2002 Subaru Outback Owner Complaints

THE AIR CONDITIONER BEGINS TO BLOW HOT MOIST AIR AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF WORKING PROPERLY. MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A SPECIALTY SHOP CAN'T DIAGNOSE, AND THE ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C COMPRESSOR BECAUSE THE CLUTCH ISN'T SOLD SEPARATELY. I'VE READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME "INTERMITTENT" A/C THAT ONLY WORKS ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON, THEN STOPS WORKING SECONDS OR MINUTES LATER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE VEHICLE CAN BE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION AND THE A/C JUST QUITS.

NHTSA ID

11133192

Incident

Jun 12, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE HAD FOUR SEPARATE INCIDENTS THAT MY HEAD GASKET HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND GIVEN MY CAR HAS 190,000 MILES ON IT I BELIEVE FOUR ISSUES DEALING WITH THIS SAME SITUATION NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED. NOT ONLY DOES THIS ISSUE RESULT IN A HUGE OUTLAY OF MONEY BUT IT GETS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE, PARTS, AND DRIVEWAY THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEANED. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11084008

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE GETS BELOW 35 DEGREES, MY CAR SMELLS VERY STRONGLY OF GAS INSIDE. I HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN FOR VENTILATION. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WARMS UP, THE SMELL GOES AWAY. IT IS WORSE WHEN I FIRST STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING. MECHANICS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM BUT I JUST READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WILL TAKE THEIR SUGGESTED FIXES TO MY MECHANIC.

NHTSA ID

11052416

Incident

Dec 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HOLES WERE FORMING. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION WHILE ON AN INCLINE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION) AND 02V282000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10888639

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

TERRIBLE GAS SMELL. FUEL IS LEAKING BECAUSE IT IS COLD OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10819273

Incident

Jan 6, 2016

Mileage

129,000 mi

WHEN TEMP. OUTSIDE GO BELOW 32 DEGREES, THE INSIDE OF MY CAR FILLS WITH RAW GAS SMELL, THIS HAPPENS EVERY WINTER. I LIVE IN WI. WHEN IT IS ABOVE FREEZING IT IS FINE AND ALL SUMMER IT IS FINE. I AM SO AFFRAID TO HAVE MY GRAND KIDS IN THE CAR. NOT SURE IF THE FUMES WILL EXPLODE.WHEN I AM DRIVING I DO NOT SMELL GAS. BUT IF I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT IT FILLS UP THE CAR. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS TO GET FRESH AIR

NHTSA ID

10817338

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

I BOUGHT CAR OCT 6; FIRST INSPECTION APPOINTMENT AT MY USUAL GARAGE MON OCT 12- FAILED DUE TO RUSTY SUSPECT BRAKE CONNECTION. SELLER HAD ME TAKE TO HIS DEALER- MASTRIA SUBARU IN RAYNHAM. THEY PUT A PAINT/COATING OVER RUSTY AREA. I WAS PRETTY SKEPTICAL BUT BROUGHT CAR TO MY GARAGE IN VT MONDAY OCT 19 AND THE LEAKY BRAKE FLUID MUCH MORE CLEARLY VISIBLE- DUE TO SMOOTHER (THOUGH BUMPY FROM OXIDATION BELOW) PAINT SURFACE. I ALSO SAW LEAKING COOLANT, LEAKS IN OIL PAN, AND A CRACK IN MUFFLER PIPE JUST ENGINE SIDE OF MUFFLER (IT HAD BEEN GETTING NOISIER AND NOISIER) MY MECHANIC POINTED OUT THE TIMING BELT GASKET WAS MISSING AND ONE BOLT 'MISSING' ; IT WAS STICKING OUT OF ANOTHER 'HOLE' THAT WAS FOR A FULLY THREADED BOLT. THE SELLER HAS SENT LONG-WINDED INSULTING E-MAILS AND STATES I MUST RETURN CAR TO HIM TO HAVE THE SAME DEALER SERVICE IT. I AM TAKING IT TO A&M, 400 MYSTIC AVE, SOMERVILLE THIS MORNING NEAR ME! FOR ESTIMATE TODAY. THERE'S A REJECT STICKER FROM READING PETROLEUM ON IT- I DIDN'T KNOW MA & VT HAD RECIPROCAL STATUS- BUT I THINK THE VT INSPECTION IS MORE STRINGENT, SAFER AND COMPREHENSIVE

NHTSA ID

10783939

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

141,682 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME HAD FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. UPDATE 01/13/16 MA; UPDATED 4/17/18*JB THE CONSUMER STATED TRADED VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO ABOUT FIXING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10779649

Incident

Oct 2, 2015

Mileage

200,000 mi

WHEN GETTING THE CAR INSPECTED WE FOUND OUT THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS RUSTED SO BADLY IT WAS CRACKED. IT WAS IN SUCH A KEY SPOT THAT IT WASN'T FIXABLE AND THE CAR COULD HAVE EASILY LOST A WHEEL ON THE ROAD WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING (A SMALL BUMP COULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO TRIGGER AN ACCIDENT). THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF WELL AND WHEN INSPECTED JUST A YEAR AGO AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO MENTION OR SIGN THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A PROBLEM. THE FAST DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE CAR IS THE COMPLAINT AND WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO PART OUT THE OTHERWISE WONDERFUL CAR DUE TO SAFETY AND UNABLE TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705906

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKED. ONLY THAT SIDE WAS REPLACED. ON 1/14 BOTH HEAD GASKETS STARTED LEAKING AT 59000 MILES. WITH SUBARUS HELP THE DEALER CHARGED $ 855.00. THE PROBLEM IS SUBARU HAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE SO THOSE OF US WHO OWN THESE CARS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR GASKET REPLACEMENTS FOR AS LONG AS WE OWN THEM. BY THE WAY THE COOLANT SYSTEM CONDITIONER IS HOLTS RADWELD STOPLEAK SOMETHING SUBARU WILL NOT TELL YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680125

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

Mileage

17,482 mi

IN 10 DEGREE WEATHER, MY 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK WHILE BEING DRIVEN BY MY 17-YEAR-OLD CHILD. THIS IS MY SECOND SUBARU WAGON AND THE SECOND TO HAVE COLD WEATHER FUEL LEAKS. I TIGHTENED THE CLAMP ON THE OFFENDING FUEL LINE AND I HOPE THAT IS AN ADEQUATE FIX. BUT IT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS PROBLEM HAS NOT HAD A RECALL, AND THAT IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 20 YEARS. (MY FIRST SUBARU WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS A 1991 LEGACY WAGON.) HOW MANY CAR FIRES HAVE RESULTED FROM THIS PROBLEM? HOW MANY INJURIES OR EVEN FATALITIES? PLEASE MAKE SUBARU TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A POORLY DESIGNED FUEL LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672333

Incident

Jan 13, 2015

Mileage

75,000 mi

RUBBER FUEL LINKAGES CONTRACT IN LOW (BELOW 30F) TEMPERATURES, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE LEAKING FUEL CREATES A VERY STRONG, AT TIMES INTOLERABLE, FUEL VAPOR SMELL IN THE CABIN. SOME LEAKS DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND ENGINE BLOCK SO ENGINE FIRE IS A POSSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659052

Incident

Dec 19, 2013

Mileage

179,000 mi

ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS NOT LISTED ON THE AIRBAG RECALL, I AM CONCERNED MY CAR MIGHT HAVE THE AIRBAGS FROM TAKATA. THE YEAR THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL STARTED IS 2000. MY CAR IS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK IS ON THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL LIST. HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY CAR'S AIRBAGS WERE NOT MANUFACTURED BY TAKATA? *TR

NHTSA ID

10649305

Incident

Oct 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING APPLIED, EVEN WHEN THE CONTACT'S FOOT WAS NO LONGER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10564798

Incident

Feb 17, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

DATES ARE APPROXIMATE, PROBLEM IS ONGOING. UPON INITIAL START-UP, IN COOL/COLD WEATHER THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE VERY HARD AND BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK REQUIRING TREMENDOUS FOOT PRESSURE WITH STILL REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AND MULTIPLE STOPS BRAKE ASSIST SEEMS TO INCREASE AND THE BRAKES GET STRONGER OR NORMAL. I HAVE RESEARCHED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH SUBARU CARS AT HIGHER MILEAGE. IT IS SAID TO BE WATER IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE ONE WAY VALVE. CHANGING THE HOSE, I AM TOLD, WILL NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS MORE WATER WILL ENTER THE SYSTEM AND FREEZE OR GUM PU THE WORKS. VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY FOR DRIVERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PRESS SO HARD ON THE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564698

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

UPPER FRONT FUEL LINE AND CONNECTION TO THROTTLE BODY? IS LEAKING RAW GAS AND FUEL IS POOLING ON TOP OF ENGINE JUST OUTWARD OF UPPER EXHAUST MANIFOLD AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563982

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

83,033 mi

OVER LAST FEW WINTERS, WHEN TEMPERATURES DROP TO FREEZING THERE HAS BEEN A BAD FUEL SMELL IN CABIN. ESPECIALLY WITH HEATER BLOWING, THOUGH IT STILL SMELLS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR EVEN WITH THE HEAT OFF. ONCE THE WEATHER WARMS UP THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE SMELL. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING 5 CLAMPS AS SUGGESTED IN AN ONLINE HELP PAGE. NOT SURE IF THIS HELPED OR PROBLEM JUST WENT AWAY WITH THE COLD WEATHER. LOCAL SHOP COULDN'T SEE LEAK ON CURSORY CHECK WHILE THE ODOR AS AT IT'S WORSE. MAYBE ONLY VISIBLE IF IT'S FREEZING AND UP ON A LIFT. SUBARU DEALER SUGGESTED FUEL LINES NEED TO REPLACED AS NORMAL PROCESS AS CAR AGES. SUBARU SHOULD FIND SOLUTION TO THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT'S OBVIOUSLY COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES AND PUT OUT CLEAR INSTRUCTION ON DIAGNOSING AND FIXING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561539

Incident

Jan 8, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

SINCE THE RECENT TEMPERATURE DROP WHERE WE LIVE (MARYLAND, DC METRO REGION), WE'VE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE CAR'S CABIN. THE SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES, FOR OUR OWN HEALTH AND THAT OF OUR CHILDREN. THE SMELL ONLY APPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING (THOUGH IT DOESN'T SEEM TO DEPEND ON SPEED). WE'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE MARCH 2010, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE NOTICED THE ISSUE; IT'S ALSO THE COLDEST WEATHER WE'VE ENCOUNTERED SINCE PURCHASE. APPARENTLY THERE'S A FUEL-LINE-RELATED RECALL FOR IMPREZAS OF THIS VINTAGE, BUT NOT YET FOR OUTBACKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561377

Incident

Jan 17, 2014

THE SMELL OF RAW GAS PERMEATES THE PASSENGER CABIN WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED IN TEMPERATURES UNDER 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561270

Incident

Jan 3, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY WIFE DROVE HER CAR, A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK, ABOUT 5 MILES HOME FROM WORK, AND TOLD ME IN THE EVENING HER CAR REEKED OF GASOLINE WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HOME. WHEN I CHECKED HER CAR THE GAS ODOR HAD DISSIPATED, BUT WHEN I STARTED IT AND BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE THE GAS ODOR WAS VERY STRONG. I MOVED IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND SHUT IT OFF. I DISCOVERED ONLINE THAT THE ODOR WAS LIKELY DUE TO A FUEL HOSE LEAK ASSOCIATED WITH A COLD WEATHER START. THE TEMPERATURES HERE ARE COLD FOR MISSOURI, WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW 20'S. IT STILL IS COLD, ALBEIT AS A MINNESOTA BOY IT STILL SEEMS LIKE SPRING. AT ANY RATE, I FOUND A WEBSITE WITH USEFUL DIAGRAMS AND I LOCATED THE HOSE UNDER A BRACKET (OF COURSE), AND MANAGED TO UNCOVER THE HOSE AND TIGHTEN THE CLAMPS, WHICH WERE VERY LOOSE. AFTER RE-ASSEMBLY I DROVE THE CAR TO BURN OFF THE GAS REMAINING ON THE ENGINE AND I TESTED THE REPAIR WITH ANOTHER COLD WEATHER START LATER. I HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT HOSE FROM THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR 12 BUCKS. I UNDERSTAND THAT RECALLS AND SERVICE ADVISORIES HAVE OCCURRED AND ARE IN PLACE FOR OTHER SUBARU MODELS INCLUDING THE CLOSELY RELATED 2001 LEGACY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE 2002 OUTBACK AND EVERY OTHER SUBARU THAT USES THE HOSE PART # 807707130. THE DISCUSSIONS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE REVEAL SOME PEOPLE ARE DRIVING WITH THEIR WINDOWS OPEN OR WITH CABIN AIR SET TO RECIRCULATE, OR WAITING UNTIL THE ENGINE WARMS UP ENOUGH FOR THERMAL EXPANSION TO SEAL THE LEAK. AS AN INDUSTRY CHEMIST I FIND THIS IGNORANCE ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF GASOLINE FIRES APPALLING. HOWEVER I THINK SUBARU'S PIECE-MEAL APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THEIR DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING IS FRIGHTENING. DON'T THEY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS? MY WIFE TEACHES CHEMISTRY, A TYPICAL CUSTOMER, ACCORDING TO SUBARU ADS. SHE LOVES HER SUBARU. SUBARU DOES NOT LOVE HER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555399

Incident

Dec 6, 2013

THE CAR ALWAYS HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE DURING WINTER. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT I GET HEADACHES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494612

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

135,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-95 GOING BETWEEN 55 AND 60 MILES AN HOUR AND THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. THE HOOD CAME UP BLOCKING OUR VISION AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CAR. WE WERE TRAVELING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WERE LUCKY THAT WE COULD PULL THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND US. *TR

NHTSA ID

10468975

Incident

Aug 2, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD BEGUN TO RUST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10455703

Incident

Apr 17, 2012

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT WOULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHERE THE HEAD GASKETS WERE REPLACED EACH TIME. HOWEVER, ONE YEAR AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN RECENTLY DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10450552

Incident

Dec 17, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT CORROSION WAS ON THE REAR SUB FRAME. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:03V153000(SUSPENSION:REAR). THE FAILURE WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT IT WAS NOT CONFIRMED IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 148,731.

NHTSA ID

10448222

Incident

Jan 30, 2012

Mileage

148,731 mi