1997 Subaru Outback Problems

I BOUGHT A 97 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WGN AND FOUND OUT THE BLOCK WAS CRACKED IN CYL3 AFTER TEAR DOWN FOR GASKET REPLACEMENT,NOW PUT TOGETHER AND NOW WON'T START. *TR

LOSS OF COOLANT, OVERHEATED ENGINE, DIAGNOSIS OF BLOWN HEAD GASKET CAR: 1997 SUBARAU LEGACY OUTBACK WITH 2.5 LITER ENGINE. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK. *MR THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP, RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. MOISTURE WAS FOUND IN THE HOSE WHICH RESULTED IN THE VALVE FREEZING DUE TO COLD TEMPERATURE, BLOCKING OFF THE VACUUM TO THE POWER BRAKE UNIT. *SC

POWER BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY AND SHORTLY AFTER (WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES) AFTER COLD START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 10 DEGREES F. BRAKE PEDAL REMAINS HIGH AND STIFF WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAVEL DISTANCE INDICATING NO POWER TO POWER BRAKE SYSTEM BUT BRAKE PEDAL APPARENTLY TRAVELS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO ALLOW SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. USER REMEDY IS TO ALLOW MORE THAN 5 MINUTES TO WARM AND VERIFY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. OTHER REMEDY IS TO SHARPLY DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUR OF PARK. THIS REMEDY WORKS FINE FOR ME WHEN I REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE DURING TEMPERATURE BELOW 10 DEGREES F. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS OFTEN AS I DO ARE PRONE TO FORGETTING TO FOLLOW THE REMEDY PROCEDURE. FOR ANYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT IS EITHER UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN VEHICLES OPERATION OR FORGETS TO FOLLOW THE REMEDY PROCEDURE FINDS THEM SELF IN A VERY SURPRISING SITUATION IF TRAVELING AT A SPEED TO FAST TO ALLOW FOR BRAKING WITH A FAILED POWER BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE ACTUALLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE WINTER OF 2002 - 2003 AND HAVE NOTICED THIS ONCE AGAIN THIS WINTER WITH THE RECENT ONSET OF FRIGID WEATHER HERE IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE YET TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SPECIFIC SERVICE ON THIS MATTER, HOWEVER, I DO PLAN TO CONTACT A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V035000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) RELATIVE TO THE FAILURE BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE RESULTING IN A ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT TOTALING THE VEHICLE

VEHICLE FUEL FILL TUBE ROTTED RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. *MR THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF THE TANK WAS KEPT ON 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL, THE LEAK WOULD CEASE. THE MECHANIC HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A SUBARU, A WEEK PRIOR AND HAD SINCE REPEATED THAT TASK AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT SUBARU COVER THE COSTS INCURRED. *SCC ALSO THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *JB

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACCUMULATE SOME KIND OF FILM ON THEM WHEN IT STARTS TO RAIN. THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES HAVOC & POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

I HAVE A '1997 LEGACY OUTBACK SUBARU. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. TODAY, JUNE 21, I STOPPED ON MY WAY TO BAR HARBOR, MAINE FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. I PLACED THE COFFEE CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER AND GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, I THOUGHT I SMELLED BURNING, BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I THEN STOPPED AT A BANK TO TAKE CARE OF A TRANSACTION, AND AS I WAS LEAVING THE BANK, I AGAIN SMELLED A FAINT BURNING ODOR. LUCKILY, NOT FAR DOWN THE ROAD, I PASSED MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, FOR A SHORT DISTANCE PAST THE DEALERSHIP I HEARD A CRACKLING COMING FROM MY CAR RADIO. THINKING I'D LEFT IT ON, I WENT TO TURN IT OFF, ONLY TO DISCOVER IT WAS OFF. THEN THE BURNING SMELL BECAME MUCH MORE EVIDENT, AND I REALIZED I MUST HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I TURNED AROUND, AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT COFFEE HAD SPILLED ONTO THE RADIO FROM THE STYOFOAM CUP(WHICH HAD A TIGHT CAP ON IT, BY THE WAY!), CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. A WOMAN I HAD BEEN CHATTING WITH WHILE WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC WORK TO BE DONE SAID THAT HER '97 SUBARU HAD HAD THE CUP HOLDER BY THE RADIO TOO, BUT THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE CUP HOLDERS HAD BEEN MOVED FROM THAT LOCATION. IF THE SUBARU COMPANY HAD KNOWN OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, WHY WASN'T I MADE AWARE OF IT? LUCKILY, I WAS NOT COMING THROUGH THE BLACKS WOODS INTO ELLSWORTH WHICH IS 20 MILES OF NOTHING BUT TREES! I BOUGHT MY SUBARU BECAUSE THEY ARE TOUTED AS ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY. I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING CARE TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS OF PENDING SAFETY ISSUES. TODAY COST ME OVER $T60.00, AND I'M OUT A RADIO TO BOOT. BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NEAR A SUBARU DEALER, BECAUSE THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE RADIO AND TOLD ME THEY COULD ORDER ONE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIPPED FROM CA. I HAD JUST SPENT OVER $700 THE WEEK BEFORE WITH THEM, INSURING MY CAR WAS MAINTAINED AND SAFE FOR THE ROAD. GEE, WAS I WRONG. *AK

AFTER ALTERNATOR REPLACED, NOTICED THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES: REAR POWER OUTLET, SEAT HEATER SWITCHES, RADIO DIAL ILLUMINATION LIGHT, KEY-IN-IGNITION ALARM, DOOR AJAR LIGHTING, SEATBELT OFF LIGHTING.*AK

DRIVING ALONG I-495 SOUTHBOUND IN MASSACHUSETTS JUST BEFORE EXIT FOR I-90. SPEED WAS 65 MPH. HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO COME UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED, THE ROOF WAS DENTED, AND THE HOOD WAS BENT WITH THE HINGES PARTIALLY DEFORMED AND CRACKED. THE HOOD HADN'T BEEN OPENED OR TOUCHED IN SEVERAL WEEKS/>2000 MILES. PASSENGER AND I WERE LUCKILY UNHARMED, I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD AGAIN, AND DROVE HOME AT 50 ON THE HIGHWAY, 25 ON REGULAR ROADS. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HOOD STILL DAMAGED. HOOD SECURED WITH BUNGEE CORD AS I NO LONGER TRUST THE LATCH. LOOKING INTO INSTALLING HOOD PINS WHEN I FIND A REPLACEMENT HOOD, SIMPLY FOR SAFETY/LIABILITY REASONS. THE ONLY REASON THIS WASN'T A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS THAT I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE INSTANTLY. HAD TO DO THIS BLINDLY, AS I COULD NOT SEE AROUND THE HOOD. *TR

THE HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HOOD CRACKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, DENTED THE HOOD AND BENT THE HINGES. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY HOOD LATCH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. *JB

NOTICED A LEAK OF FLUID FROM PASSENGER SIDE BY THE REAR WHEEL. DETERMINED IT WAS GASOLINE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FILLER TUBE TO THE GAS TANK. GOT THE CAR TO A SUBARU REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE IS NO UNDERCOATING APPLIED TO THE TUBE. *TR

FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK OUT ONTO GARAGE FLOOR AND WHILE DRIVING AND FILLING TANK. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR TO REPLACE THE RUSTED FUEL FILLER NECK. FROM RESEARCH AND COMMENTS FROM DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE. *TR

IN 2001 I HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT HOLD THE CAR BACK WHEN GOING DOWN HILLS. I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN ROAD AND HAD TO USE THE BRAKES ALONE. IT DID NOT MATTER IF IT WAS IN 1, 2 OR D IT WAS THE SAME AS NEUTRAL. IT WOULD ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO THE TOP GEAR ON THE FREEWAY. IT COST OVER $3000 TO GET A SUBARU REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT THE DEALER. IT HAD 97K ON IT AT THE TIME. I JUST NOW TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND HESITATING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST $3500. THIS TRANSMISSION IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 50K ON IT! I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANS EVERY 4 YEARS.

OUR 1997 SUBARU SHARES THE COMMON PROBLEM DOCUMENTED AT HTTP://FORUMS.VMAG.COM/SUVSUBARU0200/MESSAGES/5096.HTML : NAMELY, AS WITH OTHER SUBARU OUTBACKS AND FORESTERS, IT WILL SPONTANEOUSLY SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NEUTRAL -- COMPLETELY BY ITSELF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SOUTHERN OREGON SUBARU DEALER IN MEDFORD, OREGON TWICE AND THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BOTH TIMES (EVEN THOUGH IT IS BOTH A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS AN IN-WARRANTY COVERED DEFECT). IT WAS REPORTED TO THE SOUTHERN OREGON SUBARU DEALER WITHIN APPROXIMATELY THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP WHEN WE HAD POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED THAT IT WAS NOT MERELY A PROBLEM WITH INCORRECT PLACEMENT OF THE SHIFT LEVER DURING SHIFTING. FOLLOWING THE DEALER'S INITIAL REFUSAL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SUBSEQUENT CONTACT WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA RESULTED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASE NUMBER 201743. ACCORDING TO SOA, THE DEALER ALLEGEDLY WAS CONTACTED. NEVERTHELESS, ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED, THE DEALER AGAIN REFUSED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM CHARACTERISTIC OF SUBARU OUTBACK AND FORESTER VEHICLES (SEE THE WEB SITE CITED AND RELATED COMMENTS.) IT APPEARS THAT SUBARU IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM UNLESS REQUIRED TO BY NHSTA. PLEASE PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHER SUBARU OWNERS BY MAKING THIS A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL. THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

RECALL 01 V 216 000/FRONT COIL SPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; HASSETT DEALERSHIP; WANTAH, NY; PHONE# 516/785-7800 TO HONOR RECALL DUE TO NO PARTS BEING AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THEN, VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STARTED GOING BACKWARDS, HITTING A BRICK WALL . *AK

CONSUMER STATES ALL 4 ALLOY RIMS ARE CORRODING EXCESSIVELY RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. TS

PIN HOLES INSIDE WHEEL ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE; TIRES WOULD GO FLAT OVERNIGHT WHEN PUT ON RIM. HAD NOT CONTACTED DEALER, BUT REPLACED RIM.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE AAA PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE(DOUGHNUT). WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVED TO THE RESIDENCE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER. THE OWNERS MANUAL IN PAGE 8-11 INDICATED IN FINE PRINT, WHEN THE SPARE DOUGHNUT WAS USED A FUSE HAD TO BE PLUGGED IN THE FUSE BOX TO MAINTAIN AN EMERGENCY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL OVER HEATING BECAUSE THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTION WHEN A SMALLER SIZE TIRE WAS IN USE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE REPAIRS COST.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL SPEED OF TRAVELING. ALSO, RPMS SLOWED DOWN, AND VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVING ALONG I-495 SOUTHBOUND IN MASSACHUSETTS JUST BEFORE EXIT FOR I-90. SPEED WAS 65 MPH. HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING THE HOOD TO COME UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED, THE ROOF WAS DENTED, AND THE HOOD WAS BENT WITH THE HINGES PARTIALLY DEFORMED AND CRACKED. THE HOOD HADN'T BEEN OPENED OR TOUCHED IN SEVERAL WEEKS/>2000 MILES. PASSENGER AND I WERE LUCKILY UNHARMED, I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD AGAIN, AND DROVE HOME AT 50 ON THE HIGHWAY, 25 ON REGULAR ROADS. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HOOD STILL DAMAGED. HOOD SECURED WITH BUNGEE CORD AS I NO LONGER TRUST THE LATCH. LOOKING INTO INSTALLING HOOD PINS WHEN I FIND A REPLACEMENT HOOD, SIMPLY FOR SAFETY/LIABILITY REASONS. THE ONLY REASON THIS WASN'T A MUCH MORE SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS THAT I WAS ALREADY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE INSTANTLY. HAD TO DO THIS BLINDLY, AS I COULD NOT SEE AROUND THE HOOD. *TR

HOOD OPENING ACCIDENTALLY WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING ON A HEAVILY RAINY DAY WHEN THE HOOD OPENED UP AND SLAMMED THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AND THE HOOD WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED INCLUDING THE BODY OF THE CAR JUST ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. I HAD NOT OPENED THE HOOD LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. LUCKILY I DIDN'T GET INTO A ACCIDENT WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. I SUBSEQUENTLY CALLED SUBARU ABOUT IT AND ADVISED ME THAT THE INCIDENT HADN'T, TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE, IN OTHER 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGONS. I WAS NOT DIRECTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR AGENCY, THUS I LET IT PASS. I WAS REMINDED OF THE INCIDENT, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ACCIDENT BEING MORE PREVALENT, WHEN I SAW A SIMILAR CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME DAMAGE TO THE HOOD (I.E., PATTERN AND BENT). *TR

BACKGROUND: MY 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A PROBLEM THAT INVOLVED A FAILED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM THIS FAILURE. I TOOK MY SUBARU OUTBACK TO JIM NORTON SUBARU OF TULSA, OK, FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER DARRIN JOHNSON AND THE MECHANIC, LORIN, THE PROBLEM RESULTED WHEN THE BOLT THAT SERVES AS A SPINDLE TO THE TENSIONER PLATE SHEARED OFF THUS CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO PLASTIC COWLING, BELTS, AND THE FACING PLATE THAT ANCHORED THE BOLT. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS $512.61 WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER BELTS. I TOLD MR. JOHNSON THAT I WAS ALARMED THAT THIS BOLT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND WONDERED WHAT IT MEAN TO SAFETY OF DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 70+ MILES PER HOUR. I TOLD MR. JOHNSON THAT SUBARU AMERICA SHOULD BE CALLED TO ALERT THEM OF THIS FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHILE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND REPLIED MALFUNCTION WAS NOT UNUSUAL.*AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO NAVE AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH INSTALLED. NLM

A THICK FILM COVERED THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME DIM. *AK