1996 Subaru Outback

46 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.

1. Filed Apr 5, 2014Failure Dec 23, 2013258,000 milesHudson, WIService brakes

   WHENEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS, THE CHECK VALVE IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WILL FREEZE IN PLACE AND RESULTS IN NO POWER ASSIST BRAKING. THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD BE NORMAL AS THERE WAS RESIDUAL VACUUM IN THE BOOSTER. ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL. MULTIPLE PUMPS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BREAK LOOSE THE CHECK VALVE AND RESTORE NORMAL BRAKING. THIS CAR WAS NEW TO ME IN 2013 AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WENT THROUGH STOP SIGNS NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER ASSIST BRAKES. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT- BEFORE PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR, I WOULD TEST THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LEAST THREE TIMES. WHEN THE CHECK VALVE IS FROZEN, I WOULD FEEL NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE THE FIRST TIME THEN THE PEDAL WOULD GO HARD THE SECOND TIME. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL I FELT THE CHECK VALVE BREAK FREE AND NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESTORED. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10577563
2. Filed Feb 21, 2014Failure Feb 5, 201487,696 milesLincolnshire, ILPower train, Service brakes, BodyCrash1 injured

   RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4-6" SNOW ACCUMULATION ON NEGLECTFULLY MAINTAINED [UNCLOSED/FEMA/IEMA] EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM (TO WIT: IL TOLLWAY: SB I-294 @ MPH 39.5). CDL'D OWNER/OPERATOR SUFFERING EFFECTS PTSD + RIGHT SIDE BFT/HARD-IMPACT ORTHOPEDIC JOINT/RELATED INJURIES. IL STATE POLICE DIST. #15 STAR #6274 CONTRIBUTED TO CAUSE VIA IMPROPER LANE USAGE (+/-20MPH/#2LN {VS. #4/5} W/4WAY HAZARDS ON/DUTY E-LIGHTS OFF/OBSCURED) IN VIRTUALLY UNRECOGNIZABLE SNOW-COVERED (INCL. GREENHOUSE) MARKED DUTY VEHICLE,+ FAILURE TO STOP/CITE SEMI-TRUCK (LIKE SPEED) IN #1LN. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10565279
3. Filed Feb 21, 2014Failure Feb 5, 201487,696 milesLincolnshire, ILPower train, Service brakes, BodyCrash1 injured

   RECENTLY PURCHASED (1/17/14) VEHICLE A CATASTROPHIC LOSS AFTER PAX SIDE T-BONE @ A/B PILLAR SUBSEQUENT TO HILL HOLDER SELF-ACTIVATION CAUSED UNRECOVERABLE YAWED SLIDE/SKID (TO A NON-INPUTTED STOP FROM 40-0MPH IN +/- .25MI.) DURING BRAKE/DOWNSHIFT CONTROL INPUT ON (ISTHA FOIA FILE)% UPHILL GRADE IN 4-6" SNOW ACCUMULATION ON NEGLECTFULLY MAINTAINED EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM (TO WIT: IL TOLLWAY: SB I-294 @ MPH 39.5). CDL'D OWNER/OPERATOR SUFFERING EFFECTS PTSD + RIGHT SIDE BFT/HARD-IMPACT ORTHOPEDIC JOINT/RELATED INJURIES. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10565276
4. Filed Jan 14, 2010Failure Jan 6, 2010100,000 milesMystic, CTEngine and engine cooling

   WHILE DRIVING VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO "H". I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SOME STEAM UNDER HOOD. ADDED SOME WATER. A LITTLE LATER, STILL ON "H". MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE I GOT IT IN 1998 SAID IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, COMMON WITH SUBARUS. IN 2009 I HAD THE 90K MILE MAINTENANCE DONE, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO FOUR NEW TIRES AND LAST MONTH, A NEW BATTERY. ALSO, LAST MONTH, HAD OIL CHANGE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED EVEN ONE RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THEIR HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING IN THEIR CARS. I WANTED MY OUTBACK TO LAST MANY MORE YEARS BUT NOW MUST JUNK IT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC SAID IT'S USELESS TO FIX HEAD GASKET OR REPLACE IT, AND TOLD ME TO GET A NEW CAR, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. MECHANIC PUT CHEMICAL IN LINE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SEAL ANY LEAKS (NO GUARANTEES). I OFTEN VISIT MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS RECUPERATING FROM BREAST CANCER, IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF CT, IN A VERY SECLUDED AREA OF FEW HOMES, NO BUSINESSES. TO HAVE CAR FAILURE IN THE WOODS WOULD PROBABLY GIVE THIS 70 YEAR OLD A HEART ATTACK. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10299746
5. Filed Oct 26, 2009Failure Oct 23, 2009166,000 milesWest Milton, OHEngine

   CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. SUSPECT HEADGASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT . (POTENTIAL FOR CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY STALL ON INTERSTATE) UPON INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES SUFFER FROM SAME CONDITION (1995-1999). HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~SKIPNOSPAM/. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10289921
6. Filed Jan 22, 2009Failure Dec 15, 2008186,000 milesBloomery, WVVehicle speed control

   TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, IT SPED OFF ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AS WELL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO TALL GRASS; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RESPOND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL. SHE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10255943
7. Filed Apr 28, 2008Failure Apr 16, 2008161,423 milesOAK Grove, MNEngine

   1. JUST BOUGHT FROM DEALER. GOING TO GET GAS. 2. OVERHEATING. AUTO MECHANIC SAID OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. HEAD GASKET. 3. REPAIRED HEAD GASKET ETC. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10225852
8. Filed Jun 1, 2006Failure Jun 1, 2006169,000 milesConway, MACoil springs

   ACCORDING TO SUBARU IN NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-216, THE PROTECTIVE PAINT WAS APPLIED INCORRECTLY TO '96 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK SPRINGS WHICH LEADS THEM TO RUST AND BREAK. SUBARU WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS. BOTH OF MY FRONT SPRINGS BROKE, ONE OF MY REAR SPRINGS BROKE, AND THE OTHER REAR SPRING IS CRACKED AND BREAKING. WHEN THE REAR SPRINGS BREAK THERE IS THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN THE FRONT SPRINGS BREAK, THAT BEING THAT THE CAR MAY BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH COULD BE FATAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE PROMPT SUBARU TO RECALL THE REAR SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE FRONT TO MITIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10158744
9. Filed Dec 13, 2005Failure Oct 25, 2005185,000 milesWasilla, AKEngine and engine cooling

   CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT RADIATOR TEMP WAS HIGH. TOOK CAR INTO REPAIR SHOP, CRACKED HEAD GASKET. CALLED SUBARU, THEY OFFERED NO HELP OR ADVICE. COST TO REPAIR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS TO ME, A COLLEGE STUDENT. SUBARU DEALER SAID CRACKED HEAD GASKET IS A PROBLEM IN SUBARUS. I WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I KNEW IT WOULD HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. PART TO BE REPLACED IS HEAD GASKET. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10145111
10. Filed Aug 22, 2005Failure Aug 19, 2005135,906 milesNorth Berwick, MEFuel system, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

    DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK FILLER GUARD AND PIPE. THE GUARD RUSTED FROM DEBRIS OVER THE YEARS, AND DIRT AND DEBRIS WERE GETTING UNDERNEATH THE GUARD. THE RESULT WAS RUSTING AND LEAKING GAS FROM THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK WAS NOTICED LEAKING LAST WEEK. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, HAS E-MAILED AND CONTACTED SUBARU VIA PHONE. THEY SEEMED NOT INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS OLD. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10133703
11. Filed Jul 19, 2005Failure Jul 19, 2005903,086 milesPatterson, NJFuel system, Fuel injection system

    DT: 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FUEL INJECTION .SYSTEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED, THE SPEED ODOMETER WAS 60 MPH WHEN GOING 40 MPH. SOMETIMES IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HE WOULD NOT WORK ON THIS CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE, AND HE WOULD NOT LISTEN . THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE ROAD SIDE NOW AND IT WILL NOT RUN. THE CAR VIBRATED WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR TODAY. AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND TODAY THE CAR JUST DIED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10129375
12. Filed Mar 22, 2005Failure Mar 22, 2005Castle Rock, COAir bagsCrash

    WHILE SITTING AT A INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE THE AIR BAGS WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10115555
13. Filed Mar 10, 2005Failure Jan 1, 200480,000 milesInterlachen, FLHeadlights

    A PERMANENT HAZING OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS CAUSED SAFE NIGHT DRIVING ILLUMINATION TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10113879
14. Filed Dec 6, 2004Failure Dec 5, 200497,600 milesUtica, NYEngine

    CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. POKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULT, AND PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK DOWN. HELD SPEED OF VEHICLE DOWN WITH BOTH FEET HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NEAR NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC TO 1 MIN, ALTHOUGH VEHICLE COULD MAINTAIN 30-40 MPH WHEN NOT TOUCHING EITHER ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. RETURNED TO FULLY NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. IN THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN WHEN DID START RACED TO EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. POKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, BUT TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND ALL DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS WERE NEGATIVE. PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10102225
15. Filed Nov 18, 2004Failure Nov 17, 2004Marquette, MIAutomatic transmission

    I DRIVE A 1996 OUTBACK WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE READ ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSMISSIONS BINDING IN TURNS, WHICH IS WHAT I'M EXPEREINCING NOW. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF IT GETS TOO BAD, IT MAY BREAK AN AXLE OR SOMETHING. IF IT IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM/MISTAKE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A RECALL.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10100137
16. Filed Jan 15, 2004Failure Feb 15, 2003115,000 milesEagle Mountain, UTExhaust system, Engine and engine cooling

    BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800

    NHTSA complaint 10069547
17. Filed Apr 27, 2003Failure Feb 24, 2003115,000 milesEagle Mountain, UTEngine

    BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING WITH TWO CHILDREN. BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD WITH ONE YEAR OLD AND TWO YEAR OLD. THE CAR,A 1996 OUTBACK ONLY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT. REAL LOW FOR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *NLM

    NHTSA complaint 10016569
18. Filed Apr 7, 2003Failure Apr 1, 2003Louisville, KYTread/belt

    COMPLETE SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BODY AND SIDEWALL OF RIGHT FRONT MICHELIN HARMONY TIRE. TIRES IN SERVICE FOR THREE MONTHS ON A SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10014056
19. Filed Sep 24, 2002Failure Sep 1, 2002Wyoming, PAWheels

    CONSUMER STATES WHEELS ARE OXDIZING/CORRODING AND AIR IS LEAKING IN ALL TIRES. CHECKED BY DEALER WHO OXIDIZED THE TIRES.*JB

    NHTSA complaint 8019292
20. Filed Jun 18, 2002Grand Valley, PAWheel bearing

    ON SEVRAL OCCASIONS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY. BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT

    NHTSA complaint 566110