2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM IN VEHICLE. *LD UPDATED 10/04/2017*JS
2015 Subaru Outback complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2015 record →
PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2014. YESTERDAY I PUT THE 3RD BATTERY IN THE CAR. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND MAY INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH DRAW ON THE BATTERY DURING DOWN-TIME. CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKS FINE AND ALSO CHECKED FINE AT THE POINT OF REPLACING THE BATTERY THE OTHER TIMES.
VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE VOICE ACTIVATED NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. I
REAR ELECTRIC LIFTGATE SPORADICALLY FAILS TO OPEN. THIS CONDITION PERSISTS WHETHER I PRESS THE BUTTON ON THE LIFTGATE, THE DASHBOARD LIFTGATE BUTTON, OR THE KEY FOB BUTTON. I CAN HEAR THE LIFTGATE UNLATCH, HOWEVER IT FAILS TO OPEN MORE THAN A COUPLE INCHES. LITHIA SUBARU (OREGON CITY) HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR. WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE NEW FROM THE DEALER. IT HAS EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST DAY WE OWNED IT. SUBARU SHOULD RECALL AND FIX ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL STRONGLY THIS IS AN DESIGN DEFECT OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS SPORADIC CONDITION PRESENTS ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, BOTH WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND WHEN IT IS NOT. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY SET OF CONDITIONS UPON WHICH I CAN CAUSE OR PREDICT THE FAILURE.
THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JAN 2015. ONE DEALER TOLD US THERE WAS NO LEAK AND FINALLY DECIDED IT WAS THE RIGHT DIFFERENTIAL AND REPAIRED THAT. THE TRANSMISSION STILL LEAKED. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHERE BOUGHT, THEY FOUND LEAK AND SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT IT IS STILL DRIPPING. PLAN ON TAKING IT BACK TO THEM NEXT WEEK. WE KEEP CLEAN CARDBOARD UNDER THE AREA WHERE THE LEAK IS TO PROTECT THE GARAGE FLOOR AND DOCUMENT THE LEAK. LAST REPAIR JULY 25 OF 2017.
TAKATA RECALL
I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH SLIDING THE DRIVER'S WINDOW, IT GOES UP AND RAPIDLY GOES DOWN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT DOESN'T FIT TO THE UPPER FRAME, IT IS ESPECIALLY INCONVENIENT WHILE RAINING. THAT PROBLEM APPEARS WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING.
PASSENGER SIDE BLIND SPOT INDICATOR IS INTERMITTENT (PERHAPS 50%). IT DOES NOT ALWAYS INDICATE THAT AN OBJECT IS IN IT'S VIEW WHEN IT ACTUALLY IS. IF YOU DEPEND UPON THIS DEVICE TO MAKE LANE CHANGES, YOU COULD HAVE A COLLISION. IT FAILS WHILE MOVING AT ANY SPEED ABOVE ABOUT 5-10 MPH AND WEATHER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND HE IS UNABLE TO FIX IT EVEN AFTER REPLACING BOTH BLIND SPOT SENSORS. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW AND CONTINUES TO DATE. THE DEALER GAVE ME A 2016 LOANER MODEL WHEN WORKING ON MY CAR AND IT HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
REAR DOOR HATCH RANDOMLY DOES NOT OPEN, WHETHER I PRESS THE BUTTON ON IT, THE BUTTON INSIDE THE CARE, OR THE KEY FOB. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND ALWAYS WHEN IT IS RAINING OR HAS RAINED. THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL ALWAYS OPEN (THOUGH NEVER THE PASSENGER DOOR) WITH THE KEY FOB IN PROXIMITY. YOU CAN HEAR THAT THE BACK HATCH UNLATCHES, BUT DOES NOT RAISE UP. CASCADE SUBARU IN OHIO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT SO IT WORKS AS IT SHOULD. THIS VEHICLE WAS PREOWNED, BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER, AND EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST DAY WE OWNED IT.
I DRIOVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONE BLOCK TO STOP SIGN. ONLY GOING 10 OR SO MPH WHEN I DEPRESSED BRAKE TO STOP AT STOP SIGN . POWER BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND UNTIL PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HARD TO FLOOR. THEN WHEN STOPPED THE ENGINE REVED UP AND I DID NOT TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE. THE ENGINE SEEMED TO ROAR LIKE IN A VERY LOW GEAR. I CHECKED GEARS AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, THEN PARK AND REVERSE, ENGINE STILL ROARING. BUT AS MY FOOT WAS HARD ON BRAKE, IT DID NOT GO INTO FOUR LANE TRAFFIC AHEAD. I TURNED OFF ENGINE WITH KEY AND THE ENGINE REVING STOPPED..WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON AGAIN THE BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY AND ACCELERATION WAS NORMAL .IT SEEMED TO RESET AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS ALBEIT VERY SLOWLY. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD IT TOWED. THERE ARE NO FLOOR MATS IN THE CAR. DRIVER NOT IMPAIRED. THIS OCCURRED AROUND 10 AM ON A CLEAR AUGUST DAY TEMPERATURE AROUND 75 DEGREES .
TAKATA RECALL WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOY, THEY MAY SPRAY METAL DEBRIS TOWARD VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.
GAS PEDAL SENSOR DOSE NOT RESPOND ON TAKE OFF FROM STOPPED VEHICLE. HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONE 5-6 TIMES. ALSO FROM A COST TO PUTTING PRESSURE ON PEDAL IT FAILS TO RESPOND. ON LEFT TURNS YOU ARE A SITTING DUCK NOT KNOWING IF PEDAL WILL RESPOND OR YOU ARE SITTING OUT IN FRONT OF SOME CLOSING IN ON YOU AT HIGH RATE SPEED . THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 -12 TIMES ON HIGHWAYS AN CITY STREETS
BLIND SPOT DETECTION (ALSO CALLED SRVD) DID NOT WORK WHEN WE PICKED UP THE NEW CAR IN FEB 2015 THE FIRST TIME FROM DEALER. WE DID NOT NOTICE IT AT THE TIME. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY REPLACED A PART AT NO CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SRVD FEATURE WORKED FOR 6 MONTHS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SRVD. IT FAILED AGAIN JUST 2 MONTHS LATER. WE ARE GOING BACK INTO THE SHOP FOR THE 3RD TIME TO FIX THE SRVD.
THE BACK UP DISPLAY SCREEN BECOMES UNUSABLE AS A RESULT OF THE TOUCH SENSITIVE SENSORS BECOMING VISIBLE, THUS INTERFERING WITH THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA IMAGE. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT MAKING THE REAR BACK UP CAMERA USELESS. IT ALSO IMPACTS THE ABILITY TO READ ANY OF THE CONTROLS ON THE SCREEN, HOWEVER NOT BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY OBJECTS WHEN BACKING UP WE BELIEVE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT AND HAS REPLACED TWO OF THEM AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE TOUCH SENSITIVE SCREEN.
VERY DIFFICULT TO START-PROBLEM WITH PUSH TO START BUTTON AND ENGINE NOT GETTING FUEL. VEHICLE STATIONARY IN PARKING LOT. HAVE HAD TO GET JUMP START 3 TIMES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SCREEN ON THE RADIO CREATED A BLINDING GLARE FROM THE SUNLIGHT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A PEDESTRIAN DUE TO THE GLARE. THE WAS TAKEN TO RAMSEY SUBARU WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 08/24/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO BE REACHED. UPDATED 9/22/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THEIR WIFE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S GLASS FOR THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAD TO ORDER A NEW SUNROOF FROM TEXAS AUTO TOPS THEN SET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SUNROOF REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
RIGHT REAR PASSGER WINDOW BLEW OUT AND SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED SENDING MOST OF THE GLASS OUT OF THE CAR, BUT SOME LANDED ON THE DRIVER, PASSENGER, AND CENTER ARMREST. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES WITHIN A MILE OF IT. WE WERE WEARING SUNGLASSES WHICH PROTECTED OUR EYES. THE CAUSE WAS AND STILL REMAINS UNKNOWN.
INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CVT TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. IF THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED MORE AND MORE, THE CAR FINALLY LURCHES FORWARD (OR BACKWARD IF BACKING UP) AND THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE SLAMMED ON.
DEFECTIVE/DELICATE WINDSHIELD. DRIVING AT 65MPH ON SMOOTH HIGHWAY IN RAIN. PUT DEFROSTERS ON. WINDSHIELD CRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE ABOUT 12" FROM BOTTOM. RUNS TO ABOUT 2' BEFORE STOPPING. CLOSEUP INSPECTION REVEALS NO MISSING MATERIAL OR CHIP INDICATIVE OF IMPACT.
WHILE PULLING MY FATHER-IN-LAWS SUBARU OUTBACK INTO MY GARAGE I PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR PROCEEDED INTO GARAGE FIRST HITTING THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE DOOR FRAME AND THEN INTO THE BACK OF MY OTHER CAR WHICH WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. I INSTINCTIVELY APPLIED GREATER PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE BUT THIS DID NOT STOP THE CAR. WHEN THE CAR WEDGED AGAINST THE RIGHT SIDE COLUMN OF THE GARAGE I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND REAPPLIED IMMEDIATELY. THIS ACTION CAUSED THE CAR TO DECELERATE TO AN IDLE MODE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LONG TIME AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE LIKE THIS BEFORE. I NOTICED OTHERS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AS REPORTED ON THIS SITE. THERE WAS NO FLOOR MAT OBSTRUCTION SO I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THERE IS A POSSIBLE SOFTWARE ISSUE. *TR
AT TEMPERATURE 48 F, SAT IN STATIONARY CAR FOR 30 MIN WITH RADIO ON, LIGHTS ON. BATTERY RAN ALL THE WAY DOWN. HAD TO GET A JUMP. AT TEMPERATURE 36 F, SAT IN STATIONARY CAR 20 MIN. WITH RADIO OFF, LIGHTS OFF. BATTERY RAN ALL THE DAY DOWN. HAD TO GET A JUMP. SUBARU SAYS THAT BATTERY TESTS NORMAL ON GR-8 TEST AND THAT CURRENT DRAW IS NORMAL AT THIS TIME .010A-.027A. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS NOT EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT ITS ELECTRICAL NEEDS. COULD KEY SYSTEM BE A FACTOR? SUBARU WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BEYOND THE ABOVE TESTS. THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS LIKE THIS ON INTERNET SITES. MY CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE IS ERODED.
INVALID BRAKING INCIDENTS WITH SUBARU OUTBACK'S EYESIGHT PRE-COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM. MY CAR HAS BRAKE SUDDENLY, WITHOUT CAUSE ON 3 OCCASIONS. 1) SUNNY MORNING ON A CROWDED RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING LESS THAN 25MPH WITH NO CARS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, CAR GAVE WARNING AND IMMEDIATELY BRAKED STOPPING THE CAR. 2) SUNNY AFTERNOON ON A WIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING ABOUT 30MPH WITH NO CARS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME, CAR GAVE WARNING AND IMMEDIATELY BRAKED SLOWING THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY. 3) DARK AND RAINING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING 70MPH USING ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WITH NO CARS AROUND ME, CAR GAVE WARNING AND IMMEDIATELY APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD (NO SKIDDING OR SWERVING) SLOWING THE CAR TO ABOUT 25MPH BEFORE RELEASING CONTROL TO ME. VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO CARS WERE BEHIND ME. AFTER EACH INCIDENT, I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE CAR IF THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER REALIZING THE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE FOLLOWING THE THIRD INCIDENT, I CALLED SUBARU CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE. SUBARU SENT A CORPORATE ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE CAR AND THE DATA RECORDINGS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR AND AGAIN SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS WITHOUT RECREATING THE PROBLEM. IN THE 2+ YEARS AND OVER 30,000 MILES I'VE DRIVEN THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED 3 TIMES, THE DEALER RECREATING THE PROBLEM SEEMS UNLIKELY GIVEN THEIR LIMITED TIME WITH THE CAR.
CAR BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO SERVICE FOR RADIO FREEZING NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND OTHER PARTS ON DASH INCIDENTS HAPPENED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE BUT THOUGHT IT WAS BREAKING IN. FIRST TIME BROUGHT IT IN TO BE CHECKED . WAS TOLD THERE IS NO PROBLEM, THEN TOLD HAD TO UPDATE SOFTWARE, THEN TOLD HAD TO HAVE RADIO (HEAD UNIT) REPLACED WHICH I HAD TO WAIT FOR SINCE SO MANY OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAS SAME PROBLEM. REPLACEMENT HEAD UNIT NO GOOD (WAS A REFURBISHED RADIO SINCE THEY HAD NO NEW ONES (SUBARU HAS SINCE SWITCHED TO ANOTHER VENDOR BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS) NOW CAR IS AT SERVICE CENTER WAITING FOR ENGINEERS FROM SUBARU TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR NOT A CAR WITH REFURBISHED PARTS. THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW PART SINCE THEY CAN'T GET ONE.I DO NOT WANT A PART THAT WILL CONSTANTLY FAIL AND EVENTUALLY LEAVE ME WITH A BILL WHEN WARRANTY ENDS WHEN THE NAVIGATION FAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TRIP IT IS DISCONCERTING THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING. *TR
WHILE BRAKING TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR. ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. SYMPTOM ONLY LASTED 2-3 SECONDS.
SUBARU REAR VEHICLE DETECTION (SRVD) SYSTEM HAS FAILED AFTER OWNING CAR FOR 16 MONTHS. THE 2015 OUTBACK HAS VERY BAD BLIND SPOTS AND PRESENTS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC WITH THIS SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.
ON SEPT.27TH, 2015, THE LIFTGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN. MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS ,ONE AT A TIME, OVER THE MIRROR, WILL TURN ON AND BE HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN I GET INTO THE CAR AFTER BEING OUT OF CAR FOR HOURS OR OVER NIGHT.THE LIFTGATE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM,AS ARE THE LIGHTS.ALSO, THE BLUETOOTH TELLS ME I AM CALLING MYSELF FREQUENTLY.ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS?? ONCE THE LIFTGATE OPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. I HAVE NOTES ON DATES & TIMES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 7/13/18*JB *TR
THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HAS DELAMINATED. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY A THE DOOR SOUNDING LIKE A DRUM WHEN CLOSED, THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DOOR VIBRATING WHEN CLOSED AND A MECHANIC AT THE DARYL WALTRIP DEALERSHIP WHO INSPECTED THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. THE DEALER ONLY WANTS TO PUT A BAND AID ON THE PROBLEM BY PLACING PADS INSIDE THE DOOR TO DEADEN THE SOUND. THE CONCERN IS FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WHO COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION BECAUSE OF THE REDUCED STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE DOOR.
SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, PERIODICALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED,. THE BLIND SPOT CAUTION/WANING SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS IS CONFIRMED BY A CAUTION LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ONLY WAY TO REACTIVATE THE SYSTEM IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE. IF THE MALFUNCTION IS NOT CAUGHT ON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE SYSTEM CANNOT BE ACTIVATED UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR TWO YEARS AND 40,000 MILES. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AT DARYL WALTRIP SUBARU IN FRANKLIN TN THE PROBLEM IS POINTED OUT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. EVERY TIME I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM BUT THEY HAVE UPDATED THE COMPUTER. RECENTLY A RELAY IN THE SYSTEM, PART NO. 87611AL00B, WAS REPLACED. THIS HAS ONLY EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE CALLS TO SUBARU'S CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO HELP. MULTIPLE CALLS TO THE SERVICE MANAGE AT DARYL WALTRIP SUBARU IN FRANKLIN TN HAVE GONE UNANSWERED AND HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED. SUBARU CUSTOMER CARE HAS SUPPOSEDLY CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER AT DARYL WALTRIP SUBARU REQUESTING THAT HE CONTACT ME, HE HAS NOT. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM.
THE POWER LIFT TAILGATE DOES NOT OPEN ROUTINELY IN COLD WEATHER. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THE POWER LIFT TAILGATE MAY NOT OPEN OR LOCK PROPERLY UNTIL THE CAR HAS ACHIEVED A STABLE INTERIOR CABIN TEMPERATURE OF 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR HIGHER. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN OCTOBER OF 2015, NOT LONG AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD EYESIGHT SYSTEM RECALL SERVICE. THE PROBLEM IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOT BEEN RUNNING OR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS DURING COLD WEATHER. I HAVE CALLED AND HAVE SPOKEN WITH AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND ALL CLAIM TO BE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, EXCEPT IN OCTOBER (2016) ONE SERVICE MANAGER DID STATE HE BELIEVED A BULLETIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FORTHCOMING.
EXTREME ENGINE HESITATION (CVT) FROM IDLE STOP MAKING A TURN, IE CENTER TURNING LANE. DRIVER CANNOT RELY ON NORMAL OPPOSING TRAFFIC BREAKS TO COMPLETE A TURN. YOU MUST INCREASE THAT DISTANCE BY AT LEAST 5 TIMES, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WILL KICK BACK IN! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! DEALER: "THAT'S THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK!??? THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES!
TWO PROBLEMS. 1. REPLACED WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES IN 15 MONTHS. TWO WERE ORIGINAL SUBARU BRANDED WINDSHIELDS. ORIGINAL AND INDUSTRY REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD ARE TOO BRITTLE AND THUS UNSAFE. ANY LITTLE PEBBLE CHIPS THEM AND THEY ALWAYS HAVE A LONG CRACK WITHIN A FEW HOURS. 2. RADIO SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION PROPERLY. AT TIMES IT SCROLLS DOWN AND WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE CHANNELS OR ADJUST THE VOLUME. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN JULY AND WOULD REPLACE IT SINCE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. SUPPLIER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO SEND PART AFTER FOUR MONTHS. SUBARU IS NON RESPONSIVE TO OUR CONCERNS.
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ,HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE WINDSHELD CRACKED. L SHAPED CRACK ABOUT 6 IN IN EACH DIRECTION. ABOUT THE SAME WAY THAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER 122 PEOPLE THAT FILED COMPLAINTS FOR OUTBACK WINDSHIELDS CRACKING.
OCTOBER 1, 2016 11:50AM, 32,00MILES SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA) MY WIFE HAD AN ACCELERATION AND BRAKE MALFUNCTION ON THIS DATE AND TIME.SHE HAD JUST TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE. AS SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR RAN OVER THE YELLOW CEMENT BARRIER AND WAS HEADING FOR A TREE, SHE CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE AND IT DID NOT RESPOND AS SHE TURNED THE CAR RIGHT TO MISS THE TREE. REALIZING SHE MAY BE HEADING FOR THE STREET SHE TURNED HARD RIGHT, STILL APPLYING PRESSURE TO A UNRESPONSIVE BRAKE PEDAL. SHE CONTINUED TO STEER HARD RIGHT TO MISS A FIRE HYDRANT. SHE LEFT TIRE MARKS IN THE BARK CHIPS NEAR THE HYDRANT. THE BRAKE FINALLY ENGAGED AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IN FRONT OF ANOTHER CEMENT PARKING BARRIER THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET. SHE SAT FOR APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE, GATHERING HER THOUGHTS AND TALKING TO HER GRANDCHILD, IN THE BACK SEAT. SHE THEN DROVE SLOWLY OVER THE BARRIER AND PARKED. SHE DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT STOPPING AND STARTING BEFORE PROCEEDING HOME, APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES. THIS WAS A SUDDEN AND RANDOM ACCELERATION AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. WE BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THROTTLE AND THAT IT MALFUNCTIONED. WE DO NOT FEE SAFE IN THIS CAR AND ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS SUA MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE ARE ASKING SUBARU TO REPLACE THIS CONTROL COMPUTER. IT IS AT THE DEALER
FILE UPLOADED BELOW PICTURES #4 AND #5 WERE NOT ABLE TO BE DOWNLOADED WHICH SHOW CLOSEUPS OF THE TIRE MARKS IN THE BARK CHIPS. #3 SHOWS THE COMPLETE TIRE MARK IN THE BARK CHIPS.
LEFT HAND WHEEL BEARINGS (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 17,000 MILES. RIGHT HAND WHEEL BEARING (HUB UNIT) FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 32,000 MILES.
LINES HAVE APPEARED ACROSS MY NAVIGATION SCREEN. LINES MAKE THE SCREEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SCREEN ESPECIALLY IN STRONG LIGHT DUE TO THE GLARE. THE BACK UP CAMERA VIEW IS ALSO IMPEDED BY THE LINES AND THE GLARE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL AS IT IS PART OF THE TOUCH SCREEN. THESE LINES WERE NOT ON THE SCREEN FOR THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE LINES APPEAR AT ALL TIMES (WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STOPPED).
WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM PASSENGER SIDE WIPER AREA UP AND ACROSS WINDSHIELD WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU INDICATING THERE WAS A POTENTIAL WEAKNESS IN WINDSHIELD - DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD . CLAIMED DAMAGE WAS FROM A ROCK.
MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5LIMITED HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH SUDDEN-ACCELERATION.IT WILL SURGE WHILE FOOT IS ON BRAKE USUALLY AT STOP SIGNS,RED LIGHTS.IT IS BECOMING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT.I AM 100% SURE THAT MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AND THE FLOOR MAT IS NOT INVOLVED EITHER.IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DANGEROUS AND WE HAVE HAD NO RESULTS AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS THEY STATE THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE..IT BEGAN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND IS STILL HAPPENING A YEAR LATER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET GOING 40 MPH WHEN I HEARD A POP COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I LOOKED OVER, THERE WAS A CRACK ABOUT MIDWAY UP THE WINDSHIELD. IT RAN FROM THE FAR RIGHT TOWARD THE MIDDLE ABOUT 10 INCHES AND THEN DOWNWARD. IT WAS CURVING DOWNWARD. THERE WAS ONE CAR IN FRONT ABOUT 25 YARDS AWAY GOING ABOUT THE SAME SPEED AS I WAS. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME COULD HAVE THROWN A ROCK THAT FAR AND HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK MY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN HIT MANY TIMES BEFORE ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY WINDOW HAD NEVER BROKEN. ONLY SMALL NICKS THAT I CAN SEE. I GOT TO THE THEATER AND GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE WINDOW. THE CRACK STARTED FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW. I COULD NOT SEE WHERE ANYTHING HAD HIT THE WINDOW. IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK. I HAD TO TAKE MY OUTBACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW EXPRESS SWITCH, AND THEY LOOKED AT MY WINDSHIELD. THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED COVERAGE AND IT WAS COVERED.
WHEN I PULL THE EXPRESS WINDOW SWITCH TO LIFT MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, IT WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN COME DOWN ABOUT HALFWAY. IT WILL NOT LET ME RAISE THE WINDOW UNLESS I MOVE THE SWITCH DOWN TO LOWER THE WINDOW. I THINK THE FIRST TIME IT DID IT WAS AROUND MAY, 2016. BY JULY, IT WAS DOING MORE AND MORE OFTEN, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO DOING THE SAME THING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON JULY 26 AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM IT. THEY SAID IF IT DOES IT AGAIN, JUST HOLD THE SWITCH UP FOR 5 SECONDS AND THAT SHOULD REPROGRAM IT AGAIN. THAT DID NOT HELP. BOTH MY WINDOWS ARE DOING IT MORE OFTEN NOW. WHEN I GO BACK TO DEALER TO HAVE MY WINDSHIELD FIXED, I WILL LET THEM KNOW THAT MY POWER WINDOWS ARE STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHILE I AM DRIVING OR STATIONARY. IT DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME, BUT IT DOES IT ENOUGH TIMES THAT IT IS PROBLEMATIC.
I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE A 2ND FAILED WHEEL BEARING (LEFT FRONT WHEEL) ON MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 4CYL. LIMITED AFTER 35270 MILES TODAY 29JULY2016. THE FIRST FAILED WHEEL BEARING TO BE REPLACED OCCURRED ON 15JANUARY2016 INVOLVING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. IN BOTH CASES ABNORMAL NOISE LEVELS WHILE DRIVING FROM THE RESPECTIVE INVOLVED CORNERS OF THE CAR LEAD ME CONTACT TO DEALER TO CONFIRM SUSPICIONS OF POTENTIAL WHEEL BEARING FAILURE IN THE MAKING. BOTH BEARINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTEE CONDITIONS AND I AM FOR THE MOST PART SATISFIED WITH THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, HAVING TWO BEARINGS FAIL THAT NORMALLY COULD BE EXPECTED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR LEADS ME TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS A BATCH OF DEFECTIVE BEARINGS PRODUCED FOR SUBARU THAT MAY ALSO BE FOUND ON OTHER CARS ASSEMBLED APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME MY CAR WAS MADE IN DECEMBER 2014 AT SUBARU'S INDIANA ASSEMBLY PLANT. I FEEL THIS IS WORTH A FURTHER INVESTIGATION BY YOUR ORGANIZATION AS MOST CONSUMERS PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT A FAILING WHEEL BEARING SOUNDS LIKE AND MORE LIKELY HAVE NO IDEA HOW POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IT IS TO IGNORE TO WARNING SIGNS TO THEIR DETRIMENT. THE SUBARU DEALER TO CONTACT REGARDING MY SPECIFIC CAR IS METRIC AUTO SALES, INC., 1767 EAST JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743 (631) 499-6777
AFTER BEING PARKED AND UNUSED FOR AS FEW AS 3 DAYS, THE BATTERY DRAINS AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS. SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF 4 CYLINDER 2015 OUTBACKS HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AT HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/138-GEN-5-2015-PRESENT/344506-DEAD-BATTERY-2016-A.HTML
TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT A 80 PIN CONNECTOR THAT CONTROLS THE HEAD SYSTEM HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND FUSED TWO CONNECTORS TOGETHER. I USED THE HVAC SYSTEM ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE.IF THIS HAPPENED IN THE GARAGE IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC HOUSE FIRE.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK ON THE HIGHWAY, NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 280, IN WOODSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ON MAY 27, 2016. SUDDENLY I SAW A SMALL CRACK ON MY WINDSHIELD THAT GREW TO ABOUT 6 INCHES IN A FEW SECONDS, STARTING FROM THE WIPERS, AT THE BOTTOM AND A BIT TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE AND GOING UP THEN CURVING TOWARDS THE RIGHT, IN AN L SHAPE. BY THE NEXT MORNING THE HORIZONTAL PART OF THE CRACK HAD EXPANDED AT LEAST 12 INCHES MORE. I DID NOT HEAR THE NOISE OF IMPACT OF A STONE OR ANY OTHER OBJECT.
THIS IS MY ORIGINAL 2015 OUTBACK. I OWN 2 2015S. MY OTHER ONE ONE HAD A WINDSHIELD ISSUE WHEN I WAS DRIVING AROUND 35 ON A COLD NIGHT. THERE WAS A LARGE POP AND SUDDENLY A CRACK APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. OVER THE NEXT DAYS IT GREW INTO A BACKWARDS "J". DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED, HOWEVER IT WAS DIFFICULT TO EVEN SEE A MARK THAT WOULD INDICATE IT WAS HIT FROM A ROCK, AND NOT DEFECTIVE. WE WENT AHEAD AND FIXED IT, EVEN THOUGH WE THOUGHT IT WAS ODD. THE OTHER MORNING, WE WENT DOWN TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND THAT OUR ORIGINAL 2015 HAD A SIMILAR CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, IN A SIMILAR SHAPE AND LENGTH. THE DAY BEFORE, WE DROVE THE CAR TO THE BEACH. NOTHING HIT IT, AND THE CRACK IS SMOOTH, WITH NOTHING FOUND WHERE IT ORIGINATES. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THESE WINDSHIELDS. THERE IS NO WAY 2 WINDSHIELDS ON 2 NEW CARS SHOULD BOTH HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE OWN OURS CARS A LONG TIME, AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WINDSHIELD EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS, AND IF A ROCK EVER HITS ONE, IT'S A TINY MARK THAT CAN BE HANDLED BY INSURANCE. SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT SUBARU HAS WRITTEN IT SO ANY UPPER WINDSHIELD ISSUES ARE NOT INCLUDED, AND THIS IS NOT RIGHT. WE ARE GOING BUYING OUR SECOND ONE IN FOUR MONTHS, WITH EYESIGHT. THERE IS A DEFECT.
DRIVING ON A ROAD TRAVELING APPROX. 35 MILES AN HOUR ON A COLD NIGHT. HEARD A LOUD POP AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE UPPER WINDSHIELD. A SMALL CRACK APPEARED. THERE WAS NO BUMP OR ROCK HIT AS THE REST OF THE AREA APPEARED SMOOTH. CRACK SPREAD INTO BACKWARDS "J" SHAPE OVER NEXT FEW DAYS AT LEAST 12 INCHES LONG. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED AND THERE WAS A ROCK HIT. BUT THE AREA WAS SMOOTH AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. WE ATE THE COST BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED, EVEN THOUGH CONSIDERED IT ODD THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. HOWEVER, WE HAPPEN TO OWN ANOTHER 2015 OUTBACK. YESTERDAY, WE WENT INTO THE GARAGE TO START THE CAR AND THERE IS A 12 INCH CRACK - THE SAME SHAPE- ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE SAME LOCATIONS. NO SIGNS OF A ROCK HIT. WEATHER HAS BEEN VERY WARM, BUT THIS TIME, THE CAR WAS PARKED. SOMETHING IS WRONG. 2 - 2015 OUTBACKS? 2 "J" SHAPED CRACKS? IT'S NO COINCIDENCE AND TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE FROM PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS. WINDSHIELD IS FAULTY AND SUBARU WON'T STEP UP AND INCLUDE THE UPPER PART IN ITS RECALLS. IT NEEDS TO. VERY DISSATISFIED CUSTOMER.
BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE DEPRESSED BELOW THE ACCELERATOR. IF THE RIGHT FOOT IS ONLY PARTLALLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RIGHT FOOT CAN DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR NEARLY STOPPED, THE CAR ACCELERATES UNINTENTIONALLY. NO ACCIDENTS.
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
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