2006 Subaru Outback Sport Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Subaru Outback Sport, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags250.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Powertrain (other)125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WAS SUPPOSE TO BE PROVIDED AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO ME. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A RENTAL CAR WHICH REQUIRED ME TO PUT A $25.00 DEPOSIT DOWN AND WHICH THE RENTAL COMPANY WOULD NOT REFUND ME THE END AFTER I RETURNED THE CAR. THIS, TO ME, IS NOT PROVIDING ME WITH ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. IT WAS THE DEALERSHIPS DECISION TO USE A RENTAL CAR. NOT MINE. MY SON IS DRIVING THIS CAR AND WAS USING THE DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD MO.
AIRBAG LIGHT AT THE LOWER L SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS ILLUMINATED. ANNOYING CHIME SOUNDS THE ENTIRE TIME THE CAR IS ON. I'VE READ ONLINE THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN A PCB UP BY THE MAP LIGHTS. WILL CHECK THE SOLDER ON ALL RESISTERS AND LEDS ON THAT PCB. MOST WHO REFLOW THE SOLDER CLAIM THIS RESOLVES THE ISSUE. SUBARU OF AMERICA WAN'TS $300+ TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE OVERHEAD CONSOLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 2006 SUBARU OUT BACK SPORT WAGON WHICH IS A BASIC SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON WITH DUAL PAINT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE ON ROAD CAR BEGIN TO CHOKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISECONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND START BLINKING. THE CAR ENGINE WANTS TO CUT OFF WHENEVER IN STOP SO IN LOW IDLE AND IT DID CUT OFF ON THE DRIVE WAY. FROM THE SHOP DIAGNOSE RETRIVED DTC P0304 CYLIDER #4 MISFIRE CHECK IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM OK, CHECK COMPRESSION 25PSI RECOMMEND ENGINE SHOP, POSSIBLE VALVE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD SAME CAR TRANSMISSION REBUILD ON THE CAR 97XXX MILES AGO. COST $3589.XX. NOW I NEED TO REBUILD THE ENGINE, MAN THIS SUBARU IS A NIGHTMARE. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 2006 SUBARU OUT BACK SPORT WAGON WHICH IS A BASIC SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON WITH DUAL PAINT. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE ON ROAD CAR BEGIN TO CHOKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CRUISECONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND START BLINKING. THE CAR ENGINE WANTS TO CUT OFF WHENEVER IN STOP SO IN LOW IDLE AND IT DID CUT OFF ON THE DRIVE WAY. FROM THE SHOP DIAGNOSE RETRIVED DTC P0304 CYLIDER #4 MISFIRE CHECK IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM OK, CHECK COMPRESSION 25PSI RECOMMEND ENGINE SHOP, POSSIBLE VALVE PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD SAME CAR TRANSMISSION REBUILD ON THE CAR 97XXX MILES AGO. COST $3589.XX. NOW I NEED TO REBUILD THE ENGINE, MAN THIS SUBARU IS A NIGHTMARE. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .