2002 Subaru Outback complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY SHUDDERED WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO TWO DEALERS BUT NEITHER DEALER COULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

SINCE NEW, THE CLUTCH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS SLIPPED WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO START SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC AND WILL EVENTUALLY WEAR DOWN PARTS UNTIL THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS NOT MADE ANY STEPS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. MY LOCAL DEALER CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE CLUTCH SLIP AND REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

IN COLD SEVERE WEATHER BRAKES SHUTTER. RECALL 02V079000 WAS ISSUED; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH COMPARTMENT. ALSO, HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO PUT A TOWEL AT THE WHEEL TO HIDE THE KEYS HOLDER. *AK

2002 LLBEAN OUTBACK ROTOR & BRAKE PROBLEMS. 8/29/02 7,681 MILES--VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES--DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS. 12/30/02 12,464 MILES---VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES & SCRATCHY NOISE WHEN APPLIED BRAKES.---DEALER RESURFACED FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED FRONT BRAKES (NO PAD LEFT). 6/4/03 20,309--VIBRATION WHEN APPLIED BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS & FRONT BRAKES. 10/4/03 25,460--BROUGHT CAR IN FOR OIL CHANGE & DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES. FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. DEALER RESURFACED. *JB

2002 SUBARU OUTBACK H6 AWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION -- WARPED AND GLAZED FRONT ROTORS AT RELATIVELY LOW MILES (25,600), REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF PADS AND TURNING OF ROTORS. -- DEALER INITIALLY CLAIMED WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, BUT AFTER REVIEWING SERVICE RECORD WITH SUBARU, OFFERED WARRANTY REPAIR. I HAD FREQUENTLY COMPLAINED OF A SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING AND RECENTLY BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHILE BRAKING (SINCE LAST TIRE ROTATION). THIS IS THE FIRST INDICATION FROM DEALER THAT THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. CAR MOSTLY DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY WITH INFREQUENT BRAKING. *JB

WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE WHEEL WOULD GRIND AND MAKE A NOISE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVEN TIMES SINCE DECEMBER 2002, AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE NOISE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AND OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS WASHED. *SCC *JB

WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND EXPERIENCE SUDDEN DECELERATION. WHEN REMOVING PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE STALLS. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, AND THERE IS NO A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER RECUT ROTORS FRONT & REAR AT APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MI. PROBLEM RECURRED AT APPROX 17,000 MILES. DEALER RECUT FRONT ROTORS.*AK

NHTSA# ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND LOWER. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THERE WAS A VIBRATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISC BRAKE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL SEPARATION (SIZE#P22560R16 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT#). *NLM

CAR LEAKS INTO CABIN THROUGH MOON ROOFS (I SUPPOSE). WATER POURS THROUGH SEAT BELT RECOIL IN ROOF OVER CARGO AREA.

I PURCHASED A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK FROM OLDHAM'S SUBARU OF NICHOLASVILLE, KY IN FEBURARY 2003. ON SAT. MARCH 22, 2003, I NOTICED THE CAR HESITATING DURING INITIAL ACCELERATION AFTER A STOP AND THEN WITH ACCELERATION AFTER SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). ON SUN., MARCH 23, 2003 THE PROBLEM BECAME MUCH MORE SEVERE. THE CAR WOULD LURCH INTO INTERSECTIONS AFTER A STOP, AND THEN HESITATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL, THEN WOULD LURCH OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. THIS NEARLY CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND I HAD MY 2 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. I FINALLY DECIDED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DROVE THE CAR THE NEXT TWO DAYS FOR 7 MILES, THEN 6 MILES, AND SAID THAT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM FOR A WEEK, BUT I AM NOW HAVING THE SAME HESITATION PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IT IS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PROBLEM (WEB RESEARCH) REVEALS THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SUBARU'S MADE IN THE LATE 90'S TO THE PRESENT HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS, WITH NO HELP FROM THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. I HOPE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN BE INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED BEFORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A TREE. NEITHER THE FRONT DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM

WHEN THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE CAR SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICE THE SEAT BELT WHICH WAS MOUNTED IN THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE HAD CUT ACROSS HALF OF THE WIDTH OF THE BELT BY THE SEAT BELT HOUSING, WHICH CAUSED A TEAR, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY. *TS *JB

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO FISH-TAIL, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES. *JB *TS

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*JB

THE DEALER TOOK TOO LONG TO PEFORM RECALL #02V079000 REGARDING THE MASTER CYLINDER.*JB

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB *TS

NHTSA#02-V-282-000. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CAR HAS COMPLETELY STALLED TWICE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.

MASTER CYLINDER HAS A BAD LEAKAGE, CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK. PH...*AK

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *NLM *SCC

A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE REAR HARNESS CAUSED THE TAIL LIGHTS NOT TO WORK ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. NLM

WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE SET, CAR ROLLED INTO BRICK GATE POST AND INTO STREET, JUMPED CURB, DOOR PANEL BROKE OFF, DOOR DAMAGED. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THE LOCATION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE RECEPTACLE IS SO LOW, THAT IT IS VERY DIFFCULT TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT INTO THE RECEPTACLE .CONSUMER AFRAID THAT IN THE WINTER, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BUCKLE UP, DUE TO MORE CLOTHING.CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT TOTALLY. WHEN I LOOKED IN THE VEHICLE MANUEL I FOUND THAT FAILURE OF THE WIPERS WAS NOT AN UNEXPECTED EVENT. MANUEL SAYS IT CAN HAPPEN IF WIPERS ARE RUN ON A DRY WINDSHIELD. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WITH MY WIPERS; THEY HAD BEEN RUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN A DOWNPOUR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR BUT AFTER RUNNING MY WIPERS AGAIN IN A DOWNPOUR I DETECTED A BURNT SMELL AND FIGURE IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE WIPER MOTOR GOES AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT 70 MPH.

BUG DEFLECTOR "FLEW OFF" WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75MPH. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT DEFLECTOR COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO OTHER MOTORISTS.*AK

ENGINE STALLS ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. AT TIMES THE ENGINE WILL DIE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER. DEALER STATES THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL OF THEM ARE 2002 MODELS. DEALER STATES THA TVEHICLE CANNON BE FIXED AT THIS TIME DUE TO A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT TO DO. THIS OCCURED THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST 2002. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2002 AND STATED THAT VEHICLE STILL COULD NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINEERS IN JAPAN WERE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM BUT IT WILL BE AT LEAST TWO MORE MONTHS BEFORE IT WOULD BE KNOWN WHAT IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK

BRIDGESTONE, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, MOUNTED ON A 2002, SUBARU, OUTBACK, 2628 MILES. TIRES HAVE BLOWNOUT TWICE WITHIN FIRST WEEK ON RIGHT REAR, AND OTHER TIRES ON LEFT FRONT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK DOT# UNKNOWN. *TT

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE AND LEFT FRONT FIRESTONE TIRE AND WHEEL CAME OFF.*AK

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SKIPS OR SHUDDERS IN 1ST GEAR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PULL FORWARD OR INTO TRAFFIC AT SLOW SPEEDS WITHOUT STALLING THE CAR. THE ONLY OPTION IS TO REV THE ENGINE HIGHER THAN NORMALLY TO INSURE CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT WHICH THEN CAUSE THE CLUTCH TO BURN. SOMETIMES EVEN THIS DOESN'T WORK. IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. DEALER SAID IT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED SO IT MUST BE OUR DRIVING, HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUALS FOR 20 YEARS AND THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SCARY CAR TO PULL OUT INTO HEAVY OR FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.*AK

REAR LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL.*AK

I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALER, BEEN TO SUBARU DEALER 3 TIMES WHO CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING TO ME. FEEL IT IS EITHER MASTER CYLINDER OR ABS, GIVEN LOW MILEAGEA AND AGE OF CAR. POOR BRAKE DESIGN IF COMPUTER CANNOT PICK UP THIS FAULT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN SHE APPLIED BRAKES, BUT PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE SLID.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE BOUGHT THE CAR. HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY ALL STATE IT IS PERFORMING "NORMALLY". THE A/C ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR CONSISTENTLY IN THE COLDEST AIR SETTING, IF YOU MOVE THE DIAL UP PAST THE LOWEST SETTING, WHILE STILL IN BLUE "ZONE" YOU WILL START GETTING WARM AIR. I THINK THERE IS A TBS ON IT, BUT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME BY EITHER DEALER NOR SUBARU. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 MONTHS THAT THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ON A WET, BUT TOTALLY ICE-FREE PAVED ROAD. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO BE REPAIRED AT SUBARU DEALER (2 DIFFERENT ONES) BUT BOTH TIMES WAS STATED HUNTER'S INVOICE THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CUSTOMER'S (ME) CONCERN, SO NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO FIX THE BRAKES. BRAKES DEFINITELY FEEL SPONGY WHEN BRAKING WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, BUT BRAKES FEEL GOOD AND SOLID WHEN GOING IN REVERSE. LAST FRIDAY, I TOOK MY CAR TO PRESTIGE, ON FEB 8TH TO ADDRESS THE SECOND TIME THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED. SERVICE MANAGER, DAVE LINDSEY SAID HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE BRAKES FAILING AGAIN AND SO WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY BRAKES. I VOICED MY CONCERNED THAT I WAS VERY AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY WITH THESE WEIRD BRAKES AND HE EMPHATICALLY TOLD ME HE WOULDN'T FIX THE BRAKES UNTIL THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN!!! WHEN I WENT INTO PRESTIGE'S SALESROOM TO GET A 800 NUMBER TO CONTACT SUBARU TO LET THEM KNOW MY BRAKES HAD INDEED FAILED AGAIN, DAVE LINDSEY MARCHED INTO SALES ROOM OF PRESTIGE SUBARU AND DEMANDED I LEAVE THE SUBARU PRESTIGE PREMISES AT ONCE. HE NEVER EVEN GAVE ME THE WORK ORDER/INVOICE SHOWING THAT HE HAD EVEN LOOKED AT MY CAR FOR THE FAILED BRAKES!!! I THINK THAT PRESTIGE SUBARU NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATE. THERE IS A VERY STEEP HILL YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN IN ORDER TO EXIT THE PRESTIGE SUBARU PREMISES AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TRAVELING DOWN IT, AFTER HAVING NO WORK DONE ON MY BRAKES FOLLOWING MY BRAKE FAILURE ON FEBRUA

THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WASHER SQUIRTS WATER OVER THE HOOD INSTEAD OF ON THE WINDSHIELD. *JG

WHEN MY VEHICLES BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED WITH UNEVEN SURFACE TRACTION ON THE LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF THE WHEELS, THE ABS SYSTEM DELAYS AND DOES NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES FOR 1 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENED TODAY ON A SMOOTH SUBURBAN STREET WITH WATER CONTACTING ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE WHEELS. WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE FOR AN UPCOMING STOP SIGN, THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AT ALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT SEEMS IT IS AN UNACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE MODEL YEAR 2002 SUBARU IMPREZZA WRX CARS. THERE IS A DISCUSSION ON THIS ISSUE ON AN OWNERS CLUB BULLITEN BOARD CALLED THE I-CLUB (WWW.I-CLUB.COM). I DID NOT BELIEVE IN THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY FIRST HAND.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH ENGINE RUNNING, EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT ENGAGED. AND IT SUDDENLY WENT FORWARD, ACROSS A FIELD, INTO TREES/ FLIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $8500.00 NO INJURIES.*AK