2010 Subaru Outback Body & structure Problems

I own a 2010 Subaru Outback. While parked at a college in Medford, Oregon, it suffered a spontaneous electrical fire that originated inside the driver's door. This is the exact failure described in Subaru Safety Recall Campaign WQE-41. The NHTSA website states the recall was completed on this VIN, meaning the recall repair itself has failed and caused a total loss of the vehicle at this time as we are unsure if it’s fixable or even worth fixing. Fire dept did come out and confirm fire was out completely and instructed me not to drive car at all until it could get looked at.

NHTSA ID

11753313

Incident

Jul 21, 2026

My daughter was concerned with the car making strange squeaking sounds on turning and braking and so I met her where her car was parked in a lot and drove it for less than 1 minute and could tell something was very wrong and that it didn't seem safe to drive home. My husband came to check as well and zeroed in on the problem being the front driver's side tire/suspension. Fortunately the Subaru dealership was less than .5 away and my husband drove it there (with flashers on). It was determined by the dealership that the subframe had rusted through (we have photos uploaded below) and a new one was ordered and replaced within the week. The materials and labor for that alone cost $1944.37. Control arm bushings, rear toe arms, and alignment were also completed. The total cost of the repair was $3281.14.

NHTSA ID

11489200

Incident

Sep 15, 2022

Subframe or cradle Subaru OEM # 50527AJ01A is a vital safety component (see dealer's written comments below) and as designed and installed completely supports the weight of the engine and transmission - rust and corrosion per mechanics at 3 different garages (Mickey's, Weber, Ganley Subaru) advised vehicle is unsafe to drive due to subframe corrosion and imminent failure. Corrosion of sub frame and its welds are very extreme for low mileage 102,000 Quoting Ganley Subaru dealer in North Olmsted, Ohio in writing (vehicle originally purchase there by me the current owner): "A damaged sub frame puts everyone in the vehicle at risk. During a collision the subframe is responsible for absorbing and evenly distributing the forces from impact. If damaged the sub frame cannot distribute the impact causing a complete collapse of the vehicle." I called Subaru customer service/advocacy department on October 22, 2021 and was told there were no recalls or warranty on this part and I would bear the complete cost of repair and replacement almost $5,000.00 for subframe and steering rack and pinion. I have pictures and video's I also have requested the dealer return the subframe to me after repair and replacement. Picture attached is just one small length of the subframe the entire length of which on both the driver and passenger sides and on both sides of the frame show complete failure due to corrosion

NHTSA ID

11438170

Incident

Aug 26, 2021

I BEGAN HEARING UNUSUAL SOUNDS WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN JUNE. IT WASN'T CONSISTENT. IT WOULD HAPPEN SOMETIMES WHEN I WOULD BRAKE, EXCEL, TURN, MOSTLY IN CITY TRAFFIC. I COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. IT CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND LOUDER. ON JULY 2ND, IT BECAME VERY BAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN I BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ANYMORE. I WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP, WHICH I WAS TOLD WOULD BE 7-10 DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN LOOK AT IT, SO I TOOK IT ELSEWHERE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE MY SUB FRAME. I WAS TOLD THE CONDITION WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THE MECHANIC WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM, HAVING JUST RECENTLY REPLACED THE SUB FRAME IN A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. HE MENTIONED THE METAL THEY USE IS OF POOR QUALITY AND THEIR WELDS ARE NOT DONE WELL. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 102,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11343586

Incident

Jul 2, 2020

Mileage

102,000 mi

THE FRONT SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING LOUD SCRAPING NOISES WHEN TURNING. THIS CAR HAS ABOUT 92000 MILES ON IT AND IS LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD. REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AS THIS PART SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. REPAIR SHOP ALSO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS FAILURE ON OTHER VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY SUBARU AND MAZDA.

NHTSA ID

11253596

Incident

Aug 28, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY SUBARU OUTBACK SUNROOF HAS LEAKED SINCE THE VERY FIRST WINTER. TOXIC MOLD BUILT UP IN THE HEADLINER, ON THE SEATBELTS AND IN OTHER AREAS. MY WIFE WAS SO SICK AT ONE POINT SHE WAS COUGHING SO HARD SHE THREW UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY AFTER SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR. SHE WAS SICK FOR YEARS AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET YIELDED OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WITH SUNROOF LEAKS AND I BELIEVE THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE DESIGN. THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED AND IT IS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MOLD REPORT ATTACHED. NOT ONLY IS THE MOLD A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN ON COMING TRAFFIC WITH MY WIFE HACKING AND COUGHING.

NHTSA ID

10948048

Incident

Oct 20, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SECTION OF FRONT SUB-FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10863360

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

TRIED TO OPEN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT CAR AFTER PARKING. HANDLE MADE A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT SOUND THAN USUAL, AND FAILED TO OPEN LATCH. LOCKING/UNLOCKING AND MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO OPERATE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN OPENING THE DOOR. WITH DIFFICULTY, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE INTO PASSENGER SIDE OF FRONT SEAT BY CLIMBING OVER THE CONSOLE AND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE CARE. WHILE THIS WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY, HAD IT OCCURRED DURING AN EMERGENCY, THE DRIVER LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. I TOOK IT IN FOR A REPAIR TODAY, AND SUBARU DEALER CAN'T GET THE PART (CABLE RUNNING BETWEEN INSIDE DOOR HANDLE AND LATCH) FOR 3-4 DAYS. TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WONDERED IF IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE 2010 TRIBECA DOOR LATCH PROBLEM WHICH PROMPTED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706357

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

32,000 mi

FIRST NOTICED IN THE SPRING OF 2013, ONE OF THE SAFETY HAND-HOLDS IN THE BACK SEAT POPPED OUT OF ITS SOCKET AS SOMEONE WAS RIDING IN THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE SAFETY HAND-HOLD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POPPED OUT AS WELL, WHEN A RIDER WAS USING IT. I NOTICED THAT THE SAFETY HAND-HOLDS CAN BE EASILY POPPED IN AND OUT WITHOUT MUCH FORCE. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY SHOULD BE MORE SECURELY FASTENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567546

Incident

Mar 11, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

TRAVELING ON ICY ROAD APPROX. 20MPH OR LESS IN 2010 OUTBACK 3.6 LTD. VERY ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING SEVERE MOUNTAIN WINTER CONDITIONS & 8TH SUBARU AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS. SEATBELT, SHOULDER RESTRAINT IN PLACE ON DRIVER. ONCOMING DRIVER IN MID-SIZE TO LARGE TRUCK LOST CONTROL AT HIGH SPEED, CROSSED CENTER LINE AND IMPACTED SUBARU HEAD-ON, OFFSET TO LEFT SIDE OF OUTBACK & 2010 OUTBACK WAS TOTALED. SUBARU AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IMPACT INTO FRONT LEFT SIDE, CRUMPLED HOOD UP TO WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHATTERED. HIS HOOD WAS INSIDE SUBARU ENGINE COMPARTMENT, REMAINED UNDER SUBARU HOOD ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF HIS VEHICLE AFTER VEHICLES WERE TOWED. SUBARU RADIATOR WAS PUSHED IN AT APPROX 45 DEGREE ANGLE, LEFT WHEEL BENT INWARDS, LEFT FRONT BUMPER GONE BACK TO TIRE AND MUCH MORE DAMAGE. HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SUBARU'S DID NOT. SUBARU DRIVER HIT HEAD, KNEES, SHINS ON INTERIOR PARTS OF SUBARU: BLACK EYE, FOREHEAD HEMATOMA, INDENTATION & SCRAPED, KNEES/SHINS BRUISED AND SCRAPED PLUS BACK/NECK PLUS MORE SCRAPES/BRUISES AND CONCUSSION. THANKFUL THAT HIS TRUCK STOPPED UP AGAINST DRIVER SIDE DOORPOST AND DIDN'T ENCROACH INTO DRIVER COMPARTMENT BUT UNBELIEVABLE THAT SUBARU AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. 5'6" & APPROX. 135 POUNDS. FIRST OF OUR SUBARUS TO BE IN A CRASH AND HAD NO IDEA AIRBAGS WOULDN'T DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491506

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

Mileage

48,000 mi

WHILE AT A STOP LITE OR STANDING THE CAR SEND A VIBRATION THROW THE DOOR PANELS BRAKE PEDAL, BACK OF DRIVER SEAT HAD IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY RAN CHECK ON IT AND CAME UP WITH NORMAL I THINK THEY ARE WRONG IT SCARES ME THAT IT COULD START ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481087

Incident

Aug 20, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE LEFT REAR SIDE CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO LOSE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, AND THEN SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HER DESTINATION PER THE POLICE OFFICER'S INSTRUCTIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED WHIPLASH AND THE PASSENGER HAD A NECK INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COLLISION CENTER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.

NHTSA ID

10342687

Incident

May 30, 2010

Mileage

5,000 mi

I HAVE A SEVERE WATER LEAK IN MY BRAND NEW SUBARU 2010 OUTBACK, THAT RESULTED IN MOLD ON THE PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER FLOOR MATS. WHEN I TURNED A CORNER A LITTLE FLOOD POURED ONTO MY GRANDDAUGHTER ANKLE AND FOOT. IT WAS AS IF SOMEONE HAD POURED A BUCKET INTO MY CAR. MY GRANDCHILDREN HAD TO SHOPVAC THE WATER OUT OF THE CAR. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER LEAVES HAD PLUGGED THE DRAIN TUBE. UPDATED IVOQ 09/27/10 *TR

NHTSA ID

10339883

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

Mileage

3,823 mi

I PURCHASED A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK FROM IRA SUBARU IN DANVERS, MA IN JANUARY, 2010. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I DISCOVERED THE FRAME AROUND THE ENGINE WAS RUSTED. THIS CAR IS BRAND NEW. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF IRA SUBARU. THEY SAID IT'S FINE, AND IT JUST NEEDS TO BE TREATED WITH A SPECIAL SPRAY, AND THAT'S ALL THEY DID. IS THIS SAFE? WHY WAS MY 2010 SUBARU ALREADY RUSTING? THE CARS THAT WCVB TV IN BOSTON HIGHLIGHTED LAST NIGHT ALL SEEMED TO BE JAPANESE. PLEASE ADVISE. MY CAR HAS JUST 3,800 MILES ON IT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329186

Incident

Apr 24, 2010