NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Subaru Outback. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
BRAKES ARE SOFT AND HARDLY WORK WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER. ONCE CAR IS WARMED UP, BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS LESS THAN 40 DEGREES.
WHEN MAKING STEERING CORRECTIONS AS YOU DRIVE, THE STEERING MAKES THE CAR VERY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS YOU MAKE SLIGHT STEERING CORRECTIONS. THE PROBLEM IS VERY NOTICEABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE SWAYS ALLOT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS YOU MAKE STEERING CORRECTIONS. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION. I WOULD DESCRIBE AS A DEAD ZONE WHEN STEERING. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 AND 75 THE VEHICLE CAME VERY CLOSE TO SIDE SIDESWIPING ANOTHER VEHICLE.
3RD OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON A STATE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE JERKED, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST MOVEMENT WITH RESISTANCE. TOWED TO DEALER. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH WILL GO OUT FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO SECONDS, THEN COME BACK ON. DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I HAVE NOTHING ON THE DASH, NO SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, EYESIGHT, RADIO, ETC. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. IT HAPPENS, SO FAST THAT I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO SEE IF MY HEADLIGHTS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ARE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY OR NOT, SO THAT I AM BEING SEEN BY OTHER MOTORISTS. IT HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE. MY DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RE-CREATE THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL IT IS A SHORT IN THE DASH. IT IS ALWAYS WHEN I AM DRIVING, BUT IT NEVER LASTS MORE THAN 2-3 SECONDS AND THE DEALER TELLS ME TO "BRING IT IN WHILE IT'S HAPPENING". THIS HAPPENS EVERY FEW WEEKS AND HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.
Car won't start, battery dead. This happened in first year (2016) I bought the car.
THE 3.6R ENGINE IMMEDIATELY AFTER COLD START DOES ABOUT 5 CYCLING SURGES OF ABOUT 300 RPM WITH TRANSMISSION IN FORWARD OR REVERSE AND BRAKES APPLIED. THIS EVENT DOES NOT HAPPEN UNLESS TRANSMISSION IS PUT IN GEAR WITH BRAKES APPLIED. THE SURGE DOES NOT HAPPEN AFTER A SHORT WARM UP. IT DOES PRESENT A DRIVING PROBLEM WITH A TIGHT PARKING SITUATION OR TO DEPARTING A GARAGE.
LESS THAN 1 WEEK LATER, 2ND OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST FORWARD MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT NOT ENGAGING ENOUGH TO PROPEL VEHICLE. TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER REPAIRED PILOT PIN IN TRANSMISSION. *TR
FRONT WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO CRACK CAUSING STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN VEHICLE. RECALL SUBARU 12-192-15R EXTENDED WARRANTY ONE TIME. WINDOW REPLACEMENT HAS CRACKED A TOTAL OF 6 TIMES IN 18,000 MILES. FRONT WINDOW CRACKED 4 TIMES WHILE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WITH NO APPARENT OBJECT BEING HIT. FRONT WINDOW CRACKED 2 TIMES WHILE BEING PARKED. REPEATED ISSUES NOTED IN WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG FOR MODEL YEARS 15, 16, AND 17.
1ST OCCURRENCE: WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD, ALL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON I-684. THERE WAS NO OBJECT THAT HIT THE GLASS OR SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING. JUST A CRACK ORIGINATING FROM THE DEICER AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND UP AND TO THE RIGHT THAT APPEARED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE CAR WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE DEFROSTER WAS ON AT THE TIME.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the passenger’s side wheel window trim was slightly pivoted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the trim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the dealer had not confirmed if parts had been ordered or received. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH in 2020, the vehicle experienced transmission failure and the vehicle came to a jerking stop, as if the parking brake had been activated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the CVT transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that approximately 4 years later, several warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that after leaving the dealer, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer and was diagnosed with CVT failure. The CVT transmission was replaced. The contact was informed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced; however, the wiring harness had not been replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 35,000.
FRONT PASSENGER SEATS LOOSENED AT THE FLOOR LEVEL (PERHAPS FROM THEIR ANCHORAGE TO THE FLOOR OR AT THEIR TRACKS). SPECIFICALLY, REAR PART OF SEATS CAN MOVE UP AND DOWN AND FORWARD ON AN ARC WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN RESPECTIVE SEATS. EVENT HAPPENS WHEN DECELERATING AND WHEN VEHICLE IS DIVING FORWARD AS A RESULT OF A BUMP. THIS UNINTENDED SEAT MOVEMENT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD WITH THE SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO GETS PUSHED FORWARD TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH. THIS ISSUE HAPPEN(S/ED) AT CITY AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ISSUES WERE MADE AWARE TO SERVICE TECHNICIANS AT 3748MI ON 08 OCT. 16 AND 4573MI ON 22 OCT. 16. DRIVER'S SEAT IS LOOSENING AGAIN WITH VEHICLE AT 9090MI ON 03 MAR. 17.
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CRACKED-OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (DOOR WAS CAUGHT BY LATCH, PREVENTING IT FROM SWINGING OPEN FULLY). ISSUE FIRST OCCURRED AT AROUND 4000MI IN EARLY OCTOBER 2016 WHEN TRAVELING ON I278 EASTBOUND AT 50MPH. DRIVER THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STUCK IN DOORJAMB. ISSUE REOCCURRED AT 4500MI IN MID OCTOBER 2016 ON RT17 SOUTHBOUND WITH 4 PEOPLE IN TOW, TRAVELING AT 65MPH. LOCAL SERVICE CENTER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE TWO OCCURRENCES AT 4573MI ON 22 OCT. 16. DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED WORKING AS DESIGNED. ISSUE REOCCURRED 500MI AFTER DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS LAST INSPECTED ON I278 WESTBOUND, TRAVELING AT 20MPH. ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED AT 5071MI ON 15 NOV. 16. DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND NO ISSUE ENCOUNTERED SINCE REPAIR. OBSERVED CONDITIONS AT TIME OF DOOR LATCH FAILURE WERE: HUMID, 60-74F TEMPERATURES, SMOOTH ROADS, NO POTHOLES, VEHICLE WAS TURNING TWICE LEFT AND ONCE RIGHT.
I EXITED THE EXPRESSWAY. I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. THIS WAS WHERE I USUALLY MAKE A RIGHT TO GO HOME. OBVIOUSLY I WAS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR, AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I CONTINUED PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. AS THE BRAKES FAILED, I CONTINUED ATTEMPTING TO SLOW THE CAR. ULTIMATELY, WE WERE INVOLVED IN A TWO-CAR COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL-WELL OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED. MY WIFE, MY MOTHER-IN LAW, AND I SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES. MY WIFE SUFFERED FRACTURED RIBS, A FRACTURED STERNUM, A FRACTURED PELVIS, AND HER ANKLE WAS CRUSHED. MY MOTHER-IN LAW SUFFERED FRACTURED RIBS AND A CONCUSSION. I SUFFERED FRACTURED RIBS, AND THE TRAUMA HAS LED TO A FLAIR UP OF MY PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, WE WERE RUSHED BY EMS TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE WE RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR OUR INJURIES. WHILE MY MOTHER-IN LAW AND I WERE RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL NEXT DAY, MY WIFE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE TREATMENT AT THE HOSPITAL. SHE HAD ON HER ANKLE EXTENSIVE RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY THAT REQUIRED THREE METAL PLATES TO HOLD HER BONES TOGETHER WHILE THEY HEAL. SHE WILL SOON BEGIN REHABILITATION, LEARNING TO WALK AGAIN. MY WIFE'S RECOVERY IS EXPECTED TO TAKE MANY MONTHS. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR, IT WAS RECALLED DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S STEERING COLUMN. RECENTLY, MANY MORE OF THE SAME CAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE CAR'S BRAKE CALIPERS. I BELIEVE MY CAR MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE BRAKE ISSUES TOO. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE BRAKES OF 2016 SUBARU OUTBACKS. THANK YOU. *TR
VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS IN PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DO NOT ACTIVATE FOR SEMI-TRUCKS WITH TRAILERS, BUT DO ACTIVATE FOR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. I TRIED DURING A 40 KM. TRIP ON A FOUR LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. IF PASSED A CAR OR LIGHT DUTY TRUCK THEN THE LIGHT NOTIFIED ME THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN THE BLIND SPOT, BUT IF I PASSED A TRACTOR-TRAILER UNIT IT DID NOT PICK IT UP AND THE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. I REPEATED MY SMALL EXPERIMENT FOR 40 KM. AND EVERY TIME WAS THE SAME. I THINK THAT THE TRACTOR TRAILER WOULD DO A LOT MORE DAMAGE THAT A SMALL CAR.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated she pull the window bottom for the front passenger side window to roll up automatically, she stated the window rolled shut but rolled down again. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and they stated that it may be a sensor that needed to be replaced that was triggering the anti-entrapment. The contact stated she tried resetting the one-touch feature, but it did not repair the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 5,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SECURED IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER THEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY IN REVERSE. THE DRIVER SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AGAIN AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A TREE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER; HOWEVER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NO FAULT CODES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100.
HAVE 2016 OUTBACK BUILT ON JUNE 15,2016. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT 750 KM. MARK. TRAVELING ON PAVED ROAD AND NO KNOW STONES HIT WINDSHIELD. PAID FOR THROUGH INSURANCE COMPANY WITH A $300.00 DEDUCTIBLE. NOW READ OF ALL THE OTHER WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS. CRACK STARTED IN BLACK AREA JUST ABOVE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER.
The battery keeps going dead for no obvious reason(s). The battery was tested at an auto repair shop and was determined to be fine but, nonetheless, continues to go dead.
REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE LOOSE FROM WINDSHIELD WHILE BEING ADJUSTED. VEHICLE STATIONARY, VEHICLE OFF, PREPARING TO DRIVE AFTER BEING PARKED DURING THE WORK DAY. A CHUNK OF GLASS REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE BASE OF THE MIRROR. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON IT AND THE MIRROR HAD NOT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY ABNORMAL FORCES. BALL SOCKETS ON MIRROR SUPPORT SEEM VERY TIGHT.
I DESCEND A STEEP, CROOKED COUNTRY ROAD TO REACH MY HOUSE AND LOCK MY TRANSMISSION IN SECOND GEAR TO AVOID HAVING TO APPLY BRAKES. IN LOW IDLE, THE VEHICLE SPEED IS WELL CONTROLLED BUT WHEN THE FUEL CONTROL SHIFTS TO HIGH IDLE THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASES FROM 2000 TO ABOUT 3500 RPM WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED WHICH REQUIRES RAPID, SHARP BRAKE APPLICATION. DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS THIS IS ONLY MILDLY IRRITATING BUT WHEN THE ROADS ARE COVERED WITH ICE AND SNOW THIS WINTER SUDDEN BRAKE APPLICATION WILL BECOME VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE SHARP CURVES AND STEEP DROP-OFFS. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOW AND HIGH IDLE SETTINGS IS EXCESSIVE AND SUBARU SHOULD BE FORCED TO CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFICIENCY. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS LOCATION FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS AND DRIVEN THIS ROAD WITH ABOUT SIX OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT DIFFICULTY BUT I DREAD THE APPROACH OF THIS WINTER. THE DEALER ADMITS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT COMPLAINT BUT BEYOND THEIR CONTROL BECAUSE IT IS GOVERNED BY A COMPUTER IN THE FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM.
THE SUBARU EYESIGHT SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS. I'VE HAD TWO INSTANCES WHERE THE VEHICLE ACTIVATED THE FORWARD-COLLISION WARNING AND STARTED TO BREAK FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ME. ONCE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE NOT TOO CLOSE TO REAR END ME. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 2 P.M. IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER WITH THE SUN BEHIND THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL WORK TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP SEVERAL MONTHS LATER AND ASKED THEM TO PULL ANY RELEVANT DATA FOR THE TWO INCIDENTS. BY THEN, THE SYSTEM CLEARED THOSE TWO EVENTS. THE DEALER SAID I SHOULD PURCHASE A VIDEO CAMERA AND RUN IT IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TO CAPTURE ANY FALSE ALARMS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM TROUBLESHOOT IT AS ACCORDING TO THEM THE SYSTEM DOES NOT CAPTURE ANY VIDEO/IMAGE DATA WHEN IT RECORDS AN EVENT. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS. SUBARU HAS CAMERAS IN THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM AND FLASH MEMORY TO STORE DATA IN - STORING AN IMAGE SNAPSHOT IS NOT OVERLY STORAGE INTENSIVE, AND YET I AM SUPPOSED TO INVEST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IN AN INDEPENDENT VIDEO CAMERA TO HELP SUBARU DEBUG THEIR SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED NOT USING EYESIGHT ON SUNNY DAYS WHERE THE CAMERA COULD BE BLINDED BY THE SUN. HELLO - I LIVE IN NEVADA, IT'S SUNNY HERE OVER 300 DAYS PER YEAR. THIS WOULD MAKE THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM PRACTICALLY USELESS AND I'LL LOSE CRUISE CONTROL. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN IT'S TOO SUNNY FOR THE SYSTEM THAT IT WILL MALFUNCTION?
IT IS POSSIBLE TO INADVERTENTLY STOP THE CAR'S ENGINE WHEN PARKING AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN NEUTRAL. THERE IS NO VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE WARNING TO ALERT DRIVER TO SHIFT TRANSMISSION TO "PARK" POSITION OR AND/OR ENGAGE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE STOPPING ENGINE AND EXITING THE VEHICLE. IF CAR IS ON A SLOPE WHEN IN "NEUTRAL", IT IS POSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR AND FIND THE CAR STARTING TO ROLL AWAY.I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO PREVENT THIS, OR AT LEAST ACTIVELY ALERT THE DRIVER OF THE DANGER, AND NEED TO PUT IN "PARK", BEFORE LEAVING CAR. I HAVE HAD SOME INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING, BUT ALWAYS MANAGED TO NOTICE IT BEFORE THE CAR MOVED AWAY. I AM WARY OF THE RISK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400.
THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY FOR THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE DEMANDS THAT THE "BELLS AND WHISTLES" PUT ON THE RESERVE POWER IN THE BATTERY. AS SUCH, THIS PUTS THE DRIVER AT RISK THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START THE VEHICLE. EITHER STANDARDS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR RESERVE BATTERY CAPACITY, BASED ON ELECTRICAL DEMAND, OR BETTER INDICATION PROVIDED ON AVAILABLE CHARGE. I.E., MUCH LIKE THAT PROVIDED BY OTHER DEVICES THAT HAVE AN INDICATION OF REMAINING BATTERY CHARGE. THIS VULNERABILITY WAS SHARED WITH SUBARU SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR, NEW, AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO BOTH SUBARU AND THEIR DEALERSHIP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I SHOULD HAVE UPGRADED THE ORIGINAL BATTERY ON MY OWN FROM THE START, BUT ONLY BECAME AWARE OF THE DEFICIENCY OF THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT UNTIL RECENTLY. THE FACT THAT SUBARU WOULD ALLOW ANY OPERATOR TO DRIVE ONE OF THEIR CARS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IS REPREHENSIBLE, LET ALONE SOMEONE THAT THEY SAY IS A "VALUED AND APPRECIATED CUSTOMER."
SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE ON 6/16/2016 WE HAVE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ENGAGING THE AUTO-REVERSING (ANTI-ENTRAPMENT) FEATURE CAUSING AN INABILITY TO CLOSE WINDOW. WE HAVE MENTIONED THIS ISSUE TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES SOMETIMES DOCUMENTED, SOMETIMES NOT. THEY RESET SWITCH, ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO RETURN. ON OUR LAST VISIT6/31/2020 WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A TSB (12-272-19R) BUT WE WOULD BE CHARGED $276.22 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED. WE ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $2547.00 GOOD UNTIL 6/16/2026 OR 126000 MILES AND WERE TURNED DOWN ON COVERAGE FROM THEM AS WELL.
WINDSHIELD CRACK ON A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WITH EYESIGHT, PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL 2016 AND CURRENTLY HAS 2,200 MILES ON IT. WENT TO RUN A QUICK ERRAND, DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. ON THE WAY HOME WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, I NOTICED A 6" CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK RUNS FROM THE EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ABOUT 1/3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM AND ABOUT 4' IN TOWARD THE CENTER. THE CRACK HAS GROWN TO ABOUT 18 INCHES OVERNIGHT. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS, BUT NOTHING I WOULD EXPECT TO CAUSE A CRACK AND I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING IMPACTING THE WINDSHIELD. THIS CRACK ONLY AFFECTS THE OUTER GLASS AND DOES NOT PROPAGATE THROUGH THE LAMINATION INTO THE INNER GLASS. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DELAMINATION OF THE GLASS IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE CRACK. THIS IS A WIDE CRACK. I MEASURED 0.009" IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE CHIP DAMAGE ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE GLASS WITH A STARRETT MODEL 66 THICKNESS GAGE. IT SEEMS THE OUTER GLASS MAY BE SUBJECT TO TENSION IN THE "AS INSTALLED" CONDITION AS EVIDENCED BY THE OPENING OF THIS CRACK. THIS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE APPARENT DAMAGE INTOLERANCE OF THE WINDSHIELD. PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE AND MEASUREMENT ARE ATTACHED.
WE PURCHASED A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6, FULLY-LOADED WITH EVERY BELL AND WHISTLE REGARDING SAFETY, COMFORT, AND CONVENIENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER 2015. THE SUBARU STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM'S TECHNOLOGY FROZE CAUSING THE CLOCK TO FREEZE AT 10:37AM AS WELL AS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM (NO VOICE COMMANDS EITHER.) THE MULTI-TOUCH INTERFACE NOT ONLY LOST FUNCTIONALITY ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT IT AFFECTED THE MESSAGE DISPLAY BETWEEN THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER, AS WELL AS THE TOUCH SCREEN OPTIONS DISAPPEARING FROM THE SCREEN, THE MAP WOULD NOT DISPLAY, YOU WOULD PRESS THE AUDIO BUTTON AND AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE AUDIO SCREEN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ENTER SPLIT-SCREEN MODE WITH THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. WHEN TRYING TO EXIT SPLIT-SCREEN, THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT RESPOND. IF I SHUT THE RADIO OFF BY THE BUTTON, THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT SHUT DOWN. THE RADIO WOULD SAY, "AUDIO OFF - TOUCH HERE TO GO TO SOURCE SCREEN", HOWEVER THE SYSTEM WOULDN'T SHUT DOWN. THE SYSTEM WOULD STAY ON SPLIT SCREEN WITH THE MAP, ONLY THE MAP WOULD DISAPPEAR. I VIDEOTAPED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, CALLED STARLINK, SUBARU OF AMERICA, AND THE DEALER, WHO HAS BEEN AWESOME SO FAR, AND WAS TOLD THEY KNOW OF ONE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THIS SITUATION. SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND "REBOOT" THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP BECAUSE IT DID IN ANOTHER INSTANCE, ALTHOUGH NOT TOTALLY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AND ONLY ADDRESSING THE GPS FREEZE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TSBS (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS) ON THE RADIO, HOWEVER NONE APPLIED TO THE SYMPTOMS BEING DISPLAYED BY MY VEHICLE. WAITING ON SUBARU OF AMERICA TO ADDRESS THIS AND A ROOF RAIL ISSUE. DEALER BELIEVES THERE WILL BE MANY MORE OF THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUBARU STARLINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM'S TECHNOLOGY. REGARDING THE ROOF RAILS, THEY DO NOT SIT FLUSH TO THE ROOF. DEALER REPLACED LEFT SIDE ALREADY AND STILL HAPPENING, SO SUBARU HAS TO ADDRESS IT NOW.
STEERING RECALL- NO PARTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V292000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT LEFT THREE MESSAGES WITH THE DEALER CONCERNING PART AVAILABILITY, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED FOR WEEKS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
SECOND WINDSHIELD CRACK IN 10 DAYS. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN, I TURNED ON THE FRONT DE-FOGGER. APPROX 20 SECONDS LATER THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE CENTER BOTTOM UP AND TOWARD THE DRIVERS SIDE. CRACK CURRENTLY EXTENDS UP ABOUT 8 INCHES. AS BEFORE, THERE WAS NO STRIKE THAT CAUSED THIS AND PAVEMENT WAS CLEAN AND SMOOTH. THIS WAS A NEW SUBARU BRANDED WINDSHIELD THAT WAS INSTALLED LITERALLY 4 DAYS AGO. GOING BACK IN TO THE SERVICE DEPT FOR REPAIR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I TOOK MY 2016 OUTBACK IN TO A DEALER PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE BLIND SPOT DETECTION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT DID WORK AT TIMES. I TOOK IN WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION IN THE FORM OF RECORDED OCCURRENCES OF IT MALFUNCTIONING, BASED ON THREE TRIPS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS TOTALING MORE THAN 150 MILES. THE DOCUMENTATION LISTED THE TYPE OF HIGHWAY, SPEED, MILES DRIVEN, WEATHER CONDITIONS (COULDS, SUN, RAIN, ETC), VEHICLE CLEANLINESS AND THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL DETECTIONS OF OTHER VEHICLES IN THE BLIND SPOT AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF DETECTIONS MISSED. IT WORKED CORRECTLY WELL LESS THAN 50% OF THE TIME ON EACH OF THE THREE TRIPS. DETECTION ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEEMS TO BE FINE. ON TWO OF THE TRIPS I HAD A SECOND VEHICLE THAT I OWN FOLLOW ME DIRECTLY. THAT VEHICLE ALSO HAS BLIND SPOT DETECTION. WHILE THE OUTBACK FAILED TO DETECT MORE THAN 50% OF THE TIME, THE OTHER VEHICLE NEVER FAILED TO DETECT ON EITHER TRIP. THE DEALER I TOOK THE CAR TO SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT SEEMED TO WORK FINE. I CONSIDERED THAT AN INSULT TO MY INTELLIGENCE. FURTHER, THROUGH RESEARCH ON THE WEB I CAN TELL THAT AT LEAST SEVERAL OTHER OUTBACK OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH DETECTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT A SAFETY SYSTEM THAT IS THAT UNRELIABLE PRESENTS MORE OF A DANGER TO THE DRIVER THAN NOT HAVING ONE AT ALL. WHILE I UNDERSTAND FROM READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO BE 100% ACCURATE ALL THE TIME, A DETECTION RATE THAT IS CONSISTENTLY LESS THAN 50% IS VERY POOR PERFORMANCE. THE VEHICLE COST MORE THAN $37,000. I PAID FOR THE ACCESSORY, AND IT SHOULD WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HESITATION WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.
THE CAR AFTER 6 MONTHS HAS BEEN MAKING AN INTERMITTENT RATTLE NOISE THAT I BROUGHT INTO SUBARU TO INVESTIGATE. I SHARE THE VIDEO BUT THEY STATED THEY NEED TO RECREATE THE NOISE TO KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THEY FINALLY HEARD THE NOISE AND WITHOUT TESTING STATED THE EVAPORATOR PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER REPLACING THE PUMP THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. I THEN PUSHED THE ISSUE FURTHER AND SUBARU AMERICA ONLY RECOMMENDED THAT I BRING THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I DID THIS WHERE THEY PLANED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO AND FROM THEIR TOP MECHANICS HOME HOOKED UP TO THE DIAGNOSTIC SUBARU COMPUTER. WHEN WE PICKED THE CAR UP WITH NO RESOLVE, THEY ONLY DROVE THE CAR FOR 1 MILE WHICH MEANS IT NEVER WHEN BETWEEN MILFORD, CT TO MONROE, CT. AT THIS POINT MY FAMILY IS POISED TO LOSE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON A BRAND NEW CAR THAT DOES NOT MEET THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE AND HAS NO RESOLVE FOR A NOISE THAT WAKES UP MY 14 MONTH SON WHO IS A SOUND SLEEPER. THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY LOUD THAT PEOPLE CAN HEAR THE NOISE WHEN OCCURRING WHEN INSIDE THEIR HOMES AS I PULL UP. THE LAST DEALERSHIP ADVISOR TOLD ME SUBARU KNEW OF A SIMILAR CASE WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS DEFECTED AND HAD TO EXCHANGE THE MATTER BUT IN MY CASE THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND THIS AND WHEN I ASKED WHY TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE DENIED WHAT THE ADVISORS TOLD ME FROM THE NOTES. I FEEL SUBARU HAD DECEIVED ME AND IS TRYING TO COVER SOMETHING UP AS I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDED THAT THE EMISSIONS OR OTHER MECHANICS SYSTEMS ARE WORKING PROPERLY DESPITE SUBARU STATING EVERYTHING IS NORMAL.
FREQUENT BATTERY DRAINING AND SOMETIMES NOT RECHARGING WHEN DRIVING. WHILE TURNED OFF IN THE GARAGE BATTERY WILL DRAIN IN AS LITTLE AS 9 DAYS. HAVE TO KEEP IT ON A TRICKLE CHARGE WHEN NOT IN USE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO START IT. NO MODERN CAR SHOULD LEAVE YOU STRANDED. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE PURCHASE IN 2016.
A FEW TIMES WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR PUTTING ON THE BRAKES I FOUND MY FOOT WAS ALSO ON THE GAS PEDAL. I FIND THAT THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL ARE VERY CLOSE AND AT THE SAME HEIGHT. THE LAST TIME AT THE DEALER I ASKED TO CHECK OUT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS TOLD EVERY THING WAS IN ORDER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT NOTICED TWO LARGE CRACKS IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE PLASTICS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE "NEW CAR SMELL" IS ESPECIALLY FRAGRANT, AND AFTER SITTING IN THE CAR FOR LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES, I DEVELOP A METALLIC TASTE IN MY MOUTH THAT LINGERS, EVEN IF I HAVE LEFT THE CAR. IT CAN LINGER FOR HOURS. I AM TAKING MEASURES TO WIPE OFF CHEMICALS THAT MAY RELEASE DURING A HOT DAY/OPEN THE WINDOWS, ETC. THIS SMELL IS SO INTENSE, HOWEVER, THAT THE TASTE IN MY MOUTH AND THE MOUTHS OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT TIMES. I AM CONCERNED FOR OUR HEALTH, FOR THE TOXIC GASES WE MAY BE BREATHING IN AND EVEN COMING IN CONTACT WITH. WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE APRIL 2016 (ABOUT TWO MONTHS) AND THERE IS NO SIGN OF IT GETTING BETTER. I HAVE READ THAT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 6 MONTHS FOR THE SMELL TO DIMINISH, BUT DOES THAT REALLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS WE ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR
VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW 2/25/2016. 1990 MILEAGE. CRACKS DEVELOPED WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH. NO SOUNDS OF STONES HITTING GLASS AT ANY TIME DURING DRIVE. STOPPED TO WASH WINDSHIELD AT GAS STOP. DID NOT NOTICE CRACKS UNTIL LATER IN DRIVE. AC WAS TURNED ON & OFF DURING DRIVE, IF THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE. DRIVEN 500 MILES IN MODESTLY WARM SUNNY WEATHER IN 8 HRS THAT DAY,4/24/2016. CRACK PROGRESSED TO DRIVERS LINE OF SITE WITHIN ONE HOURS TIME. WAS INFORMED BY SUBARU DEALER NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. REPAIR IS MY EXPENSE.
CAR HAD 2578 MILES ON IT. WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING AT PASSENGER SIDE AND EXTENDING APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. WENT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE DEPT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO NO EVIDENCE OF A STRIKE CAUSING IT. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WITH SUBARU BRANDED PART 6 DAYS LATER THROUGH SUBARU BUT BY THEN THE CRACK HAD GROWN TO APPROX. 18INCHS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD PREMATURELY FAILED AND CRACKED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD A DEALER SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE WINDSHIELD GLASS PREMATURELY CRACKED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.
AT 9AM ON APRIL 20, 2016, I WALKED PAST THE FRONT OF MY OUTBACK, PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF, IN MY GARAGE. THE REAR TAILGATE SUDDENLY BEEPED AND OPENED FULLY. I HAD NO KEY FOB OPENERS ON MY PERSON NOR WERE ANY OF MY TWO KEY FOBS WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE CAR AT THE TIME. ALL DOORS HAD BEEN IN A CLOSED POSITION, INCLUDING THE TAILGATE, BUT THE CAR WAS NOT LOCKED AT THE TIME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT COULD HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, OR IF IT OPENED WHILE PARKED UNDER A LOW CEILING OR OVERHEAD, OF IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN IN A PUBLIC SPACE WHERE AN INTRUDER WOULD THEN BE TEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE IN HOPES OF STEALING IT OR TO LIE IN WAIT FOR THE OPERATOR.
WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED BY THE SIMPLE ACT OF LOADING THE CAR FOR A TRIP OVER THE COURSE OF ONE DAY. TWICE DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE FOUND THE BATTERY INEXPLICABLY DEAD. WE REPLACED THE OEM WITH A NEW BATTERY 13 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. THIS NEW, MORE POWERFUL BATTERY ALSO IS ALSO FOUND INEXPLICABLY DRAINED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AFTER ROUTINE SHORT TRIPS. FOR FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO MONITOR AND TRICKLE CHARGE THE BATTERY TO KEEP THE CAR USABLE. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE FOR A NEW CAR.
My 2016 Subaru Outback has required 3 battery replacements between Jan 2020 and July 2022. I have been stranded with a dead battery on 4 separate occasions beginning around April/May of 2016, leaving me unsafe and vulnerable until help could arrive. AAA provided battery jump service twice and strangers helped twice. AAA has provided the 3 battery replacements and I have retained those receipts. Each time they confirmed that this is a highly unusual and likely due to an electrical issue and at some point they will no longer replace the battery under warranty. I have talked to the Subaru dealership about this issue 3 different times and had them test the alternator twice and each time they assured me there were no problems with my electrical system and that my driving habits were the problem. This is objectively false since I have now been informed that Subaru knew full well that the 2016 Outback model I purchased had this exact battery drainage problem due to a defective electrical system. the batteries failed without warning and despite the fact that I charged it at least weekly overnight when not in frequent use. the first battery failure occurred around April or May of 2016 just a few months after i purchased it new.
STEERING WONDERING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CAN'NT HOLD IN CENTER OF LANE. ON HIGHWAY OR STREET
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING AREA. THERE WAS A SMALL CHIP IN THE DEICER AREA WHERE THE CRACK BEGAN. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THE STRIKE WAS MINOR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN EASILY REPAIRED BEFORE SPREADING. ALREADY HAD ONE CHIP REPAIRED FOR ANOTHER MINOR STRIKE. WINDSHIELD APPEARS TO BE EXCESSIVELY FRAGILE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. DEALER IS WILLING TO REPAIR, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF GLASS BEING USED IN THE SUBARU.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHIN FIRST 150 MILES/48 HOURS OF OWNERSHIP OF THE NEW CAR. A VERY SMALL PIECE OF GRAVEL HIT THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE. IT BARELY MADE ANY NOISE. ON ANY OTHER CAR I'VE OWNED, IT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE DAMAGED THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL. IT LEFT A STAR ON THE OUTBACK, WHICH TURNED INTO A FOOT LONG CRACK WITHIN 30 SECONDS. SITTING OVERNIGHT THE CRACK DOUBLED IN SIZE. A WINDSHIELD WHICH FAILS UNDER TYPICAL DAY-TO-DAY CONDITIONS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
THE DAY AFTER DRIVING THE NEW CAR HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP, A CRACK APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES IN LENGTH APPEARED IN THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD NOT MOVED FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE EXTREME EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TOWARD THE TOP AND CURVED DOWN.
I BOUGHT A 2016 SUBARU OUTBACK ON MARCH 5TH, 2016. AFTER TWO WEEKS I TOOK A TRIP DOWN TO ATLANTA AND BACK TO KNOXVILLE, TN. I WAS DRIVING ON I-75 AND GOING 70MPH. I HEARD NO SOUND NOR DID I SEE A ROCK OR DEBRIS HIT MY WINDSHIELD, BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN I SAW A CRACK APPEAR. WITHIN AN HOUR OF HOME THIS CRACK GREW FROM ABOUT 3 INCHES TO 5 INCHES. I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND ALL THEY TOLD ME WAS 'CRACKS HAPPEN.'
STATIONARY VEHICLE ROLLS BACK SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN ON ANY INCLINE WHEN IN GEAR. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH ROLLS IN DRIVE AND REVERSE. THE DEALER SAID ALL VEHICLES ROLL WHEN IN GEAR. I HAVE OWNED 13 VEHICLES IN MY LIFE, THE ONLY VEHICLES THAT WOULD ROLL IN GEAR WERE MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES WHICH IS WHY THE LAST 8 VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE BEEN AUTOMATIC. THE DEALER DENIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM BUT ON THE SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST THE PAST TWO ITERATIONS OF THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST OCCASION THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK ON A GOOD SLOPE FOR AT LEAST THREE FEET AND THEN THE TIRES SPUN WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE ON THIS CAR MAY HAVE BEEN OF ASSISTANCE BUT I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH IT. THE HILL ASSIST FEATURE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE ENGAGED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. HAD THIS SLIPPAGE HAPPENED AT A STOPLIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED INTO ANOTHER AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE A MANUAL WITHOUT A CLUTCH.