALSO NOTE BUSHING IN DRIVERS SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS FAILED AS OF 50,000.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES EVERY 3000 MILES INSTEAD OF PURPORTED 7500 MILES. PROBLEMS STARTED IN 2016 AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP DID TEST , CONFIRMED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND IS REPLACING SHORT BLOCK IN VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP STATES EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM.
THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL ISSUES. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE AND WITHIN 1 WEEK THEY HAD TO ADD 1.3 QUARTS. CAR HAD 23,767 MILES. IN JUST OVER A MONTH I HAVE HAD TO ADD ALMOST 4 QUARTS OF SYNTHETIC OIL AND SPENT CLOSE TO $100 FOR THE OIL. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC WITH A MANUAL OPTION AND I AM ALSO HAVEING PROBLEMS WHERE THE GEARS WON'T CHANGE IN AUTO NOR MANUAL OPERATION. IT REVS THE ENGINE AND I HAVE TO STOP, TURN IT OFF THEN RESTART. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT..THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE TIME AND THE BRAKES DON'T WANT TO CATCH ALL THE TIME. SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES 2 OR 3 TIMES TO GET THEM TO ENGAGE.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED SEVEN TIMES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS SUMMER (2015). LOW ON OIL AT FIRST. DEALER CHANGED PCV VALVE AND TOPPED OFF OIL AT THE TIME OF FIRST ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATION. NOW, JUST HAD $1200 OF MAINTENANCE ON IT AT DIFFERENT DEALER. INCLUDING CHANGE OF TEMP SENSOR ON NOV 2. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN TODAY, WITH DIFFICULTY STARTING. DIFFICULTY STARTING WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN FOR CHECK ENGINE INDICATIONS FOR LAST MONTH. DEALER IS CONFOUNDED. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH LESS THAN 71000 MILES. DID PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 80000 MILES. DID HAVE DEALER OF ORIGINAL SALE HAVE HITCH AND REAR VIEW CAMERA INSTALLED PRIOR TO DELIVERY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THE STEERING, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND STRUCK A DELINEATOR POST, SLID IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARDS A CONCRETE WALL, AND SUDDENLY STOPPED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND ATTEMPTED TO STALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026