2011 Subaru Outback Exterior lighting Problems

LOW HEADLAMP BULB HOUSING MELTED SO BAD IT MUST BE REPLACED AT ESTIMATED DEALER COST OF $650. THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR REPLACING THE BULBS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNING OUT EVERY 6-9 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN BURNING UP DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE HOUSING THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE LOW-BEAM HOUSING UNIT AS IT POSES A FIRE RISK. THE EXTENDED BULB REPLACEMENT WARRANTEE IS A BAND-AID THAT DID NOT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11386791

Incident

Dec 30, 2020

Mileage

157,400 mi

HAVE HAD THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK, 2011, AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES EACH ONES, LEFT AND RIGHT. DON'T REMEMBER IF I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OR SAW IT ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM MANY OWNERS AND SUBARU HAVING A FIX FOR IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2017 AND THEY REPLACED THE BLOWN BULB AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A IMPROPER CONTACT THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 2 TIMES SINCE AND HAVE ONE BLOWN AGAIN. SUSPECT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND NEEDS A THROUGH FIX. IT CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS BLOW AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ID

11316658

Incident

Dec 15, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT BURNS OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT THAT EASY. THIS IS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR LAST EIGHT PLUS YEARS. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IT REIMBURSES THE COST OF THE NEW BULBS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE REPLACED. LOW BEAM LIGHTS BURNED OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA ID

11298624

Incident

Nov 14, 2019

Mileage

219,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY, WITHOUT WARNING OR INCIDENT, SOMETIMES BOTH WITHIN A WEEK. CAR IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 10K MILES PER YEAR, YET ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ANNUALLY ON AVERAGE. BULBS ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO REPLACE AND MUST BE DONE BY GARAGE OR DEALERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO GET BULBS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

11297469

Incident

Jan 6, 2020

Mileage

94,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT TOO QUICKLY. I AM REPLACING MY HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 12,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11282044

Incident

Nov 24, 2019

MAIN HEADLAMPS BURN OUT EVERY 9 TO 10 MONTHS CAUSING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. REPLACEMENT OF THESE BULBS IS UNNECESSARILY CUMBERSOME FOR THE OWNER AND SUBARU DEALERS CHARGE $150 TO REPLACE A $15 DOLLAR BULB. IF NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY YOU RISK A FIRE HAZARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE OF REASON, AND A POOR DESIGN THAT RISKS LIVES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF AWAY FROM HOME WITH NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES NOW.

NHTSA ID

11266599

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH ABNORMAL FREQUENCY. DRIVER'S SIDE BULB HAS NEEDED CHANGING ON AVERAGE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN AT NIGHT. PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.

NHTSA ID

11230781

Incident

Jul 10, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS TOGETHER PERIODICALLY TURN ON, AND OCCASIONALLY THE SPEED CONTROL LIGHT FLASHES. HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING. NO CAR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN AFFECTED, YET. UNKNOWN IF THESE "SYMPTOMS" POSE OR COULD RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11193269

Incident

Feb 15, 2019

Mileage

136,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPAIR THE HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FOUR TIMES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11171328

Incident

Jan 8, 2019

HEADLIGHT AND OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHT BULBS DIE PREMATURELY. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM SUBARU ABOUT A WARRANTY EXTENSION AND THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COSTS. SO FAR I'VE HAD 3 HEADLIGHTS GO OUT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS (AFTER 85K MILES) AND ALSO WAS TOLD BY A SUBARU DEALER YESTERDAY THAT 5 OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE OUT. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS IS THAT IT'S A POWER SURGE IN THE LIGHTING/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT SUBARU ISN'T ADDRESSING. THE REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULBS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND RECOMMENDED THAT A SHOP OR DEALER DO THE WORK, MAKING IT VERY INCONVENIENT TO REPLACE LIGHTS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT SO OFTEN WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND VISIBILITY IS REDUCED. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY SUBARU, THAT I KNOW OF, AND A LAWSUIT PENDING. HTTPS://LEGALNEWSLINE.COM/STORIES/510725171-COMPLAINTS-ABOUT-SUBARU-OUTBACK-S-LIGHTS-PRECEDED-CLASS-ACTION

NHTSA ID

11166358

Incident

Jan 8, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

CVT FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING..CAR SHUDDERED, DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND STALLED OUT. MILEAGE: 115.000...JUST OVER EXTENDED WARRANTY. COST OF REPAIRS 9,597.70 PLUS TAX. CONTACTED SUBARU....THEY WILL NOT HELP.

NHTSA ID

11133534

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

TAMARA RECALL I HAVE HAD MY 2011 OUTBACK FOR 4 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 SETS OF LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. NOT SURE WHY THEY KEEP DYING PREMATURELY. I HAVE GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE BULBS EVERY TIME AND NOW THE $60 BULBS ARE DOING THE SAME THING. I FEEL THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FORUMS DESCRIBING THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL.

NHTSA ID

11104910

Incident

Jun 30, 2018

Mileage

99,351 mi

FREQUENT HEADLIGHT BURNOUT (HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR) REVIEW OF DATA ONLINE INDICATES THAT SUBARU RECOGNIZED THIS AS A PROBLEM AND WAS OFFERING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE COSTS TO CONSUMERS. DEADLINE WAS 2016. CLASS ACTION SUITS HAVE ALSO BEEN FILED. PLEASE HELP! THIS IS RIDICULOUS TO CONTINUALLY NEED TO REPLACE BULBS SO FREQUENTLY AND EXPENSIVE SINCE THEY ARE NOT EASY TO DO ON MY OWN

NHTSA ID

11097170

Incident

May 21, 2018

BOUGHT A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK ON FEBRUARY 7, 2018 FROM DEALERSHIP, 90K MILES. I'VE OWED THIS CAR FOR 5 WEEKS AND ONE DAY AND I FINALLY HAD TIME TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM BULB (WHICH BLEW OUT ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE BUT IS UNDER WARRANTY) AND ALSO BOTH BROW LIGHTS (DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS). ONE WAS DIM, THE OTHER WAS OUT. I BROUGHT THE BULBS AND GAVE THEM TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSTALLED. WHEN FINISHED REPLACING, DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD A TAIL LIGHT OUT TOO. I TOLD THEM I WOULD REPLACE AND WENT ACROSS THE STREET TO PURCHASE A BULB. DROVE HOME AND WENT TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHT AND NOTICED I HAD TWO OUT, ONE ON EACH SIDE?! CONFUSED, I GRABBED A FRIEND TO VERIFY AND AFTER A BIT, I ENDED UP TAPPING THE LIGHT LENSE AND THE LIGHT CAME ON. BOTH OF THEM DID AFTER TAPPING EACH LENSE. CHECKED THE BULBS AND THEY WERE SECURE. ALSO, ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, I HAD A PLATE LIGHT OUT. AGAIN, I BOUGHT BULBS AND WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE, IT WAS MIRACULOUSLY WAS WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11079709

Incident

Mar 15, 2018

Mileage

93,000 mi

THE SUBARU OUTBACK 2011 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT FREQUENTLY. I REPLACE 7 HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN SEPTEMBER 2017 COSTING ME $200. THE OUTBACK HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR LIGHTBULB REPLACEMENT, BUT THAT ENDS IN 2021, AND CAUSES THE DRIVER THE INCONVENIENCE OF FREQUENTLY TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE CREATED TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11071807

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

134,000 mi

2011 OUTBACK AND HAVE REPLACED THE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES AS OF TODAY. SEEMS TO BE FAILING WAY TOO OFTEN. VEHICLE HAS 41,000 MILES AND ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT, ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ID

11057029

Incident

Dec 27, 2017

Mileage

41,000 mi

I HAVE REPLACE ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE 6 YEARS I HAVE OWN THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11056031

Incident

Dec 17, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 11-09-2017 AT AROUND 6:30 PM BOTH MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD AND I DROVE OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SLAMMED MY BRAKES ON. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT MY HEADLIGHTS. THEY WERE BOTH OUT. THE HIGH BEAMS DID WORK. I HAD TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON SO I COULD MAKE IT HOME.

NHTSA ID

11045154

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT COVER ENOUGH VISIBILITY WHILE MOVING FORWARD DOWN ROAD. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE LINE WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS SHINE. THEY BEAM VERY LOW TO THE ROAD SURFACE. WE BROUGHT TO DEALER BECAUSE OF CONCERN THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THAT IS THE WAY THEY ARE. NO RESOLVE. DIFFICULT TO SEE DRIVING IN DARK UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE ON. HIGH BEAMS ARE VERY NICE. THE LINE OF DARKNESS TO LIGHTED ROAD IS NOT PREVALENT. OTHER DRIVERS OFTEN SHINE BRIGHTS ON ME WHEN I HAVE MY LIGHTS ON REGULAR LOW BEAM.

NHTSA ID

11019039

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

Mileage

75 mi

WHEN PUT INTO GEAR, AND YOU TURN ON HEADLIGHTS LOW BEAM, THEY ARE NOT WORKING. CAR CAN BE STATIONARY OR MOVING. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK. FOG LIGHT WORK. LOW BEAMS ARE THE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL BLINK ON & OFF, THEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN PAST YEAR. WAS ALREADY IN FOR SERVICE, BUT NOW PROBLEM IS BACK

NHTSA ID

11012069

Incident

Jul 27, 2017

TWO LOW BEAM HIGHLIGHTS BURNED OUT AT SAME TIME AFTER STARTING CAR AT NIGHT AROUND 10:00 PM. AFTER THAT, THE BATTERY WAS GETTING WORSE AND DEAD AT THE SERVICE CENTER JUST BEFORE REPLACING THE HIGHLIGHT BULBS. THE MANAGER SAID THAT THE BATTERY'S SITUATION WAS NOT RELATED WITH THE PROBLEM OF THE HIGH LIGHT, AND THERE WAS NO CLUES.

NHTSA ID

10984521

Incident

May 6, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER WQE41; NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 12V602000.PUDDLE LIGHTS FOR 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. IN JANUARY 2013, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU. . SINCE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE, I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS, REALLY, NUMEROUS, ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS RECALL ADDRESSED BY MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS RECALL ADDRESSED HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. MY PUDDLE LIGHTS HAVE CEASED WORKING WHICH IS AN INDICATOR OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN SMOKE OR FIRE ACCORDING TO THE NTSB. ON APRIL 8, 2017 MY LATEST ATTEMPT TO GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER FROM MY LOCAL SUBARU CONCERNING REPAIR OF THE PUDDLE LIGHTS AND COMPLETION OF THE RECALL WAS AGAIN UNSUCCESSFUL.

NHTSA ID

10971626

Incident

Jan 30, 2013

Mileage

24,000 mi

I HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS IN THIS VEHICLE FIVE TIMES AND THEY KEEP BURNING OUT. THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGH IS OUT AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10968418

Incident

Mar 21, 2017

LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS BURN OUT VERY QUICKLY - WITHIN 3-6 MONTHS, REPEATEDLY. ALSO, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ONLY COME ON AFTER DARK. AS DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS THEY FAIL TO COME ON. THIS OCCURS AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS OF SPEED, TEMP, OR DRIVING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10959980

Incident

Mar 10, 2017

Mileage

55,350 mi

I HAVE REPLACED MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THIS CAR 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS GO TWO WEEKS AGO. SO NOW IT WILL BE 5 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TWO YEARS. WHY AM I REPLACING HEADLIGHTS SO FREQUENTLY. I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR PRIOR TO THIS ONE, HONDA CIVIC 2002. I ALWAY HAD AN EXTRA BULB IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT SO I WOULD NOT GET A TICKET IF STOPPED. I REPLACED IT OVER 8 TIMES FROM 2002 TO 2015. I AM WONDERING IF THE MANUFACTURER IS THE SAME. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS SO OFTEN. PLUS, I CANNOT CHANGE MYSELF ON THIS CAR SO I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER TO REPLACE. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS IN THIS ECONOMY.

NHTSA ID

10958031

Incident

Jun 24, 2015