2007 Subaru Outback complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE REAR PARKING LIGHTS WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HOT AND WERE MELTING THE LIGHT FIXTURES AND REFLECTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST UNLESS THE VEHICLE WERE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED AND THE POTENTIAL OF A FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,841.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPILL BACK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE VENT VALVES IN THE DUEL FUEL CANISTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000. UPDATED 07/21/11 *BF MECHANIC STATED THE EVAP WAS FROZEN SO GAS COULD NOT GO IN AND FUMES COULD NOT PASS THROUGH. UPDATED 08/05/11

OUR 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK FISHTAILS ALL OVER THE PLACE ON ICY ROADS THAT ALL OTHER VEHICLES SAFELY TRAVEL ON AT TWICE THE SPEED AS WE ARE ABLE TO DO IN OUR OUTBACK. THIS ISN'T THE DRIVER OR THE TIRES. THIS IS THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED (HONDA CRV, SATURN SW2, 2WD GMC S-15, CHEVY CORSICA) AND I HAVE DRIVEN IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS MANY TIMES. IT IS MISERABLE AND FEELS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL IN CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE AT 30 MPH ON ICY ROADS THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS TRAVELING 50-60 MPH ON. I'VE ONLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY LOADED. THE CAR FEELS EXTREMELY STABLE ON SNOWPACK AND DRY/WET PAVEMENT. BUT AS SOON AS ROADS HAVE SOME ICE ON THEM, THIS CAR BECOMES GARBAGE (JUST WHEN YOU NEED A CAR TO BE AT IT'S BEST). I HAVE WITNESSED THIS EVENT TWICE NOW IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. ONCE IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS, AND ONCE IN NORTHERN COLORADO. THESE ARE ALSO THE ONLY TWO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN ON. I WOULD EXPECT THIS VEHICLE TO BEHAVE THIS SAME MISERABLE WAY EVERY TIME AS IT HAS EXHIBITED THIS CHARACTERISTIC 100% OF THE TIME ON ICY HIGHWAY ROADS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVED FROM THE LOCATION OF THE CRASH AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

AUDIO/HVAC CONTROLS FLASH OR CUT OUT ALTOGETHER. PROBLEM STARTED INTERMITTENTLY IN JAN. 2010 AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES BUT HAS NOW BECOME CONSISTENT AS OF OCTOBER 2010 AT ABOUT 22,000 MILES. WHEN CONTROLS ARE ACTING UP, NOT ONLY DOES THE PANEL NOT DISPLAY PROPERLY, BUT ALSO FAILS TO RESPOND TO ANY ADJUSTMENTS. NOT BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE AUDIO OR CLIMATE CONTROL IS AN INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, NOT BEING ABLE TO DEFROST FRONT OR REAR WINDOWS WHEN NEEDED IS A SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SUBARU FORUMS (FOR EXAMPLE, HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/LOSS-OFF-POWER-RADIO-AND-CLIMATE-CONTROL-3459.HTML?P=2220291&POSTCOUNT=114 [SEE #114 AND #137, IN PARTICULAR] AND HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/80-ELECTRICAL-ELECTRONICS/23909-08-O-B-RADIO-HVAC-CONTROL-LIGHTING-PROB.HTML). PROBLEM SEEMS TO STEM FROM A POORLY MANUFACTURED CIRCUIT BOARD. HONDA HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH POORLY MADE CIRCUIT BOARDS, BUT HAS ISSUED A TSB THAT NOW COVERS THESE UNITS FOR 7 YEAR/100,000 MILES. IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMETHING SIMILAR WOULD BE ISSUED FOR SUBARUS AS OWNERS EXPERIENCES WITH DEALERSHIPS HAVE RANGED FROM THEN NEVER HEARING OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE IT TO HAVING IT BE A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THEY WORK WITH SOA TO PROMPTLY ADDRESS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. *TR

DRIVER SIDE IMPACT TO 07 SUBARU OUTBACK DAMAGED FRAME, INSURANCE TOTALED VEHICLE, SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN SEAT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURIES TO NECK AND LOWER BACK AS WELL AS HEAD HITTING ON DRIVER SIDE FROM BEING RAG DOLLED. I BELIEVE IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED OR SEATBELT LOCKED, THE INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS SEVERE. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN ANALYZED, THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR FAILED TEST. PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPT. THIS IS FAIRLY EXPENSIVE $387 AND I SUSPECT SOME PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LUG STUDS EXHIBITED STRESS FRACTURES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE PREVIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.

I OWN A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS VEHICLE IS AN EARLY WARNING INDICATOR FOR BLACK ICE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. THE OUTBACK VEHICLE HAS A STABILITY CONTROL PROBLEM IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT ROAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN ICY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO SPIN OUT, ALTHOUGH THAT HASNT HAPPENED TO ME YET. OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AT THE SAME TIME SEEM TO HAVE ADEQUATE TRACTION (2WD, AWD, 4WD). THE PROBLEM IS NOT TRACTION WHILE: 1) CORNERING UNDER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS, 2) HARD ACCELERATION ON ICE, OR 3) BRAKING ON ICE. ROAD CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE OSCILLATION ON ARE VERY THIN ICE (BLACK ICE). I SUSPECT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN ON MY 05-09 OUTBACKS. THE PROBLEM IS MORE PREVALENT AND PRONOUNCED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS OCCUPANTS IN THE REAR SEATS. THE STABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE MARGINAL AND IT ONLY TAKES CERTAIN CONDITIONS (ROAD AND VEHICLE PARAMETERS) TO BE ON THE EDGE OF DISASTER. SUBARU RELEASED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 05-36-07 WHICH ELIMINATED THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THE ORIGINAL TOE TOLERANCE FOR REAR TIRE ALIGNMENT. I THINK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LARGE REAR TIRE TOE IN WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED. I SUSPECT THIS LARGE REAR TIRE TOE IN WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED CONTRIBUTES TO THE STABILITY PROBLEM IN ICY CONDITIONS I HAVE BRAND NEW (JAN 2010) HANKOOK IPIKE W409 STUDLESS

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON [XXX] PURCHASED CAR NEW. HAD WHAT I CALLED ENGINE 'REVVING' OR INCREASED ACCELERATION FROM FIRST WEEK OF DRIVING CAR. REPORTED PROBLEM TO DEALER AND THEY WENT THROUGH A SERIES OF REPAIRS WITH NO CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE. THEY SENT A 'CORPORATE' MECHANIC TO TEST THE CAR. HE EXPERIENCED THE INCREASED RPM'S WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT STATED THE CAR WAS NORMAL. HE THEN TOLD ME TWO THINGS, THEY HAD FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM IN ANOTHER CAR AND THEY HAD A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM FOR THE 2008 BUT NOT 2007. 1) WHEN FOOT IS OFF GAS, THE CAR ACCELERATES. 2) COMMONLY OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I PRESS CLUTCH AND TURN. HAS ONLY HAPPENED 2 TIMES WHILE IN GEAR AND DRIVING. APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE DID SLOW THE CAR 3) CORRECTIONS INCLUDE: GAS/AIR RATIO SENSOR REPLACED, SUGGESTED I RUN 3 TANKS OF PREMIUM GAS, REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL, DISCONNECTED IDLE SWITCH FROM POWER STEERING PUMP AND SUGGESTED I LEAVE THIS DETACHED WHICH I DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, I HAVE TRIED FOR A RESOLUTION THROUGH THE DEALER, THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND SUBARU CORPORATE WITH NO RESULTS. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH SNOW TIRES (SNOW FLAKE SYMBOL). I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE LAST YEAR WHEN DRIVING SLIGHTLY SNOWY ROADS IN COLORADO,. THE BACK END OF MY CAR WOULD WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE AT A HIGH RATE -- PROBABLY 5 INCHES TO EACH SIDE. IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS SENDING POWER TO EACH WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY. THE FASTER I WOULD GO, THE MORE VIOLENTLY IT WOULD WOBBLE SIDE TO SIDE. I WAS SUDDENLY HAVING TO DRIVE 20MPH ON INTERSTATE 70, I WAS BEING PASSED BY LARGE SEMI- TRUCKS AND LITTLE MIATAS. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FELT THE WOBBLE ON GROOVED CONCRETE SURFACES, BUT MOSTLY ROADS THAT HAVE A LITTLE SNOW ON THEM, BUT I CAN STILL SEE THE ROAD SURFACE. ONE TIME, THE CAR WOBBLED SO VIOLENTLY THAT IT SWUNG INTO ANOTHER LANE. I'VE CONTACTED SUBARU AMERICA, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY LITTLE HELP AND DO NOT SEEM TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER 2005-08 SUBARU OUTBACK DRIVERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. OUR BEST THEORY IS THAT THE SUSPENSION IS TOO SOFT AND WHEN IT GETS WEIGHTED DOWN (WITH TWO OR MORE PEOPLE IN THE CAR) IT CHANGES THE GEOMETRY OF THE SUSPENSION AND THE ALIGNMENT WITH SOME HOW PLAYS WITH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

MY SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK BUCKS, SURGES WHEN GOING ON ANY SMALL OR BIG INCLINE. IT OCCURS ALL THE TIME.IT TENDS TO MAKE ME SLIDE MORE CAUSE OF THE SURGES ESPECIALLY WHEN ICY OR WET. I TOOK IT IN 3 TIMES TO A DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE 07,08'S HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS IN THE COMPUTER/ELECTRONICS. THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. I SEE THAT TOYOTA IS HAVING PROBLEMS AND IGNORED THIS PROBLEM. SO IS SUBARU. IT IS A COMPUTER DEFECT THAT SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY FIX. IT WAS THE COMPUTER HOOKED TO THE DRIVER'S PEDAL AND GAS. I SENT LETTERS TO THE MAIN SUBARU OFFICE, TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO GO AFTER THIS. *TR

VERY INTERMITTENT VIBRATION FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVE-TRAIN THAT STARTED ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO, CULMINATING WITH THE CAR SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THE DRIVE-TRAIN SUDDENLY LOCKING UP ALL FOUR WHEELS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY. OF COURSE, VEHICLE CONTROL IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED. VERY FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES FOLLOWING OR THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I"M HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO OUR LOCAL DEALER ON THURSDAY MORNING. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, 4 SNOW TIRES, 5MT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT (NO TURNS) ON SLIGHTLY ICY OR BLOWING SNOW ROADS, THE REAR END BEGINS TO WOBBLE APPROXIAMTLEY 3INCHES SIDE TO SIDE. I AM GIVING THE CAR LITTLE TO NO THROTTLE AND IT WILL STILL SWAY. THE SWAYING BECOMES MUCH WORSE WITH MORE WEIGHT IN THE CAR (1 FOOT SIDE TO SIDE). THE SWAYING IS SO BAD THAT I OFTEN HAVE TO DRIVE 15-20MPH SLOWER THAN GENERAL TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON (SNOW TIRES) AND HAD THE CAR ALIGNED. IT STILL OCCURS. *TR

THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS OF MY 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK DOES NOT HANDLE PROPERLY ON ICY ROADS. THE AWD FAILS OR PULLS, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AT SPEEDS OVER 35-40MPH. OTHER 2WD CARS ON THE ROAD PASS AND HANDLE THE SAME CONDITIONS BETTER WITH NO APPEARANCE OF SLIDING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WE HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD TWO ALIGNMENTS IN THE PAST YEAR. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS WHENEVER WE ARE ON AN ICE PACKED ROAD, BUT DOES NOT PRESENT IN SNOW OR WHERE THE ROAD HAS BEEN TREATED WITH ADEQUATE MAG CHLORIDE. *TR

I EXPERIENCED AIR LOSS IN A TIRE. WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY PUNCTURE. TOOK IT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO FOUND A BROKEN VALVE STEM. THIS IS THE SENSOR TYPE OF VALVE STEM. IT APPEARED TO BE BROKEN IN HALF. THE SUBARU DEALER DIDN'T SEEM SURPRISED, AND AFTER CHECKING SAID THERE SEEMED TO BE A RUN ON THEM AND IT MIGHT BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD OBTAIN ONE TO REPLACE THE BROKEN PART. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL AND HE SEEMED ALARMED AND VERY DEFENSIVE. *TR

HESITATION ON ACCELERATION,BETWEEN 1500 AND 2800 RPMS .WHILE ACCELERATING QUICKLY AT AN INTERSECTION OR ROLLING STOP. *TR

ON 2 LANE HWY, HAD TO BRAKE SHARPLY ( 60 TO 10) FOR DEER. SEMI BEHIND ME, NOT CLOSE. DEER CROSSED. FLOORED ACCELERATOR, ENGINE SAT AT REDLINE 3 SEC BEFORE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. SEMI JACKNIFED BEHIND US, BUT DID NOT HIT US. THIS ACTION IS REPEATABLE. I SUSPECT IT'S RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL DOWNHILL FAILURE (UN-COUPLING THE TORQUE CONVERTER???). *TR

THE 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK (MANUAL) PULSATES AND SURGES WHEN DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACES OR WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND WHILE LIGHTLY PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. CONCERN EXISTS FOR WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR ICE/SNOW PACKED ROADS AND THE VEHICLE SURGES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO THROW IT INTO A SPIN OR OTHERWISE OUT-OF-CONTROL. MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED IT IS AN INHERENT CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE WITH NO FIXES AVAILABLE, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE A QUALITY MONITORING REPORT IN PLACE TO HOPEFULLY IMPROVE IN FUTURE YEARS. *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A GUARDRAIL ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND ENDED UP ON ITS TIRES AND THE DRIVER WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *KB THE PASSENGER WAS ALSO INJURED.

THIS IS A 2007 OUTBACK 2.5I PZEV WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WILL BOG DOWN UNLESS THE ENGINE IS REVVED HIGH PRIOR TO RELEASING THE CLUTCH. WHEN IT BOGS DOWN, THE RESULT IS VERY SLOW ACCELERATION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN TURNING LEFT IN TRAFFIC. TO GET THE CAR OUT OF THIS MODE, THE CLUTCH NEED TO BE PUSHED IN AGAIN AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO A HIGHER RPM. ONCE THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES QUICKLY. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO WAY TO ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY. THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN USING GASOLINE WITH 10% ETHANOL AND IS MUCH WORSE WITH MOBIL REGULAR GAS. *JB

THE LATEST INCIDENT DATE IS SHOWN BELOW, THE FIRST TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS IN FEB 07. THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR OCCURRENCES. IN EACH EVENT THE AUTOMOBILE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD BEEN DECELERATING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO AN IMMEDIATE NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A RAPIDLY APPROACHING VEHICLE WHILE EITHER MAKING AN EVASIVE MANEUVER DUE TO ROAD OBSTACLES OR WHILE MERGING IN CONGESTED HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. UPON DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP TO NEAR "RED LINE" WITH NO ACCOMPANYING ACCELERATION OR ENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME IN EXCESS OF ONE FULL SECOND TO AN ESTIMATED THREE SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. IN EACH INSTANCE, THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN ON THE PART OF THE DRIVERS (THREE DIFFERENT ONES) THAT A "NEAR ACCIDENT" OCCURRED. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS FIRST NOTIFIED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AN EXPLANATION OF THE LATEST "DRIVE BY WIRE" TRANSMISSIONS WITH "FUZZY LOGIC", ANTICIPATING COMPUTER PROGRAMMING WAS OFFERED. THOUGH PLAUSIBLE, IT DID NOT SEEM A VERY LIKELY "NORMAL" EXPECTATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLARED THAT ONLY THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE TROUBLE SHOOTING THE SYSTEMS. I WAS ASSURED THAT THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO WORK THROUGH THE MANUFACTURING TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS, AND I HAD NO NEED TO CONTACT THEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THOROUGHLY TESTED THE SYSTEMS, DROVE IT AT LENGTH, AND AGAIN ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN CONDITION AND WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY. UP UNTIL LATE MAY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS WORKING FLAWLESSLY. IT THEN STARTED BLOWING COLD FOR ABOUT TEN SECONDS AND THEN WARM FOR FIVE. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BEHAVE ERRATIC, THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND THE ENGINE TO SURGE BECAUSE THE COMPRESSOR IS ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE FOUR TIMES. THE FIRST THREE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS OVERCHARGING OF THE AC SYSTEM. THE LAST ONE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION (BUT WHY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN START AT 4000 MILES?) *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED DOWN HILL AND ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER FOUND NO FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPONENTS DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE FAILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,751 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,841. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE KEY FOB AND THE INNER BUTTONS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 09/12/07 *TR

2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION -- WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO SHIFT THE ENGINE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES RATHER THAN DECELERATES. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO JUMP FORWARD MUCH QUICKER THAN THE DRIVER PLANNED WHEN THE NEXT GEAR IS SELECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.*AK

WE PURCHASED A SUBARU OUTBACK ON 2/3/07 AND THE ACCIDENT WAS ON 2/7/07, AT 10:05 AM. I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE, ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED TO GO TO THE LEFT, AGAINST THE GUARD RAIL, I THOUGHT I WAS ON BLACK ICE, BUT THE ROAD WAS DRY, BUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS ICE, I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKE, AND THEREFORE I WAS STILL GOING 60 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AGAIN, STILL ON CRUISE CONTROL, I HIT THE GUARD RAIL ON MY RIGHT...HEAD ON...THEN THE CAR BACKED AROUND AND STOPPED WITH THE REAR BUMPER ON THE SAME GUARD RAIL THAT I HAD HIT HEAD ON. *JB

THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR FAILURE. HOWEVER, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK AND NEITHER OF OUR CAR SEATS FIT SAFELY IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE THE PEG PEREGO INFANT SEAT AND THE BRITAX MARATHON CONVERTIBLE SEAT. THE SALES MANAGER, MYSELF, MY HUSBAND, AND THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT GET EITHER SEAT TO FIT IN PROPERLY. WE HAD TO RETURN THE CAR AND PURCHASE THE MORE EXPENSIVE TRIBECA. THE CAR SEAT NOW FITS SECURELY IN THE BACK SEAT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED ON VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT RESET THE COMPUTER AND COULD NOT EXCHANGE IT EITHER. ALSO, THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. THIS WAS A 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 I WAGON. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB