2001 Subaru Outback Problems

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.

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

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

VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE PROPERLY WHEN COLD IN SUB-FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS. VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY HAS GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUT AND THE CONDITION RESOLVES ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS WARMED UP. *TR

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.

IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER (FAHRENHEIT) AN OVERWHELMING GASOLINE ODOR FILLED THE CABIN OF MY 2001 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON (OUTBACK). THIS HAPPENED ON THREE DIFFERENT TRIPS AROUND TOWN YESTERDAY. I HAVE A 2.5L ENGINE, USING 87 OCTANE GASOLINE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ELIMINATE DURING THESE EPISODES. I LIFTED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD WHEN THIS HAPPENED A THIRD TIME AND FOUND THE VAPOR SMELL WAS STRONGEST NEAR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING FROM ANY NEOPRENE OF STEEL LINES. OBVIOUSLY THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE HEATING SYSTEM VENTS (THE CLIMATE CONTROL FAN WAS TURNED TO HIGH). THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG, IT WAS OVERWHELMING EVEN WHEN THE VENTS WERE BLOWING RECIRCULATED AIR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP. I BELIEVE A SPARK COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN AN EXPLOSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. WITH SELECTOR LEVER IN "PARK " AND CAR TURNED OFF AND IGNITION KEY REMOVED, THE CAR ROLLS. IN THE EARLY YEARS, THE CAR ROLLED ONLY SLIGHTLY AND FINALLY "ENGAGED": NOW, THE CAR ROLLS SEVERAL FEET AND DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE, REQUIRING USE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR ALL PARKING. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE, WE SEARCHED FOR REPAIR & RECALL INFORMATION. WE FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH OUR MODEL & YEAR ARE ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS PARK MECHANISM, OUR VIN# IS NOT. *TR

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS. DOOR PLATE SHOWS 30 PSI, TIRE SHOWS 44 PSI, DIFFERENCE OF 14 POUNDS--TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE. *JB

HI, ON FEBRUARY 25, 2003 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK BLEW UP. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS NEXT TO MY CAR AT THE TIME THE TIRE BLEW AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE. THE TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225 60-16 H-RATED. PART # 074772. THE CAR IS A SUBARU 2001 AND IT HAD ONLY 21000 MILES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND THE FIRESTONE SHOP ON DEMPSTER IN SKOKIE, ILLINOIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES BECAUSE IF I REPLACE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, IT WILL DAMAGE MY TRANSMISSION. I ASKED WHY THE TIRE BLEW WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN BUT SAID THEY WILL SEND IT BACK TO THEIR FACTORY FOR INVESTIGATION. THEY WERE WILLING TO PRORATE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, NOT ALL 4 NEW TIRES. I HAD TO PAY CLOSE TO $400 FOR 4 NEW TIRES. I CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE BY PHONE THE SAME WEEK AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO A LADY IN YOUR OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WILL GET A FORM IN THE MAIL TO BE FILLED OUT BY ME BUT I DID NOT GET IT SO I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU BY E-MAIL. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHEN I CHANGED MY OIL AT THE SUBARU DEALER ON GRAND AVENUE IN NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS, AN EMPLOYEE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER THAT A LADY CAME INTO THE SHOP WITH A SIMILAR BLOW OUT ON THE SAME FIRESTONE TYPE WILDERNESS TIRE AND SHE HAD TO BUY 4 TIRES ALSO. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE MORE SUCH INSTANCES AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THE TIRE SEPARATED 360 DEGREES ON ITS SIDE AROUND WHERE THE WHITE CIRCLE IS ON THE SIDEWALL. I TOOK A NUMBER OF DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE TIRE THAT BLEW BEFORE FIRESTONE TOOK IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEND THEM TO YOU EITHER BY E-MAIL OR I CAN MAKE PRINTS. *JB PLEASE ADVISE. ZELIG

AT 30 MPH IN A CURVE ON CR73 FROM CONIFER TO EVERGREEN, CO. IN 3RD GEAR, STEERING RACK AND PINION BROKE, AND CAR DID A 360 DEGREE SPIN ON DRY PAVEMENT AND SLID INTO A DIRT MOUND. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD, HAPPENING WITH NO TRAFFIC, AND IN THIS LOCATION, WAS MY WIFE'S LIFE SPARED.POLICE REPORT WITH COLORADO STATE PATROL ON FILE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN 2003 AT 74,000 MILES THE LEFT GASKET WAS REPLACED ON 2001, SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. WAGON. IN 2003 AT 94,000 MILES RIGHT GASKET WAS REPLACED. 20 MONTHS LATER LEFT GASKET WAS BLOWN OUT AGAIN. TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TOLD CONSUMER THAT RIGHT GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AS WELL ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER NO. SUBARU OF AMERICA PAID FOR THE REPAIRS OF BOTH OF THE INITIAL GASKET REPLACEMENTS, BUT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR THEY REFUSED TO COVER THIS DEFECTIVE PART. IN 2004 CAR WAS RECALLED TO RECEIVE A SEALANT ADDITIVE TO ADDRESS THE GASKET PROBLEM. CLEARLY IT DIDN'T WORK. MANY OF CONSUMER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS, AND 2 OTHERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE HAD BLOWN GASKETS ON FAIRLY NEW VEHICLES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL STUDS SHEARED OFF. AS A RESULT, THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. NO COLLISION REPORTED. *AK *NM

IT'S BEEN RATHER COLD HERE THE PAST COUPLE DAYS (SINGLE DIGITS, -20 WIND CHILL). I WAS SITTING IN MY 2001 OUTBACK YESTERDAY EVENING LETTING IT WARM UP. I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER, WINDSHIELD WIPER DEFROSTER INCLUDED. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I ACTUALLY WATCHED THE WINDSHIELD CRACK FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE DEFROSTER ELEMENT! WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECKED IT OUT FURTHER. THE CRACK EXTENDS THE FULL LENGTH OF THE DEFROSTER ELEMENT ON THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND. AS THIS IS OBVIOUSLY UNSAFE, I AM HAVING TO PAY $300 FOR A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACKS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND A MAJOR SAFETY RISK. THOUGH THE GLASS MAY NOT BLOW IN, THE SHATTER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT 65 MPH WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE BUTTONS OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE ARM REST. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR DEFROSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. UPDATED 12/22/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN A MINUTE, THE FIRE OPENED A HOLE IN ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR. APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES WIDE WITH FLAMES. UPDATED 12/28/11

TWO CATASTROPHIC WIRING FAILURES IN MAIN COMPUTER WIRING LED TO VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOING DEAD. FIRST AT 3000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN MAIN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED. SECOND AT 16,000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL. POOR DESIGN PLACED THE ESSENTIAL COMPUTER WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL WHERE IT GETS CONSTANT PRESSURE WEAR. DEALER REPLACED WIRES INSIDE HARNESS AND ADDED CUSHIONING AROUND IT. THE SECOND FAILURE CREATES DOUBT THAT THE FIRST FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MAIN RELAY. BOTH FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE DEAD. BOTH HAD NO WARNING EXCEPT THE FIRST TIME THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CAR WENT DEAD.

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK *TC

WHEN HIT ON THEIR FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. *TT

INTERIOR LIGHTS TYPICALLY DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SHUTTING DOORS OR LIFT GATE. TO GET LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, DOORS NEED TO BE SLAMMED SO HARD I'M AFRAID THE GLASS WILL SHATTER. SUBARU DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER 3/36 WARRANTY. THEY SAID TO JUST TURN LIGHTS OFF WITH THE INTERIOR SWITCHES SO THAT THEY DO NOT TURN ON WHEN DOORS ARE OPENED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW.*AK

REAR HEADRESTS DO NOT LOCK INTO UPRIGHT AND DOWN POSITIONS BECAUSE THE METAL SLEEVE INSIDE SEAT SLIPS OVER TIME. HAPPENED EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED ONCE BY DEALER.

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN DETERMINED REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

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.