1998 Subaru Outback

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.

Risk. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY STREETS, I CAME TO A STOP AND REALIZED THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID 3 BRAKE LINES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK 1998 HAD BROKEN. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $500 IN REPAIRS. I REALIZE THERE IS A RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS, BUT MY OLDER SUBARU OUTBACK IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 90 IN IDAHO AT 62 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. THE HOOD WAS SECURED DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND HAD NOT BEEN OPENED IN TWO WEEKS. THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING OVER 60 MPH SINCE THE HOOD WAS LAST OPENED. THE HOOD FLEW UP WITH NO SAFETY CATCH OR HESITATION AND SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, THE HOOD BENT AND THE ROOF DENTED. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLEW OFF INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE PERSON FOLLOWING ME ON THE INTERSTATE PULLED OVER AND HELPED ME TIE IT DOWN TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE SCENE. WE BOTH DETERMINED IT WAS LATCH FAILURE. IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS MY FRONT VISION WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. *TR

SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A POP IN MY FRONT CORNER. STILL DROVE OK UNDER 20-25 MPH. FASTER THAN THAT THE WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. BACKING UP THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO FRIENDS HOSE WHO WORKS ON CARS. HE SAID IT WAS MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CONTROL ARM AND THE FRONT (HE CALLED IT HANDLING BUSHING) WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO. HE FOUND A USED CONTROL ARM AT A JUNK YARD AND REPLACED IT FOR ME. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART THAT I CAN PROVIDE IF NEEDED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE OLD PART. *TR

AS MY WIFE AND I WERE FILLING UP OUR 98 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WE NOTICED A SMELL OF GAS FUMES ON THE WAY HOME AS I BACKED THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL EVEN STONGER. I WENT TO THE BACK AND LOOKED UNDER THE RIGHT REAR AND TO MY SURPRISE THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS LEAKING FUEL!! I PLACED A OIL CHANGE PAN UNDERNEATH AND TO THIS DAY I STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT. DON'T KNOW WERE TO BEGIN WITH IT AND I'M THINKING IT'S A DESIGN FLAW SEEMS LIKE THERE IS HEAVY CORROSION ON THE VERY LOW PART OF THE FILLER PIPE AND THAT'S WERE IT'S LEAKING FROM. I'M GOING TO TRY AND HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT AT WHAT COST. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO AND BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND LEGAL LIABILTY. *KB

FUEL (GASOLINE) FILLER NECK FOR THE 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON RUSTS OUT. MECHANIC INDICATED VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. VERY POOR DESIGN BECAUSE THE TUBE IS BEHIND A PLASTIC MOLDING THAT ACCUMULATES DIRT, SALT, WATER, AND ROTS THE TUBING CAUSING A CHRONIC LEAK OF GASOLINE POTENTIALLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECALL AND REPAIR IS NEEDED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ANY TYPE OF GMC VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEXT TO HIS VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND ALARM SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLES KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ENGINE OVERHEATING EVERY HALF MILE WITH ENGINE RESERVOIR OVERFLOWING. AFTER $1300 OF REPLACING THERMOSTAT, TIMING BELT, BELT TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM, AND COMPRESSION TESTS, I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $2,200 AT LEAST. *TR

1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WAGON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 86,000 MILES. PURCHASED USED MANY YEARS AGO WITH ABOUT 10,000 MILES. MY SISTER'S CAR, SHE WAS DRIVING ALONE. EXPERIENCED DRIVER. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO SHE CAME AROUND A CORNER ON A 30 MPH ROAD NEAR HER HOME. LIGHT SNOW ON THE GROUND (AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS) SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR, AND IT SLID AROUND. SHE PHONED ME AND WAS VERY UPSET AT LOSING CONTROL. COMMENTED THAT THE CAR HAD NOT FELT QUITE RIGHT. I SUGGESTED LOOSE LUG NUTS, BADLY INFLATED (ALMOST NEW) TIRES, BENT RIM, DEFECTIVE TIRE, ALIGNMENT. ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. THEN I MENTIONED SUSPENSION. SHE TOOK IT TO HER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BOTH REAR STRUTS. CAR STILL UNPREDICTABLE. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO THEN TEST DROVE CAR AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THAT OF HIS PARENTS' SIMILAR CAR: POWER WAS NOT BEING PROPORTIONED PROPERLY TO THE FOUR WHEELS. HE REPLACED EXISTING TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE / DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICANT WITH SOME MORE SPECIALIZED LUBRICANT. (AMALIE AMA 1607881297 DEXTRON LLL ATF) AT THIS TIME MY SISTER IS TRYING THIS OUT TO SEE IF IT DOES THE TRICK. SINCE THIS DEFECT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I DROVE OLDER 4WD AUDIS, OWNED MILITARY 4WD TRUCKS, AND CARS WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS. I WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR SPECIFIC LUBRICANTS. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE AVERAGE CAR OWNER SHOULD BE. WAS THERE A SECRET ADVISORY OR RECALL?

1998 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5L MOTOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ~60 MPH. HOOD LATCH RELEASED SPONTANEOUSLY. HOOD FLEW BACK, SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL, AS I COULDN'T SEE, BUT RECOVERED AND, PEERING THROUGH SMALL AREA UNDER HOOD WAS ABLE TO GET OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE WE GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS UNEXPECTED DEFECT. *TR

OVERHEATING, WATER LEAKING, HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *TR

ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT ONLY WHEN BEING DRIVEN, DOES NOT OVERHEAT WHEN IDLING. I HAVE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, AND TIMING BELT BUT IT STILL OVERHEATS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THE CARSURVEY.ORG SITE WITH MANY REFERENCES TO THIS BEING A KNOWN ISSUE, A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SUBARU HAS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR AT LEAST A WARNING OF SOME TYPE SEND OUT. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE? *TR

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK AT ~70K, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY,. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2003, BUT GIVEN THE CONTINUATION OF COMPLAINTS FROM CURRENT SUBARU OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM, IT SEEMS HIGHLY NEGLIGENT OF SUBARU TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM ON SUBARU'S DATING FROM 1997 FORWARD. REPAIR COST IN EXCESS OF $2,500. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO ARISE ON SUBARU ENGINES, YET THE COMPANY HAS DONE NOTHING TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR COST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2007, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL METAL NOSE. THE NOSE CORRODED AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE NOSE METAL AT THE COST OF $278. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE 1. SEAL LEAK AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES, BURNING OIL SMELL, CORRECTED AT REPLACEMENT OF TIMING BELT AT SCHEDULED 105K--NOT DETECTED BY DEALER WHILE UNDER WARRANTY (60K WARRANTY). 2. FAILURE OF HEAD GASKET AT 110K 3. FAILURE OF 2 CAM SEALS AT 158K 4. FAILURE OF ADDITIONAL (REMAINING) 2 CAM SEALS AT 165K (MECHANIC INITIALLY INDICATED THIS WAS RARE AND UNFORTUNATELY, DURE TO COST, DID NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING ALL 4 CAM SEALS--BAD CHOICE--$600 PARTS AND LABOR EACH OCCURRENCE #3 AND #4. *TR

COMPLAINT IS FOR SUBARU OF AMERICA. I OWN A 98 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK AND THE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS ON A MULTITUDE OF SITES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING OR HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT PROBLEM. CLEARLY THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOT ANY OWNER'S OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEREFORE THE CORPORATION WHO HAS CAUSED ITS CUSTOMERS EXPENSE SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN FINANCIALLY FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WE BOUGHT A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK IN 2004. AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES, WE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OXYGEN SENSORS AND (2) CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARUS OF THIS VINTAGE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND OUR MECHANIC TELLS US HE FIXES AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS PER WEEK AT HIS SHOP. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *JB

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. SUBARU PLAZA P.O. BOX 6000 CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034-6000 ATTN: CUSTOMER/DEALER SERVICES RE: SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK VIN [DELETED FOR PRIVACY] TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A SITUATION WITH OUR OIL AT TEMP WARNING LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN OUR PAYING $130 FOR A FALSE POSITIVE WARNING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARLSEN SUBARU. THEY PERFORMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN FACT, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHERE A BATTERY CHANGE COULD CAUSE A ''FALSE POSITIVE'' WARNING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF, AND HAS NOT NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS OF, I AM REQUESTING A REFUND BY SUBARU FOR THE FULL $130. I HAVE TWO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: 1. THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN '' WONDERING IF THERE REALLY IS A PROBLEM THAT THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT PINPOINT 2. THE CONCERN THAT SUBARU HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COST ME $130 SINCERELY, [DELETED FOR PRIVACY] CC: NHTSA COMPLAINTS

THE GAS FILL PIPE LEAKS GASOLINE. THERE IS A PLASTIC SHIELD NEXT TO IT THAT CATCHES DIRT, SAND, ETC AND THEN KEEPS THE OUTSIDE OF THE PIPE WET FOR WEEKS AFTER ANY RAINY DRIVE. THIS LED TO THE PIPE RUSTING OUT AND LEAKING GASOLINE ON THE ROAD, DRIVEWAY AND GARAGE. *NM