1999 Subaru Outback complaints

WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. ALSO, GEARS ARE SLOW TO ENGAGE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK LIMITED DEVELOPED AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CHARACTERIZED BY HESITATION AND HARSH, ABRUPT ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. ORIGINALLY THE PROBLEM ONLY AROSE AS THE CAR WAS PLACED FROM PARK OR REVERSE INTO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO ARMANDO'S SUBARU IN CANFIELD, OH AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. LATER THIS PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT AND PRONOUNCED. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP AND THE CAR WOULD JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. ALSO, THE PROBLEM STARTED OCCURING NOT ONLY WHEN I ORIGINALLY SET THE AT INTO GEAR, BUT ALSO FROM STOPS AFTER THE CAR WAS ALREADY IN GEAR. I WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO REV THE ENGINE MORE THAN ONCE TO GET IT TO ENGAGE AND IT JERKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE CONTROL MODEL BUT PROBABLY WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. I DID NOT FEEL THE CAR WAS SAFE ANYMORE BECAUSE I COULD NOT BE SURE WHETHER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE OR HESITATE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. INCIDENT DATE LISTED IS APPROX TIME PROBLEM FIRST DEVELOPED, IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME.

HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE MATERIAL ON THE GASKET IS COMPLETELY GONE IN A FEW AREAS, CAUSING LEAKAGE INTO THE ENGINE AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FAILURE. SUBARU SPECIALIST THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD REPAIRED 10 SUBARU HEAD GASKETS IN JUST THE PAST 2 WEEKS ALONE. ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A 1999 SUBARU FORESTER THAT HAD ITS HEAD GASKET FAIL WITHIN 3 WEEKS OF MINE. ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU REPAIR SPECIALIST, SUBARU DOES NOT ADMIT THE HEAD GASKET IS DEFECTIVE. 2 DAYS AFTER GETTING THE HEAD GASKET FIXED, THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO EASE THE CAR OFF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. OH, ONE MORE THING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE REPAIR FACILITIES CAN'T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THE EMISSIONS INSPECTION REPEATEDLY FAILS DUE TO THE LIGHT BEING ON.*AK

REAR WASHER PUMP TOTAL FAILURE CAR LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WHEN PROBLEM AROSE WITH UNDER 55,000 MILES. *AK

KEYLESS ENTRY CONTROL MODULE TOTAL FAILURE. CAR IS LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD & HAS LESS THAN 76,000 MILES. REPLACEMENT PART IS $200 + LABOR TO INSTALL. DEALER SAYS THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK OVERHEATED AND PROBLEM ATTRIBUTED TO CRACKED HEAD GASKET. DEALER STATES THAT 99-01 ARE COVERED AS WARRANTY DESPITE MILEAGE IF HAS A PHASE 2 ENGINE. MINE IS PHASE 1. TRYING TO DETERMINE AMOUNT OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS.*AK

THE HOOD LATCH OF MY 1999 OUTBACK IS FAULTY. TOOK IT BACK 2 X TO BE REPAIRED. THEY LOOKED AT MY LIKE I WAS CRAZY. THEY "CLEANED" THE LATCH ON 1/6/04, THEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 1 WEEK LATER WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AND INSISTED ON A REPLACEMENT HOOD LATCH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/21, THE "TIGHTENED THE CABLE", LESS THAN 24 HRS. LATER THE HOOD LATCH OPENED AGAIN. WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS CALLED, HE TOLD MY HUSBAND "WELL, WE DIDN'T CHARGE HER ANYTHING!". TODAY, 1/23 THE HOOD OPENED AGAIN. WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TO A COWORKER SHE STATED THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO HER OUTBACK LAST YEAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

I KEEP GETTING A CHIRP WHEN THE CLUTCH IS OUT; GOES AWAY WHEN IT\\'S FULLY DEPRESSED. PROBLEM IS THE THROW-OUT BEARING ASSEMBLY. SEEMS THE PINS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE KEEP FAILING, CAUSING THE BEARING TO RUB AGAINS THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, WEARING IT OUT PREMATURELY. IT\\'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SUCH A SMALL, INEXPENSIVE PART. AND IT KEEPS FAILING. FIRST AT 18,500, THEN AT 43000, THEN AGAIN AT 45000.

I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN JUNE OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY TO DEAL WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW OPERATES AS DESIGNED AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE FAILURES. THE CAR WENT THROUGH A SET OF MICHELIN RADIAL TIRES IN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE EXPER

ENGINE OVERHEATED AFTER A 30-MINUTE TRIP. TEMP GAUGE READ NORMAL. THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKET ALL OK, BUT EXHAUST VALVES AND CYLINDER WALLS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.*AK

BIG HESITATION (CAR IS WARMED UP) WHEN STARTING AGAIN FROM STOP WHEN TURNING LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC. IF I DON'T ALLOW 3X NORMAL DISTANCE I'D GET SLAMMED. I START WITH A SLOW STEADY DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR AND END UP HAVING TO PUT IT TO THE FLOOR FOR IT TO EVEN MOVE. DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THEY COULDN'T DUPLI9CATE AND NOTHING IS WRONG. SUBARU.COM JUST BLEW ME OFF AND TOLD ME TO GO BACK TO DEALER. I'M AFRAID ONE DAY IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL; AND I BELIEVE IN PREVENTION WITH A CAPITAL P. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT.*AK

I HEARD A CLICKING IN MY CAR WHEN ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP. IT DID NOT SOUND TOO SERIOUS, BUT I MADE A NOTE OF IT. I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHIN A HALF A MILE MY CAR BEGAN TO WEAVE. THE STEERING APPEARED TO FAIL AND I WENT INTO A SPIN. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR AND LOST CONTROL. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING (40-45MPH) I HIT THE LEFT BARRIER AFTER GOING OVER TWO LANES. THERE WAS NO RAIN OR ICE BUT THE ROAD WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE FROM CONSTRUCTION. I HAD EXPERIENCED THAT WEAVING SENSATION BEFORE IN THE SUBRARU ON UNEVEN ROADS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE SHOP DID NOT REALLY CHECK WHAT WENT WRONG THEY SAID THE AXLE AND BRAKES AND TIRES SEEMED FINE. THE CAR COULD NOT START AND APPARENTLY THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *LA

CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

MY 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK STALLS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TUNE-UPS AND REPAIRS WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALERSHIP AND SUBARU'S AREA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, BOB WISEMAN, HAVE CLOSED THE CASE. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT WON'T RUN. *LA

BREAK FAILURE - 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. OWNER REPLACED PADS - ROTORS, ETC TO IMPROVE THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR DID NOT IMPROVE THE PROBLEM SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE PROTECTIVE BOOTS AROUND THE CALIPER PISTONS WERE COMPLETELY DETERIOATED AND THAT THE CALPERS NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I SUGGESTED THAT THIS COULD BE WIDE SPREAD, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT MY ISSUE WAS ONE OF A KIND. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF FAILURE ANALYSIS IN INDUSTRY AND I AM VERY SURE THAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE RUBBER PISTON BOOTS IS CAUSED FROM DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. DAVID SLOCUM

VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.WHEN DRIVING IN 5 TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU TECH EXPLAINED THAT A PACKING NUT ON THE GEAR SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY PEENED. THE NUT BACKED-OFF OVER TIME AND DAMAGED THE TRANSIMISSION.*AK

I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN MAY OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW "OPERATES AS DESIGNED" AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO SEAL LEAKING FLUID TO FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK

THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PEEN PACKING NUT ON 5TH GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE NUT TO BACK OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP OUT OF 5TH GEAR. *PH *CB *NLM

HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PH *CB

THE VEHICLES ABS FAILED. *NLM RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/21/2007 FAILED. *LJ

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER CUT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM

SUNROOF SHATTERED AND FELL ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER. NO ROCKS WERE PRESENT, NOR ANY WIND. IT SIMPLY EXPLODED.

CLUTCH CHIRPS LIKE A BIRD WHEN OUT, IS SILENT WHEN FULLY DEPRESSED. DIAGNOSIS: BAD THROW OUT BEARING. THIS IS THE THIRD CLUTCH IN THIS CAR FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES; THE SECOND AT APPROXIMATELY 43,000, AND NOW AGAIN JUST 1500 MILES LATER! CLUTCH ACTUALLY DISENGAGED PERMANENTLY ON THE SHOP FLOOR WHILE THE DEALER WAS EXAMINING THE CAR -- HE WAS POKING AROUND THE BEARING AND IT "FELL OUT" OF ALIGNMENT, COMPLETELY PREVENTING THE CLUTCH FROM WORKING. THIS COULD'VE HAPPENED TO ME ON THE ROAD, WHILE DRIVING.*JB

WE HAVE AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE, AND WE HAVE SEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM ON 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THESE CARS DEVELOP A "TWEETY" CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. WHEN WE GO IN TO REPLACE THE BEARING, WE HAVE FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO CLIPS FOR THE BEARING IS ALWAYS MISSING. THIS IS WHAT CAUSES THE BEARING TO GO BAD PREMATURELY. EACH TIME WE FIND THE SAME THING. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. WE THEN NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SUCH AN INEXPENSIVE CLIP. WE FEEL THAT THESE CLIPS NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER TO FIND A STRONGER ONE TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM.

ONLY THREE MONTHS AFTER MY PURCHASE THE CAR DEVELOPED A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THIS PIECE HAD GONE BAD SO EARLY, AND I COULDN''T UNDERSTAND WHY. I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIRS, AND AS THEY BEGAN WORKING ON IT THEY DISCOVERED WHY IT HAD GONE BAD PREMATURELY. ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE BEARING TO SIT CROOKED. THIS THEN ALLOWED THE CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING TO WEAR A GROOVE ON THE SNOUT THAT THE BEARING RIDES ON. THE BEARING WAS THEN GETTING CAUGHT IN THE GROOVE, PREVENTING IT FROM RELEASING FULLY. I NOT ONLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE BEARING AND THE CLIPS BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BECAUSE THE SNOUT IS CAST INTO THE HOUSING

THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES GOING ON WITH MY 1999 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK VEHICLE: 1) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE DROPS DOWN TO EMPTY ALTHOUGH THE GAS TANK WAS JUST FILLED WITH GAS. 2) THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECT. AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FULL, THE GAUGE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH (SOMETIMES THE GAUGE READS NEAR EMPTY, SOMETIMES THE GAUGE READS 3/4 OF THE TANK FULL) WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE. 3) THE CAR DID NOT PASS THE CALIFORNIA SMOG TEST. 4) THE RPM GAUGE DOES NOT STAY CONSTANT WHILE DRIVING AT AN EVEN SPEED. ONCE THE GAUGE HITS BETWEEN TWO TO THREE THOUSAND RPM, THE GAUGE DROPS BACK TO BETWEEN ONE AND TWO THOUSAND RPM ON AND OF WHEN DRIVING. 5) THE GAS TANK DOES NOT MAINTAIN PRESSURE EVEN THOUGH THE LID WAS SCREWED ON TIGHT. THE LID WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE BUT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALL THESE ISSUES OCCUR WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT HAVING ME PAY THEM TO LOOK AT MY CAR. THESE ISSUES MY CAR HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF SINCE 2001 TO PRESENT. THE PROBLEMS SEEM TO GET WORSE.

ENGINE MAKE A NOISE. THE DEALER AND TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSIS THE PISTON WAS WORN-OUT AT PREMATURE MILEAGES . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

JAN 6, 2003 (YOUR WEB SITE WON'T LET ME SELECT THE CURRENT YEAR, SO I SELECTED 2002, THE LAST AVAILABLE DATE THAT CAN BE SELECTED, BELOW) I OWN A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. IT CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000 MILES ON IT. THE CLUTCH MECHANISM HAS FAILED TWICE, ONCE AT 18,651 AND ONCE AT 42,500. BOTH TIMES THE THROW-OUT BEARING FAILED. I'VE OWNED 8 CARS AND DRIVEN THEM IN 10 STATES AND THREE PROVINCES. I'VE DRIVEN IN THE DESERT, THE MOUNTAINS AND BY THE OCEAN WITH MOST OF THESE CARS. IN ALL CASES, I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BELOW 75,000 MILES! I'VE DRIVEN STANDARD/STICK MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN CLUTCH FAILURE LIKE THIS SUBARU. I DON'T RIDE THE CLUTCH, I ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IT PROPERLY, ETC. AND YET THE THROW-OUT BEARING KEEPS FAILING PREMATURELY.

CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRATING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER SATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THE CAR JOLTED TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRES HOLDING POWER HARNESS IN PLACE HAD BROKEN AT AN EARLIER POINT IN TIME. THIS CAUSED THE POWER HARNESS TO SHIFT TO REST ON TOP OF THE SWAY BAR. THE CONSTANT RUBBING AGAINST THE SWAY BAR CAUSED 3 WIRES TO SHORT, BLOWING ALL FUSES AND THE COMPUTER MODULE. A SUBARU REP SAID THERE WAS ONE OTHER CASE LIKE THIS IN THE UP OF MICHIGAN. BUT HE BLAMED PACKED SNOW IN THE WHEEL WELLS. THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS IN MAY. SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC I WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. NO ONE HAS EXPLAINED WHY THE WIRE TIES BROKE CAUSING THE POWER HARNESS TO MOVE. AT 40000 IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND WE HAD TO PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH PARTIES HAVE SAID IT IS POSSIBLE THE WIRE TIES BROKE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN WARRANTY. *TS *NLM **DIMSII IVIES ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**762507

FRONT CRANK SEAL FAILS. CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE FIRE UNDER HOOD. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS SUBARU HAS RELEASED 3 DIFFERENT PARTS IN ATTEMPT TO FIX PROBLEM. SUBARU DENIES THIS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD OR EVEN A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES.*AK

ODOMETER FAILURES - ALSO POSSIBLY CAUSING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS

REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS WORN OUT, REAR END STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ALSO, SMOKE AND OIL CAME FROM WHEELS. THIS WAS THE 10TH TIME THA CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I HAD STOPPED AND PUT CAR INTO PARK AND IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE BRICK. *AK

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT 36,000 MILES THE DEALER CHARGED ME $75 TO RESET IT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 2 WEEKS THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SICNE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 36,000 MILES I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER "COMPUTER RESET" WORDS USED BY DEALER IS THIS A COMMON COMPLAINT FOR THIS MOODEL AND YEAR ? I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATOR RECALL COULD THAT HAVE MADE THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON ? THANK YOU AS. *AK

HEATED MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ALL QUIT WORKING AND ALTHOUGH SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG ORIGINALLY, THEY DID FINALLY ADMIT TO A SHORT WITHIN EACH UNIT. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELECTRIAL SHORTING OUT TO CAUSE ALL THE MISC. THINGS TO GO OUT. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE IS NO CONCERN DUE TO REPEATED ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES IN THE VEHICLE.

TRAVEL AT APPROX 30-35 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF ONCOMING VEHICLE - NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER HOOD, THEN STALLED AT A STOP. TAKEN TO DEALER WHO REPAIRED VEHICLE, ONE WEEK LATER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, BUT DID NOT STALL, DEALER REPLACED ENGINE. WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *SLC

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY DAY AND THE DEALER CAN FIND NO REMEDY FOR IT, THE MECHANICS SAY IT IS A FUEL PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD THE CONSUMER USE HIGH OCTANE GAS, THE FUEL FILTER WAS PLUGGED AND THE DEALER FOUND THE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED, ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT REMEDIED THE HESITATION PROBLEM. *SLC

IN THE MORNING, WHEN I BACK UP THE CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY, GO FORWARD AND THEN APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE IS A LOUD, MECHANICAL BANGING SOUND (LIKE METAL HITTING ON METAL) COMING FROM EACH OF THE 4 WHEELS - EITHER THE PADS HITTING THE ROTOR OR THE PISTON HITTING THE PADS WHICH IN TURN HIT THE ROTOR. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR 2-3 HOURS AND THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE, THEN FORWARD, THEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. RECENTLY THE BANGING SOUND IS BECOMING LOUDER - SO MUCH SO THAT IT ATTRACTS PEDESTRIANS' ATTENTION. THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. A SUBARU REGIONAL INSPECTOR SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME TO LIVE WITH THE SOUND/PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SUBARU OWNERS AND THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT SUBARU DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PROBLEM. THE CAR DOES STOP, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. ... IN ADDITION THE BRAKES ARE VERY, VERY SPONGY/SOFT. IT FEELS LIKE I AM STEPPING ON AN AIR MATTRESS - THERE IS NO SENSATION OF STOPPING UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL OF ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FEEL/FEEDBACK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED - I KNOW I AM STOPPING BECAUSE I SEE THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT SLOWING DOWN, NOT BECAUSE I FEEL THE CAR STOPPING. CONSUMER REPORTS (MAR,2000) SAID "THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND NOT REASSURING. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME MODERATE BRAKE FADE".*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON RAINY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND PICKED UP SPEED TO 35 MPH, AND HIT TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON. BUT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING HEAD AND JAW INJURIES. SEATBELTS WERE NOT WORN AT THE TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, HAD TO APPLY BRAKES BECAUSE OF A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE LOCKED AND THE RPMS SHOT UP HIGH, AND SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR. SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME, AND IT WAS STILL LOCKED INTO THAT MODE.*AK

ON TWO OCCASIONS VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. FIRST TIME WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, AND SECOND TIME WHILE IN REVERSE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THEY WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE,LIKE METAL TO METAL . DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. (CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT USED). DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

REAR RIGHT TIRE WENT FLAT (MICHELIN RADIAL TIRE STYLE XW4.205/70R15). YH

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD APPLIED BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED HARD INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN BRAKES WOULD GRAB. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING 35MPH WITH SNOW ON THE ROAD AND COMING OFF A RAMP, TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A POLE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REDESIGNED. *AK

THERE WAS DIFFICULTY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TIGHT. IN MAY, 1999, AFTER EXTENSIVE CLUTCH USE ON A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 4TH TO 5TH OR 5TH TO 4TH. IT SEEMED TO BE OK LATER. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS WE NOTICED A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL FROM STARTING ON A HILL AND EXTENSIVE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. THE CLUTCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED IN AUGUST, 1999, BUT THE NEW CLUTCH SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE NEEDED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND TO CHANGE LANES IN BAD FREEWAY TRAFFIC. HE HAD BEEN USING THE CLUCH A LOT, BECAUSE IT WAS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM OF BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND IS VERY SCARY. THE CLUTCH CONTINUES TO SLIP AND BURN. WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET SUBARU TO BUY BACK THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. *AK

TAILGATE & THE BOTTOM OF STATION WAGON HAS A GAP BETWEEN IT WHICH IS GETTING WIDER. THE SEAL IS ALLOWING AIR TO COME IN. THE SEAL IS AROUND THE INSIDE & NOT HOLDING TIGHT. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK