2008 Subaru Outback complaints

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED WHILE THE LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM THAT CAN BE CURED; HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE COST IT HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE PART USED IS THE PRIMARY CULPRIT AND REGRETTABLY HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN SUBARU VEHICLES ACROSS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. SUBARU THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO RESPOND RESPONSIBLY; ERGO, NHTSA ACTION IS NEEDED TO BRING SUBARU TO TASK AND COMPLIANCE TO ENSURE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE PERFORMED FOR SAFE DEPLOYMENT OF ALL SUBARU CABIN AIR BAGS. WHEN WORKING PROPERLY, AIR BAGS SAVE LIVES. *TR

DASH AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THIS DISABLES THE AIRBAG. DEALER STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT CAN ONLY FIX BY TRIAL AND ERROR REPLACING (EXPENSIVE) COMPONENTS. IT HAPPENS MOST ON COLD WET WEATHER DAYS, OFTEN GOES OFF WHEN CAR WARMED UP, SO PROBABLY ELECTRICAL. HAS CONTINUED FOR YEARS NOW, STILL HAPPENING AT 105,000 MILES. MANY MANY EXAMPLES ON INTERNET BOARDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL! *TR

RECENTLY REPLACED HEADLIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE ON A RETURN TRIP HOME. THEY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATES DUE TO A FLAWED PART IN THE SYSTEM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SERIES OF SUBARUS AND DISABLES THE AIRBAGS WHILE THE CAR IS IN USE, A VERY DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY DEADLY PROBLEM. SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE PART AND ITS REPLACEMENT ARE EXPENSIVE AND OFTEN DOES NOT GET REPAIRED BECAUSE IT IS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. MY FEELING IS THAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE WARRANTED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REASONABLE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THE FLAWED PART HAS BEEN USED FOR YEARS WITH SUBARU'S FULL KNOWLEDGE THAT THE PART IS FLAWED. *TR

IN JULY FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR CATALYTIC CONVERTER I WROTE TO SUBARU TO INQUIRE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE REPLACEMENT COST WAS $728.08. APPARENTLY ONLY SEVEN STATES ISSUED A MANDATORY RECALL. VIRGINIA ISN'T ONE OF THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RELIGIOUSLY MAINTAINED, ALL SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTATION. AT 97,600 MILES THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WEARING OUT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PART ITSELF. REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN OUR FUTURE DECISION OF WHICH BRAND CAR TO BUY. IT'S KNOWN IN MARKETING IT COSTS A LOT LESS TO KEEP A CUSTOMER THAN TO GAIN A NEW ONE. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON. LIKELY DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BEHIND THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE. AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT! THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMMON PROBLEM AND SUBARU REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT. *TR

HVAC / RADIO (CD 6 DISC CHANGER MODEL) FAST FLASHING, ALL FUNCTIONS STAY ENABLED BUT CAN NOT BE CONTROLLED FROM THE PANEL. CAN NOT TURN ON DEFROST UNIT OR ADJUST TEMPERATURE OR RADIO CONTROLS WHILE FLASHING OCCURS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY FOR A YEAR AND HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE WHERE CONTROLS ARE UNAVAILABLE FOR 20 MINUTES OR MORE AT A TIME. DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WINTER WHEN YOU CAN NOT USE THE DEFROST BUTTONS TO DEICE WINDOWS OR CONTROL WINDOW FOGGING. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES CEILING CONSOLE PASSENGER INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE BAG IS OFF (SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WHEN LESS THAN 25 LBS IN PASSENGER SEAT) AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES DASHBOARD RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE MALFUNCTION WITH BAG AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT SHOWS DIMLY AS IF IT'S TRYING TO ILLUMINATE. SEEMS LIKE A WIRING PROBLEM BASED ON INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION BUT DEALER SAID NEEDED NEW $300 PLUS INDICATOR SWITCH BUT THEY WERE SURE AIRBAG WORKING PROPERLY. HAVE ALREADY HAD SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH QUALITY OF WORK DONE BY THIS DEALER SO UNSURE OF WHETHER THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHY NO RECALL FROM SUBARU? I SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HERE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

BLOWN HEAD GASKET, DAMAGE OCCURRED OVER MANY YEARS WHILE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS BEING SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE SUBARU DEALER. NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS DAMAGE WAS GIVEN TO ME UNTIL THE CAR WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF ITS WARRANTY. PREVIOUSLY SUBARU HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE TO SEIZE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE IF THAT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT IS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN LIGHT IS ON VEHICLE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT HANDLED BY SUBARU AS A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

AIRBAG DASH LIGHT ON RENDERING AIRBAGS INOPERABLE. NO CRASH. FAULT IN PART. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. WHY NO RECALL. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE LIGHT THAT SHOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WAS NOT LIT. THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS RELATED TO FAULTY WIRING IN OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT CONSOLE THAT CONTAINS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATORS. I PURCHASE A NEW LIGHT CONSOLE AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

THREE FAILED WHEEL BEARING BY 100K. ONE AT 30K, THE SECOND AT 67K. THE THIRD AT 90K. THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING AT 90K. AT 103K, THERE IS A HALF INCH OF PLAY IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE WHEEL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A JET AIRPLANE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. IF THIS BEARING FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEED IT WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT IN DASHBOARD COMES ON AND AIRBAG LIGHT IN OVERHEAD CONSOLE DOES NOT DISPLAY PROPER INFO. 55000+ HITS IN INTERNET POINT TO BAD SOLDER JOINTS IN OVERHEAD CIRCUIT BOARD. ONCE LOOSE RESISTORS ARE RE-SOLDERED PROBLEM GOES AWAY. DEALERS ARE CHARGING UP TO $500 TO REPLACE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. THIS PROBLEM OF BAD SOLDER JOINTS GOES OVER SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A SAFETY RELATED RECALL OVER AIRBAG ISSUES WHICH EXPIRE WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRES? THERE SHOULD BE NO EXPIRATION DATE ON SAFETY! *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWS TO BE "OFF." I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR AND HAVE AN ELDERLY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN MY CONCERN, I SEARCHED OTHER SITES AND FOUND THAT OTHERS ARE POSTING THIS ISSUE ON VARIOUS SITES. FROM WHAT I READ, IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THIS MEANS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING. I CHECKED RECALLS AND SEE THAT JULY 4, 2014 A RECALL WAS PUT OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN SUBARU MODELS OF YEARS 2003 AND 2004. FROM THE COMMENTS I'VE READ, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE 2008 OUTBACK, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR 2008 OUTBACK. *TR

VEHICLE STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR HOMELINK WOULD ONLY HAVE POWER INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND NOW AFFECTS THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AT NIGHT AS I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT, A DEFINITE HAZARD. HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON SUBARU ONLINE FORUMS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT INDIVIDUAL WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS HAVE A TENDENCY TO CRACK AND BREAK AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE LIFTGATE. THIS VEHICLE HAS 2 COMPLETELY BROKEN WIRES AND MOST OTHERS WITH BREAKS IN THE INSULATION. OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,400. UPDATED 08/25/14*LJ

THE RADIO AND HEATER, A/C AND DEFROSTER CONTROLS ARE ALL ONE PIECE IN MY CAR. THE DISPLAY SCREENS ON BOTH GO BLANK WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS NOTHING WORKS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DEFROSTER WHEN YOU BAD WEATHER WHILE DRIVING. THE OUTPUT TEMPERATURE AND FAN SPEED CANNOT BE CHANGED AND THE DEFROSTER CANNOT BE TURNED ON OR OFF. THE FACTORY RADIO-A/C CONTROL UNIT WENT BAD AND WAS USELESS. SUBARU WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE PARTS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE NEW, ONLY AS A REBUILT UNIT, AND SUBARU HAS NO CORES TO REBUILD NOR DO THEY KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET ONE. I BOUGHT A USED RADIO-A/C UNIT FROM A JUNKYARD AND INSTALLED IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO. NOW THIS UNIT IS STARTING TO GO BAD. I HAVE CONTACTED PANASONIC TO FIND AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY MY RADIO EVEN WITH THE NUMBERS ON THE TAG THAT SAYS MADE BY PANASONIC, SO THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHERE I CAN GET IT REPAIRED. SUBARU HAS BEEN JUST AS USELESS. I CAN LIVE WITHOUT A RADIO, BUT WHEN MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AT 60 MPH AND I CANNOT TURN THE DEFROSTER ON OR IT'S 20 DEGREES OUT AND I CANNOT TURN THE HEAT ON, THIS BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. I CHECKED A SUBARU OWNERS WEBSITE AND FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH 2005-2008 MODELS SAYING THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND BESIDES CHANGING THE OIL MYSELF, ALL OTHER REPAIRS ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN DONE BY A SUBARU DEALER. THE DEALER EVEN INSTALLED THE JUNKYARD RADIO. THE LAST CONTACT I HAD WITH THE SUBARU FACTORY, THEY ARE BLAMING THE PROBLEM ON

CARPET HAD BAD SPOT UPON PURCHASE, TOLD BY DEALER DEFECT AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THAT SPOT IS NOW A HOLE IN THE CARPET. SEAT MATERIAL IS VERY CHEAP AND LOW QUALITY STARTED TO WEAR BEFORE 1K. THAT TOO HAS LEFT A HOLE IN THE SEAT. AT 37K PASSENGER CV BOOT WENT DUE TO THIN RUBBER BOOT FOLLOWED BY DRIVER BOOT AT 38K. BOOT RUBBER IS EXTREMELY THIN COMPARED TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS. WHEN THEY GO, THEY GO QUICKLY WITHOUT WARNING THE SMELL IS HORRIFIC AND THE STICKY RESIDUE LEFT BEHIND UNDER THE HOOD VISUALLY UNAPPEALING. AS TO THE BOOTS, OUR WEATHER RUBBER CAR MATS ARE THICKER AND CERTAINLY LESS EXPENSIVE! AT 68K CLUTCH WENT; POWER-STEERING PUMP WAS LEAKING AND A/C / ALTERNATOR BELTS WERE CRACKED. THIS CAR HAS NEVER MISSED A MAINTENANCE AND HAS BEEN IMMACULATELY CARED FOR SO IMAGINE OUR DISAPPOINTMENT. THE CLUTCH RESULTED IN THE CAR STALLING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THIS CAR DID NOT LIVE UP TO THE SUBARU REPUTATION OF SAFETY AND QUALITY. I WOULD NOT ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT OF EVERY PURCHASING ANOTHER SUBARU. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON SLIGHTLY SLICK ROADS IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN THE REAR WHEELS WOULD LOSE TRACTION AND START TO FISH TAIL. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT THE GAS APPLIED, WITH OR WITHOUT THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGED. THE CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS SLIDING SIDE TO SIDE IN THE BACK. THE TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING WITHOUT ISSUE. THIS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS GHOST WALKING IN ON LINE BLOGS. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES AND OTHER TIMES STAYS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL CAR AND THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COULD BE DEFECTIVE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY SUBARU AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS YEAR OUTBACK. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART THAT SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF AND IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR EVERY SIX MONTHS WHERE THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 2010 DID NOT REPAIR AS THE CODE COULD NOT BE READ AND OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. NOW CONSTANTLY ON MECHANICS TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE INDICATOR CIRCUIT ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

WIRES IN THE REAR HATCH BREAK REPEATEDLY. WIRING HARNESS COMES FROM THE ROOF AND INTO THE REAR HATCH; MOST OF THE WIRES WORN AND MECHANIC HAS SPLICED MORE THAN HALF INCLUDING THE ANTENNA WIRE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS WINTER IN WISCONSIN. THE ROADS WERE MOSTLY CLEAR, BUT IT WAS STARTING TO SLEET. WHILE DRIVING, ANY TIME I WOULD GO UNDER A BRIDGE, THE REAR OF THE CAR WOULD DRAMATICALLY SHIFT TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. I SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH, AND THE PROBLEM ALMOST SEEMED TO GET WORSE. IT WOULD BE FINE UNTIL I WENT UNDER A BRIDGE WHERE THE ROAD SEEMED TO BE A LITTLE ICY. IT WAS ACTING LIKE THE REAR TIRES WERE COMPENSATING TOO MUCH FOR THE CAR. MY TIRES HAD 75% TREADLIFE LEFT ON ALL 4 TIRES. THERE WAS A LITTLE EXTRA WEIGHT IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE 3 PEOPLE IN THE CAR ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY 200LBS IN THE REAR CARGO AREA. WHEN THE ROADS GOT A LITTLE MORE ICE ON THEM, SO THAT IT WASN'T JUST UNDER BRIDGES, THE CAR WAS MOVING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND I WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS WHEN DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT IF THERE IS ANY WEIGHT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE REAR TIRES HIT A BUMP OR A CRACK IN THE ROAD, IT WILL SHIFT THE REAR END OF THE CAR TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, USUALLY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND IT IS A VERY COMMON THING KNOW AS GHOSTWALKING IN SUBARU OUTBACKS. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON AND STAYED ON UPON DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PERRY SUBARU IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA), WHO SAID THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG INDICATOR ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO MANDATORY OR VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THIS PART. A NEW AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE (PART NO. 92151AG13AOR) WAS PURCHASED BY THE OWNER AND INSTALLED FOR A TOTAL COST OF $364.40. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHER MODEL YEAR SUBARUS FOR THE SAME AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NTSB SHOULD INVESTIGATE. *TR

AFTER BUYING CAR NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON WHILE DRIVING HOME. BEING A SAFETY ISSUE I STARTED INVESTIGATING. LOOKS TO BE FAIRLY COMMON. MAY BE ENOUGH FOR A RECALL. JUST WANTED TO REPORT IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. DEALER SAID SHOP DID NOT NOTICE LIGHT DURING THEIR INSPECTION. *TR

VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX (6) TIMES. WHEN THIS OCCURS PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOTHING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO ABOUT 5 MPH. THE "ENGINE" AND "CRUISE" LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. THE TACHOMETER CONTINUALLY FLUCTUATES BETWEEN 2500AND 3000 RPM DURING THIS TIME, . ONE MUST PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE, LET IT SET FOR A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO RESET THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS AS DRIVERS BEHIND OUR VEHICLE NEEDED TO SWERVE AWAY FROM OUR VEHICLE AS IT LOST ACCELERATION. SUBARU PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING. 1. FLASHED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CODE TWICE. 2. REPLACED THE GAS PEDAL ASSEMBLE TWICE 3. REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ONCE 4. REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) ONCE. I HAVE THREE (3) SERVICES CASES RECORDED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA). THE CASE NUMBERS ARE AS LISTED. > 1-2810691799 FILED ON DECEMBER 17, 2012 > 1-2888482660 FILED ON DECEMBER 26, 2012 > 1-4032748404 FILED ON MAY 21, 2013 THE ECM WAS REPLACED ON MAY 29, 2013 AND WE HOPE THIS WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER DURING THIS TEN (10) MONTH PERIOD OF TIME SOA ALWAYS PROMISED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YET DID SO RELUCTANTLY. AS THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS WENT FROM 3 TO 6 SOA CUSTOMER SERVICES WAS NOT AT ALL CUSTOMER ORIENTATED. THESE FAILURES ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH COULD HAVE BEEN THE END RESULT OF ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS. WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY BUT HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW T

VEHICLE STARTED MAKING HUMMING NOISE FROM REAR END WHICH GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THE REAR BEARINGS WERE BAD. I WAS TOLD THEY WEREN'T COVERED SINCE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. EARLY FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH SUBARU AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR

INFORMED AT SHOP WHEN GETTING OIL CHANGE THAT LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING NEEDED REPLACEMENT. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED AND REPLACED IT UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. HEARD NO NOISE AND FELT NO UNUSUAL PERFORMANCE TO ALERT ME OF THIS POWERTRAIN FAILURE. DEALER STATED ALL THE OTHER WHEEL BEARINGS ARE OK. 2 YEARS LATER AT 70,000 MILES RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED WITH NO NOTICE OR NOISE JUST SUDDEN GRINDING AND SWAYING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. HAD IT TOWED HOME AND TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE OTHER TWO WHEEL BEARINGS ARE FAILING. DEALER COVERED COST OF NEW BEARINGS BUT WE TRADED IT IN. NO CONFIDENCE IN SUBARU. DEALER STATED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR ALL REPLACED AT FIRST FAILURE. *TR

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, DROVE TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION. RADIATOR FLUSHED AND TESTED FOR LEAKS, NONE FOUND. NO OTHER DETERMINATION MADE. CAR OVERHEATING, SLOW COOLANT LOSS. SUBARU DIAGNOSED MAJOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE PROBABLY OCCURRED PRIOR TO 73000 MILES, BUT BEYOND POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. SUBARU HQ DECLINED TO HELP WITH COST CONSIDERING THE SERVICE TECH MGR STATED A 2008 MODEL CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS FAILURE. PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH SIMILAR GASKET FAILURE SOME TIME AFTER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED. COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

SINCE THE CAR WAS NEARLY NEW THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY, RENDERING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BUT THE DEALER SAID NO FAULT CODE WAS FOUND. IN DECEMBER 2012 THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND SERVICE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LIGHT IN THE MAPLIGHT MODULE, AND IF SOMETHING IN THE MODULE GOES BAD THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND PREVENT THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING. CONSEQUENTLY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MAPLIGHT CONSOLE AT A COST OF $510 ($110 TO READ THE CODE PLUS $400 FOR THE LIGHT MODULE) TO FIX A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUBARU. *TR

I PURCHASED THE 2008 OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED USED WITH 32K MILES. AT 41K MILES THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT. WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. YESTERDAY I WAS INFORMED THAT MY LEFT FRONT BEARING HAS GONE OUT, NOW AT 80K MILES (ALL HIGHWAY MILEAGE). NOW IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE 2 SHOPS I SPOKE TO REGARDING THE ISSUE STATED THIS IS ACTUALLY VERY COMMON ON THESE SUBARU MODELS AND THEY GENERATE QUITE A BIT OF BUSINESS. SUBARU NEEDS TO PROVIDE A TSB AND FIX THE ISSUE AS THEY HAVE SPEC'D FAULTY WHEEL BEARINGS. *TR

WE TOOK OUR SUBARU INTO THE DEALER TO GET REGULAR SERVICES. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE WAS COMPLETELY GROUND DOWN WHILE THE OTHERS WERE FINE AND OR NORMAL FOR OUR MILEAGE. OUR CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND ALTHOUGH THE DEALERS EXPLANATION WAS " A STUCK BRAKE CALIPER" THEY MADE US PAY FOR NEW BRAKES. AND, THEY FAILED TO GIVE US A NEW BRAKE CALIPER. WHEN WE ASKED FOR THE MANAGER, HE REFUSED TO HELP US AND BLAMED IT ON THE REGIONAL REPAIR MANAGER. WE COMPLAINED FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND WERE FINALLY GIVEN THE MONEY BACK JUST FOR THE BRAKE, BUT SINCE WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN , THEY SHOULD HAVE FIXED THE BRAKE CALIPER AS WELL. THIS WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE HAD BOUGHT THE CAR "BRAND NEW" . WE THINK THIS IS A AN OVERALL MANUFACTURERS DEFECT BUT WHEN WE CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES , THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR IN OUR FACES AND WE WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO TALK TO A PERSON OTHER THAN "CUSTOMER SERVICE" IN THE SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 SUBARU DEALERS AND ALL 3 REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AND SERVICES FOR FREE. WE HAVE EMAIL AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM. PLEASE HELP US. *TR UPDATED 11/14/12 *CN UPDATED 11/14/2012*JS

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT( OFF) STAYS OFF. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR COOLANT FLUSH. I ASKED SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE ISSUE HE STATED THAT IT IS IN THE MAPLIGHT AND IF THE LIGHT BURNS OUT THE AIRBAG ON THE DASH WILL LIGHT UP AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A MALFUNCTION IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. SO MEANING AS CONSUMER I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MAPLIGHT CONSOLE AND PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN SUBARU ISSUE OR MORE FAULT IN DESIGN. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON OUR DASHBOARD RECENTLY LIT UP. WE HAD OUR MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE SAID THE CAR WAS NOT PRODUCING AN ERROR CODE. SOME BASIC RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING COMMON AND IS RELATED TO A FAULT IN THE PANEL CONTAINED IN THE MAP LIGHT CONSOLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHTS. HE REPLACED PANEL AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE A COUPLE ISSUES THAT I HOPE YOU CAN ADDRESS. BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, THE OPERATION OF THE CAR'S AIR BAGS WERE IN DOUBT, IF NOT DISABLED ALL TOGETHER. SO, THIS APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN OUR MECHANIC CALLED THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER (GO SUBARU IN DENVER, CO) FOR THE PART AND ASKED IF THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK, THE PARTS DESK IMMEDIATELY SAID, "OH, IS THIS THAT AIR BAG THING?" SO, THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT. I TRIED CONTACTING SUBARU TO NOTIFY THEM, BUT THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT ALL RECALLS ARE ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY VEHICLE SERVICED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL TAKE TIME TO RESEARCH THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND MAKE THE APPROPRIATE RECALL. *TR

ONE WIRE LEADING TO THE REAR CARGO HATCH (RIGHT SIDE) BROKE AND 3 OTHERS HAD CRACKED INSULATION DUE TO A LACK OF RESILIENCE AFTER FLEXING. THESE WIRES ARE FLEXED EVERY TIME THE HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED. ALL ELECTRICAL PARTS ON THE HATCH TRAVEL THOUGH THIS WIRING HARNESS (WIPERS, LOCK, ETC.). HAD THE FAILURE OF THE LOCK NOT BEEN NOTICED, FURTHER WEAR COULD HAVE CAUSED A SHORT AND A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 4 AND A HALF YEARS OLD. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS GOING BACK TO AT LEAST THE 2005 MODEL. *TR

ON MANY SEPARATE OCCASIONS (BUT REPORTED TO SUBARU AUTHORIZED SERVICE DEALER ON 03/28/12, 10/01/11, AND 09/21/11), OUR HOOD HAS PARTLY POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A RANGE OF SPEEDS AND IN A RANGE OF TEMPERATURES. IT IS AS IF THE INITIAL HOOD RELEASE LATCH HAS BEEN PULLED FROM WITHIN THE CAR, BUT THE HOOD THEN CATCHES ON THE MANUAL RELEASE UNDER THE LID. ONCE LOOSE, THE HOOD WOBBLES (WITH INCREASED VIOLENCE AT HIGH SPEEDS) AND IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SECURE. THE SUBARU SHOP TECH INITIALLY ADJUSTED AND REALIGNED THE HOOD LATCH. ON A SUBSEQUENT VISIT, THE ENTIRE HOOD LATCH WAS REPLACED. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, AND ON VISITING AFTER THE THIRD OCCURENCE, THE SAID THEY HAD NO RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM EITHER ON THE ROAD OR IN THE SHOP, AND WERE SHOWING NO DIAGNOSTIC ISSUES WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT. SUBARU OF AMERICA WERE CONTACTED BY THE SHOP AND HAD NO AVAILABLE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BUT THE SUBARU SHOP AND IS CLEAR OF PRIOR BODY DAMAGE. THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THIS ISSUE IS MOST ALARMING -- WE CAN NEVER TELL WHEN OUR HOOD IS GOING TO COME LOOSE WHILE TRAVELLING, AND HAVE HAD TO PULL OVER SEVERAL TIMES ON THE FREEWAY WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGH SPEED TO SECURE THE HOOD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE MOVING FORWARD WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A STORE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURY. THE KANAWHA COUNTY SHERIFF WAS PRESENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, BUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,837.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND THE VEHICLE SMOKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HOSE FRACTURED AND CREATED THE LEAK. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOSES AND THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,284.

VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING BIT ROUGH WHILE IDLING AT INTERSECTION; UPON ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER INSTRUMENT LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND CAR STALLED. RESTARTED NORMALLY. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK NEW. I HAVE DRIVEN IT IN ALMOST EVERY ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITION POSSIBLE. IT IS DRIVEN 90% OF THE TIME WITH JUST ME OR ME AND MY WIFE IN THE CAR. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING WITH A FULL LOAD OF LUGGAGE, AND 3 ADULT PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. ROAD CONDITIONS BECAME ICY ON THE INTERSTATE. THERE WAS A FAIRLY RAPID ONSET OF THE CAR KIND OF JERKING SIDE TO SIDE ALMOST LIKE THE BACK END OF THE CAR WAS BEING BLOWN FROM SIDE TO SIDE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NOT MUCH WIND. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH WHILE OTHER CARS AND SEMI TRUCKS WERE PASSING ME. I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND I THOUGHT AT ANY MINUTE WE WOULD END UP IN THE DITCH. IT HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM ME SUCH AS GIVING IT GAS OR BRAKING AND WHILE GOING STRAIGHT. THE CAR HAS NEW TIRES WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THEM. I JUST HAD THE 45000 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR IS A 2.5I WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I DID RESEARCH AS SOON AS I ARRIVED HOME AND FOUND THIS ISSUE WELL DESCRIBED IN A SUBARU OUTBACK FORUM. IT WAS DESCRIBED AS "GHOSTWALKING". *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THERE APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT CONSOLE THAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. WHEN OCCURRING, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BECOMES DEACTIVATED AND POSES A DECREASE IN SAFETY. SUBARU OF AMERICA WOULD NOT TELL ME HOW MANY OF THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OR THEIR REPORTED RATE OF FAILURE. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE (NEW), THE HOOD LATCH BEGAN TO OCCASIONALLY OPEN BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. THE SAFETY LATCH DOES CATCH THE HOOD BEFORE IT OPENS ALL THE WAY, BUT IT IS NEVERTHELESS DISCONCERTING, AND CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. I CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 82000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, AND WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE HOOD HAS SELF-OPENED WHILE DRIVING AT LEAST 20 TIMES. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I WAS NOT CLOSING THE HOOD SUFFICIENTLY WHEN CHANGING THE OIL, OR WHEN ADDING WASHER FLUID. I DO NOT CHANGE MY OWN OIL, AND RARELY NEED TO OPEN THE HOOD, AS THE DEALER OR A QUICK-LUBE SERVICE HAVE BEEN PERFORMING THE MAINTENANCE. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPEED OR ROAD CONDITION, AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CAUSE THE HOOD TO OPEN ON DEMAND, AND NEITHER HAS THE DEALER. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE NO RELATIONSHIP TO THE NUMBER OF MILES SINCE THE LAST OCCURRENCE. SOMETIMES THE TIME BETWEEN OCCURRENCES IS VERY SHORT (LESS THAN A WEEK, AND LESS THAN 150 MILES), AND OTHER TIMES I CAN GO SEVERAL MONTHS BETWEEN OCCURRENCES. THE DEALER HAS SEEN THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AT LEAST 8 TIMES, I BELIEVE, AND HAS DONE VIRTUALLY NOTHING BUT "ADJUST" THE LATCH. I HAVE COMMUNICATED THIS PROBLEM TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFERRED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ASKED IF I KNEW WHEN IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN (I DID NOT), AND THEY ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED SO THAT THEY COULD SEE THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS OPEN (I DID).

MY CAR ENGINE STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN IN A SIGNAL, WHILE WAITING ON THE RED LIGHT AND WHILE STOPING AND IDLING AT THE PARKING LOT. WHEN THIS ISSUE HAPPENS ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH LIGHTS UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED. THIS ENGINE STALLING ISSUE HAPPENS RANDOMLY. SOME TIMES EVERY DAY IN A WEEK, 2 DAYS IN A WEEK OR 3 DAYS IN A WEEK. SOME TIMES THE ENGINE STALLS MORE THAN 10 TIMES IN A DAY. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THE PROBLEM. FIRST TIME, I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE MY CAR AT THE DEALER SHIP OVERNIGHT TO SEE IF DEALER CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. DEALER TOLD ME HE COULDN'T RECREATE THE ISSUE. SECOND TIME, DEALER FOUND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND USED THE DIAGONSTIC TOOL TO FIND OUT THAT MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR IS BAD AND REPLACED IT. BUT THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THIRD TIME I CONTACT SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE ASKED ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT THERE FOR 2 DAYS. ON THE THIRD DAY, DEALER SAID THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY AND SAID HE COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE THIRD DAY, WITHIN FEW HOURS MY CAR ENGINE AGAIN STALLED. THIS TIME I TOOK THE VIDEO OF THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND I WAS TOLD THAT DEALER CANNOT FIX THE ISSUE UNLESS

TPMS VALVE STEM BROKE OFF WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. *TR

2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I DRIVING STRAIGHT ON COMPACTED SNOW OR ICY ROADS STARTING AT APPROX. 35MPH. REAR OF VEHICLE FEELS AS IF TRACTION IS BREAKING LOOSE AND FISHTAILING. TIRES ARE 1 YEAR OLD AND MADE FOR SNOW/ICE CONDITIONS AND ALIGNMENT WAS DONE 2 WEEKS PRIOR. PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS OR WEIGHT IS ADDED TO VEHICLE. UNABLE TO DRIVE OVER 40-45 MPH; 2-WHEEL DRIVE COMPACTS PASSING ME IN AN OUTBACK ON A FLAT SNOW COVERED ROAD DUE TO INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AT SPEED. ALIGNMENT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FROM A ROAD TRIP ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. NO SIMILAR ROAD CONDITION DRIVING BETWEEN THE TWO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE HOOD TO MOVE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH AND OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECURRING FAILURE AND THE HOOD WAS REPLACED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 03/31/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOOD LATCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 04/28/11

COMPLAINT FOR A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR STABILITY CONTROL ISSUE AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT, GOOD ROAD, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR "GHOST WALK" WHEN THE ROAD HAS ICE ON IT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EVER LOSE TRACTION PER SE; IT JUST STEERS ITSELF ALL OVER THE ROAD. TIRES ARE AT THE PROPER PRESSURE, TIRES ARE ALL BRAND NEW (ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES. THE ISSUE IS NOT TRACTION ON DEEP SNOW, NOR IS IT A PROBLEM WHEN CORNERING, BRAKING, OR ACCELERATING. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER IN SNOW/ICE AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL SUBARUS. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING ON ICE AND VERY HARD-PACK SNOW. NOTE THAT HAVING ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IN THE CARGO AREA OR REAR PASSENGERS MAKES THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 20 MPH WITH REAR-WHEELED DRIVE CARS BLOWING BY ME BECAUSE OF THE GHOST WALKING ISSUE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR-ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE. IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR