2011 Subaru Outback Visibility Problems

- Windshield cracks instead of dings (6 separate occasions now) - Cracks across windshield hamper visibility - The minute dings that result in window cracking/failure have been observed by technicians at Safelite and possibly other auto glass repair companies who have replaced the windshield (in the previous 5 replacements) and I have photos of the current window ding/crack. Each time there is a small ding it immediately results in a large crack. - The windshield was inspected by the auto glass repair techs employed by the repair companies suggested by the insurance company. -No warning other than hearing the rock or whatever item that glanced off the windshield.

NHTSA ID

11432834

Incident

Sep 10, 2021

THE HEAD LIGHTS TO THIS VEHICLE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. SOMETIMES IF I HIT A BUMP THE LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON. TODAY I DROVE NEARLY FIFTY MILES IN THE DARK WITH EITHER THE HIGH BEAMS ON OR THE LIGHTS COMPLETELY OFF.

NHTSA ID

11404089

Incident

Mar 21, 2021

Mileage

48 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

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 60 MPH ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED INTO HUNDREDS OF BITS OF GLASS. FORTUNATELY, THE SHADE WAS CLOSED SO NO GLASS CAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE, AND I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER FULL CONTROL. THIS OCCURRED DURING DAYTIME HOURS ON JANUARY 17, 2020. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 37 DEGREES. NO CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME THAT MAY HAVE THROWN UP ANY ROCKS, SO THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE FOR THIS GLASS FAILURE TO OCCUR.

NHTSA ID

11300827

Incident

Jan 17, 2020

Mileage

117,000 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

TAKATA RECALL - ALSO, WIPER MOTOR SAFETY RECALL. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH SUBARU TO GET THESE TWO RECALLS ADDRESSED, AND MADE TWO PHONE CALLS IN EARLY APRIL, AND AFTER BEING TOLD TO WAIT AND BE CONTACTED BY AN APPROVED DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP AND NO APPOINTMENT SET. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING I CONTACTED SUBARU AGAIN, THIS TIME THROUGH EMAIL ON MAY 20TH, AND WAS AGAIN TOLD TO WAIT TO BE CONTACTED BY THE CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS MORE THAN 40 MILES AWAY IN MY CASE. THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SUBARU HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DISTANCE OR TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. STILL, I'VE DONE AS THEY ASKED AND WAITED TO BE CONTACTED BY MY CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP (CHATHAM PARKWAY SUBARU), AND AGAIN THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP. I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET THESE RECALLS ADDRESSED SINCE APRIL 4TH, AND HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH HOW DIFFICULT ITS BEEN TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE AVENUE TO FILE SUCH A COMPLAINT, BUT I'M UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AT THIS POINT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE TWO SAFETY RECALLS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11099224

Incident

Apr 4, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE MOON ROOF GLASS INDEPENDENTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (IRVINE SUBARU, LOCATED ON 23663 ROCKFIELD BLVD, LAKE FOREST, CA 92630) WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V467000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11003050

Incident

Jul 2, 2017

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STARTED WORKING WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION, THE WIPER MAKES 1 OR 2 SWIPES AND THEN DOES IT AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. IT MAKES A "CLICKING" OR BUZZING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN IT HAPPENS. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP ITS OPERATION WAS TO PULL THE 30 A FUSE. VERY FRUSTRATING. THERE IS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, IT JUST STARTED DOING IT ON IT'S OWN.

NHTSA ID

10982974

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

34,000 mi

MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT 6 TIMES! THE LAST TIME I SWITCHED TO AN LED SYSTEM AND NOW IT HAS BLOWN MY RF HEADLIGHT IN 6 MONTHS! LED IT SUPPOSED TO LAST LONGER! I DEFINITELY HAVE SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL ISSUE!

NHTSA ID

10940389

Incident

Jan 8, 2017

TAKATA RECALL HAVE HAD TWO VERBAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REPLACEMENT PARTS AND ONE EMAIL INQUIRY, BUT NO REPLY OR RESPONSE FROM MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SOUTH BLVD SUBARU CHARLOTTE NC AFTER CONVERSATION WITH A SALESMAN I SUSPECT "UNSOLD" VEHICLES ON THEIR LOT ARE RECEIVING REPLACEMENT PARTS BEFORE CUSTOMER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10936471

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

THE VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED ABRUPTLY AND THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASES. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. ESPECIALLY FOR MY PREGNANT WIFE TO BE DRIVING. WE BOUGHT A SUBARU BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THEY WERE BUILT RIGHT AND SAFE. WE WERE WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935430

Incident

Dec 14, 2016

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY) AND 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10929650

Incident

Jul 11, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL. OUR SUBARU OUTBACK IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE, AND IT IS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. MY PREGNANT WIFE IS DUE WITH OUR SECOND CHILD AND HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT. HOWEVER, THAT CHILD COULD COME ANY TIME. SHE IS A HIGH RISK PREGNANCY WITH A HISTORY OF PREMATURE BIRTH. AT 33 WEEKS, THIS IS THE FARTHEST SHE'S EVER COME ALONG IN A PREGNANCY. IF THIS BABY COMES, THEN IT MEANS SOMEONE IN OUR FAMILY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SIT IN OUR CAR IF WE ALL GO OUT TOGETHER. THE AIRBAG RECALL FIX IS URGENT FOR US. WE CAN'T REALLY WAIT MUCH LONGER, UNLESS SUBARU WANTS TO RENT A LARGER VEHICLE FOR US UNTIL THE REPAIR CAN BE MADE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE SO WE CAN HAVE OUR SUBARU BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL INTENT AS A FAMILY VEHICLE ASAP?

NHTSA ID

10929646

Incident

Dec 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10925934

Incident

Nov 14, 2016

"AIRBAG RECALL" THIS RECALL WAS IN JUNE AND SUBARU IT NOT TAKING ANY APPOINTMENTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10916389

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES FOR EACH HEADLIGHT AND I ONLY HAVE 88,000 MILES ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ID

10761973

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

34,000 mi

WE WERE COMING HOME FROM A FIREWORKS DISPLAY AT NIGHT AND MY SON TOLD ME TO TURN ON MY LIGHTS WHICH ALREADY HAD DONE, AND THE LOW BEAMS ON BOTH SIDES AND THE MARKER LIGHTS DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED TURNING SWITCH TO ALL POSITIONS AND THEY STILL DIDN'T COME ON. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK OKAY AND TURN SIGNALS FRONT AND BACK & BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. WE DROVE HOME WITH THE FOG LIGHTS WHICH STILL WORK. WE NEED THE CAR TO GO ON VACATION AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIX IT RIGHT AWAY AS WELL AS WHAT IT WILL COST THERE OR IF I HAVE TO HAVE SOME ELSE FIX IT. IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE ROAD WE DRIVE HOME ON HAS VERY LITTLE IF ANY LIGHTING AND THERE ARE TWISTS AND TURNS AND YOU COULD EASILY DRIVE INTO A STONE OUTCROPPING OR INTO HE WATER AT ANY POINT. I HAD MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG NEPHEWS WITH US AS WELL. I CHECKED THE LIGHTS AGAIN TO MAKE SURE WHAT ONES WERE OUT, I CHECKED THE FUSES AS WELL TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD BLOWN AND THEY WERE OKAY.THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND OTHER WEBSITES ABOUT THE SUBARU LIGHTS. WITH ALL THE RECALLS OF EVERY VEHICLES OF EVERY 'DESCRIPTION, THE WHOLE AUTO INDUSTRY IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND NEEDS TO BE REIGNED IN, IT'S A HUGE SAFETY AND OVERALL QUALITY ISSUE NOT TO MENTION THE MILLIONS OF WORK HOURS AND TIME LOST BY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

10747854

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

THE FRONT (WINDSHIELD) WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. IN THE OFF POSITION, THEY RUN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THAT EQUATES THE SECOND HIGHEST SPEED POSSIBLE. THE WIPERS RUNNING ON A DRY DAY, A DRY WINDSHIELD IS A CONSIDERABLE DISTRACTION. IT IS BEING REPORTED WITH MANY OWNERS ONLINE.

NHTSA ID

10731881

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

Mileage

47,850 mi

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BACK UP CAMERA DEFECT AND REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK-UP CAMERA WAS NOT CENTERED PROPERLY, THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT RETRACT FULLY. THEREFORE, CAUSING IT TO GET STUCK IN THE CLOSING DOOR AND THE HEAT REGISTER AT THE DRIVERS FOOT SEEMED TO BE PARTIALLY BLOCKED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE REASON WHY THE CAMERA WAS NOT CENTERED, WAS BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN HIT, AND IT WOULD COST $99.00 TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA ID

10556703

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

MY WIFE LEFT THE HOUSE AND SMELLED SMOKE. SHE PULLED OVER AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER FLAMES STARTED SHOOTING OUT OF THE HOOD. SHE GOT OUR DAUGHTER OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911. AS THE POLICE ARRIVED, ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE AND SAID THE WIPER MOTOR OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. MY WIFE WAS QUITE UPSET AT THE THOUGHT OUR LITTLE GIRL COULD OF BURNED IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10444466

Incident

Jan 18, 2012

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V467000 (VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW WEEKS BECAUSE THE NECESSARY PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION BECAUSE THE RECALL NOTICE INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE HER VEHICLE BACK ON THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,483.

NHTSA ID

10434232

Incident

Oct 31, 2011

Mileage

11,483 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS TOO LOW FOR HIM TO SEE THROUGH BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED HE WAS ON HIS OWN WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE ANY MODIFICATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID

10432720

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

Mileage

13,000 mi

ON MANUAL AIR CONDITIONING MODELS WITH FULL MAXIMUM SETTINGS THE SYSTEM OPERATES TO FULL CAPACITY, 39-41 DEGREES F.; HOWEVER, AFTER 10 MINUTES OF OPERATION WITHOUT MAXIMUM SETTING CHANGED THE OUTPUT TEMPERATURE IS REDUCED TO 50-53 DEGREES F. DEALER SERVICED, INDICATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL. THE INTERNAL CABIN TEMPERATURE AFTER ONE HOUR OF OPERATION WILL ONLY ACHIEVE 82 F. WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS 92-94 DEGREE F. WITH MAXIMUM SETTING; AS WELL AS, INTERNAL AIR CIRCULATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426766

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

Mileage

1,800 mi