2005 Subaru Outback complaints

WIRING LOCATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE HATCH DOOR AND BODY (IN THE PROTECTIVE BOOT) WAS SEVERED AS A RESULT OF POOR QUALITY WIRING AND DESIGN. WIRES WERE STRESS-SEVERED AND NEARLY SEVERED BY NORMAL OPERATION OF OPENING/CLOSING THE WAGON REAR DOOR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AS DISCOVERED BY VISITING ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A FAILURE RELATED THE MANUFACTURER'S TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. THE SPECIFICS OF THE FAILURE EXPERIENCED WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

CAR WAS PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2014. THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME DRIVING THIS CAR IN WET, SNOWY DRIVING CONDITIONS. I HAD 5 PASSENGERS AND TWICE WE HAD THE REAR END OF THE CAR KIND OF BREAK LOOSE. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SWINGING TO THE SIDE. IT SCARED ME AND THE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. I HAVE NOT NOTICED IT WHILE DRIVING ALONE. I ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED UNDER INFLATED OR POOR TIRES, BUT WHEN I CHECKED THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY WERE NOT BAD. I WENT TO A SUBARU WEBSITE LOOKING FOR TIRE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE ARE OVER 1,000 POSTINGS REGARDING "GHOSTWALKING" ON 2005-2009 SUBARU OUTBACKS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE BUT IT APPEARS TO DESCRIBE MY CONDITIONS. *JS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHED. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN ENGAGED. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS (AND COMMON IN SUBARUS) MALFUNCTION. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THAT OCCURS WHERE THE HATCHBACK OPENS UP. THE WIRES FRAY AND BREAK FROM NORMAL USAGE OF THE HATCHBACK, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, DEFOGGER AND BACKUP LIGHTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE A NUMEROUS BLOGS AND VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET SHOWING THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD BE RECALL ITEM FOR ALL 3RD GENERATION SUBARU OUTBACKS (2005-2009). *TR

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DANGEROUSLY DIM, BARELY LIGHTING UP THE ROAD. BOTH THE FOG LAMPS AND ALSO THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WELL, BUT THE LOW BEAM LIGHT (WHICH IS PRODUCED FROM A DIFFERENT BULB THAN THE HIGH BEAM) IS VERY INADEQUATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH HIGHER INTENSITY BULBS. THIS OFFERED LITTLE IF ANY INCREASE IN LIGHTING. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED TO ASSURE THE PROPER VOLTAGE IS BEING SUPPLIED. GOOGLEING THIS PROBLEM HAS TOLD ME I'M NOT ALONE. OTHER SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE. HERE'S WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DETERMINED TO BE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN INNER REFLECTIVE CAVITY IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS HOUSED. THE REFLECTION PROCESS WITHIN THIS HOUSING MAGNIFIES THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB. THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A REFLECTIVE PRISM INSIDE A LIGHTHOUSE. IN THE CASE OF OUR SUBARU, THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT BULB HOUSING HAS EITHER WORN AWAY OR BECOME CLOUDED TO THE DEGREE THAT THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULBS NO LONGER REFLECTS ADEQUATELY TO PRODUCE A BRIGHT LIGHT. THESE HEADLIGHTS NEED TO EITHER BE REPLACED OR PERHAPS SOMEHOW REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, OPENED UP AND THEN REPAIRED. IN EITHER CASE THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO THE DEGREE IN WHICH MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO INCUR THE COST, THEREBY CONTINUING TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH UNSATISFACTORY HEADLIGHTS. MY QUESTIONS: IS T

MY SUBARU (AND OTHERS '05-'09) HAVE SERIOUS COMPUTER ISSUES CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I GOT THE CAR SPECIAL EDITION OF CONSUMER REPORTS AND THE ARTICLE BELOW IS NO JOKE. SUBARU OUTBACK '05-'09 HAVE GOTTEN TERRIBLE REVIEWS FOR THE FOLLOWING: MAJOR ENGINE ISSUE AND DRIVE ISSUES AND MORE. THE DEALER AND HEADQUARTERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE A SERIOUS NEED FOR A RECALL. WHEN DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE CAR WILL STALL OUT THE NEXT DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CAR RAN BUT THEN STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD EVENTUALLY AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $200 FOR DIAGNOSIS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE I NEED TO GET A NEW BATTERY ($225 AT SUBARU WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD AND $119 AT FIRESTONE), HOWEVER, FIRESTONE DOES NOT HAVE THE MEMORY STICK SUBARU DOES AND I RUN A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AFTER THE WORK IS DONE AT A NON SUBARU DEALERSHIP. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR HEADQUARTERS WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ARTICLE THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS TOO. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD HERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED AND SUBARU MUST BE WAITING FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. I AM NOT WILLING TO PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE ANYMORE BY DRIVING THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING O

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, WHICH REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WIRES PASSING THROUGH REAR HATCH TO REAR LIFT GATE CRACK AND BREAK FROM OPENING AND CLOSING. REAR LIFT GATE LOCK NOT WORKING, WIRE IS BROKEN IN TWO. WIRES FOR REAR LIGHTS ARE CRACKING AND ABOUT TO SEVER AS WELL. *TR

STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN AND AROUND ENGINE, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO BELOW 60 DEGREES (F). *TR

JUST AFTER GETTING OFF I-43 NEAR SHEBOYGAN ON FRONTAGE ROAD MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND NO ACCELERATION ON GAS PEDAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO A SHOULDER. TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE I CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. STARTED THE CAR JUST FINE BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND CRUISE WAS BLINKING. SUBARU MECHANIC READ ERROR CODE P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH 'D'/'E' VOLTAGE RATIONALITY. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY BAD CONTACTS ON TPS SENSOR BY THE GAS PEDAL. HE RESET THE CODE AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AGAIN FOR ALMOST A WEEK. I AM AFRAID OF IT GOING OFF AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE SUBARU TAKES ACTION ON THIS. *TR

SUBARU OUTBACK 2005: THE WIRE HARNESS TO THE REAR TAILGATE FAILED AND SHORTED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

FIRST EXPERIENCED WHAT IS NOW BEING CALLED GHOSTWALKING. REAR OF THE VEHICLE WANTS TO BREAK LOOSE AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 25 MPH. CAR HAS SINCE BEEN ALIGNED AND 4 NEW HIGH END SNOW TIRES INSTALLED AND IS NO BETTER. *TR

ON DECEMBER 18, 2014 THE DAY WAS CLEAR; THERE HAD BEEN NO RAIN OR SNOW THAT WEEK. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. AT THE POINT OF THE ISSUE I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THUS HAD USED MY BRAKES AT AN AVERAGE OF 12-18 TIMES SINCE I HAD LEFT THE HOUSE THAT MORNING. TRAFFIC WAS MAYBE MOVING AT 20-25 MILES AN HOUR, STOP AND GO. AT ONE POINT I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES AT A NORMAL PRESSURE AND THEY STARTED TO PULSE IN THE 'ANTI-LOCK' FASHION. THE PULSES WERE EXCEPTIONALLY LONG, BETWEEN BRAKING (PULSING), NOTHING LIKE I HAD EVER EXPERIENCE BEFORE WITH THIS CAR OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER I KEPT MY FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE AND DID NOT TRY TO PULSE IT MYSELF. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD ABOUT 1 AND + CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN US, AGAIN ONLY ROLLING AND ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT GET THE CAR STOPPED. THE COLLISION WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG ON EITHER CARS. THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE IN FRONT HAD NEARLY NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER, HOWEVER DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE FORD'S BUMPER TO MY GRILL, MY REPAIRS WERE $5,534.67. MY FEAR IS IT HAPPENING AGAIN. DUE TO THE MAKE OF THE CAR MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN'T ACCESS THE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THUS THEY WILL NOT BE PART OF MY COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE FILED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA, FILED 3/24/14. I DONE RESEARCH ON THE SUBRAU'S ABS SYSTEM. I FOUND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCONECTING THEIR ABS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. INCLUDING FINDING YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO DO IT. THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUS IF

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT AND MY OUTBACK ACTED AS THOUGH I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE MORE I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE LESS IT RESPONDED. IF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HADN'T NOTICED, THEY WOULD HAVE HIT ME. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT IF OFF FOR AWHILE, IT STARTED BUT DIDN'T RUN CORRECTLY. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY HAULED IT 90 MILES TO THEIR SHOP. THE REPLACED THE FOOT PEDAL SENSOR AND IT WORKED OK UNTIL THE LAST 2 WEEKS AND IT IS ACTING LIKE IT DID 2 YEARS AGO. AS I VISIT WITH OTHER OWNERS, THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BUT DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION AND A PERMANENT FIX FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT DO TO THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. *TR

LOW BEAMS REPLACE SEVERAL TIME, REPLACED BOTH RECENTLY AND BOTH WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME IN THE DARK ON THEY WAY TO WORK. LIGHTS IN DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY FLASHING ON AND OFF, ABS, BATTERY, BRAKE. SPEEDOMETER JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. BEEN HAPPENING OVER A MONTH OR SO. VERY UPSET CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING IN HEAVY FLOW RUSH HOUR MULTI-LANE TRAFFIC AT AROUND 65 MPH AND AT MERGING POINT OF MULTI HIGHER EXCHANGE WITH NEAR ZERO SHOULDER OR STOPPING LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST RESPONSE FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I MANAGE TO COAST TO A STOP JUST BETWEEN THE TRIANGLE SPACE SEPARATING TWO OF THE MAJOR HIGHWAYS VARYING TWO SEPARATE DIRECTION WITH VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEED ON BOTH SIDES (NEARLY GETTING SMASHED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO THE ONLY POSSIBLE YET DANGEROUS PLACE TO STOP). THE CAR REMAIN IDLING BUT VERY LIMP; AFRAID TO VENTURE TO CONTINUE TO THE NEXT EXIT BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE NO SHOULDER AREA TO PULL OVER, I CALLED FOR HELP THINKING THE CAR HAD RAN OUT OF GAS AND WAS JUST RUNNING ON FUME. AFTER ENDURING SEVERAL MINUTES OF NEAR DEATH MOMENTS OF BEING CRASHED INTO BY ON-COMING VEHICLES AT HIGH SPEED MERGING TRAFFIC COMING FROM A CURVING ROAD, I DANGEROUSLY VENTURED TO OPEN DOORS INTO FLOWING TRAFFIC TO FILL THE TANK ESCAPING DEATH MANY TIMES. THE CAR STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO GET OFF HIGHWAY TO FILL TANK. SAME LIMP PEDAL REPEATED AGAIN TWO DAYS LATER COMING OFF A TWO LANE {TWO-WAY) BRIDGE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO SHOULDER. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE END OF THE BRIDGE TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING WITHOUT BEING PLOWED BY THE HEAVY TRAFFIC AROUND. OBD READING OF THE CAR INDICATE P2138 POINTING TO FAULTY FLY-BY-WIRE DEFECT IN THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR WHICH IS PART OF THE ACCELERATOR ASSEMBLY. I MANAGE TO ESCAPE DEATH WITH THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I JUST

I BEGAN TO SMELL THE ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE AS THE TEMPERATURES BECAME CONSISTENTLY IN THE SINGLE TO SUB-ZERO RANGE. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY SUBARU DEALER FOR JAN. 3RD. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL LINES AND CLAMPS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $500 (AFTER AN ~ $300 COMPENSATION). I REBUTTED AND ASKED SOA TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING AS THIS SEEMS LIKE A FUNDAMENTAL ENGINEERING/DESIGN FLAW AND IT IS ALSO THE 2ND TIME THAT I HAVE HAD TO MAKE THIS REPAIR (FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD ~40,000 TO 50,000 MILES ON IT)- HAD TO REPLACE THE INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL (PER DEALER). THEY HAVE DECLINED TO COMPENSATE ME FURTHER AND CLAIM THE ISSUE IS AGE RELATED. WHEN I ASKED (SOA) IF THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR NEWER SUBARUS, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW. I ASKED IF THEY DID NOT KNOW OR COULDN'T SAY AND THE RESPONDED "BOTH". BOTTOM-LINE: FUEL LEAKS, OF THIS NATURE DUE TO POOR DESIGN, SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NONE-THE-LESS PAY FOR. *TR

MY VEHICLE HAS STARTED TO LEAK FUEL AFTER COLD STARTS IN COLDER WEATHER (BELOW 50 DEGREES F). THE ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN IS ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A HEADACHE. ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP IT DOES DISSIPATE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS FUEL LINES LEAKING UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WITH PARTS AND LABOR THE BILL IS ALMOST $1000. AFTER DOING SOME "RESEARCH" ONLINE IT APPEARS THAT THIS A MORE WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH SUBARU'S, IT EVEN RESULTED IN A RECALL OF SOME WRXS IN SOME STATES... I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SUBARU IS NOT ISSUING A TSB OR RECALL ON OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. *TR

REAR WIPER FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS MULTIPLE BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE DOOR HINGES. APPEARS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION BECOMES HARDENED AND BRITTLE, AND WILL BREAK INSTEAD OF FLEXING. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WIRES IN THE HARNESS THAT ARE SHOWING BARE WIRE BUT HAVE NOT YET BROKEN. THIS IS WHAT ALL THE HARNESS ENABLES AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL: REAR WIPER MOTOR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT REAR GATE LATCH SWITCH REAR GATE LOCK ACTUATOR REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT RH REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT LH *TR

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE FREEWAY, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE "CRUISE" LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AT HIGH IDLE BUT SPEED AND RPM WERE NOT MAINTAINED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOP. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS RUNNING AT 2200 RPM. AFTER A BRIEF STOP AND INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE NORMALLY TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE. I SCANNED THE OBD II CODE (DTC CODE) AND FOUND P2138 - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. NO INJURIES, BUT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUE. HAS RECURRED ONE TIME SINCE. *TR

VEHICLE GHOSTWALKING WHILE DRIVING 40-45MPH IN A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. MULTIPLE OTHER VERIFIED ISSUES FROM 2005-2009 OUTBACK VEHICLES EXHIBIT THE SAME SYMPTOMS. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CANNOT SAFELY TRAVEL ABOVE 45MPH WITHOUT LOSING CONTROL. SUBARU HAS NOT OFFICIALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM OR PROVIDED A SOLUTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THE REAR WIPER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. AFTER CHECKING AN ONLINE OWNERS FORUM I FOUND THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FUNCTIONS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE SUCH AS INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR WIPERS INOPERABLE, AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE DEGRADATION OF WIRE INSULATION AND BREAKAGE OF WIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED MY OWN VEHICLE HAS A SEVERED WIRE LOCATED IN THE ACCORDION BOOT ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE NEAR THE HINGE FOR THE LIFT GATE. THIS COULD RESULT IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. AS WITH ANY FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING THERE IS ALSO A RISK FOR FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY POWER TRAIN SINCE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. I HAVE DONE BOTH CV AXLES TWICE. THE LAST TIME THE CONTROL ARMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN TWICE. THE SHOP I TOOK MY CAR TO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS SAME ISSUE IN 4 OTHER SUBARU'S OF THE SAME YEAR. DURING REPAIR MY DRIVE KNUCKLES BROKE. I HAVE SPEND THOUSAND ON JUST MY POWER TRAIN. BETWEEN SUBARU DEALERSHIP, BURT BROTHER, AND PREMIER AUTO, I WANT TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT AND ASK YOU TO LOOK INTO THESE ISSUE. ALL OF THESE COMPANIES HAVE ADVISED ME TO PLACE THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT, UNDER NORMAL USAGE, THE VEHICLE'S LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS FAILED. THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO A BREAK IN A CONDUCTOR (WIRE) CONTAINED IN A WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR HATCH THROUGH A RUBBER BELLOWS. ONCE THE BELLOWS WAS RETRACTED, THE BROKEN WIRE WAS FOUND ALONG WITH TWELVE (12) OTHER WIRES THAT WERE ALL NEARLY BROKEN: THEIR INSULATION WAS CRACKED AND SEVERAL WIRES ULTIMATELY BROKE COMPLETELY UPON FURTHER FLEXING. THESE OTHER WIRES FED THE BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ON THE REAR HATCH. IT APPEARS THAT THE INSULATION ON THIS WIRE DOES NOT HOLD UP IN THIS ENVIRONMENT AND WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL IN THE COURSE OF SEVERAL YEARS. THIS POSES A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE VEHICLES REAR LIGHTS (TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC.) CAN FAIL AT ANY MOMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED TWO YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE AND THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE THIRD ENGINE WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 6/7/2013. 2ND ATTEMPT ON 6/11/2013 FAILED. *KB

FROM AN INTERSECTION, I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND UPON COMPLETING THE TURN, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND THE PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO QUICKLY TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE GAS PEDAL WHEN PUSHED DOWN ALL THE WAY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND DID NOT MAKE THE REVVING SOUND. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME SINCE PURCHASING THIS NEW VEHICLE IN 2005. IT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE OFTEN NOW. *TR

LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE ON EXPRESSWAY WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM ON-RAMP ALMOST CAUSING COLLISION WHILE TRYING TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE ONCE ON SHOULDER, CAR WAS REVVING AT 3300 RPMS. PLACED VEHICLE IN PARK AND TURNED SWITCH TO OFF. STARTED CAR TO FIND THE THROTTLE STILL REVVING TO 3300 RPMS AND TURNED OFF AGAIN. WAITED 5-MINUTES AND STARTED CAR AGAIN WITH THE THROTTLE AT NORMAL IDLE. DROVE CAR 15-MILES AND THE CRUISE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF. HAPPENED IN RAINY AND COLD WEATHER. *TR

MY BACK UP LIGHTS AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. FOUND THE WIRES BETWEEN THE LIGHT GATE AND BODY OF CAR WERE BREAKING ONE BY ONE. ALSO MY ANTENNA WIRES WERE BROKEN ON OTHER SIDE SAME LOCATION. WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS. WIRES USUALLY DON'T WEAR OUT LIKE THIS I WOULDN'T THINK. *TR

SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5XT. 2005 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & I COULD HEAR WHISTLING OR WHOOSING SOUNDS FROM ENGINE AREA. TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR PLACE SLOWLY,ASAP & THERE IT SITS. HAS 155,000 MILES ON IT & I MAINTAIN & LOVE MY CAR! THE GEARS IN THE TURBO 'BROKE APART' & LEFT SHARDS OF METAL IN OIL PAN & AT THIS TIME WHO KNOWS WHERE ELSE. WAS HOPING THERE WAS A RECALL AS I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLES & IT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER ERROR. *TR

ON APPROXIMATELY 10 OCCASIONS RIGHT AFTER A RAIN WHEN I START UP THE CAR THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND THE CAR RUNS ROUGHLY WITH LITTLE POWER. AFTER A SHORT TIME THE CAR POWER RETURNS BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ONCE THE LIGHT GOES OUT THE CAR THEN RUNS NORMAL UNTIL THE NEXT RAINSTORM. IT THEN DOES THE SAME ALL OVER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A SLIGHTLY SNOWY/SLIPPERY ROAD WITH LIGHT SNOW FALLING, IT FELT LIKE THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS SPINNING OUT AND I WAS HEADING OFF THE ROAD. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH IN ORDER TO STAY IN MY LANE. EVERYONE ELSE WAS FLYING PAST ME. I HAVE SINCE HAD MANY OCCASIONS WHERE THESE SAME CONDITIONS CAUSED THE SAME EFFECTS WITH THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO WORSEN WHEN I HAVE PASSENGERS OR ANY EXTRA WEIGHT IN THE CAR. WHEN THE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM EXIST, I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR, BUT MUST RENT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR BORROW SOMEONE ELSE'S CAR. WE HAVE OWNED OTHER SUBARU OUTBACKS OF 1998 OR EARLIER WITH NO PROBLEMS IN SNOW. NUMEROUS TIMES I BROUGHT THIS PROBLEM UP WITH SUBARU CORPORATION OF AMERICA AND MY DEALERSHIP AND EVERYONE DENIES THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I'M TOTALLY FRUSTRATED!! *TR

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON 91 TO VERMONT THIS CAR HANDLED GREAT IN SNOW, . ON THE OTHER HAND THE RETURN TRIPS THE ROADS WERE PLOWED PACKED SNOW IT WAS LIKE THE REAR END WAS ON ICE SKATES(OR GHOST WALKING} WHATEVER YOU CALL IT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT WILL SCARE THE [XXX]OUT OF YOU. THE FIRST COUPLE TIMES IT HAPPENED, I HAD EVERY EXCUSE WHY IT WASN'T THE CAR, I THOUGHT THE STOCK TIRES WERE SHOT, SO I BOUGHT 4 BRAND NEW DUNLOP SNOW TIRES. I HOPED PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED, CAR HANDLED EVEN BETTER IN SNOW SAME ON PACKED SNOW/ICE. THOUGHT MAYBE THE THULE BOX WAS CATCHING WIND, REMOVED THULE BOX. PROBLEM DID NOT GET BETTER. I BEGAN SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR ISSUES ONLINE AND CAME ACROSS MANY SUGGESTIONS THAT STOCK SUSPENSION SUCKED, WHICH I KINDA NEW, SO I REPLACED SUSPENSION WITH SUPPOSEDLEY THE BEST AVAILABLE KYB HOPED THAT AFTER THAT INVESTMENT PROBLEM WOULD BE SOLVED, I WAS WRONG AGAIN. AFTER DEEPER INVESTIGATION ONLINE I LEARNED OF GHOSTWALKING. IF I HAD BOUGHT A CHEVY CAVALIER OR FORD TAURUS OR ANY OTHER PIECE OF CRAP THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT TO HANDLE SAID CONDITIONS IT'S ONE THING BUT FOR A CAR THAT EITHER ENDORES OR IS ENDORSED BY THE US SKI TEAM, SKI PATROL THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS DRIVING UP A STRAIGHT AWAY IT HAD RAINED EARLIER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 I THE LIMIT IS 45 AND THE REAR END SLIPPED OUT AND THE CAR BEGAN GHOSTWALKING. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY DAUGHTER IN THIS CAR THAT I HOPED TO ONE DAY GIVE HER. I OWNED A 95 OUTBACK AND HAD NONE OF THE ABOVE PRO

OUR SUBARU STARTED WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS "GHOST WALKING". MILD BUT NOTICEABLY LAST WINTER, SEVERE AND CONSTANT THIS WINTER (2013). ON ICY OR SNOW PACKED ROADS, THE VEHICLE'S REAR END MOVES OR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. SPEED FROM 25 MPH UP TO 45 MPH. CAN'T GO FASTER DUE TO TERRAIN AND ROADS ANYWAY. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, DRIVING ON HARD-PACKED SNOW AND/OR ICE/GLAZE ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE FOUND IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT TRAFFIC SPEEDS WITHOUT THE REAR END LOSING GRIP AND SLIDING SIDE TO SIDE. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S VERY WINDY, AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL. EXCEPT THAT IT'S NOT WINDY. THE CAR JUST SEEMS TO LOSE TRACTION IN THE REAR WHEELS. WE'VE HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 30 MPH WHILE SEMI-TRUCKS, REGULAR FWD AND EVEN RWD VEHICLES BLEW BY US. I'VE DRIVEN IN THESE WINTRY CONDITIONS FOR 35 YEARS WITHOUT THIS SORT OF ISSUE. I'VE OWNED A 1997 OUTBACK AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF ISSUE. BUT THIS 2005 IS SCARY IF THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT (WRONG). THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD AND WHILE I LOVE THE CAR IN MANY OTHER WAYS I WILL PROBABLY NEED TO GET RID OF IT. *TR

I AM THE THIRD OWNER SO AFTER MY PROBLEMS, I RESEARCHED TO LEARN THE FIRST OWNER COULDN'T MAINTAIN TIRE LIFE; SUBARU REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AND KEPT TRYING REALIGNMENT FOR HER. THE SECOND OWNER INFORMED ME HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN NEW TIRE LIFE, NEVER ACKNOWLEDGING TO ME THAT THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND A HAZARD TO YOUR LIFE. BEING THE THIRD OWNER, I NEVER THOUGHT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT IT COULD BE AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH A COMPANY LIKE SUBARU, NOT IDENTIFIED OR RECALLED. I HAVE LEARNED THE CAR IS UNSAFE AND AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE HAVE LEARNED THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE RAISED REAR SUSPENSION. I HAVE THE SUBARU RECEIPTS FROM FORMER TWO OWNERS (THEY WERE RELATED) AND OBVIOUSLY SUBARU IS NEGLIGENT IN NOT IDENTIFYING THE ISSUE AND REPORTING IT. TWO DIFFERENT SHOPS HAVE ASSURED ME IT IS NOT BALL JOINTS, OR SUSPENSION, ETC. I SPENT $750 ON THE REAR END AND NEW ALIGNMENT AT THE SPECIALTY SPRING AND SUSPENSION SHOP AND THOSE TIRES SEEM TO BE WEARING EVENLY. THE FRONT TIRES ARE CUPPED ON THE OUTSIDE SEVERELY IN SIX MONTHS. THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. *TR

THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS ON ICY ROADS. ON A RECENT TRIP WHEN ENCOUNTERING ICE, THE REAR END WOULD FISHTAIL UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL SPEED WAS REDUCED BELOW 30 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED IN A STRAIGHT LINE. ALL OTHER CARS WERE STILL DOING SPEED LIMIT (60) WITHOUT PROBLEMS AND WE WERE A HAZARD FISHTAILING AT 30. A TRUCK JACKKNIFED TRYING TO AVOID US. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. THE CONDITION IS CALLED GHOST WALKING AND IS WIDELY REPORTED HERE AND ON OTHER WEBSITES. THESE ARE DANGEROUS CARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, FLAT AND LEVEL ICE-COVERED NORTHERN INDIANA ROAD AT 35 MPH, MY 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK XT LTD FISHTAILED (REAR OVER-STEER) REPEATEDLY. THIS FELT AS IF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS BEING QUICKLY PUSHED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. (THIS IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS "GHOSTWALKING" AND IS UNMISTAKABLE ONCE EXPERIENCED.) THERE WERE TWO AVERAGE WEIGHT ADULTS IN THE FRONT SEATS AND ONE YOUNG ADULT (135 LBS) IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED A FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENT TWO YEARS AGO AND DOES NOT EXHIBIT ANY ALIGNMENT-RELATED ISSUES ON DRY PAVEMENT. I.E., DOESN'T PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT, NOR WEAR TIRES UNEVENLY. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED IN WINTER WITH BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK WS60 215/55 R17 TIRES WITH APPROX. 75% OF THEIR TREAD REMAINING. (THESE TIRES SHOW NO SIGNS OF ABNORMAL WEAR OR OTHER DEFECTS.) I AM A DRIVER WITH 37 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS DEGREE OF UNPREDICTABLE INSTABILITY IN ANY VEHICLE THAT I'VE DRIVEN ON ICE. THIS VEHICLE GIVES THE OPERATOR THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS VERY SURE-FOOTED IN ANY OTHER CONDITION, LEADING THE OPERATOR TO APPROACH ALL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT CAN (AND DOES) RESULT IN NEARLY OUT-OF-CONTROL SITUATIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ICE. *TR

DRIVING AT NIGHT. STOPPED TO GET GAS. WENT TO START CAR AND TURN ON LIGHTS. BOTH HEADLIGHTS OUT-JUST LIKE THAT. HAD TO DRIVE HOME ON RUNNING LIGHTS; LUCKILY LESS THAN 5 MILES. HEADLIGHT ISSUES STARTED ABOUT 10K MILES AGO WHERE INDIVIDUAL LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT; HAVE REPLACED IND LOW BEAM LIGHTS 4X IN THE LAST 10K MILES. NEVER HAD 2 GO OUT AT ONCE LIKE THIS-AT NIGHT. DID A SEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OWNERS WITH SAME ISSUE AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SUBARU IS TOO INTERESTED IN RESOLVING WHEN LEFT TO ITS OWN ACCORD. *TR

HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. DRIVEN IT THRU SOME SNOW AND HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT IS KNOW AS THE "GHOST WALKING ISSUE". THE REAR END TENDS TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING ON SLUSHY SNOW AND ON ICE. ALSO DOES THIS WHEN ONE REAR WHEEL GOES IN A POT HOLE ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON AN OFF RAMP. CAR HAS BEEN ALIGNED AT THE DEALER AND HAS NEW TIRES AS WELL. THESE THINGS WERE DONE TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT IT DID NOT. CAR IS ALL STOCK. CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FOR OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE AND NOW WE DON'T DARE LET HER DRIVE IT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON SUBARU SITES LIKE SUBARU.ORG THAT I AM SURPRISED NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. WE ARE GETTING RID OF CAR AS SOON AS WE CAN BECAUSE OF THIS MAIN REASON. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY OUTBACK LOST SUDDENLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD BUT DECELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MPH WHICH NEARLY RESULTED IN MY BEING REAR ENDED. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY EXPECT THE CHECK ENGINE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS STAYED ON. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, BOTH LIGHTS WENT OFF. SINCE THEN, THIS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. I RECENTLY TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BAD PEDAL ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR AT SPEED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I HAVE AN 2005 OUTBACK XT. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS ON PACKED SNOW. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED WINTER DRIVER AND HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE HANDLE THIS "LOOSELY" ON SNOW. ABOVE APPROX 40MPH THE BACK END WANTS TO SNAP AROUND EVEN ON FLAT, STRAIGHT ROADS WITHOUT THE BEING ON THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT IN 06, I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC IT WAS DUE TO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. SO AFTER ONLY 15K MILES, I REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD THE CAR ALIGNED. YEARS LATER, I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT THE "GHOSTWALKING" ISSUE CAUSED THESE OTHER ISSUES AND WAS NOT THE RESULT OF THEM. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE SHOCKS/STRUTS AND USE STUDDED SNOW TIRES IN THE WINTER. THIS HAS HELPED, BUT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO COME BACK ERRATICALLY. IT ALWAYS OCCURS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND NOW IS SOMETIMES EVEN FELT ON WET FREEWAYS. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF THREE OTHER 05 OUTBACK OWNERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THE "GHOSTWALKING" PROBLEM AT SOME POINT. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 92 LEGACY WAGON AND A 96 IMPREZA AND BOTH WERE OUTSTANDING ON SNOW, EVEN WITHOUT SNOW TIRES. THE 05 OUTBACK HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE FURTHER EXAMINED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SNOWS OF THE WINTER AND I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK DOWN DETROIT FREEWAYS TO METRO AIRPORT TO PICKUP MY SON. I HAD MY WIFE IN THE FRONT SEAT AND MY YOUNGEST SON IN THE REAR SEAT. AS THE SNOW BEGAN TO FALL I FELT THE CAR LURCH BACK AND FORTH AS IF I WERE DRIVING THROUGH ICY OR SNOWY RUTS. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER (50 YEARS OLD) AND HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS EXCEPT DURING AN ICE STORM, ETC. I THOUGHT THE ROAD MUST HAVE HAD "BLACK ICE" UNDER THE SNOW AS MY CAR WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. I SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 30MPH AND, TO MY SURPRISE, SAW TWO WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS, ETC. PASSING ME AT 10 - 20MPH FASTER THAN I WAS GOING... EVERYONE WAS PASSING OUR CAR AS I WHEN I TRIED TO MATCH THEIR SPEED IT SEEMED THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL WITH THE REAR END HAVING A MIND OF ITS OWN SHIFTING BACK AND FORTH. IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THE THREADS CALLING THIS PHENOMENON "GHOSTWALKING". I HOPE THAT NHTSA DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AS I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT OR KILLED THINKING THAT THIS CAR IS A GREAT SNOW CAR (FROM A GROUND CLEARANCE AND AWD STANDPOINT) AND FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY THAT IT IS NOT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IT IS WORSE WHEN THE SUSPENSION IS LOADED DOWN WITH MORE PASSENGERS, AS IT WAS IN THIS INSTANCE, THAN WHEN IT IS JUST THE DRIVER AND NO CARGO IN THE HATCH AREA. *TR

RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS SPLIT AND REPLACED ALONG WITH BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS. *TR

LEFT, FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. *TR

LEFT, REAR BEARING REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. *TR

RIGHT, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. *TR

RIGHT, REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. *TR

BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN JUNE 2011. WITHIN 5 DAYS OF BUYING IT, WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ON HIGHWAY, WITHIN 15 MINS OF DRIVING, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKS, WITH A SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND CRUISE LIGHT STARTING TO BLINK. CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN IT SEVERAL TIMES TO SUBARU SERVICE...THEY SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND ATTEMPT TO FIX IT - I PAY THEM AND DRIVE IT BACK HOME AND, THE SAME PROBLEM PERSISTS. I GET THE SAME CODE EACH TIME - P0638. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY. REPLACED TIMING BELT. REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL RELAY. ETC. THE MECHANICS SEEM TO TEST DRIVE IT AND FIND NO PROBLEM WITH IT. EVERY TIME THEY SEEM CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE FIXED IT. BUT, EVERYTIME I BEGIN TO DRIVE, THE CAR FAULTS AND THE SPEED DROPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT IS A DANGER TO ANYONE IN THE CAR AND TO PASSENGERS IN OTHER CARS. *TR