2005 Subaru Outback Visibility Problems

DEFROSTERS AND ALL DIGITAL CLIMATE CONTROLS ARE UNRESPONSIVE. I CANNOT SEE OUT OF MY VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11360265

Incident

Sep 20, 2020

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED FOR ANY ROCKS OR ANYTHING IN THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE SHATTERED THE SUNROOF BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING.

NHTSA ID

10914392

Incident

Aug 13, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

REAR HATCH HARNESS WIRES ARE BROKEN/ FRAYED. BACKUP LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, AND THE REAR WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. EVERY NOW AND THEM REAR DEFROSTER DOESN'T WORK. HAZARD A LOT OF 2005-2009 OUTBACKS HAVE.

NHTSA ID

10883796

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

87,000 mi

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THAT OCCURS WHERE THE HATCHBACK OPENS UP. THE WIRES FRAY AND BREAK FROM NORMAL USAGE OF THE HATCHBACK, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER, DEFOGGER AND BACKUP LIGHTS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE A NUMEROUS BLOGS AND VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET SHOWING THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD BE RECALL ITEM FOR ALL 3RD GENERATION SUBARU OUTBACKS (2005-2009). *TR

NHTSA ID

10659732

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

REAR WIPER FAILURE WAS FIRST NOTICED FOLLOWED BY FAILURE OF THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS MULTIPLE BROKEN WIRES WHERE THE DOOR HINGES. APPEARS THAT THE WIRING INSULATION BECOMES HARDENED AND BRITTLE, AND WILL BREAK INSTEAD OF FLEXING. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER WIRES IN THE HARNESS THAT ARE SHOWING BARE WIRE BUT HAVE NOT YET BROKEN. THIS IS WHAT ALL THE HARNESS ENABLES AND WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL: REAR WIPER MOTOR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT REAR GATE LATCH SWITCH REAR GATE LOCK ACTUATOR REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT RH REAR DEFOGGER BACK-UP LIGHT LH *TR

NHTSA ID

10554733

Incident

Jan 15, 2013

Mileage

98,000 mi

SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THE REAR WIPER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. AFTER CHECKING AN ONLINE OWNERS FORUM I FOUND THAT THERE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FUNCTIONS IN THE REAR LIFT GATE SUCH AS INOPERABLE BRAKE LIGHTS, REAR WIPERS INOPERABLE, AND OTHER ITEMS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE DEGRADATION OF WIRE INSULATION AND BREAKAGE OF WIRE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED MY OWN VEHICLE HAS A SEVERED WIRE LOCATED IN THE ACCORDION BOOT ON THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE NEAR THE HINGE FOR THE LIFT GATE. THIS COULD RESULT IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. AS WITH ANY FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING THERE IS ALSO A RISK FOR FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10524556

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

121,985 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHEN HE ROLLED IT DOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A WINDOW COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE, REFERRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO WOULD REPLACE THE WINDOW AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 60,800. UPDATED 0/29/10. *LJUPDATED 09/21/10

NHTSA ID

10323465

Incident

Mar 31, 2005

Mileage

60,800 mi

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT WHEN A DRIVER DECIDED TO DO A U-TURN INTO HER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER DID NOT SEE IN SIDE MIRROR BECAUSE SHE WAS IN A "BLIND SPOT. *AK MOST EUROPEAN AUTOS HAVE A SPLIT DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, SO THAT THERE IS "NO BLIND SPOT". THE SPLIT IS VERTICAL ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE WAY IN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR. MY CONTENTION IS THAT IF THE DRIVER HAD HAD SUCH A MIRROR, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10148439

Incident

Aug 16, 2005