2005 SUBARU OUTBACK Complaints

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

MY WIFE AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE DANGEROUSLY DIM, BARELY LIGHTING UP THE ROAD. BOTH THE FOG LAMPS AND ALSO THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WELL, BUT THE LOW BEAM LIGHT (WHICH IS PRODUCED FROM A DIFFERENT BULB THAN THE HIGH BEAM) IS VERY INADEQUATE. I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH HIGHER INTENSITY BULBS. THIS OFFERED LITTLE IF ANY INCREASE IN LIGHTING. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED TO ASSURE THE PROPER VOLTAGE IS BEING SUPPLIED. GOOGLEING THIS PROBLEM HAS TOLD ME I'M NOT ALONE. OTHER SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME ISSUE. HERE'S WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED AND DETERMINED TO BE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN INNER REFLECTIVE CAVITY IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS HOUSED. THE REFLECTION PROCESS WITHIN THIS HOUSING MAGNIFIES THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULB. THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF A REFLECTIVE PRISM INSIDE A LIGHTHOUSE. IN THE CASE OF OUR SUBARU, THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT BULB HOUSING HAS EITHER WORN AWAY OR BECOME CLOUDED TO THE DEGREE THAT THE LIGHT PRODUCED BY THE BULBS NO LONGER REFLECTS ADEQUATELY TO PRODUCE A BRIGHT LIGHT. THESE HEADLIGHTS NEED TO EITHER BE REPLACED OR PERHAPS SOMEHOW REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE, OPENED UP AND THEN REPAIRED. IN EITHER CASE THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO THE DEGREE IN WHICH MOST CONSUMERS WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO INCUR THE COST, THEREBY CONTINUING TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH UNSATISFACTORY HEADLIGHTS. MY QUESTIONS: IS THIS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE? IF SO, IS IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY CORRECTIONS? I'D BE GRATEFUL FOR ANY HELP OR SUGGESTIONS YOU CAN OFFER TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT OTHER SUBARU OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

MY SUBARU (AND OTHERS '05-'09) HAVE SERIOUS COMPUTER ISSUES CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I GOT THE CAR SPECIAL EDITION OF CONSUMER REPORTS AND THE ARTICLE BELOW IS NO JOKE. SUBARU OUTBACK '05-'09 HAVE GOTTEN TERRIBLE REVIEWS FOR THE FOLLOWING: MAJOR ENGINE ISSUE AND DRIVE ISSUES AND MORE. THE DEALER AND HEADQUARTERS WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE A SERIOUS NEED FOR A RECALL. WHEN DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY, THE CAR WILL STALL OUT THE NEXT DAY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CAR RAN BUT THEN STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD EVENTUALLY AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $200 FOR DIAGNOSIS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE I NEED TO GET A NEW BATTERY ($225 AT SUBARU WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD AND $119 AT FIRESTONE), HOWEVER, FIRESTONE DOES NOT HAVE THE MEMORY STICK SUBARU DOES AND I RUN A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC AFTER THE WORK IS DONE AT A NON SUBARU DEALERSHIP. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR HEADQUARTERS WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ARTICLE THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS TOO. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD HERE IS AN ARTICLE WHICH DESCRIBES EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED AND SUBARU MUST BE WAITING FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. I AM NOT WILLING TO PUT MY LIFE ON THE LINE ANYMORE BY DRIVING THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE. THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON. HTTP://WWW.COMPUTERWORLD.COM/ARTICLE/2467230/ENTERPRISE-APPLICATIONS/PLEASE-DON-T-REBOOT-THE-SUBARU.HTML SUBARU HQ LOST THE EMAIL TWICE AND I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. AUSTIN SUBARU AND SUBARU HEADQUARTERS ACTED LIKE THEY REMEDIED THE SITUATION BY CLEANING A DIFFERENT PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, WHICH REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR BOLT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

WIRES PASSING THROUGH REAR HATCH TO REAR LIFT GATE CRACK AND BREAK FROM OPENING AND CLOSING. REAR LIFT GATE LOCK NOT WORKING, WIRE IS BROKEN IN TWO. WIRES FOR REAR LIGHTS ARE CRACKING AND ABOUT TO SEVER AS WELL. *TR

STRONG RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN AND AROUND ENGINE, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE CABIN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO BELOW 60 DEGREES (F). *TR

JUST AFTER GETTING OFF I-43 NEAR SHEBOYGAN ON FRONTAGE ROAD MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND NO ACCELERATION ON GAS PEDAL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND PULL OVER TO A SHOULDER. TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE I CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. STARTED THE CAR JUST FINE BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND CRUISE WAS BLINKING. SUBARU MECHANIC READ ERROR CODE P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH 'D'/'E' VOLTAGE RATIONALITY. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY BAD CONTACTS ON TPS SENSOR BY THE GAS PEDAL. HE RESET THE CODE AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AGAIN FOR ALMOST A WEEK. I AM AFRAID OF IT GOING OFF AGAIN WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE SUBARU TAKES ACTION ON THIS. *TR

SUBARU OUTBACK 2005: THE WIRE HARNESS TO THE REAR TAILGATE FAILED AND SHORTED OUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND REVERSE LIGHTS, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT AND MY OUTBACK ACTED AS THOUGH I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE MORE I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE LESS IT RESPONDED. IF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HADN'T NOTICED, THEY WOULD HAVE HIT ME. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT IF OFF FOR AWHILE, IT STARTED BUT DIDN'T RUN CORRECTLY. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER AND THEY HAULED IT 90 MILES TO THEIR SHOP. THE REPLACED THE FOOT PEDAL SENSOR AND IT WORKED OK UNTIL THE LAST 2 WEEKS AND IT IS ACTING LIKE IT DID 2 YEARS AGO. AS I VISIT WITH OTHER OWNERS, THEY SAY THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE BUT DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS ATTENTION AND A PERMANENT FIX FOR A SOLUTION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT DO TO THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. *TR

ON DECEMBER 18, 2014 THE DAY WAS CLEAR; THERE HAD BEEN NO RAIN OR SNOW THAT WEEK. THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. AT THE POINT OF THE ISSUE I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THUS HAD USED MY BRAKES AT AN AVERAGE OF 12-18 TIMES SINCE I HAD LEFT THE HOUSE THAT MORNING. TRAFFIC WAS MAYBE MOVING AT 20-25 MILES AN HOUR, STOP AND GO. AT ONE POINT I WENT TO APPLY MY BRAKES AT A NORMAL PRESSURE AND THEY STARTED TO PULSE IN THE 'ANTI-LOCK' FASHION. THE PULSES WERE EXCEPTIONALLY LONG, BETWEEN BRAKING (PULSING), NOTHING LIKE I HAD EVER EXPERIENCE BEFORE WITH THIS CAR OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER I KEPT MY FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE AND DID NOT TRY TO PULSE IT MYSELF. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED IT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD ABOUT 1 AND + CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN US, AGAIN ONLY ROLLING AND ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT GET THE CAR STOPPED. THE COLLISION WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAG ON EITHER CARS. THE 2012 FORD ESCAPE IN FRONT HAD NEARLY NO DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER, HOWEVER DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE FORD'S BUMPER TO MY GRILL, MY REPAIRS WERE $5,534.67. MY FEAR IS IT HAPPENING AGAIN. DUE TO THE MAKE OF THE CAR MY INSURANCE COMPANY CAN'T ACCESS THE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. THUS THEY WILL NOT BE PART OF MY COMPLAINT THAT I HAVE FILED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA, FILED 3/24/14. I DONE RESEARCH ON THE SUBRAU'S ABS SYSTEM. I FOUND THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISCONECTING THEIR ABS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. INCLUDING FINDING YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO DO IT. THE ISSUE IS OBVIOUS IF THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFER WITH THAN THE SUBARU FACTORY ABS SYSTEM. SUBARU'S CLAIM DEPARTMENT HAS NO INTEREST IN INVESTIGATING IT WITHOUT MY INSURANCE BEING PART OF THE CLAIM, EVEN THOUGHT I AM A CUSTOMER OF THEIR PRODUCT THAT IS DEFECTIVE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A CUSTOMERS CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. WHO WILL HANDLE MY CLAIM IF THE NEXT INCIDENT I AM SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE YET? *TR