1998 Subaru Outback complaints

CLUTCH CHATTER ON MY 98 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE. SUBARU 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM A FEW TIME UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TO THIS DAY, THERE IS SEVERE CHATTER IN THE CLUTCH. *AK

I HAVE HAD CONTINUOS PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH ON MY 1998 SUABRU OUTBACK. SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN PURCHASED I HAVE HAD THE CLUCH REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND IT IS NOW DUE TO GO IN AGAIN. A COMMON PROBLEM IS "BUCKING" UNDER LOAD (1ST & SECOND). THERE ARE COUNTLESS SIMILAR STORIED AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET. SUBARU NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE AS IT AFFECTS THE MAJORITY OF SUBARU OWNERS.*AK

THE HEADGASKET BURNED THROUGH. REPLACED HEADGASKET, HAD HEADS MILLED. NOW EXACTLY 1 1/2 YEARS LATER IN APRIL 2003 THE CAR IS OVERHEATING, EVERYONE SAYS THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT, BUT IT IS. IT IS ALOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YRS. OLD AND HAVING MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS.

APPEARS I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON MY 1998 2.5L OUTBACK. COOLANT CONTAINS OIL , COOLANT RESERVOIR FILLS UP RAPIDLY WITH COOLANT WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. COOLANT NEVER RETURNS TO THE RADIATOR AFTER COOLING DOWN. *LA

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING AT A LOW SPEED ENGINE REVVED TO 4 RMPS AND JERKED INTO SECOND GEAR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO NO REMEDY WAS FOUND.*AK

WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. *NM

VEHICLE'S TIRES LEAKED DUE TO CORROSION/OXIDATION ON THE RIM WHERE THE TIRE MET THE ALUMINUM WHEEL. *MR THE CORROSION IS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE SEAL BETWEEN THE TIRE AND THE RIM. THE TIRES LOSE ABOUT TWO POUNDS OF AIR PER WEEK. *NLM

CAR OVERHEATED. TOWED TO GARAGE. THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND TESTED. RAN OK FOR ABOUT 20 MILES. OVERHEATED AGAIN. TOWED TO GARAGE. NOW THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FLAWLESSLY. *LA

INTERMITTENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL CONTINUE TO REV UP TO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5500 RPM AND REDLINE BEFORE IT SHIFTS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE PAST YEAR. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ IN THE PAST AND THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A PROBLEM. WHEN THE 'CHECK ENGINE' AND 'AT OIL TEMP' LIGHTS CAME ON, WE TOOK IT TO SUBARU OF SANTA CRUZ. THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONCE REPLACED, THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, BUT THEN BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN NO RESTRAINT FOR CONSUMER.*AK

THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN BACKING FROM A PARKING SPACE, HIT A POLE, I THEN PUT IT ON DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, I WENT TO BRAKE, IT HAD ALREADY HIT A PARKED DODGE CARAVAN IN THE PARKING SPOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON BRAKE, CAR STILL CONTINUED TO MOVE. I MANAGED TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. MY CAR HAD PUSHED THE PARKED DODGE 1.5 CAR LENGTHS. VAN TIRE SKID MARKS MEASURED BY HIGHWAY PATROL. NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO MYSELF, HIT MY KNEE AND MY HEAD. INDICENT REPORTED TO CA HWY PATROL, GEICO INSURANCE COMPANY, AND 49R SUBARU DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY CAR IS AT THE DEARLERSHIP BEING EVALUATED FOR A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 60K MILES FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISISION PROBLEM, IT SEEMED TO DOWNSHIFT AT LOWSPEEDS INAPPROPIATELY. NO PROBLEM FOUND. I TOOK IT IN 90K BECAUSE OF BURNING OIL SMELL AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SEVERAL SEALS, ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE TIMING BELT. I DISCOVERED THE TIMING BELT AND OIL SEALS WERE REPLACED BY PREVIOUS OWNER PRIOR TO 50K MILES. I'VE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ALIGNED TWICE BECAUSE OF SEVERE TIRE WEAR AND SHAKING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 101K MILES.

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. OWNER HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET AT 105,000 MILES. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS ENGINE/MODEL YEAR. IT COST ME $3400 FOR A NEW SHORT BLOCK/LABOR TO EFFECT REPAIRS.*AK

I OWN A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK.: VIN #[XXX]. ON THE DATE BELOW, THE TIMING BELT ON MY CAR, WHICH HAD 53 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AT THE TIME, BROKE AND RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. THIS FORCED ME TO BUY A USED ENGINE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ONLY DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED THE RESULT MIGHT HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT. SUBARU'S OWN MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE SAYS THAT THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE INSPECTED AT 60 THOUSAND MILES. I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE COMPANY BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY RESPONSIVE OR FORTHCOMING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY SUBARU OUTBACK HAS DRIPPED A LITTLE OIL FROM THE FRONT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAD A BURNING SMELL. I TOOK IT BACK 2 TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TELL ME IT WAS TRANSIT PAINT BURNING OFF. I TOOK IT BACK WHEN I WAS 1000 MILES OUT OF MY WARRANTY BECAUSE IT WAS WORSE AND SMELLED BURNING MORE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE OIL PUMP SEAL BUT WOULDN'T COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID IF I HAD BEEN HAVING REGULAR WORK DONE THROUGH THE DEALER THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT. SINCE THEN IT IS WORSE AND THE BURNING SMELL IS VERY BAD. I KNOW OF 2 OTHER SUBARU LEGACY'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND A $500 TO $700 FIX. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FIRES IN SUBARUS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND DRIPPING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL ,AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

ENGINE OVERHEATS. TWO SUBARU DEALER SERVICE CENTERS SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, AND STARTED AN SEEMINGLY ENDLESS REPLACEMENT OF THERMOSTATS, AND EVEN THE RADIATOR. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES, AND NOW THAT I AM OVER 60K MILES, WITH MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY SUDDENLY SAY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH WILL PROBABLY COST OVER $2,000 TO REPLACE. I NOW FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKETS OF 1994-1998 SUBARUS, BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. WHY?*AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMS MAKING THE BELT INOPERATIVE. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT FRAYING. *TT

1998 SUBARU OUTBACK - BLOWN HEAD GASKET, RESULTED IN OVER HEATING. MY MECHANIC ESTIMATES $2500 (ASSUMING THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE). WE ARE ALSO CHECKING PRICES FOR USED ENGINES TO POSSIBLY REPLACE THE EXISTING ENGINE. MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129000 MILES. *JB

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT AND MARKER LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

HEAD GASKET ON MY '98 OUTBACK FAILED. DEALER SAID NOT UNCOMMON. HE HAS 3 MORE WAITING FOR HEAD GASKETS. SEEMS A NUMBER OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON THE SUBARU DISCUSSION GROUP ON EDMUNDS.COM TOWNHALL. FORTUNATELY, MINE WAS DISCOVERED WITH NO ENGINE DAMAGE. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS $2500.00. QUITE A FINANCIAL DRAIN FOR ME. SOME TALK ON DISCUSSION GROUP WONDERING IF A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE. SUBARU EMAILED ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS AND THAT ALL MECHANICAL THINGS FAIL WITH TIME, SOME SOONER AND SOME LATER. ON THE SUBARU DISCUSSION GROUP, A NUMBER OF THE HEAD GASKETS WERE AT LOW MILEAGE. MINE WAS AT 94,000 MILES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

TIRE RIMS CORRODING, CAUSING PITS WHICH GENERATE TIRE LEAKS AT THE RIM. INITIALLY ASSUMED POOR TIRE SEAL JOB, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED REPEATEDLY FOR ALL TIRE RIMS, SOMETIMES CAUSING TIRE DEFLATION AT EVERY TRIP. IF NOT NOTICED, SUCH DEFLATION COULD LEAD TO. DT

DRIVING ALONG BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE MILD PANIC SET IN. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND INSTEAD ACCIDENTLY PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE. THIS DID STOP THE CAR, BUT AS YOU WOULD EXPECT. I HAVE INCURRED AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH I DON'T EXPECT ANY SYMPATHY BECAUSE OF MY AWKWARD HANDELING OF THE SHIFTER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IF ANYTHING SUBARU INTENDS TO ABOUT THIS VERY DANGEROUS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION PROBLEM. YOUR COMPLAINT SITE HAS SIMILAR SUCH COMPLAINTS ON RECORD. MINE WILL BE THE NINTH. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE PROBABLY EXPERIENCED. THE SAME PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO FORMALLY COMPLAIN, IT WOULD SEEM THAT A REAL PROBLEM DOES EXIST. THANK YOU. DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

SAFETY ISSUE: SEAL FAILURE CAUSES OIL TO LEAK ONTO HOT EXHAUST (FIRE HAZARD). MR

BOTH FUSES ON THE COOLING SYSTEM FANS FAILED WITHIN THE SAME DRIVE. I CHECKED THE ONE MARKED IN THE 1998 LEGACY OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE COOLING FAN AND IT WAS NUMBER 13 IN PAGE 11-7. I CHECKED FOR THE OTHER ONE AND IT WAS UNDER THE HOOD AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME AND I DIDN'T HAVE A FLASHLIGHT OR LIGHT. I COULD COUNT WHERE THE FUSE WAS AND IN THE BOOK IT STATED IT WAS # 25. I PULLED THE FUSE 25 AND IT CHECKED OUT GOOD AND I PUT IT BACK IN THE SLOT. HOWEVER, I CHECKED IN THE DAY TIME UNDER THE FUSE COVER UNDER THE HOOD AND IT INDICATES THAT FUSE #22 IS THE CORRECT ONE. I CHECKED THAT AND IT WAS BLOWN. I NOTIFIED SUBARU A MONTH AGO AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT SEEMS THOUGH THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CHANGE IN THE MANUAL AS IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS SITUATION. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT WITH BOTH FAN FUSES BLOWN THE VEHICLE CAN STOP DUE TO AN OVERHEAT AT AN UNEXPECTED TIME AND CAUSE AND ENGINE FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE NUMBER 25 IS ACTUALLY A SPARE FUSE AREA AND DOES NOT HAVE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BUT THE NUMBER 22 IS A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS AN ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET IN SOME VEHICLE. I AM NOT SURE YOU WOULD CLASSIFY THIS AS A SAFETY PROBLEM BUT I AM INFORMING YOU IF YOU DO. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*768183

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW, WHICH RESULTED IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDER WALLS. WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE ENGINE, WHICH IS A 2.5 LITER, MUST BE REPLACED. THE 2.5 LITER ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF ENIGINE FAILURE. HAS ANYONE MADE A CLAIM? HAS THERE BEEN RESEARCH OR A RECALL OF ANY KIND?*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH TOOK FEET OFF GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE ACCLERATED TO 40MPH WITHOUT GAS BEING APPLIED. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR. THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH OUR 2001 SUBURU OUTBACK (SEE ODI#764455).*AK

IN HOT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY IN SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL NOT RETURN AFTER BEING DEPRESSED. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MAY 2001, BUT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT A MONTH LATER, THEY REPLACED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THE CLUTCH RECENTLY STARTED TO FEEL "STICKY" AGAIN, AND FAILED ON JUNE 30 WHILE IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR WAS DRIVEABLE AGAIN. THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE LATEST THEORY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA IS THAT THERE IS A POCKET IN THE CASTING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT TRAPS AIR WHICH CAN'T BE RELEASED BY PRESSURE BLEEDING THE SYSTEM AND IT MUST BE "GRAVITY BLED". THEY DID THIS AND THE PROBLEM HAS GONE AWAY (AT LEAST FOR NOW). NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE RETURN OF THE FAILURE AFTER A YEAR.*AK

WHEN MAKING A TURN ON ROAD THERE IS SLIGHT VIBRATION. TRANSFER CASE HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOUD NOISE WHILE TURNING.DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT AT 15 MPH, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES. CONTACT SUBARU MECHANICS TO OBTAIN UNUSUAL HIGH NUMBERS. *AK

RECALL 01 V 216 000/COILSPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; FREDERICK MOTORS; FREDERICK,MD; PHONE# 301/663-6111 TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01V-216, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE OUT OF PARTS AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS TO GET THE PARTS IN AND THEN ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS TO GET ON THE SERVICE SCHEDULE.*JB

VEHICLE WILL REV /ACCELERATE WHEN CONSUMER TURNS AIR CONDITIONER( A/C) ON. PROBLEM USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN A/C IS ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE IN FRONT SLOWED DOWN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF ON ITS ON. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, BUT AVOIDED OTHER CARS. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FLIPPED THREE TIMES, AND ENDED ON DRIVER'S SIDE . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AND WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER WAS BRAKING, IN WHICH CONSUMER BEGAN TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT REGARDING THE DOOR CATCHER. *SLC

WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SUBARU OUTBACK S/W IN 1999 AND RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE. UPON PLACING THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR AND DRIVING (UNDER 50 MPH) ONLY 19 MILES TO A TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED, THE REAR END WAS DAMAGED. IT COST $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END GEARS REPLACED. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "MINI" SPARE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT DISABLING THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE, BY FINDING AND REPLACING A FUSE UNDER THE HOOD (LISTED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPARE REMOVAL LAST ON PAGE 2 OF THE OWNERS MANUAL). OH YEAH, THE SPARE CAN ONLY BE USED ON THE REAR WHEELS. THIS INFORMATION IS ALL "HIDDEN" IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. SINCE WE HAVE AUTO INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES TOWING, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER OFF TOWING THE CAR TO THE TIRE DEALER TO HAVE THE FLAT REPAIRED (FOR FREE) THAN USING THE SPARE PROVIDED AND PAYING $800 TO HAVE THE REAR END REBUILT. (TOWING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON A FLAT BED TRUCK WITH ALL WHELLS OFF THE GROUND.) PLEASE WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS IMPROPERLY LABLED "SPARE TIRE". ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE FROM SUBARU WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

ALL TURN SIGNALS ARE FLASHING AT SAME TIME, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD SIGNAL ARE WORKING AT SAME TIME.*AK DEALER PUSHED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON AND THE CONDITION STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPLICATED, CONSUMER HAD TRIED PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON HIMSELF, HOWEVER THE SIGNALS KEPT BLINKING WHEN HE ATTEMPTED, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *SLC

I WAS PARKING MY CAR TO GO TO THE VIDEO STORE WITH MY SON. IT APPEARED TO LURCH FORWARD, SPEEDING UP, AND DID NOT COME TO A STOP UNTIL IT HIT FOUR OTHER CARS, AND FINALLY PLOWED INTO A LARGE 4X4 BROADSIDE, WITH ENOUGH SPEED TO PUSH IT INTO ANOTHER CAR. MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY DISABLED CHILD FELL OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE ONTO THE PAVEMENT. PARAMEDICS WHERE CALLED AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE MINOR INJURIES. I HAD PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING, AND SOMETIMES UNEXPLAINED MINOR SPEEDUPS INT HE TRANSMISSION, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE HOW SEVERE IT WAS. NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A POSSIBLE, SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALLED, BUT HASN'T BEEN DISPOSED OF AS YET. POLICE TOOK PICTURES AT THE SCENE. PLEASE HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT.*AK

ON 1/15/01 BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED MY ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK. I PAID $654.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND RESEAL BAFFLE PLATE AS WELL AS RESEAL OIL PUMP, QUESTIONABLE CAM SEALS (REFERRING TO PAPERWORK FROM DEALER). ON 3/23/01 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAR COMPLETELY DIED. BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO DROP IN PRESSURE W/IN ENGINE. UPON SEVERAL CONTACTS W/ SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY 50% TO REBUILD ENGINE, WHICH HAS BEEN VERBALLY ESTIMATED AT $2,500. BEARD SUBARU UNABLE TO EXPLAIN CAUSE OF ENGINE SEIZE, BUT DENIES IT IS RELATED TO RECENT REPAIR OF ENGINE LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA REQUIRES ME TO ACCEPT OR DENY OFFER TO OF "COURTESY FOR MY PATRONAGE" 50% BY WED. 4/4/01. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW AT BEARD SUBARU AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY. I QUESTION A DEFECT WITHIN MY VEHICLE, OR A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE RECENT WORK CONDUCTED BY BEARD SUBARU. I REQUESTED WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION. THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE ON 3/27/01. ON 3/30/01 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM BEARD SUBARU THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME "NEXT WEEK". THEY ARE AWARE I BEGIN A NEW JOB ON 4/2/01 REQUIRING ME TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL MY SITUATION IS RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% CAR RENTAL FEE FOR 5 DAYS. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION BEFORE I AM REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA'S DEADLINE BY 4/4/01? I AM WEARY TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT NO ONE HAS PROVIDED A SECOND OPINIO

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WON'T WORK.*AK THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED. *YH

POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM

CONSUMER HAD SOME PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL. LATER, CONSUMER WAS ON HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 65MPH, SLOWING DOWN AND STEERING STARTED TO SHAKE. THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE, AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY FOUND A BROKEN AXLE. BOTH BOOTS ON SIDE OF THE AXLE WERE NOT DAMAGED SO THE REASON OF AXLE BREAKING WAS UNKNOWN. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

WE ARE UNABLE TO RIDE IN VEHICLE WITH HEATER ON AS IT STILL HAS A VERY BAD MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE , AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEM. EDMOND CHEV SISTER STORE SHULTS SUBARU SAID FOR US TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE AIR VENTS ONCA A MONTH. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS THAT HAVE NO PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE HELP US ,WE LOVE THE CAR ,BUT CAN NOT RIDE ANY DISTANCE IN IT WITHOUT GETTING VERY BAD SINUS HEADACHES

EGR SOLONOID FAILED. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THEY INTERMITTENTLY WORK. IN WET CONDITIONS THEY DON'T CLEAR. INSTEAD THEY SMEAR THE WINDSHEILD, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IN MOTION THEY FLY IN THE WIND. SUBARU HAS NO REMEDY & TRIED TO USE HEAVY DUTY WIPERS, BUT THEY DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. *AK *ML