2014 Subaru Outback complaints

PULLING CAR INTO PARKING SPACE AT SLOW SPEED WHEN CAR, WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HEAVY PRESSURE ON BRAKES, DRIVER FELT THE ABS CYCLING, DID NT STOP VEHICLE. FINALLY, AFTER COLLIDING WITH A PARKED CAR, NOSE TO NOSE AND PUSHING OTHER CAR OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR MY MOVING TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR TO PARK

ON OR ABOUT NOV 24, 2015, AN IGNITION PROBLEM DEVELOPED. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE WAS NO POWER. WITH EACH TURN, MORE AND MORE POWER TURNED UNTIL IT FINALLY STARTED. ACCORDING TO SHEEHY SUBARU, SPRINGFIELD, VA, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND STATED "I NEEDED TO START THE CAR EVER COUPLE OF DAYS." ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, REYNOLDS GMC SUBARU CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM (I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE) AND THEY HAVE FIXED TWENTY OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2016, THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME IGNITION ISSUES. I CONTACTED REYNOLDS WHO CONTACTED SUBARU ENGINEERS WHO SAID NOT TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE VEHICLE STARTS WITH A FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL OR NOT. THEY STATED THE CAR WAS DESIGNED NOT TO START WITH A FOOT ON THE PEDAL. I WAS CALLED BACK AND THEN TOLD THE SUBARU ENGINEERS SAID THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, SOME VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND OTHERS DON'T. DEAL WITH IT. THE CAR HAS 15K MILES AND IS ALMOST BRAND NEW AND HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2015, DASH INSTRUCTIONS BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. PRIOR TO HAVING NITROGEN PUT IN THE TIRES, THE CAR CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LOST AIR PRESSURE WEEKLY. BUT NOW I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SUBARU HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NEW 2014 OUTBACK WITH STATIC NOISE COMING FROM THE AUDIO / SPEAKER SYSTEM; BOTH WITH OR WITHOUT THE RADIO BEING TURNED ON. THIS WILL HAPPEN RANDOMLY, WITH NO PARTICULAR SET PATTERN OR OBVIOUS REASON; IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN OR EVEN TRY TO RE-CREATE. WE DON'T HAVE THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAVE A HARMON RADIO WITHOUT SATELLITE. THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A PATTERN AND THE DEALER CANNOT PINPOINT THE ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE RADIO IS OFF AND I AM NOT USING THE BLUETOOTH. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH OR WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN SINCE I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE RANDOMLY.

AT APPROXIMATELY 29000 MILEAGE ON THE MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OIL LEVEL LAMP ILLUMINATED. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND IT TO BE NOT READABLE ON THE DIPSTICK. I ADDED A QUART, WHICH BROUGHT THE LEVEL TO HALF. I THEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BEARDMORE SUBARU IN BELLEVUE, NE. THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND REPLACED THE OIL LEVEL SWITCH. THEY ALSO INITIATED A AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND I HAVE TO RETURN IN 1200 MILES TO HAVE LEVEL RECORDED. HOWEVER, WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, I CHECKED THE OIL A FEW WEEKS LATER (APPROX 400 MILES DRIVEN), WHILE THE ENGINE WAS COOL, AND NOTICED THE OIL LEVEL WAS WELL ABOVE THE FULL MARK. CLEARLY THEY OVERFILLED THE ENGINE. ADDITIONALLY, THE MECHANIC LEFT OPEN THE TOP OF THE COOLANT RESEVOIR (WHICH I DID NOT ASK THEM TO EVEN CHECK). I WILL BE CALLING THEM ON MONDAY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE.

I NEED TO PURSUE A CRITICAL PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO RE-CREATE/SOLVE. APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN TIMES(10 BY MY WIFE AND 3 BY ME), WE'VE TURNED LEFT FROM A STOP(TYPICALLY AT A RED-LIGHT) ONLY FOR THE CAR TO STALL FROM 3 TO 6 SECONDS. THE 3 TIMES I WAS DRIVING, MY WIFE AND A GRANDCHILD WERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NARROWLY MISSED A DIRECT SIDE IMPACT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, WE DON'T DRIVE WITH OUR LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND WE ESTIMATE IT TO OCCUR ONCE OUT OF EVERY 60 TO 75 LEFT TURNS AND WHILE I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DEALER STATING THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RE-CREATED AND THE COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWING NO PROBLEMS THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SOLVE, WHAT I WILL NOT UNDERSTAND IS WHEN ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS ARE CRITICALLY INJURED BECAUSE "WE CAN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM". YOU'RE PROMPT ATTENTION ON THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 3 TIMES(THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER NOW AND AGAIN NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND).

PERIODICALLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR 3-5 SECONDS FROM A STANDING STOP WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED . THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN SEVERAL SUBARU USER GROUPS ON THE INTERNET. WHEN PULLING INTO BUSY TRAFFIC THIS PROBLEM IS TERRIFYING. THE CAR WILL JUST NOT ACCELERATE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND, AS EXPECTED, HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM MAY ONLY OCCUR ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, AND THAT HE WOULD NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM WITH A TEST DRIVE. THE DEALER SAID THAT SUBARU BUILT IN A "SAFETY SYSTEM" THAT MAY CAUSE THIS IF ONE WAS DRIVING WITH TWO FEET. IN OTHER WORDS IF I HAD ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND ONE ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WOULD "DIE". I TOLD HIM I DON'T DRIVE WITH TWO FEET. HE INSISTED THAT THAT MUST BE THE PROBLEM.

WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A NEAR STOP, THE ENGINE HESITATES FOR AT LEAST 3 SECONDS AT ACCELERATION WHICH IN MANY INSTANCES HAS BEEN VERY DANGEROUS UPON ENTERING TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY TURNING LEFT AND ENTERING A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET OR ROAD.

I WAS HIT BY A 1979 DODGE PICKUP THAT RAN A RED LIGHT ON 6TH STREET WHILE I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH HEADED NORTH ON JACKSON STREET IN TOPEKA, KANSAS. IT IMPACTED MY SUBARU ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DOOR. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOR DID MY SEAT BELT RESTRAIN ME. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST....UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 04/25/18 *JB *TR

WE PURCHASED A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK, NOVEMBER 2014. I WANT TO REPORT THAT THE STEERING PULLS TO THE RIGHT. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ALIGNMENT DONE YET. I'M SEEING OTHER DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS AND THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS AS WELL. SOUNDS LIKE HAVING IT ALIGNED WON'T CORRECT THE ISSUE. PLEASE RESPOND IF ANYONE HAS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.

THREE TIMES ENGINE HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR INPUT. DURATION, 3 TO 15 SECONDS. HAPPENS AT LOW SPEED (<20MPH) JUST AFTER COASTING FOR A FEW SECONDS AND AS ENGINE IS HEATING UP. LAST INCIDENT, 9/27/2015, BACKED OUT OF PARKING SPACE, THEN SHIFTED INTO FORWARD, DID NOT USE ACCELERATOR BECAUSE COLD ENGINE SPEED WAS HIGH ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN 5MPH THROUGH VERY CONGESTED PARKING LOT. 20 SECONDS LATER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO 35MPH, ENGINE SPEED NEVER RESPONDED FOR THE NEXT 15 SECONDS, THEN ENGINE STARTED RESPONDING NORMALLY. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THESE FAILURES STARTED 4 MONTHS AGO, AND HAPPENS WHEN CVT TRANSMISSION IS IN AUTO OR MANUAL MODE. I CHECKED INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR REPORTS. DEALERS AND SUBARU CORP., NO HELP AT ALL. IN CERTAIN DRIVING SITUATIONS, LOSS OF ENGINE CONTROL COULD BE JUST AS DANGEROUS AS LOSS OF BRAKES.

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL MY SUBARU OUTBACK INTO MY GARAGE AND WAS HEADING TOWARD THE GARAGE DOOR OPENING WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD PUT MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE FOOT BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, HOWEVER, IT CONTINUED TO PROCEED FORWARD BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSEQUENTLY, I HIT THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE WITH MINOR DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER. UPON FURTHER CHECKING THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS , I CONFIRMED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE GAS PEDAL AND MY FOOT COULD FIT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER MOVING IT SIDEWAYS FROM THE GAS PEDAL. IN ADDITION, ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, I HAD MOVED MY RIGHT FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ALSO PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED FORWARD (AT LOW SPEED) UNTIL I PLACED THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR AND I THOUGHT I WAS COMPETENT IN IT'S DRIVING TECHNIQUES REQUIREMENTS, BUT NOW I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER. I HAVE A WIDE FOOT, IS THERE A MINIMUM REQUIRED SIDEWAYS SPACING OR SIMILAR PEDAL HEIGHTS BETWEEN GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS WHICH PREVENTS THESE OCCURRENCES? I NEVER EXPERIENCED THESE INCIDENTS IN MY PREVIOUS CAR ( 2004 BUICK LESABRE) OR OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED.

MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R CAME WITH CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT GX P225/60 R17 TIRES. NOTICE ONE OF THE TIRES WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DEFLATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE BUT NO NAIL AS THE CAUSE. NOW MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAS DEVELOPED SIDE WALL BUBBLE. I TOOK TO SUBARU DEALER WHO DID NOTHING AND TOLD ME TO CALL CONTINENTAL TIRES ABOUT WARRANTY (DIDN'T EVEN WARN ME OF THE DANGER NOR DID THEY PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON) CONTINENTAL SAID PASSED RESPONSIBILITY BACK TO DEALER. I THEN WENT TO DISCOUNT TIRES THEN AMERICAS TIRES. ALL SAID (BEFORE EVEN LOOKING AT THE TIRE) THAT IMPACT DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED. FIRST 95% OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAYS AND I HAVE HIT NO POT HOLES OR HAD ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRES. THERE IS 350 COMPLAINTS IN DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT SIDEWALL PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR CONTINENTAL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY?

RIGHT REAR BRAKE BEGAN TO CLATTER, THEN SCRAPE. THE ROTOR WAS BADLY SCORED. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO ROAD SALT AND NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THAT IS, CALLED IN "NORMAL" WEAR. THERE'S NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT ONE REAR BRAKE FAILING THAT EARLY ... AND WITH LITTLE WEAR SHOWING ON THE OTHER BREAKS. THE CALIPER WAS STICKING AND THAT'S A DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION FLAW.

SAME ISSUE AS LISTED IN COMPLAINT 10715452. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON RETURN FROM VEHICLE PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION FOR SEVERAL SECONDS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I WAS NEARLY T-BONED WHILE WAITING FOR THE DRIVE SYSTEM TO RE-ENGAGE. TO DATE, 2JUL15, THIS STALLING SITUATION HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE, BUT NO OUT OF SPECIFICATION CONDITIONS WERE FOUND. I THINK THE PROBLEM RESTS WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION TRYING TO SHIFT DURING ACCELERATION. I RECENTLY LEARNED BY EXPERIMENTATION THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO MINIMIZE THE PROBLEM BY PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND FORCING IT TO REMAIN IN 1ST DURING ACCELERATION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO MANIPULATE AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO AVOID A VERY DANGEROUS STALL DURING ACCELERATION. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. A VEHICLE RECALL IS REQUIRED....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF UPDATED 10/13/2015*JS

THE INTERIOR WINDOWS WILL SUDDENLY GET COVERED WITH FOG. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER TWENTY FIVE TIMES TO MY CAR. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER, OR OUTSIDE TEMP IS. THIS, CAUSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM TRYING TO SEE OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALED THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD TO RUN THE AC. IT CAN HAPPEN EVEN WHEN THE AC , IS ALREADY ON. I'VE HAD IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES IN THE 14 MONTHS I'VE HAD THE CAR. THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHS 3 TIMES SHOWING CLEAR IMAGES OF HOW BAD THE INTERIOR FOGGING GETS. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CONTACT SUBARU AMERICA ASK FOR RPLACMENT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE PEOPLE AT SUBARU, PROVIDED ALL PHOTOS. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. MUNN 16 2015 IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS ON INTERSTATE I-205 AND IT MADE SEEING OUT OF THE CAR ALMOST IMPOSSABLE. I HAD TO CAREFULLY PULL OF TO ROAD SIDE WIPE WINDSHIELD AND ALL INTERIOR WINDOWS OFF. I HAVE TO CARRY TOWELS WITH ME AT ALL TIMES. PROBLEM HAPPENS WITHOUT ANY INDACATION, IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I'M DISABLED VETERAN AND REQUIRE A LOT OF MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER. I LIVE ALONE SO I'M TAKING A CHANCE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE VA. AT SOME POINT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCADENT. SUBARU SHOWED LITTLE CONCERN, EVEN IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME OR SIMILE PROBLEM.

THE SUNGLASSES STORAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR OF THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WILL NOT STAY LATCHED UP. IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION THE DOOR BLOCKS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

FROM THE TIME I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, THERE IS A LOT OF ENGINE HESITATION GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WE LIVE ON A BUSY STREET AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN WE BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, SWITCH INTO DRIVE, AND STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL - NOTHING HAPPENS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS, THEN THE CAR STARTS GOING FORWARD. THE DEALER HAS TRIED TO TELL ME IT IS THE CVT, BUT I WATCH THE TACHOMETER, AND THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV UP. I HAD SOME OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS (NON-CVT) 2005 OUTBACK, BUT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER 10 YEARS LATER. IT ISN'T - IT'S WORSE. *TR

I USED THE OPTIONAL SEAT WARMERS AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AT THE END OF A TRIP. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN LATER THAT DAY, THE SEAT WARMERS WERE ON. WHEN I FELT THE HEAT, I WAS CONFUSED, AND THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE, UNTIL I NOTICED THE SEAT WARMER LIGHT WAS ON. I THINK WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF, THE SEAT WARMER FUNCTION SHOULD BE CANCELLED.

VEHICLE HESITATES OCCASIONALLY ON ACCELERATION COMING OFF A STOP.

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, MY VEHICLE MANY TIMES HESITATES FOR AT LEAST 3-5 SECONDS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP/REST AT A STOP LIGHT, ALMOST CAUSE ACCIDENT WHEN TRYING TO ENTER INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AROUND 2000 - 3000/RPM. THE CAR EVEN EXHIBITED SLIGHT JERKY WHEN AT THE START OF ACCELERATING UP A SLIGHT SLOPPY HILL. THIS IS SERIOUS ISSUE AS ACCIDENT IS IMMINENT WHEN THE CAR HAS NO ACCELERATION WHEN TRYING TO GET GOING IN TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE IS COMMONLY EXPERIENCED BY OTHER DRIVERS (ONLINE FORUM) : HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/98450-2014-OUTBACK-ACCELERATION-HESITATION.HTML

I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THERE WAS A LONG, ABOUT 7 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. IT WAS IN GEAR AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS BUT NOTHING HAPPENED.

ON 3/22/15 WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE LOCKED ON AT 10 MPH. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES IT FINALLY RELEASED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 MINUTES THE SYSTEM RESET TO NORMAL. THE SYSTEM REMAINED NORMAL UNTIL ARRIVING AT A SUBARU DEALER ON 3/24/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALER TOOK CONTROL, IDENTIFIED AND REPLACED A RELAY AND SEVERAL SENSORS. THE CAR PERFORMED NORMAL UNTIL 4/1/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH. AFTER STOPPING AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES THE SYSTEM RESET BUT THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS REMAINED STEADY OR FLASHING. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SET FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF. ANOTHER APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE AT THE DEALER FOR 4/6/15. THE CONCERN IS THAT IF THE PARKING BRAKE LOCKS AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS PULLING UP TO PARK BEHIND A TOYOTA PRIUS ON A ROAD THAT WAS PARTIALLY COVERED WITH SNOW & ICE. THE WHEELS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE ON SNOW & ICE AND THE WHEELS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR WERE ON DRY ROADWAY. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY TO PARK WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE REAR BUMPER OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS. THE ENGINE WAS RACING WILDLY AND MY ATTEMPT TO BRAKE WERE INEFFECTIVE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR TRUNK & BUMPER OF THE PRIUS AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE SUBARU. I SUSPECT THAT THE SUBARU TRACTION/SPEED/STABILITY/ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROLS HAD MALFUNCTIONED. *TR

WHEN DRIVING A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK I EXPERIENCE A 2-4 SECOND HESITATION UPON ACCELERATING. IT FIRST HAPPEN WHEN TURNING LEFT, CROSSING TRAFFIC. I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING HAPPENED FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT JUST HORNS BEEPING FROM THE CAR I CUT OFF. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP ONTO A HIGHWAY. THAT TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES AS IT LUNGED FORWARD BEFORE ENTERING TRAFFIC. IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES AT A STOP LIGHT IN THE 1 WEEK I DROVE IT. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO STAY AT AN IDLE AND THEN AFTER THE 2-4 SECOND DELAY SUDDENLY ACCELERATES ACCORDING TO THE LEVEL THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER AND HER FAMILY'S SAFETY. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM WITH SUBARUS, NOT JUST OUTBACKS. I ACTUALLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT AND THEY TOLD ME THERE ARE NO SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING HESITATIONS SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING! THEY STATED THAT IS NORMAL WITH A CVT TRANSMISSION. BELIEVE ME, THAT IS NOT NORMAL AND IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE REVIEW THE ON LINE COMPLAINTS. *TR

HAVING WARMED UP THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR FIVE MINUTES AND HAVING DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES, BRAKING SEVERAL TIMES, DRIVER APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WHERE THE ROAD INTERSECTS WITH A BUSY HIGHWAY. SHE TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. TO STOP THE CAR, SHE THREW THE CAR INTO PARK. "CHECK ENGINE @ OIL TEMP" LIGHT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR CAME ON. SHE TURNED OFF THE CAR, WAITED A SHORT WHILE AND RESTARTED CAR, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CAR WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. TURNED OFF CAR. A SHORT WHILE LATER SHE STARED AGAIN; AFTER PUSHING GAS HARD, CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD. PUT CAR IN P AND WAITED FOR ASSISTANCE, LEAVING HEAT ON. WHEN ASSISTANCE CAME 10-15 MIN LATER, CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE ROADSIDE SPOT AROUND THE CORNER. CONDITION: LOW TEMPS. NO ICE ON ROADS. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT OFF WHEN NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER SAID ALL SYSTEMS WERE FINE AND THAT THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO THE SEAT AND SENSOR BEING WET OR DAMP. THIS IS NOT TRUE AS IT IS A PROBLEM AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK NOW. I WILL RETURN AGAIN TO THE DEALER BUT HAVE NO FAITH IN THEM OR THE CAR. I ALSO WONDER IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK IN A REAL ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO DITCH THE CAR AS AN HOUR AND A HALF RIDE WITH A CHIME GOING OFF IS CRAZY AND OF CONCERN. *TR

I PURCHASED THE OUTBACK 3.6 R LIMITED BRAND NEW AND SOON AFTER I NOTICED THAT VEHICLE PULLED RIGHT AND I HAD TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT IT -WHICH BECAME EXHAUSTING AND A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS RELATED TO ALL WHEEL DRIVE (SINCE I NEVER OWNED AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE). AFTER SOME RESEARCH I REALIZED VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR ITS FIRST MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AT 3,000 MILES. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND THEY FIXED. THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE RESOLVED AT FIRST BUT AFTER 1 WEEK IT STARTED PULLING RIGHT AGAIN -BUT NOT AS NOTICEABLE AS BEFORE. I REPORTED TO DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THAT THAT IS THE WAY ITS SUPPOSE TO DRIVE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT AND APPEARS TO BE A REPETITIVE PATTERN AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. *JS

THE ISSUE THAT CONCERNS ME INVOLVES THE INITIAL HOOD RELEASE THAT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE CAR ALONG THE LEFT SIDE (DRIVER'S SIDE). SPECIFICALLY, ON NUMEROUS, RANDOM OCCASIONS THE TOE OF MY RIGHT FOOT RELEASED THE HOOD AS I AM PIVOTING TO EXIT THE CAR. A FEW TIMES, I HAVE NOTICED THE HOOD IS SLIGHTLY RELEASED AND I SHUT IT. HOWEVER, MORE OFTEN, I DIDN'T NOTICE THE HOOD UP SLIGHTLY AND STARTED OFF ON MY TRIP. FOR EXAMPLE IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER WE MADE A ROUND TRIP FROM MILFORD, CT TO BRADENTON, FL. AND RECENTLY REPEATED THE TRIP FROM MILFORD. AT LEAST 6 OR 8 TIMES ALONG I-95 I-10 OR I-75, I NOTICED THE HOOD WAS RELEASED AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE ROAD SIDE FROM A HIGHWAY WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT RANGES FROM 50-70 MPH. AS I AM SURE YOU KNOW, THERE IS A SECONDARY HOOD RELEASE THAT HAS TO BE MANUALLY RELEASED FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HOWEVER, SHOULD THAT SECONDARY RELEASE FAIL, THE HOOD WOULD BLOW OPEN WHILE WE WERE IN MOTION AND EITHER BLIND OUR VISION OR BLOW OFF TO ONLY GOD KNOWS WHERE. I HAVE CALLED THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF PREMIER SUBARU IN BRANFORD, CT AND ASKED THAT THEY INFORM SUBARU. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM EITHER COMPANY. *TR

CAR STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD AND THEN THE FRONT DISPLAY PANELS BECOME BLANK. THERE IS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS MIGHT HAPPEN AND THERE IS NO PRECIPITATING FACTORS. HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND AND AM STILL DRIVING THIS UNSAFE CAR. *TR

BRAND NEW CAR AND ENGINE BURNING OIL ISSUE: SUBARU OF GEORGETOWN, TX, DEALER TOLD ME THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL UNTIL I REACHED 7500 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. AT 4900 MILES, OIL PRESSURE AND LOW OIL LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY, THEN TURNED OFF 30 MILES LATER. I DIDN'T CHECK THE LEVEL SINCE THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THEN 50 MILES LATER, BOTH TURNED ON AGAIN. I CHECKED THE DIPSTICK, AND THERE WAS APPROX. 1MM OF OIL REGISTERING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DIPSTICK. THE SUBARU OF BATON ROUGE, LA DEALER TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL AND CHANGED THE OIL AT 5400 MILES. *TR

ENTERING A MAIN STATE HIGHWAY FROM A RURAL ROAD I PRESSED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR RESULTING IN NO RESPONSE PLACING MYSELF IN JEOPARDY FOR A A COLLISION FROM RAPIDLY APPROACHING CARS BEHIND ME THIS INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY AT SLOW SPEEDS UPON EXITING A SHOPPING MALL ON TO A BUSY LOCAL HIGHWAY. *TR

DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 10/18/2014 COMPONENT(S): STEERING DATE OF INCIDENT: 10/17/2014 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10648531 DEAR NHTSA CONCERNING ODI COMPLAINT NUMBER 10648531. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. AFTER FILING THE COMPLAINT I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 10/23/2014. THEY TEST DROVE THE CAR AND PERFORMED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. . SO IF OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE OF WANDERING, ALIGNMENT MAY BE IN NEED OF ADJUSTMENT FOR THEIR VEHICLE AS WELL. *TR

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF LAG WHEN DRIVING SLOWLY INTO CROSS TRAFFIC OR FROM A DEAD STOP THAT SOMETIMES LAST UP TO SEVERAL SECONDS THAT HAS RESULTED IN SOME VERY CLOSE CALLS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE WORST TIMES HAVE BEEN WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC WHEN YOU ARE CREEPING OUT AND TRY TO ACCELERATE AND NOTHING HAPPENS! I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER AND TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR CVT TRANSMISSION AND THAT THERE IS NO FIX AT PRESENT. THEY DID SOME UPDATES TO THE CARS COMPUTER AND THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HELP BUT ON A TRIP IN ST. GEORGE UT A FEW DAYS LATER WE WERE ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT MERGING RIGHT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN WE WERE LEFT SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WOULD MOVE. THE SERVICE WRITER SAID HIS 20013 LEGACY DOES THE SAME THING AND THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WHY? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, WE PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH THE EYESIGHT ACCIDENT PREVENTION SYSTEM BECAUSE WE WANTED ALL THE SAFETY FEATURES IT HAS, NOW WERE TOLD THAT IT'S NORMAL TO LEAVE YOU HANGING IN TRAFFIC WAITING FOR THE CAR TO RESPOND? *TR

DRIVING WITH CRUISE CONTROL (CC) ENGAGED ON ROLLING TERRAIN, THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP ON A DOWNHILL SLOPE UNTIL BRAKES ARE APPLIED (BY CC), THEN AT BOTTOM OF HILL PICKUP IS SLUGGISH AND SPEED FALLS OFF 2-3 MPH BELOW SET POINT. THEN THE POWER COMES ON LATE AND HARD, AND THE VEHICLE GOES OVER THE CREST OF THE HILL ACCELERATING AT PEAK POWER LEVEL, 2-3 MPH ABOVE SET POINT. AN ASSOCIATED ISSUE, OBSERVED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, IS THAT WHEN CLIMBING A UNIFORM 3-4% GRADE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE RPM CYCLES CONSTANTLY OVER A RANGE OF 800-1000 RPM AT A FREQUENCY AROUND 4 CYCLES/MINUTE. THIS IS ANNOYING TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS, AND INCREASES THE STRESS LEVEL ON THE DRIVER. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, AND A FACTORY REP HAS EVALUATED IT, THE RESPONSE WE GET IS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS, AND NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN, NOR WILL ANY ADJUSTMENTS BE MADE. *TR

STEERING NEEDS CONSTANT CORRECTION, IF THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT AND YOU CORRECT BY SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT IT WILL OVER CORRECT & DRIFT TO THE LEFT FORCING THE DRIVER TO CORRECT BY SLIGHTLY TURNING RIGHT, WHICH IS THE CONSTANT CYCLE WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. IT WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO WEAVE BACK & FORTH IN THE LANE. YOU CAN NOT GET THE CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT, IT IS ALWAYS EITHER PULLING RIGHT OR PULLING LEFT. THE DRIFTING IS NOT DRASTIC BUT IT IS CONSTANT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND TRUCKS INCLUDING 4 WD, THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF THIS HAZARDOUS CONDITION WHICH IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT IT CAUSES DRIVER FATIGUE, LESSENING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO REACT TO THE VEHICLES CONSTANT NEED FOR STEERING CORRECTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. UPDATED 12/02/14*JB

THE CAR DOES NOT STAY ON. STARTED THE CAR BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE "START" POSITION FROM THE "ON" POSITION. THE CAR STARTS BUT ONCE THE KEY MOVES BACK TO "ON", THE CAR STOPS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN STRANDED BY THIS OCCURRENCE. AFTER 20-30MINS, THE CAR STARTS AGAIN. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RELATIVELY HOT (+85 DEGREES F). SEEMS TO BE AN IGNITION ISSUE. *TR

THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, IT HAPPENS FROM COMPLETE STOPS BY STEPPING ON THE GAS, AND WHILE TURNING YOUR VEHICLE. I WAS ON A 35MPH. BACK ROAD AND WENT TO TURN LEFT ONTO A SIDE STREET, I YIELDED FOR 2 CARS AND THEN WENT INTO THE TURN AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, IT HESITATED AND THEN I WAS HIT IN THE REAR SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. IF IT WOULD HAVE RESPONDED CORRECTLY I WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE ACCIDENT. *TR

WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT FASTENED, THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME AND LIGHT ACTIVATED AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED. IN A LATER INCIDENT, THE PASSENGER MOVED TO THE BACK SEAT AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME AND LIGHT CONTINUED TO BE ACTIVATED WITH NO ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (BUCKLING OR UNBUCKLING THE SEAT BELT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. *TR

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGINS TO SMELL OF GASOLINE. SOON THEREAFTER, ACCELERATION BECOMES HESITANT AND THE LOW-FUEL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE QUICKLY BECAME INOPERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD. THE VEHICLE IS A MODEL YEAR 2014 AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, LESS THAN SEVEN [7] MONTHS AGO (FROM THE DATE THIS COMPLAINT WAS POSTED). THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN UNDER ANY ESPECIALLY SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS OR THROUGH TREACHEROUS TERRAIN. *TR

SUBARU OUTBACK WAS STARTED IN A PARKING LOT IN ORDER TO COOL INTERIOR DOWN. DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE AND WALKED BEHIND AND AROUND TO OTHER SIDE. DRIVE OPENED FRONT PASSENGER DOOR RETRIEVED AN ITEM AND CLOSED DOOR. DRIVER THEN WALKED AWAY A FEW YARDS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE WATER FOR A DOG. DRIVER HEARD A LOUD CRASH AND TURNED AROUND TO FIND CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF PARKING SPOT AND HIT A VEHICLE PARKED BEHIND IT. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND FOUND TO BE IN REVERSE. NO ONE WAS IN EITHER CAR AND NO INJURIES. BOTH CARS WERE DAMAGED. SUBARU OUTBACK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. CAR WAS PARKED ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBURU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMAL AND WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2014 OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED AND HAVE BEEN HAVING STEERING ISSUES. THE CAR CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF AND HEAVY. THIS CAR IS EXHAUSTING AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE! *TR

ZERO OIL PRESSURE (RED) INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT SAFE AND PRUDENT OPERATING SPEED. LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT (YELLOW) NEVER ILLUMINATED. LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR THREE MILES, ONE AT SPEED 55 MPH TO ZERO AND TWO AT 20 MPH. THEN WENT OUT. INSPECTION OF OIL LEVEL SHOWED LEVEL APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER ABOVE LOW LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. ADDITION OF .5 QUART US RAISES LEVEL TO APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER BELOW FULL LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP; HAD FULL OIL SERVICE PERFORMED 2,500 MILES AHEAD OF SCHEDULED SERVICE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "SENSOR RESISTANCE IS HIGH, WILL R&R." DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE EMPIRICAL OIL PRESSURE PSI READING DESPITE REQUEST. PART REPLACEMENT YET TO BE DONE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY SUBARU OUTBACK 2014 3.6R LIMITED IN MID DECEMBER 2013, I FELT THAT THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT AFTER I DROVE THE CAR TO HOME, I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS ANY PROBLEM WITH A NEW CAR, WITH THAT I KEPT TO DRIVE AND MONITOR IT FOR 2 WEEKS THEN I CONFIRMED THIS IS REALLY AN ISSUE AND IT'S VERY EASY TO REPRODUCE. SO I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN SPENT HALF A DAY TO FIX, ROTATED TIRE, CHECKED PRESSURE AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT, FINALLY THEY REPLACED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES THEN THEY STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE IS NOT GOOD, THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING NEW TIRES AND LET ME DROVE THE CAR BACK. AFTER MORE THAN 3000 MILES DRIVING, THE SAME PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AGAIN, SO I WENT TO DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THIS IS REPRODUCIBLE, IT'S FUNNY THAT THEY REPLACED 4 NEW TIRES INCLUDING WHEEL HUB THIS TIME AGAIN, HOWEVER THIS ISSUE IS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED, THE TECHNICIAN CALLED SUBARU SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED TO LOOSE THE CAP OF SUSPENSION , BOUNCE THE CAR MULTIPLE TIMES THEN INSTALL THEM BACK, TECHNICIAN REPEATED THIS PROCEDURE FOR AT LEAST 2 TIMES, FINALLY THEN MENTIONED THE ALIGNMENT IS WITHIN SPEC, SERVICE ADVISE TOLD ME THE ISSUE IS BEEN FIXED. I DROVE THE CAR FOR 2 WEEKS NOW, I'M STILL FEELING THERE IS SLIGHT PULLING TO RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS KEEPING TURN TO RIGHT BUT NOT BACK TO CENTER. I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALER TODAY, TECHNICIAN LEAD TESTED THE CAR WITH ME, HE WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM I REPORTED, BUT HE

UPON INSPECTING THE TRAILER HITCH AND WIRING LOOM THAT THE RENO, NV, SUBARU DEALER INSTALLED FROM THEIR INVENTORY, THE WIRING LOOM AND CONNECTOR WHICH CONNECTS TO A TRAILER'S LOOM WAS FOUND TO BE HANGING FREELY IN THE WIND. THE TRAILER'S LOOM RUNS BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOOM WAS ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER HITCH WITH A SINGLE PLASTIC WIRING TIE WHICH WENT THRU THE WHOLE IN THE TRAILER HITCH INTENDED FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF THE TRAILER'S SAFETY CHAINS. THE PLASTIC TIE USED WAS OF THE TYPE NORMALLY USED TO HOLD A GROUP OF WIRES TOGETHER. UPON ATTACHING THE SAFETY CHAINS, THE PLASTIC TIE WHICH SUPPORTED THE WIRING LOOM, CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL SAFETY CHAIN HOOK. NOWHERE ON THE HITCH WAS THERE ANY METAL BRACKET TO ATTACH THE WIRING LOOM PLUG TO PREVENT THE LOOM FROM SWINGING IN THE BREEZE. IF THE PLASTIC TIE WERE TO BREAK OR BE WORN THRU BY ABRASION OF THE SAFETY CHAIN HOOK THE WIRING LOOM WOULD DRAG OF THE GROUND AND THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS ON THE TRAILER WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. THE PLASTIC TIE WHICH WAS THE ONLY SUPPORT FOR THE WIRING LOOM AND COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO WITHSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS IT WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO LIKE; WIND, RAIN, SNOW, MUD, NOR COULD IT WITHSTAND CONSTANT ABRASION FROM THE SAFETY CHAIN HOOK. THE WIRING LOOM WAS ATTACHED TO THE SAFETY CHAIN BRACKET HOLE 3 OR 4 INCHES FROM THE PLUG WHICH TERMINATED THE LOOM. THIS CREATED A PINCH POINT IN THE WIRING LOOM WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SAFETY CHAIN BRACKET. AS THE LOOM WOULD SWIN

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN CAR STOPPED, THE STEERING CAN NOT TURN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A NEW ONE, BUT THE STEERING IS STILL TOO HARD TO TURN AND FEEL EXHAUSTING TO DRIVE. AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS NORMAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL REQUIRED SEVERAL PUMPS IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,666. UPDATED 08/11/14*LJ UPDATED 8/30/2017*CN

THIS IS AN UPDATE: DEALER CALLED US TO HAVE [XXX] DRIVE THE CAR WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN PRESENT ( TECH NAMED [XXX]) CAR WAS DRIVEN APROX 5-6 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT ...SYSTEM DID NOT FAULT. DEALER TOLD US THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH SUBARU TECH CENTER & COMPLETED ALL THE TEST PROCEDURES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE ANY OF THE BRAKE-CHECK/ ENGINE FAULTS EXPERIENCED 3 ON 5/22 OR 1 ON 5/23/2014. [XXX] SERVICE COORDINATOR IS NOT CERTAIN WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE ONCE THE SYSTEM FAULTED & THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION & TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ARE SHUT DOWN ( AS A RESULT OF THE FAULT). I ASKED THEM NOT TO GUESS WHEN THEY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION. DEALERSHIP HAS DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE SYSTEM TO FAULT WHILE UNDER TEST PROCEDURE. THE DEALERSHIP APPEARS TO HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL THE STANDARD PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE. IT SEEMS SUBARU FACTORY MUST GET INVOLVED WITH THIS VEHICLE BEYOND THE DEALERSHIP TELEPHONE CALLS. OUR CONCERN IS A VEHICLE WILL BE RETURNED TO US IN AN CONDITION WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE UNSAFE...SINCE THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN ON THE TELEPHONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR OUTBACK ON APRIL 28,2014. ON MAY 1, 2014 WE BROUGHT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THEY APPARENTLY FIXED IT. THE NEXT DAY I WAD BACK AGAIN, THE CAR WAS STILL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO REALIGN THE CAR, IT WAS "FIXED". I HAD TO BRING IT BACK IN TODAY, IT IS PULLING AGAIN. THEY CAN'T FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE NOW THEY SUSPECT IT IS A DEFECTIVE TIRE ISSUE. THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES ON TUESDAY. I GET THE FEELING THERE IS SOMETHING MORE WRONG WITH MY CAR. *TR

THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY. WHEN THE FAULT IS CLEARED AND DRIVING RESUMES THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE AGAIN ENGAGES. THE MFG ( SUBARU) PROVIDES A SMALL TOOL & INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO CRAWL UNDER THE CAR, USE THE TOOL TO MECHANICALLY RELEASE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. IF A TOOL IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER MANUAL HOW TO RELEASE A FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ( WHICH MAY ENGAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WAY ) THIS IS A CLEAR WARNING OF A POSSIBLE UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US ( THIS PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED) THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TELLS US TOWING VEHICLES TO DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE OF FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKES IS A MAJOR PART OF HIS BUSINESS. *TR