2009 Subaru Outback complaints

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

AT 37450 MILES, BOTH CV JOINT BOOTS ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING GREASE TO COAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN FEBRUARY 2009 FROM GILES SUBARU. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD AND WAS PURCHASED FOR ITS SUPPOSED SAFETY FEATURES.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL ON JULY 27, 2016. WITHIN TWO HOURS OF RECEIPT I WENT TO CLASSIC SUBARU OF ATLANTA (7700 ROSWELL RD., ATLANTA, GA) TO DROP OFF MY CAR FOR THIS RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL DECEMBER 2016 AND THAT UNTIL THEN I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. OVER FIVE MONTHS LEAD TIME TO REPAIR A KNOWN SAFETY RISK SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD POPPED UP. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RE-FASTEN THE HOOD. AFTER TRAVELING 100 MILES, THE HOOD POPPED UP AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,811.

I RECENTLY FILLED OUT THIS FORM (COMPLAINT # 10837114) CONCERNING MY HOOD LATCH BECOMING UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER AN APPROXIMATE 16 MILE ROUND TRIP DRIVE I PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND NOTED THAT THE HOOD OF THE CAR HAD BECOME UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. SHOULD I REPORT THIS EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS?

REAR HATCH WIRING HAS WORN TO THE POINT OF FULLY BREAKING FOUR AND DAMAGING FIVE OTHER WIRES OUT OF APPROXIMATELY 14 TOTAL GOING THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE BOOT BETWEEN THE BODY AND THE HATCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SYSTEMS AFFECTED: REAR WIPER, REAR LOCK, POSSIBLY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS. THIS WAS DAMAGE INCURRED OVER TIME OF NORMAL USE, OPENING THE HATCH NO MORE THAN ONCE PER DAY.

WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED MY HOOD WAS UNLATCHED. I HAD NOT RECENTLY HAD IT OPEN FOR ANY REASON..

INSIDE CAB HOOD LATCH CAN TRIGGER BY CONTACT WITH RIGHT LEG WHEN EXITING VEHICLE, DRIVER CAN USUALLY SEE HOOD NOT SECURE WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN STOP VEHICLE AND SECURE HOOD. ON 1/6/2016 WHILE TRAVELING OVER THE JAMESTOWN BRIDGE, HOOD FLEW UP AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD RESULTING IN HOOD,WINDOW AND ROOF DAMAGE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF THE LATCH NOT BEING SECURE WAS PRESENT, SEE LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE CLAIM 033127030 DATED 01/06/2016

2009 SUBARU OUTBACK HEAD GASKET SEEPAGE. THIS ISSUE SOA HAS BEEN AWHERE OF AND SAID IT CAN BE NORMAL OVER TIME. YET I FOUND THAT THE GASKET USED AT THAT TIME WAS SUBSTANDARD. A RECALL WAS NEVER ISSUED. I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS, BUT DID`NT. PERHAPS IT WOULD HAVE COST SOA A TON OF MONEY. I BELIEVE THEY ARE DEALING WITH THIS AS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS COME IN AND TOLD REPLACEMENT OF GASKET IS REQUIRED AT OWNERS EXPENSE.I FEEL THAT SOA SHOULD OWN UP TO THIS AND PAY ALL OR A MAJOR COST OF REPAIR. I HAVE TO HAVE MY HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AS TOLD UNDER INSPECTION.

THE REAR GATE WIRING HARNESS FAILED, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. WITHOUT REPLACING THE REAR GATE WIRING HARNESS ($88.80 PARTS + $448.80 LABOR + 51.07 TAX) SOON THE REAR WIPER AND DEFROST WOULD NOT WORK AND THE BACK HATCH WOULD LOCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I WANT TO SEE A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT OF $588.67 FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA.

REAR GATE ELECTRICAL CORD PREMATURE FAILURE AT RUBBER ACCORDION BEND

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED FROM BEING DRIVEN, THE ENGINE REMAINED ABNORMALLY HOT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN RESTARTED AFTER BEING DRIVEN AND PROGRESSED DURING HUMID WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN THE DEALER FOUND A CODE INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY WHICH INCLUDED THE AIR BAG CONTROL ELECTRONIC MODULE. UPDATED 03/29/16*JB *CN

THE HEADLIGHTS ON OUR OUTBACK BURN OUT FREQUENTLY. WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DIFFERENT HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT (AT LEAST 5) OVER THE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THE CAR. ON EACH OCCURANCE THE LIGHT BURNED OUT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND NOT WHILE DRIVING. ONE TIME BOTH HEADLIGHTS BURNED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND WE HAD TO DRIVE BACK HOME FROM OUT OF TOWN WITH OUR BRIGHTS ON THE ENTIRE TIME SO WE COULD SEE.

THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HATCH LOCK, WIPER AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE REAR PART OF MY SUBARU 2009 OUTBACK STOPPED WORKING OR WORKING ERRATICALLY. I CHECKED THE RUBBER BOOT CONTAINING THE REAR WIRING HARNESS FOR DAMAGE AND DISCOVERED 13 OUT OF 14 WIRES WERE EITHER COMPLETELY BROKEN, OR THE INSULATION WAS WORN, EXPOSING BARE CONDUCTOR. IN ADDITION TO THE REAR ELECTRICAL ISSUES, I REPLACED THE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE AM CHANNEL ON MY RADIO NO LONGER RECEIVES SIGNALS. THE REAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING, OR THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER NOT WORKING. SUBARU IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW.

WHEN IT RAINED DASH LIGHTS COME ON WOULD NOT GO OUT WHEN TURNED CAR ON FOR A FEW DAYS NEXT RAIN WENT TO CHECK CAR WHEN STARTED LIGHTS CAME ON THEN ALL WENT OUT AND A LOUD NOISE AND FIRE UNDER HOOD

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES (COMES ON) RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. OCCASIONALLY, TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE & RESTARTING CAUSES THE LIGHT TO TURN OFF. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

CAR TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START.

WHEN LOCKING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR LIFT GATE WILL NOT LOCK. SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOUND A BROKEN WIRE LEADING TO THE REAR LIFT GATE ACTUATOR, AND FIXED. JUNE 2015, PROBLEM OCCURRING AGAIN. JUST LOOKED, AND WIRE WAS BROKEN AGAIN (FOUND BY REMOVING PASSENGER SIDE RUBBER BOOT COVERING WIRES BETWEEN LIFT GATE AND BODY). WILL TRY TO FIX MYSELF, THIS TIME.

PROBLEM 1: EXPERIENCED REAR WIPER (STATION WAGON) NOT WORKING. CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES THROUGH THE HINGE AREA WAS BROKEN. IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW THE CAR HAS 72,000 MILES AND I AM HAVING REAR WIPER PROBLEMS AGAIN AS WELL AS THE REAR DOOR NOT LOCKING. WIRES FRAYED AND BROKEN AGAIN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BOTH WITH SUBARU AND ON THE FORUMS ON THE WEB. THIS IS A POOR DESIGN AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS AS IT CAN CAUSE THE REAR LIGHTS TO FAIL. FAILURE TIME FRAME WAS ALMOST DOUBLE MILEAGE FROM THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. (35,251 - 72,000). PROBLEM 2: AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAVE HAD IT TO THE MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO BE CHECKED OUT AND RESET. THIS IS ALSO A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SUBARU AND ON THE WEB FORUMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE AIR BAGS COULD FAIL TO DEPLOY. SUBARU MAY SAY THE AIRBAGS ARE A "SECONDARY" SAFETY FEATURE, BUT TO ME THEY ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR

WIPER SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN FAILS TO OPERATE AT TEMPERATURES BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

WHILE TRAVELING ON A 2 LANE ROAD AT NIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAINFALL, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER DISCONNECTED AND JAMMED INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, JAMMING THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AS WELL. VISIBILITY IN THE RAIN WAS REDUCED TO ALMOST NOTHING. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND TRAVELED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD A GREATLY REDUCED SPEED, UNABLE TO MAKE OUT ANY PLACE TO TURN OFF. BY SLOWING DOWN I WAS INCREASING MY CHANCES OF AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT, BUT INCREASING THE RISK FOR THE CARS IN FRONT, APPROACHING AND BEHIND ME. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT A SMALL PLASTIC PIN IN THE WIPER BLADE HAD FALLEN OUT, A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. THIS TINY PART COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I URGE YOU TO REQUIRE HIGHER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR THE WIPE BLADES. I CAN'T FIND A MANUFACTURER IDENTIFICATION ON THE WIPER BLADE, BUT I STILL HAVE IT. *TR

"AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (COMBINATION METER) IS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON SINCE IT HAS BEEN COLD OUT. IT KEEPS ON EVERY COLD DAY. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOYING THE SRS TO PROTECT DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN A COLLISION. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED BY MANY DRIVERS OF SUBARU, BUT SUBARU COMPANY IS STILL NO RESPONSE. *TR

HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 2009 OUTBACK WAGON WHICH AS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR

09 OUTBACK WAS BLOWING FUSES ON THE DOOR LOCK CIRCUIT. PUT IN A NEW FUSE AND IT WOULD BLOW IN A FEW DAYS, OFTEN WHEN CAR WASHED OR DRIVEN IN RAIN (OR PERHAPS WHEN REAR HATCH OPERATED). LAST REPLACEMENT FUSE HAS HELD FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW, THROUGH SUMMER. THEN THE REAR WIPER STOPPED WORKING. SAW THIS VIDEO AND THEN PULLED THE WIRING BOOT CONNECTING HATCH WITH BODY (TO RIGHT OF HATCH HINGES) AND SURE ENOUGH FOUR WIRES ARE SNAPPED RIGHT WHERE VIDEO SHOWS - AT BOTTOM OF RIGHT BOOT: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=AMEKPTVGMHS. *TR

THE AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR SOME TIME AND DAYS OR WEEKS LATER COMES ON AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT SHOULD THERE BE A COLLISION WHILE THE CONDITION DESCRIBE ABOVE EXIST, AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT MAY FAIL. THERE SEEMS TO BE THOUSANDS OF THESE INCIDENTS WHILE SEARCHING INTERNET DATABASES AND IT APPEARS ALL SUBARU DEALERS KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND PRESUMABLY SUBARU AS WELL. SHOULD NOT BE A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE? *TR

IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, DASH STARTED TO GET STICK AND ALSO PRODUCES A BAD GLARE ON WINDSHIELD. HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS HEAT HAS PROGRESSED IN SC DURING THE SUMMER. *TR

CONTACTED DEALER (MIKE SHAW SUBARU, NORTHGLENN, CO) PER THE NHTSA RECALL 14V-311 -- RECALL STATES INSPECT AND REPAIR. INSISTED ON INSPECTION ONLY AND REPLACEMENT IN THE EVENT OF VISIBLE CORROSION ONLY. DID NOT OFFER THE APPLICATION OF ANTI-CORROSIVE MATERIAL IN THE EVENT THAT LINES ARE DEEMED ACCEPTABLE. *TR

THE DRIVER AIRBAG IN MULTIPLE MODELS OF SUBARU ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF AN APPARENT FAULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE.THIS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE PART. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE TOPIC IN MULTIPLE AUTO WEBSITES AND IT APPEARS TO AFFECT A LOT OF MODEL YEARS OF ALL MAKES OF THE SUBARU.THE PROBLEM IS ALSO INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WHILE DRIVING . I THINK THAT DISABLING THE AIRBAG IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT SUBARU HAS NOT FESSED UP ABOUT THIS OR FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON. IF I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RIGHT BACK ON THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON, SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO HAD A TECHNICIAN CHECK THE COMPUTER CODES. IT LISTED (CODE 26-RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT ERROR). THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE COMPUTER ERROR CODE WAS CLEARED. THE TECH TOLD ME THAT EVENTUALLY IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AS HE HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IN THE 2008/2009 YEAR RANGE OF OUTBACKS & LEGACY'S AND TOLD ME THAT WHEN THE DASH LIGHT WAS LIT, "NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WOULD WORK IN A COLLISION". ALL WAS WELL FOR A FEW WEEKS AND THE LIGHT DID COME BACK ON, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE MAP LIGHT/PASSENGER SEATBELT LAMP ASSEMBLY (PART # 84621AG53A) THAT IS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR ROOF DIRECTLY NEXT TO THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PART IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTIES, AS THE AIRBAGS ARE A "SUPPLEMENTAL SYSTEM", UNLIKE SEATBELTS WHICH "ARE COVERED" AS THE PRIMARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SUBARU MUST OBVIOUSLY BE AWARE OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AS IT IS AN INSTOCK ITEM AT THEIR DEALERSHIPS (AT LEAST IT IS AT MY DEALER). THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HAD TO PAY (ALMOST $200) TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT WILL ALLOW MY VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS TO WORK IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS ARE CONSIDERED A "SUPPLEMENTAL SYSTEM". "LOVE" (PUN INTENDED) TO KNOW WHEN THE RECALL IS GOING T

MY SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY BUT USUALLY WENT OFF IF I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. BUT NOW IT'S ON CONSTANTLY. THE DEALER SAYS IT'S A MALFUNCTION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT APPARATUS AND IT'S NOT COVER UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS ESTIMATE TO BE OVER $350. I SEE ONLINE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2005-2009 OUTBACKS. THE MECHANISM IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *SMD THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN, WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY IGNITION. *JB

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE GROSSLY INADEQUATE WHEN USING LOWER BEAMS. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING CAN BE DONE - IT IS A SUBARU ENGINEERING DECISION TO HAVE THAT 'QUALITY' OF HEADLIGHT. *TR

OUR 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK IS RADICALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON COMPACTED SNOW OR ICE. THE CAR BECOMES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WITH REAR OVERSTEER ON MODERATELY SLIPPERY ROADS; EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS WITHOUT APPLYING ANY ACCELERATION. OUR VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS DISPLAYED THESE "QUIRKS" BUT IT IS NOW OUTRIGHT DANGEROUS. THE CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED. I CERTAINLY HOPE NHTSA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THERE IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT LIVING IN THE MIDWEST DRIVING THIS CAR IT FEELS LIKE IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THE HANDLING IS SO BAD THAT IT BECOMES A DANGER TO OVERCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

DRIVING ON STRAIGHT, SEMI-ICY ROADS BETWEEN NORTHERN MICHIGAN AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN AT SPEEDS FROM 40MPH TO 50MPH THE 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK LOADED WITH APPROX 500LBS OF CARGO AND PASSENGERS (DRIVER INCLUDED) WOULD SUDDENLY SWERVE BACK AND FORTH ( REFERRED TO AS GHOST WALKING ). WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE SPEED AND PULL OVER TO SHOULDER NUMEROUS TIMES AND ALLOW ALL TRAFFIC BEHIND VEHICLE TO PASS SINCE NO ONE ELSE WAS HAVING ANY HANDLING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WOULD REGAIN STABILITY AND WOULD HANDLE FINE FOR SOME TIME AND THEN WOULD REPEAT THE GHOST WALKING SITUATION ONCE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED APPROX 6 SIX TIMES FOR A TOTAL DRIVE TIME OF 35 MINUTES. CALLED 4 DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIPS AND SPOKE WITH THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH NUMEROUS SUBARU WEBSITE FORUMS AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

STARTED MY CAR AT NIGHT TO FIND OUT MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, BUT THE SAFELY LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK EITHER. THE LIGHTS ABOVE MY REAR LICENSE PLATE HAD BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS ALSO SO I AM NOT SURE IF THAT IS RELATED AS WELL. LOOKED ON-LINE TO FIND OUT MANY OTHER SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED LOOKING AT THE HARNESS THAT HOUSED MANY ELECTRICAL WIRES ON THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE HATCHBACK. MANY OF THE WIRES WERE EITHER BROKEN OR LOOSE. I HAVE READ THAT BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, THE WIRES BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING BENT WHEN YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE REAR HATCHBACK DOOR. TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO RESOLDER THE WIRES AND CHARGED ME $225 FOR THE LABOR AND PARTS NEEDED. IF I HAD TO REPLACE THIS, IT WOULD HAVE COST ME OVER $600 SO THE DEALERSHIP DISCOURAGED ME FROM DOING THIS. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY SUBARU SINCE IT IS DUE TO BAD DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE AND THE SERVICE I HAD DONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A STATION WAGON WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DRIVEN ONLY BY MY WIFE AND I. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED AN OCCASIONAL PROBLEM WHERE IT WOULD POP OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEEDS. I DID NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM DURING THE 3 YEAR, 30,000 LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD, BECAUSE IT OCCURRED INFREQUENTLY, AND DID NOT APPEAR TO PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHERMORE, IT'S SUBARU'S POLICY, AS STATED BY THE DEALER MOYER SUBARU, TO NOT ACT UNTIL A PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED, AND TO CHARGE THE CUSTOMER IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. HOWEVER, THE 5-YEAR, 60,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, AND A SUBARU GOLD PLUS, 7-YEAR, 70,000 MILE WARRANTY, ARE STILL IN EFFECT. WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT, PARTICULARLY WHEN GOING DOWN STEEP GRADES, WHICH IS NECESSARY ON ROADS SLICK FROM RAIN, SNOW OR ICE, OR WHEN THERE IS SOME OTHER HAZARD THAT WARRANTS SLOW SPEED. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT TO NEUTRAL, THERE IS AN ALARMING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND YOU MUST BRAKE HARD TO ARREST THE ACCELERATION, WHICH IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SKIDDING AND SLIDING. I ESTIMATE THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN PAST TWO MONTHS OF WINTER WEATHER. LAST WEEK (1/30/13), I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MOYER SUBARU WHO TOLD ME THERE ARE NO RECALLS, AND WOULD NOT DO A ROAD TEST UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY THE COST IF NO PROBLEM IS FOUND. I AM UNWILLING TO DO THAT, SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AGAIN; ONLY THAT IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN AND LIKELY CAUSE A

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AND THEN IN REVERSE BEFORE CRASHING INTO TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND A BRICK WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 10/31/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE PULLED INTO A VACANT SPOT, WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE EMITTED A ROAR AND SURGED OVER A CURB UPWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, WITH HER FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WENT BACKWARDS AND HIT AN SUV PARKED ILLEGALLY BEHIND HER CAR. THE VEHICLE THEN CONTINUED BACKWARDS, HIT ANOTHER CAR AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL OF A LIBRARY AND STOPPED. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 10/31/12

CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. APPARENTLY, A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM (ENGINE BEARING). VEHICLE UNDER BOTH FACTORY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. SUBARU NORTH AMERICA IS TRYING TO AVOID FIXING UNDER WARRANTY (AGAIN, IT SEEMS A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM). SUBARU CLAIMS OIL LEAKED OUT, BUT OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. SUBARU IS NOT DEALING ON THE UP AND UP. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.THE VEHICLE LATER RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED UNTIL IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

DRIVING ON SLICK ROAD CONDITIONS ICE/SNOW ON FREEWAY WITH LIGHTLY LOADED SUBARU OUTBACK (4 PASSENGERS, WHICH INCLUDED 2 FEMALES IN BACK SEAT AND LIGHT LUGGAGE FOR FOUR). THE REAR OF CAR BEGAN "GHOSTWALKING" OSCILLATING SIDE TO SIDE ABOUT 3-4" AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES/HOUR ON STRAIGHT ROAD. PASSED BY NUMEROUS 2 WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS AND CARS TRAVELING AT MUCH FASTER RATES. NEEDED TO PULL TO SHOULDER BECAUSE THE CARE FELT TOO UNSTABLE/UNSAFE. THIS DID NOT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO DRIVER ERROR, SLICK ROAD SURFACE OR TIRES. THIS WAS A FIRST EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND FIRST TIME ON SLICK SURFACE WITH VEHICLE LOADED. MANY OTHER PEOPLE REPORT SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PHENOMENON. SPOOKY AND VERY SCARY IS BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE. THIS IS NOT SAFE! *TR

2009 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE TO THE COLD PRESSURE OF 32 PSI FRONT AND 30 PSI REAR WHICH WAS LISTED ON THE STICKER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE TPMS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT TO GO OUT. THE SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED ALL FOUR TIRES BE ADJUSTED TO 30 PSI FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO DETERMINE IF THE TPMS WOULD ILLUMINATE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TPMS WAS NOT WORKING AS DESIGNED, DUE TO THE FACT, THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE TIRES WERE PROPERLY ADJUSTED. *JB

ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE - I PUT THE TRANS IN DRIVE AND STARTED TO MOVE WHEN I REACHED OVER TO OPEN THE GLOVE BOX. AS I REACHED MY CUFF CAUGHT ON THE TRANSMISSION KNOB AND PULLED SELECTOR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. I NEVER NOTICED IT BEFORE BUT THERE'S NO LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR HANDLE. THE OLDER CARS USED TO REQUIRE YOU TO PUSH DOWN OR PULL UP ON THE KNOB AND /OR PULL UP ON AN INTERLOCK HANDLE. LOOKS LIKE I WAS LUCKY GOING SO SLOW.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO (APRIL 2011) WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT AROUND 5 TO 10 MPH I REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX AND MY SHIRT CUFF CAUGHT THE SHIFT HANDLE AND THRU THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. WHILE I WAS LUCKY AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE NO BUILT IN SAFETY LOCKS OR MECHANISMS TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING MOVED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR DRIVE TO MANUAL SHIFT OPTION. ACTUALLY YOU CAN SHIFT ANYWHERE FROM REVERSE TO MANUAL AUTO BY BUMPING OR PULLING THE SHIFT HANDLE WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IS THERE A RECALL AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. EVERY AMERICAN MADE CAR I'VE OWNED HAD A BUILT IN MECHANISM THAT REQUIRED THAT YOU PUSH DOWN / PULL UP AND PUSH FORWARD OR PULL BACKWARDS AT THE SAME TIME THRU SOME TYPE OF MANUAL LOCKING MECHANISM...... THANKS I'M STILL DRIVING THE CAR BUT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION IS UNKNOWN. *TR

THE TIRE PRESSUURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON MY 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5 XT LTD HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND THE LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE CENTER (WACKERLI OF IDAHO FALLS), THE REGIONAL SERVIC EMANAGER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

ROAD CONDITIONS: POOR, ICY. VEHICLE: 2009 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON LOADED WITH 4 PASSENGERS (2 ADULT, 2 TEEN, PLUS "LIGHT" LUGGAGE). WHEN THE VEHICLE PASSED OVER AN ICY PATCH, THE CAR SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE VIOLENTLY. ON SUBARU FORUM WEBSITES, THIS TYPE OF LOSS OF CONTROL IS TERMED "GHOST WALKING" WHICH IS AN ODD BUT ACCURATE TERM FOR THE FEEL OF THE SITUATION. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE ENTRIES ON THE OWNERS' FORUM WEBSITES DESCRIBING THIS PHENOMENA, AND IT APPARENTLY AFFECTS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. MY DEALER OFFERS TO RE-ALIGN THE BACK TIRES WHICH MAY FIX THE INSTABILITY PROBLEM (WHICH IS ATTRIBUTED TO "LOAD") BUT WHICH WILL CAUSE ANOTHER PROBLEM: EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS SUBARU MARKETS THE CAR FOR THE WINTER DRIVING MARKET, IT NEEDS TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OVER COMPENSATING FOR THE SYSTEM-DRIVEN FISHTAILING. PLEASE NOTE: ALTHOUGH SUBARU ATTRIBUTES THIS TO "LOADING" OF THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS NOT LOADED BEYOND STRICTLY NORMAL USE FOR A STATION WAGON. THIS IS AS DANGEROUS AS "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" IN TOYOTA.

THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE. MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, PULLING ONTO MAIN TWO-WAY ROAD, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED ON, CAR JERKED AND THEN STALLED. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS 50 MPH CARS AND TRUCKS WERE COMING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT US - WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, SCREAMING THEIR HEADS OFF. I MANAGED TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART AND PULL OVER, GOT VEHICLE TOWED. CURRY SUBARU COMPUTER COULDN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING. SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED 02/17/2011, MAKING A LEFT ONTO A MAIN ROAD. MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO BE KILLED, THE CAR DASH LIGHTS FLASHED AND CAR DIED. I MANAGED TO RESTART AND JERK FORWARD. THIS CAR IS A DEATH-TRAP. MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS OTHERS WITH SAME EXACT SITUATION. I BROUGHT CAR TO MY DEALER - BILL KOLB - WITH NO SATISFACTION. CAR REVVS FORWARD AT TIMES DURING NORMAL DRIVING. SITING MANY ON LINE COMPLAINTS, SUBARU MUST BE WELL AWARE OF THE DANGER THIS SITUATION PRESENTS, I CANNOT OPERATE THIS CAR - MY CHILDREN ARE TERRIFIED AFTER TWO INCIDENTS OF NEAR COLLISIONS.

IN JUNE OF 2009 MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2009 V6 SUBARU OUTBACK (VIN [XXX]) FROM MANCHESTER SUBARU IN MANCHESTER, NH FOR $29,843.00.IN DECEMBER OF 2010, WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING US STRANDED, ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH OUR NOW 2 YEAR OLD AND 4 MONTH OLD. THE CAR MOMENTARILY RACED WHILE DRIVING AND THE RPM INDICATOR ROSE UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE RED ZONE FOR A BRIEF TIME. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS TURNED ON UNTIL THE ENGINE HAD ALREADY FAILED. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MANCHESTER SUBARU WHERE THEY STATED THEY FOUND METALLIC PARTICLES IN THE OIL. WE WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS, WHICH WE DID PROVIDE, AS MY HUSBAND REGULARLY CHANGED THE OIL HIMSELF. IT TOOK A MONTH FOR A DECISION TO BE MADE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE ENGINE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND WE WERE WITHOUT A CAR FOR THIS ENTIRE TIME. WE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR A LOANER CAR, WERE TOLD WE WOULD GET ONE, BUT NEVER DID. SUBARU AMERICA FINALLY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD SPLIT THE COST WITH US AND THAT WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $5,485.00. THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT ACCORDING TO SUBARU, WE DID NOT PUT ENOUGH OIL IN THE CAR AS IT REQUIRED 5.8 QUARTS AND WE PUT IN 5 QUARTS. WE HAD JUST CHANGED THE OIL IN THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2010 AND IT WAS LESS THAN 1 QUART LOW AT THE TIME OF THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAD CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL EVERY TIME WHEN CHANGING THE OIL AND THE DIPSTICK INDICATED THAT LEVEL WAS SUFFICIENT, GIVING US N