2000 Subaru Outback complaints

THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR 3-5 DAYS BEFORE GOING OFF. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE FAILURE CODE FOUND WAS FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WXW-80 FOR OTHER 2000 MODEL SUBARUS, BUT IT'S FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION BUT HAS THE SAME DESIGN, PER CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 65-MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER ISN'T SURE IF THE STEERING MECHANISM FELL OFF AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER JULY OF 2002. DEALER CLAIMED COULD NOT DO REPAIRS BECAUSE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE. KELLY SUBARU, 3122 W. TENNESSEE ST., TALLAHASSEE FL., 32304 850-575-6166.*AK

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE ON SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON 2000. ORIGINAL CLUTCH REPLACED AT 7500 MILES AND FOUND TO HAVE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT, BENT FORKS.EW CLUTCH PLACED IN CAR. SHORTLY AFTER, SMELL OF BURNING, ESP. WHEN BACKING UP OR IN COLD WEATHER, WHICH LASTED FOR 1 MONTH. CLUTCH THEN FAILED PREMATURELY AFTER 40,000 MILES. MY HYPOTHESIS IS THAT THE CLUTCH LOST A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ITS LINING AND LIFE SPAN WHEN BURNING UP IN THE FIRST MONTH OF USE. NUMEROUS POSTING ON EDMUNDS.COM REGARDING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, BURNING SMELL, AND CLUTCH SHUDDER IN SUBARU OUTBACKS. MY EXPERIENCE, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER OWNERS, SUGGESTS THAT THERE IS A GENERAL DEFECT PRESENT IN SUBARU CLUTCHES FROM 2000-2002. LEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT AND CONSIDER A RECALL.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN CHANGING FROM ONE GEAR INTO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED ON A STEEP SLOPE AND PUT INTO REVERSE. THE DRIVER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ONTO THE ACCELERATOR THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS CALLED SHIFT LAG. *AK *NLM

FAILURE OF RADIATOR AT 48000 MILES. THE PLASTIC BODY SEPARATED FROM THE METAL PORTION, CAUSING AN OCCASIONAL LEAK OF COOLANT.*JB

WE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2000 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK AS SIMILARLY REPORTED IN COMPLAINT # 766462 (TRANSMISSION LEAKING FLUID, SMOKING, FAILURE). SUBARU DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE WARRANTY SERVICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WORK (2 INCIDENTS BETWEEN AUG 2002 AND MAY 2003), AND ONLY A LETTER BY US IN JUNE 2003 (NOTING PREVIOUS REPORTS IN NHTSA WEBSITE & ELSEWHERE) FINALLY CONVINCED SUBARU USA HEADQUARTERS TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM FURTHER. THE FIX SUBARU PERFORMED WAS REPLACEMENT OF A SEAL BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING, WHICH SEEMS TO LARGELY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT SMOKE ODOR STILL OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS). SUBARU USA ALSO REFUNDED ALL OUR PREVIOUS CHARGES BY THE DEALER FOR PRIOR UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIRS (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE UNDER THE WARRANTY). THERE APPEARS TO BE AN INHERENT DEFECT IN THIS TRANSMISSION (4EAT MODEL) UNDER HIGH HEAT CONDITIONS, WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORICAL TRACK RECORD IN THIS REGARD. IN ONE INCIDENCE, WE ALMOST INCURRED A SEVERE FIRE ON THE ROAD AND THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY FATAL HAZARD. NHTSA SHOULD EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM CLOSELY WITH SUBARU.*JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK (RECALL # 03V153000) *SCC *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V153000 CONCERNING THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION IN JULY 2003. DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE RECALL DEFECT. *AK *PH *JB

DEALER DOESN'T HAVE RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND SOLVENTS TO REMOVE CORROSION ON RECALL NHTSA# 03-V-153-000. CONSUMER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE JULY 2003. *PH

SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON, YEAR 2000, MILAGE 33,000 - PROBLEM: SPEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WORK ON AND OFF. THEY BOTH 'DIE' THEN THEY BOTH COME BACK ON AGAIN. ON THE FREEWAY, ONE FINDS THEMSELVES WITHOUT SPEED INFORMATION WITHOUT WARNING

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V153000, BUT A WELD ON RIGHT REAR OF REAR SUSPENSION THAT SHOULD BE RUST PROOFED ALREADY CRACKED.*AK

THE REAR LEFT TRAILING ARM BROKE IN HALF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PART REPLACED BY ROSSYLN AUTO EXPRESS SHOP. THE COST OF REPAIRS WERE OVER $400.00. SUBARU DID NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER. *AK *CB *JB

POSSIBLE DEFECT OF REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL WHICH STATED IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A "SALT BELT" AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY TO RUST-OUT AND EVENTUALLY BREAK. *PH *JB

THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME. DEALER STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX THIS RECALL. CONSUMER STATED DEALER HAS CANCELLED TWICE HIS APPOINTMENTS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V153000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME CORROSION, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SETUP TO MAKE THE REPAIRS UNTIL LATE AUGUST. ALSO, CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND GOT A RECORDING SAYING THAT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THE NUMBER WAS OUT OF SERVICE.*AK

WHILE GOING BACKWARDS INTO GARAGE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WENT THROUGH THE BACK OF THE GARAGE OFF DECK AND HIT A TREE. *AK PH *JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. *AK

CAR WAS OVERHEATING. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHANGE THE TIMING BELT AND TO INVESTIGATE THE OVERHEATING. CHANGED TIMING BELT AND BLEW SAND OUT OF RADIATOR FINS. INVESTIGATED ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THE SYMPTOMS WERE VERY SIMILAR TO A HEAD GASKET BEING BLOWN OUT IN VERY MANY CASES. THE NEXT WEEK THE RADIATOR FLUID WAS BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE OVERFLOW RESERVOIR AS DESCRIBED IN PROBLEMS FOUND ON THE WEB. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BAD.*AK

I OWN A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD, WHITE VIN [XXX]. IT HAS APPROX. 63,000 MILES AND HAS HAD FOR THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AN ANTI-FREEZE SMELL AFTER THE CAR HAS INITIALLY WARMED UP. AS IT TURNS OUT, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEAREST SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR IT'S 60,000 MILE SERVICE AND WAS DISMAYED TO RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMING ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS GONE AND NEEDED REPLACING. IN THIS DAY AN AGE OF MODERN VEHICLES, A HEAD GASKET RARELY BECOMES DEFECTIVE AT 63,000 MILES; CHECK STATISTICS!!! I BELIEVE THAT THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW WHEN SUBARU WENT TO THE 2.5L ENGINE SIZE AS MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THIS UNWARRANTED REPAIR AT SUCH AN EARLY TIME FRAME. AS THESE IRRITATED SUBARU OWNERS APPROACH THE 60,000 TO 80,000 MILE MARK AND START EXPERIENCING THESE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENTS, YOU SHOULD BECOME INUNDATED WITH COMPLAINTS. BEFORE THIS OCCURRED, I RECOMMENDED SUBARU'S TO MAY PEOPLE, BUT WITH THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR, WHICH SHOULD BE PARTLY OR WHOLLY COVERED BY SUBARU, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND A SUBARU TO ANYONE EVER. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

"FUZZY LOGIC" TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER IS DANGEROUSLY SLOW, INCONSISTENT, AND UNPREDICTABLE. SCANNING 19 INPUTS IS EXCESSIVE OVER-KILL AND REMOVES MUCH OF DRIVER'S CONTROL AND PEACE OF MIND. *NLM

THE AIR DEFLECTOR WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN THE HOOD AREA, BECAME UNATTACHED, AND FLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH A SPEED. *JB *TT

DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM

DURING A FRONT-END, LOW-SPEED COLLISION, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY SEATBELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN ME IN MY SEAT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, I BROUGHT A PROBLEM TO MY DEALERS SERVICE CENTER, IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED, AND I BELIEVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEATBELT FAILURE DURING MY ACCIDENT. *NLM

CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR HAS 36000 MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED BY THE DEALER REGULARLY. DEALER CHARGED ME $1200 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AND SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT, THAT I MUST "RIFE THE CLUTCH" OR HABITUALLY OVERLOAD THE VEHICLE, NEITHER OF WHICH IS TRUE. I SUSPECT THE CLUTCH WAS FLAWED TO BEGIN WITH. *JB

I PURCHASED NEW A 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK STATION WAGON. THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING ALREADY. TWO SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS AND TWO PRIVATE GARAGES TELL ME THE HEAD GASKETS ARE GOING IN THESE CARS LEFT AND RIGHT. THERE ARE LOTS OF ANGRY OWNERS ON THE WEB. THE HEAD GASKETS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE ENGINE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR, ARE GOING WAY TOO SOON!. *JB

NAR 3-10-03 THE CONSUMERS WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY FROM THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT. THE CONSUMER HAS ENCLOSED PICTURES OF DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. ALSO PROVIDING THAT A NOTICE OF FAILURE BE SENT TO SUBARU FOR THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. AS WELL AS MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST SUBARU. *CB *JB

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES.*JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE

2000 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON DEVELOPED ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 61, 800 MILES REQUIRING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. DEALER CLAIMED THE REASON TO BE NO COOLANT FLUSH AT THE 30,000 MILE MARK ON THE VEHICLE

MY SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON WITH 50K MILES BEGAN HAVING OCCASIONAL ENGINE SURGE AFTER THE BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY THE DEALER. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 2X AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE PROBLEM. JUST APPLYING THE BRAKE WILL KICK THE ENGINE INTO HIGH, AND THE ENGINE MUST BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE SURGE. IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME 4X IN 2 WEEKS. I HAVE THE CAR BUT WILL NOT DRIVE IT. THE DEALER IS CONSULTING WITH SUBARU. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WHICH AT PRESENT HAS NO SOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND I FEEL IMMEDIATE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AND THE PUBLIC NOTIFIED. TS

FRONT STABILIZER BAR BROKE IN TWO PLACES. TWO DEALERS HAVE SAID THIS HAPPENS OFTEN. ISN'T THAT A SAFETY PROBLEM AS IT AFFECTS HANDLING? IT BROKE RIGHT AFTER THEY WORKED ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION! DT

THE CAR SEAT IS MANUFACTURERED BY BRITAX. IT IS A ROUNDABOUT MODEL. I HAVE A 22 MONTH OLD TODDLER WHO WEIGHS 27 LBS AND IS ABOUT 32 INCHES TALL. HE CAN EASILY OPEN THE CROTCH LATCH. BRITAX MAKES AND I BOUGHT A LATCH COVER. HE CAN ALSO EASILY OPEN THE LATCH COVER. THE SEAT HAS A DESIGN DEFECT IF IT CAN BE EASILY OPENED BY A YOUNG TODDLER. DT

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH DIRT ROAD, HEARD A CLUNK UNDER THE CAR. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER IT ONLY TO FIND THE SWAY BAR BROKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAR. END LINKS AND OTHER PARTS FINE. THE THICK SWAY BAR DESIGNED TO BE STRONG BROKE. MUST INVESTIGATE. DT

WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH, THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE HT P225/60R16 (DOT UNKNOWN) TIRE EXPLODED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL AND STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING THROUGH A FIELD. TEN MONTHS LATER, THE RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE HT (DOT UNKNOWN) TIRE BLEW OUT. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, TIRE MERCHANT WOULD NOT REPLACE TIRE AND COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF BLOWOUT. THE FIRST TIRE HAD LESS THAN 12,000 MILES AND THE SECOND TIRE HAD LESS THAN 21,O00 MILES. *TT

OUTER CARRIAGE BOLT FELL OUT, INNTER CARRIAGE BOLT SHREDDED OFF DUE TO STRESS, CAR BECAME DISABLED AND WAS TOWED FROM NY TO NH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE KEPT PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND FRONT END WAS WOBBLING, CAUSED BY THE CARRIAGE BOLT THAT FELL OFF. DEALER CONTACTED.*AK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BIKE RACK DROPPED DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON DUE TO EVAPORATION LEAK FROM SYSTEM AND LOOSE GAS CAP. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SEAL WAS DAMAGED. *YH

SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THE DEALER REPLACED THE FIRST GEAR OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAUSE IT REPEATEDLY CAME OUT OF GEAR WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP INCLINES, SUCH AS IN A PARKING GARAGE. AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED, THE CAR EMITTED A VERY STRONG SMELL. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER SAID THE SEALS ON THE TRANSMISSION WERE LEAKING AND REPLACED. IT IS APPARENT THAT A PETROLEUM PRODUCT IS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND BURNING AND THE SMELL ENTERS THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DEALER SAYS I NEED TO KEEP A/C ON AND THE RECYCLE AIR BUTTON PUSHED. ISSUES UNRESOLVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE FLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL FROM FIFTH SPEED DUE TO A LOST BOLT.*AK

VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. IT WOULD USUALLY HAVE AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON AND INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK *MJ

THERE IS SLIPPAGE IN TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING, IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND WILL HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT OIL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON TOGETHER AND THEN THE POWER GOES OUT, THIS HAS OCCURRED WHEN STOPPING AND MOVING , THE PROBLEM IS STILL ON GOING. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SHOWS THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS BUT THEY CAN?T IDENTIFY THE CAUSE UNLESS IT HAPPENS IN THEIR PRESENCE. *YD

TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE BLEW WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON PARKWAY. DIDN'T FILL OUT ALL INFORMATION ON CAR SINCE IT DIDN'T APPLY AND DEALER HAS RECORD. *AK *JB *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******760752.

THE CLUTCH SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE UNABLE TO HANDLE SAN FRANCISCO (EXTREME) DRIVING CONDITIONS. I KNOW OF 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE CLUTCHES HAVE ALL FAILED AT 13,500 MILES OR LESS. WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCED CLUTCH DRIVERS IN SAN FRANCISCO. OTHER CARS DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THAT I BURNED OUT THE CLUTCH, MY FRIEND WAS TOLD A MONTH LATER THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE READJUSTED MORE FREQUENTLY IN S.F. - EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. THIS IMPLIES TO ME THAT SOMEONE HAS LOOKED INTO THIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH SYSTEM IS PROBLEMATIC. MY CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE FIXED AN ADDITIONAL 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS WORKING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, I DO NOT WANT A CAR THAT WILL NEED A NEW CLUTCH EVERY 2 YEARS, OR THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR A CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT EVERY 7.5 MONTHS. I THINK THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR DRIVERS IN S.F. OR SIMILAR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS AND REPLACED WITH A CAR THAT CAN HANDLE NORMAL DRIVING.*AK

MY SUBARU CAME STOCK WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. WHEN THE FORD/FIRESTONE INCIDENT WAS HAPPENING, THE SUBARU WEBSITE POSTED A MESSAGE THAT THE TIRES USED ON THE SUBARU'S WERE NOT IN THE RECALL. THIS MORNING, I HAD A BLOW OUT THAT CAUSED ME TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY INTO THE #3 LANE CAUSING THE TRAFFIC TO SWERVE. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE, I NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAS DELAMINATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. NO OTHER FOREIGN OBJECTS OR OTHER VISIBLE SIGNS CAN BE SEEN TO HAVE CAUSED THE BLOW OUT. IT'S PLAIN TO SEE THAT IT'S DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY INSIST THAT THE TIRES THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL FROM FORD. AND THAT I SHOULD GO TO A SUBARU DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE TIRE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225 60/16)

SWAY BAR BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER HAS PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS PULLING TO RIGHT. *AK

THIS CAR COMES WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES MADE ESPECIALLY FOR THE OUTBACK. AT ONLY 24000 MILES, I HAD A BLOWOUT IN WHICH THE COMPLETE LEFT SIDE OF THE TIRE DISINTEGRATED. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND HEARD OF THE TROUBLE WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, I CALLED THE DEALER WHO ASSURED ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE SAFE AND NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. WHEN THIS DANGEROUS INCIDENT HAPPENED TWO DAYS AGO, I WENT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER WHO TOLD ME HE COULD NOT GET THESE WILDERNESS TIRES, AND DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THEM IN HIS COMPUTER. HE WANTED TO BLAME SUBARU FOR THE FAILURE. I CALLED BOTH MY SUBARU DEALER AND THE HEAD OFFICE IN GEORGIA (SPOKE WITH MANAGER KEVIN TRIPLETT), AND HE WANTED TO BLAME FIRESTONE. THESE TIRES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, AS IT SIMPLY DISINTEGRATED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO EMAIL YOU PICTURES OR TO SHOW YOU THE TIRE IN PERSON. AFTER WARNING BOTH FIRESTONE & SUBARU OF THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, THEY WOULD ONLY AGREE TO PUT THE SAME PROBLEM TIRE ON MY CAR, AND I REFUSE TO PUT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY WITH A DEFECTIVE TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16)

WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE WAY, AND CONSUME RCANNOT DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKAGE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

PROBLEM STARTED WHEN DRIVING TO MINNESOTA FROM CALIFORNIA. LOWER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AND CAR OVER HEATED, REPLACED. LOWER THERMOSTAT WENT OUT AGAIN. CAR STILL HEATING UP FUNNY, DEALER SAYS NOTHING WRONG. TURNS OUT HEAD GASKET GONE. NEXT THE ENGINE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK, THEY PUT IN NEW BLOCK AND GAVE US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW LESS THEN A YEAR LATER CAR OVERHEATS AGAIN. SUBARU SEEMS TO BE DOING NOTHING TO HELP.*AK