1991 Subaru Loyale

Defect. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.

Risk. SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.

Defect. TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED AND WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN A FULL PARK POSITION WHEN PLACED IN PARK.

Risk. IF TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM IS NOT IN PARK WHILE THEVEHICLE IS RUNNING OR ON AN INCLINE, A RUNAWAY SITUATION WOULD OCCUR WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM.

The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic seat belt continuously opened and retracted independently, failing to secure the contact inside the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the automatic seat belt tightener system and observed an oil gasket leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 309,000.

The contact owns a 1991 Subaru Loyale equipped with a replacement CV-axle from Master Pro, Part Number: SB8003. The contact indicated that while driving in reverse, the vehicle suddenly stopped moving and would not drive forward or backwards. The vehicle was towed to the residence and examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the CV-axle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the failure had also occurred on a second vehicle using the same part. The failure mileage was unknown.

TL* - ON A COLD DAY WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE THE WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN THE REVERSE GEAR. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO WARM UP, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR SOMETIME, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED , CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN AND EVENTUALLY COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT HAS THE VEHICLE AT SPEEDY TRANSMISSION WHERE THEY WILL REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT FELTTHAT VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA RECALLCAMPAIGN 94V052000.*AK

THE HOOD CAME UNLATCHED AND WAS FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD BY THE WIND WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH

2 FRONT AUTOMATIC SEATBELTS DON'T RETRACT/ AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ALL 4 WON'T COME DOWN/ REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON, AND 4 -WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT WORK. *AK

EXHAUST FAILURE DETAILS: VERY SOON AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, WE DISCOVERED THAT WHENEVER WE TOOK A CLOVERLEAF-TYPE OFFRAMP WHICH REQUIRED A QUICK DECCELERATION AND THEN A QUICK ACCELERATION, A THICK BLACK CLOUD OF SMOKE WOULD COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE ONLY WAY I FOUND TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WAS TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, IF DISTANCE ALLOWED, AND ALLOW THE CAR TO DECOMPRESS BEFORE ACCELERATING. A VERY LITTLE PERCENTAGE OF MY DRIVING INVOLVES THIS TYPE OF OFFRAMP, AND ESTIMATES I REQUESTED FOR THIS REPAIR RANGED CLOSE TO $1000.00. MY HUSBAND ONCE HEARD A MAN CALL INTO AN AUTO-REPAIR RADIO STATION INTERVIEW WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN HIS SUBARU LOYALE WAGON. MY AXLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN A REAL NUISANCE. I NEVER DO ANY OFF-ROAD DRIVING, ONLY REGULAR CITY DRIVING, AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AXLE THREE TIMES, AND HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THAT THE AXLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I THINK THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE OCCURRENCE FOR REGULAR CITY DRIVING AFTER ONLY 140,000 MILES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES. ALSO, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD A LEAKAGE. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOUR TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN SUDDENLY, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER PUT 4 REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

OIL LEAK FROM THE SEAL AT THE TIMING BELT. *AK

TRANSMISSION REPLACED 5 TIMES.

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES, JUST STOPS COMPLETELY. *AK

THE DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING FURTHER INJURY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

UPON STARTING ENGINE RACES UP TO 3000 RPM'S FOR APPOX. 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT SETTLES DOWN, DEALER'S MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, WAS TOLD TO LIVE WITH IT.