Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
171
Latest May 8, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
21
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 7, 2001
What this page shows
Our database holds 171 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Subaru Outback. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 171 · page 1 of 7
Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 8, 2019
I CONTACTED SUBARU'S CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND TOLD THEM THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS BROKEN AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AND THAT THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 2005 BUT THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND BROKEN PLEASE CONTACT SUBARU AND GET THEM TO OPEN ANOTHER RECALL ON THESE CARS BECAUSE THE FIX THAT THEY USED DIDN'T WORK
NHTSA ID
11206351
Incident
Oct 29, 2018
Mileage
275,100 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2016
DURING COLD WEATHER, THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR. IT'S COMING FROM A FUEL LEAK NEAR THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I FIRST NOTICED IT ABOUT 4 YEARS (60,000 MILES) AGO. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 150,000 MILES ON IT. IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. IT HASN'T CAUGHT FIRE YET EITHER.
NHTSA ID
10818691
Incident
Nov 15, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Filed Dec 23, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported
MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON MAY 23, 2015 WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FIRE AND HE DIED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE.
NHTSA ID
10812003
Incident
May 23, 2015
Suspension
Filed Dec 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR SERVICE AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
NHTSA ID
10808438
Incident
Jul 27, 2015
Mileage
157,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 4, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING LIFTED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA ID
10761539
Incident
Sep 4, 2015
Mileage
113,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ID
10713123
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Mar 31, 2015
ON SUNDAY 29 2015 AT 12.30 AM .. MY SON WAS DRIVING AND A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR . HE HAD SOME TROUBLE TO TURN AND STOP ON THE SIDE. HE DID IT ,WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR. THE S ARM BROKE SUBFRAME BROKE OFF. WAS ALL RUSTED .. *TR
NHTSA ID
10702984
Incident
Mar 29, 2015
Mileage
180,980 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 2015
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 25 DEGREES F. I WAS LEAVING FROM THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION THE BRAKES BECAME SO HARD THAT I COULDN'T PRESS THEM ANY FARTHER. I SIS SOME RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY LOTS OF OTHER SUBARU OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE CHECK VALVE ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER LINE FREEZES UP. IF I HAD BEEN MOVING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR WORSE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10680429
Incident
Jan 31, 2015
Mileage
230,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 23, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CORROSION HAD IMPAIRED THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
NHTSA ID
10678569
Incident
Jan 22, 2015
Mileage
210,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 21, 2014
2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED. WHEN COLD WEATHER ARRIVES, VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MUST OPEN WINDOWS TO LET IT VENT. CONTINUES THROUGH COLD WEATHER YEAR AFTER YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10667515
Incident
Nov 21, 2008
Mileage
127,200 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA ID
10659840
Incident
Feb 3, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 17, 2014
SINCE THE COLD WEATHER STARTED NOV. 12, 2014 I HAVE SMELLED A RAW GAS SMELL IN MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK WHEN I START IT. IN TIME IT FADES AWAY, LIKE PERHAPS IT EVAPORATES ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP. I CAN ONLY GUESS AND SOME MORNINGS WHEN COLD THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING, A RAW GAS ORDER ~ NOT A FAINT SMELL OF GAS. VERY CONCERNED BREATHING THESE FUMES WHICH CAN'T BE HEALTHY OR SAFE. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IF ANYONE ENTERS...SUBARU OUTBACK COLD WEATHER GAS SMELL.. ON YOUR BROWSER YOU WILL LATTERLY SEE HUNDREDS IF NOT MORE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HELP. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10658755
Incident
Nov 12, 2014
Mileage
148,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 14, 2014
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA ID
10622302
Incident
Aug 11, 2014
Mileage
53,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 13, 2014
I WAS DRIVING ON I-84 IN CT WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW. THE CAR FISHTAILED BUT I GOT IT SLOWED DOWN AND OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE GARAGE PUT THE CAR UP ON A LIFT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME HAD BROKEN RIGHT WHERE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM CONNECTED TO IT WHICH ALLOWED THE TIRE TO LEAN IN TOWARDS THE BODY OF THE CAR WHERE IT RUBBED AGAINST THE BODY, HEATED UP AND THEN RUPTURED. THESE TIRES HAD JUST BEEN INSTALLED 3 DAYS EARLIER. LOOKING AT THE SUBFRAME IT WAS BADLY RUSTED, THE VARIOUS CONTROL ARMS ATTACHED TO IT HAD SOME SURFACE RUST BUT NOTHING LIKE THE SUBFRAME. THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS NOT RUSTED. THE SUBARU DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2000 TO REPLACE THE SUBFRAME, SINCE THE CAR WAS WORTHLESS OTHERWISE I TOLD HIM TO PROCEED. I FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR "CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY " ..."WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME. IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." MY VEHICLE GOT "TREATED" FOR THE RECALL WHICH INCLUDED CLEANING THE SUBFRAME AND PAINTING IT. I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE IN THE COSTS SINCE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE RECALL "TREATMENT" DID NOT WORK AND THERE WAS NO REASON, EXCEPT A DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB, FOR A SUBFRAME TO FAIL ON A 13 YEAR OLD CAR. THE DECLINED TO HELP ME CITING THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE FACT THAT THE RECALL "WORK" HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THEY ALSO OFFERED A $500 COUPON IF I WANTED TO BUY A NEW SUBARU. I BELIEVE THAT THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND THE REAR SUBFRAME REPLACED ON SUBARU DIME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10621925
Incident
Aug 3, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jun 17, 2014
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY BENT INWARD AND THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REAR SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000.
NHTSA ID
10598864
Incident
Jun 13, 2014
Mileage
250,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 7, 2014
I CURRENTLY OWN AND DRIVE A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH MY SUB FRAME ROTTING OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL PLACED ON THIS ISSUE AND THE RECALL WAS APPARENTLY PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. THE SUBSEQUENT PAINTING OF THE SUB FRAME ONLY MASKED THE PROBLEM, LEADING TO WHAT SEEMS AN UNAVOIDABLE FAILURE OF THE PART. WITH SOME INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT NEARLY EVERY SUBARU THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, IS NOW FAILING AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER I BROUGHT MY CAR TO EVEN STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON REPAIR IN THEIR SHOP. THE TOTAL QUOTE FOR REPAIR IS AROUND $1400, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS TIME. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT NUMEROUS CAR OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF THIS FAILURE, AND THAT THE RECALL WORK DID NOTHING TO ABSOLVE THE SITUATION. SUBARU STATED BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR, BUT OTHER THAN THIS PROBLEM, THE CAR IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER. THE RECENT RECALL BY TOYOTA SEEMS EXTREMELY SIMILAR, AND I WAS HOPING THAT THIS WOULD BE RESOLVED IN A SIMILAR WAY. ANY INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROCEED WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ID
10567874
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Feb 20, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION AND SUB FRAME WAS FOUND SEVERELY TO BE CORRODED DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THE SUB FRAME AND SUSPENSION WERE ALSO FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED AND DENIED ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,000. ..UPDATED 04-22-14 *BF UPDATED 08/03/2017*JS
NHTSA ID
10565158
Incident
Mar 30, 2013
Mileage
184,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 20, 2013
Crash reported
I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT 65-70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN SUDDENLY. MY FIRST REACTION IN THIS CASE IS TO PULL THE SPEED CONTROL LEVER TOWARDS ME TO DISENGAGE IT AND TAKE MANUAL CONTROL OF THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING, AS PER USUAL PROCEDURE. IN THIS CASE THROTTLE FAILED TO DECELERATE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, UPON WHICH I THEN REPEATEDLY STAMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH WAS ALSO UNRESPONSIVE (DID NOT CANCEL ACCELERATION OR SLOW THE VEHICLE). OUT OF OPTIONS, I SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE TRACTOR-TRAILER DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND REAR ENDED A MOVING VEHICLE IN THE LEFT LANE. WITH BRAKES STILL UNRESPONSIVE, I MANAGED TO CUT ACROSS TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY DOWNSHIFTING IN ADDITION TO USING THE HANDBRAKE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10553133
Incident
Nov 17, 2013
Mileage
107,650 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2013
CAR SMELLS LIKE FUEL WHEN IDLING ON A COLD DAY. RUBBER FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER WERE LOOSE AND AFTER TIGHTENING THEM FUEL SMELL TEMPORARILY STOPPED. SMELL HAS RETURNED AND AFTER CALLING SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. DEALERSHIP IS ASKING OVER $300 TO REPLACE FOUR RUBBER FUEL LINES LOCATED UNDER THE MANIFOLD AND THIS IS AT LEAST EVERY YEAR IT HAS TO BE DONE THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL ISSUE TO ME I TIGTHEN THE SCREWS A FEW TIME AND SOMEHOW WHEN IT'S COLD WEATHER IT TEND TO GET LOOSE AND VAPOR COMES OUT VERY DANGEROUS I CHECK THIS ISSUE ONLINE USING GOOGLE SEARCH AND NOTICE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUES AND GOES BACK MANY YEARS THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL JUST LIKE THE 2002 IT IS THE SAME HOSE SAME AREA. THIS MAKES NO SENSE THAT SUBARU WOULD NOT FIX IT FOR FREE WITH A BETTER SOLUTION THAN REPLACE THE HOSES AND CLAMPS EVERY YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10549530
Incident
Oct 10, 2013
Mileage
102,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 19, 2013
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPROXIMATELY 150K MILES TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS JUST OVER 167K MILES NOW. WHILE BEING LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC IN JUNE 2013, MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND REAR TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE, WITH RECALL NUMBER WWM-96 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V153). I USE THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS FOR WORK AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE AND CARE, REPLACING ALL WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE HEAD GASKETS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. ON 8/19/2013, I CALLED SUBARU TO SPEAK WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THE SUBFRAME RECALL ISSUE, AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED PART OR EVEN WORK WITH ME ON A SOLUTION. I WAS TOLD, "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU," LEAVING ME WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE OF A POOR QUALITY PART MADE BY SUBARU. I WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN BEING TOLD TO CONTACT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE, AND I AM HOPING THAT SUBARU OR NHTSA CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP KEEP ME SAFE WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10536084
Incident
Jun 29, 2013
Fuel system
Filed Jan 29, 2013
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS VERY COLD (BELOW FREEZING) THE CAR BEGINS TO GET A FUEL SMELL. IT IS EXTREMELY STRONG INSIDE THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH YOU CAN SMELL IT OUTSIDE THE CAR AS WELL. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT HAPPENING WAS IN 2006. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO CHECKED IT AND FOUND NO LEAKS. ODOR WENT AWAY AFTER A FEW DAYS SITTING OUTSIDE DEALERSHIP SO THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING (WEATHER MAY HAVE WARMED UP). IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2008 AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK SO THEY REPLACED THE FUEL HOSE AND CLAMP. IT WORKED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN IT GOT COLD AGAIN. LOOKING AT VARIOUS POSTS ON THE INTERNET FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I TIGHTENED THE CLAMPS AROUND SOME OF THE HOSES AROUND THE FILTER AND IT MOSTLY WORKED. WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK SO WELL, ESP. WHEN REALLY COLD OUT. THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. WHAT IS SUBARU'S RESPONSE? REPLACING HOSES AND CLAMPS EVERY YEAR IS NOT A SOLUTION! *TR
NHTSA ID
10495129
Incident
Jan 22, 2013
Mileage
103,221 mi
Suspension
Filed May 18, 2012
MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 03V153000, WHICH RESULTED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL WWM96-REAR. THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ON 4/13/2004 AT 36,339 MILES WITH THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF HALTING PREMATURE RUST-OUT OF THE REAR SUB-FRAME COMPONENT. IN THE PROCESS OF RECENTLY REPLACING EXHAUST COMPONENTS AT APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES IT WAS NOTED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME COMPONENT IS NOW PERFORATED BY RUST EVEN THOUGH SIMILAR COMPONENTS ARE NOT, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS NOT ADEQUATE. AN EXCHANGE OF EMAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLS WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS RESULTED IN A DECISION BY THEM TO DECLINE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY REMEDY OFFERED WAS A $500 CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. SINCE REPLACEMENT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE TO WHAT I CONSIDER A REASONABLE POINT (200,000 MILES), THE CONSEQUENCE NOTED IN CAMPAIGN 03V153000 MAY OCCUR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE SUB-FRAME COMPONENT AND COPIES OF THE EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU IF YOU SO DESIRE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10458889
Incident
Apr 20, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2012
CAR SMELLS LIKE FUEL WHEN IDLING ON A COLD DAY. RUBBER FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTER WERE LOOSE AND AFTER TIGHTENING THEM FUEL SMELL TEMPORARILY STOPPED. SMELL HAS RETURNED AND AFTER CALLING SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU'S AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. DEALERSHIP IS ASKING OVER $300 TO REPLACE FOUR RUBBER FUEL LINES LOCATED UNDER THE MANIFOLD. *JS
NHTSA ID
10452188
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Suspension
Filed Mar 12, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) IN WHICH AN ANTI- RUST COATING WAS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE RECENT RUST FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED THE RECALL IN 2003 AND COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.
NHTSA ID
10451137
Incident
Mar 10, 2012
Mileage
195,000 mi
EngineSeat belts
Filed Jan 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT SENT BELTS WOULD NOT PROPERLY RETRACT, LEAVING A LOT OF SLACK BETWEEN VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR MAIN ENTRANCE SEAL ON THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
NHTSA ID
10443484
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Mileage
165,000 mi
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.
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