1998 Subaru Outback Problems

ENGINE OVERHEATING EVERY HALF MILE WITH ENGINE RESERVOIR OVERFLOWING. AFTER $1300 OF REPLACING THERMOSTAT, TIMING BELT, BELT TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, FLUSHING THE COOLING SYSTEM, AND COMPRESSION TESTS, I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $2,200 AT LEAST. *TR

1998 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5L MOTOR HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY STREETS, I CAME TO A STOP AND REALIZED THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID 3 BRAKE LINES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK 1998 HAD BROKEN. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $500 IN REPAIRS. I REALIZE THERE IS A RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS, BUT MY OLDER SUBARU OUTBACK IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WAGON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 86,000 MILES. PURCHASED USED MANY YEARS AGO WITH ABOUT 10,000 MILES. MY SISTER'S CAR, SHE WAS DRIVING ALONE. EXPERIENCED DRIVER. ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO SHE CAME AROUND A CORNER ON A 30 MPH ROAD NEAR HER HOME. LIGHT SNOW ON THE GROUND (AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS) SHE COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR, AND IT SLID AROUND. SHE PHONED ME AND WAS VERY UPSET AT LOSING CONTROL. COMMENTED THAT THE CAR HAD NOT FELT QUITE RIGHT. I SUGGESTED LOOSE LUG NUTS, BADLY INFLATED (ALMOST NEW) TIRES, BENT RIM, DEFECTIVE TIRE, ALIGNMENT. ALL CHECKED OUT FINE. THEN I MENTIONED SUSPENSION. SHE TOOK IT TO HER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BOTH REAR STRUTS. CAR STILL UNPREDICTABLE. RETURNED TO MECHANIC WHO THEN TEST DROVE CAR AND DECIDED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO THAT OF HIS PARENTS' SIMILAR CAR: POWER WAS NOT BEING PROPORTIONED PROPERLY TO THE FOUR WHEELS. HE REPLACED EXISTING TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE / DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICANT WITH SOME MORE SPECIALIZED LUBRICANT. (AMALIE AMA 1607881297 DEXTRON LLL ATF) AT THIS TIME MY SISTER IS TRYING THIS OUT TO SEE IF IT DOES THE TRICK. SINCE THIS DEFECT AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW. I DROVE OLDER 4WD AUDIS, OWNED MILITARY 4WD TRUCKS, AND CARS WITH LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS. I WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE NEED FOR SPECIFIC LUBRICANTS. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE AVERAGE CAR OWNER SHOULD BE. WAS THERE A SECRET ADVISORY OR RECALL?

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED WITH JUST 61,000 EASY MILES. THE FAILURE WAS IN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY (IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHEN TAKING PRESSURE OFF THE GAS PEDAL). I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS TECHNICALLY OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. (BEFORE 60,000 I HAD THE DEALER CHECK OUT THE WHOLE CAR AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED I TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME "NOTHING IS WRONG"... I AM NOT KIDDING; THEY WERE NOT COMPETENT ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY!!). AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH ANOTHER SUBARU PRODUCT. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO FOR A REBUILD. THE MECHANIC THERE TOLD ME THAT THE FACTORY SETTINGS FOR THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WERE SET AT 50 THOUSANDTHS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET AT 15 THOUSANDTHS OR LESS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE FACTORY BUILT THE TRANSMISSION TO SELF-DESTRUCT. WHEN I APPROACHED TAKAO SAITO, PRESIDENT OF SUBARU ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HE HAD LINDA FOUCH CONTACT ME BY TELEPHONE. SHE PROMISED TO HELP OUT WITH THE REPAIR BILL BECAUSE THE FAILURE WAS SO CLOSE TO THE WARRANTY. WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THAT I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN LITIGATON, SHE PROMPTLY FORGOT HER PROMISE AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO ANY FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE! IF SUBARU IS TO KEEP ITS LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE, IT NEEDS TO AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF QUALITY CONTROL AND MEND THE BAD EXPERIENCES OF ITS PATRONAGE.

ON OCTOBER 6, 2004, I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN MY 1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. MY HEADLIGHTS WERE FACING A CURB, SIDEWALK, AND CEMENT BRICK BUILDING, AND I TOUCHED THE BRAKES TO PREVENT BUMPING THE CURB. AS SOON AS MY FOOT HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR VROOMED AS IF THE THROTTLE HAD BEEN FULLY OPENED, AND THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER, BUT THE CAR SEEMED TO TAKE OFF ON IT'S OWN AND WAS TOTALLY OUT OF MY CONTROL. THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE EASILY BUMPED UP THE CURB, AND THE CAR FLEW INTO THE AIR AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. FORTUNATELY, I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT (THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY). THE ENTIRE INCIDENT HAPPENED VERY FAST AND WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. ALTHOUGH I AM THANKFUL THAT THERE WAS NO PEDESTRIAN WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THAT I AM ALIVE TO BE WRITING THIS, I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS WAS A CAR MALFUNCTION THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S DESIGNATED REPAIR FACILITY. *AK THIS WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY 2-3 MORE ACCELERATIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE BEING SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. *SC *JB

MY CHILD CARE PROVIDER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN AND HIT A SECOND TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END AND THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SHE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS SUSTAINING A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. *JB

THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER $700. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES DON'T HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED! *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. ONLY ROLLS WINDOW DOWN 2" THEN SKIPS AND WON'T ROLL BACK UP. HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY FOR 2 YEARS.*AK

WE ARE UNABLE TO RIDE IN VEHICLE WITH HEATER ON AS IT STILL HAS A VERY BAD MUSTY MILDEW SMELL INSIDE , AFTER 4 ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE PROBLEM. EDMOND CHEV SISTER STORE SHULTS SUBARU SAID FOR US TO SPRAY LYSOL INTO THE AIR VENTS ONCA A MONTH. THAT MAKES IT WORSE AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AS WE HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SUBARU OWNERS THAT HAVE NO PROBLEM LIKE THIS. PLEASE HELP US ,WE LOVE THE CAR ,BUT CAN NOT RIDE ANY DISTANCE IN IT WITHOUT GETTING VERY BAD SINUS HEADACHES

DT: THE CONTACT STATES ONE OF THE TIRES HAS BEEN LOSING AIR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL ITSELF LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A CRACKED. IT IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL ON THE INNER RIM. IT HAS NOT DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE TIRE IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT. THE METAL ALLOY WHEEL IS WHAT HAS THE CRACK. THE TIRES ON THE WHEEL WERE ALMOST NEW AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THEM. *AK

ALL WHEEL DRIVE BINDING TIRES. 2 SETS OF 4 TIRES EACH (NEW MICHELIN AGILITY) WORN TO STEEL B/C OF "BINDING" -- 2 YEARS IN A ROW. SUBARU CURRENTLY HAVING AWD REPAIRED.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ANY TYPE OF GMC VEHICLE WAS PARKED NEXT TO HIS VEHICLE THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND ALARM SYSTEM WOULD ENGAGE WHEN THE OTHER VEHICLES KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. SUBARU PLAZA P.O. BOX 6000 CHERRY HILL, NJ 08034-6000 ATTN: CUSTOMER/DEALER SERVICES RE: SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK VIN [DELETED FOR PRIVACY] TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A SITUATION WITH OUR OIL AT TEMP WARNING LIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN OUR PAYING $130 FOR A FALSE POSITIVE WARNING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT APPEARED, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CARLSEN SUBARU. THEY PERFORMED THE DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IN FACT, THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHERE A BATTERY CHANGE COULD CAUSE A ''FALSE POSITIVE'' WARNING ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CONSIDERING THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUBARU IS AWARE OF, AND HAS NOT NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS OF, I AM REQUESTING A REFUND BY SUBARU FOR THE FULL $130. I HAVE TWO CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM: 1. THE OBVIOUS SAFETY CONCERN '' WONDERING IF THERE REALLY IS A PROBLEM THAT THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT PINPOINT 2. THE CONCERN THAT SUBARU HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COST ME $130 SINCERELY, [DELETED FOR PRIVACY] CC: NHTSA COMPLAINTS

THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER $700. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES DON'T HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED! *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES ONE OF THE TIRES HAS BEEN LOSING AIR. THE SERVICE MECHANIC STATES THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM. THE WHEEL ITSELF LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A CRACKED. IT IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHEEL ON THE INNER RIM. IT HAS NOT DAMAGED THE TIRES. THE TIRE IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT. THE METAL ALLOY WHEEL IS WHAT HAS THE CRACK. THE TIRES ON THE WHEEL WERE ALMOST NEW AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THEM. *AK

1998 SUBARU OUTBACK - STEERING BECOMES JERKY WHEN BACKING OR GOING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE MAKING TIGHT TURNING RADIUSES. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CALLED A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOME INCIDENTS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT KNOW OF NO FIX. IT WAS SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE SUSPECTED PROBLEM IS THOUGHT DUE TO UNEVEN REGULATION OF THE WHEEL SPEED IN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE REGULATOR AS ONE TURNS SHARPLY. IN A SHARP TURN THE WHEELS ON THE INNER CURVE OF THE TRAVEL OF PATH NEED TO TRAVEL AT A SLOWER RPM THAN THE WHEELS OF THAT ARE ON THE OUTER CURVE OF THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS JERKY MOTION EVEN IF NOT UNSAFE DEVALUES THE CAR FOR ANY POSSIBLE RESALE VALUE THUS COMPROMISING MY INVESTMENT IN IT. THE JERKY MOTION OF THE WHEELS WHEN TURNING AS IN PARKING OR BACKING OUT OF THE PARKING STALL IS NOTICEABLE AND SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING TO THE POINT OF MY THINKING THAT IT MAY BE LESS SAFE THAN I A CURRENTLY LED TO BELIEVE BY THE CAR REPAIR SHOP AND THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALER THAT ADVISED. I THINK THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF OTHERS ARE BEING EFFECTED AND IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE OR FAILURE DUE TO THE PROBLEM. THANKS. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM

SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK, 1998 MODEL, CENTER REAR LAP BELT BUCKLE END IS TOO LONG TO HOLD A CHILD RESTRAINT TIGHTLY ENOUGH.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN NO RESTRAINT FOR CONSUMER.*AK

AS MY WIFE AND I WERE FILLING UP OUR 98 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK WE NOTICED A SMELL OF GAS FUMES ON THE WAY HOME AS I BACKED THE CAR INTO THE DRIVEWAY I NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL EVEN STONGER. I WENT TO THE BACK AND LOOKED UNDER THE RIGHT REAR AND TO MY SURPRISE THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS LEAKING FUEL!! I PLACED A OIL CHANGE PAN UNDERNEATH AND TO THIS DAY I STILL HAVEN'T FIXED IT. DON'T KNOW WERE TO BEGIN WITH IT AND I'M THINKING IT'S A DESIGN FLAW SEEMS LIKE THERE IS HEAVY CORROSION ON THE VERY LOW PART OF THE FILLER PIPE AND THAT'S WERE IT'S LEAKING FROM. I'M GOING TO TRY AND HAVE IT REPAIRED BUT AT WHAT COST. I THINK THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO AND BY SUBARU OF NORTH AMERICA AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND LEGAL LIABILTY. *KB

FUEL (GASOLINE) FILLER NECK FOR THE 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON RUSTS OUT. MECHANIC INDICATED VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. VERY POOR DESIGN BECAUSE THE TUBE IS BEHIND A PLASTIC MOLDING THAT ACCUMULATES DIRT, SALT, WATER, AND ROTS THE TUBING CAUSING A CHRONIC LEAK OF GASOLINE POTENTIALLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECALL AND REPAIR IS NEEDED. *TR

THE ENGINE OVER HEATED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT AND MARKER LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

ALL TURN SIGNALS ARE FLASHING AT SAME TIME, TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD SIGNAL ARE WORKING AT SAME TIME.*AK DEALER PUSHED THE HAZARD SIGNAL BUTTON AND THE CONDITION STOPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPLICATED, CONSUMER HAD TRIED PUSHING THE HAZARD BUTTON HIMSELF, HOWEVER THE SIGNALS KEPT BLINKING WHEN HE ATTEMPTED, PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *SLC

POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOOSE STEERING OVER ROUGH SURFACE WHEN TRAVELING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *ML

SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A POP IN MY FRONT CORNER. STILL DROVE OK UNDER 20-25 MPH. FASTER THAN THAT THE WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. BACKING UP THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO FRIENDS HOSE WHO WORKS ON CARS. HE SAID IT WAS MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CONTROL ARM AND THE FRONT (HE CALLED IT HANDLING BUSHING) WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO. HE FOUND A USED CONTROL ARM AT A JUNK YARD AND REPLACED IT FOR ME. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART THAT I CAN PROVIDE IF NEEDED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE OLD PART. *TR

RECALL 01 V 216 000/COILSPRING: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; FREDERICK MOTORS; FREDERICK,MD; PHONE# 301/663-6111 TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 90 IN IDAHO AT 62 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. THE HOOD WAS SECURED DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND HAD NOT BEEN OPENED IN TWO WEEKS. THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING OVER 60 MPH SINCE THE HOOD WAS LAST OPENED. THE HOOD FLEW UP WITH NO SAFETY CATCH OR HESITATION AND SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, THE HOOD BENT AND THE ROOF DENTED. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLEW OFF INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE PERSON FOLLOWING ME ON THE INTERSTATE PULLED OVER AND HELPED ME TIE IT DOWN TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE SCENE. WE BOTH DETERMINED IT WAS LATCH FAILURE. IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS MY FRONT VISION WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. *TR

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ~60 MPH. HOOD LATCH RELEASED SPONTANEOUSLY. HOOD FLEW BACK, SHATTERING WINDSHIELD. I STARTED TO LOSE CONTROL, AS I COULDN'T SEE, BUT RECOVERED AND, PEERING THROUGH SMALL AREA UNDER HOOD WAS ABLE TO GET OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER BEFORE WE GOT KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS UNEXPECTED DEFECT. *TR

HOOD LATCH FAILURE ON 1998 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK- WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HOOD LATCH FAILED AND HOOD FLEW BACK INTO WINDSHIELD AND ROOF. INABILITY TO SEE ROAD AHEAD(VERY BUSY) NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENT. WINDSHIELD AND HOOD DESTROYED, ROOF DENTED, L,R FRONT FENDERS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *NM

COMSUMERS PANT LEG GOT CAUGHT ON A SMALL 2 INCH ROUND MECHANISM THAT STICKS OUT OF THE SIDE OPENING OF THE BACK DOOR CAUSING HER TO FALL TO THE CONCRETE RESULTING IN BRUISES.

POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING CAUSING ODOR IN VENTS. NLM