2005 SUBARU OUTBACK Complaints

2005 SUBARU OUTBACK TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE SHUT OFF. NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR AND POLICE/FIRE DEPT DETERMINED ARSON UNLIKELY. *NM

THE ABS ON MY 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED IS TOO SENSITIVE. IT IS DANGEROUS DRIVING IN THE SNOW BECAUSE THE ABS KICKS IN TOO EASILY AND IT TAKES WAY TOO LONG TO STOP. I HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN NEW TIRES WITH AN EXCELLENT RATING AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. BUMPS IN THE ROAD ALSO SET OFF THE ABS TOO EASILY LEADING TO SCARY SITUATIONS. I DRIVE OTHER VEHICLES WITH ABS AND THIS DOES NOT OCCUR. I AM NOT CONFIDENT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IN THE SNOW, WHICH IS IRONIC BECAUSE IT IS AN AWD SUBARU (WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT REPUTATION). ABS IS SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT THE DRIVER, NOT HELP CREATE A COLLISION. *NM

CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN THE 2005 OUTBACK. *TS THE CONSUMER WANTED A FEDERAL EMISSIONS EQUIPPED VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED BEFORE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT IT HAD A MANDATED CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS SYSTEM, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DECREASE OF POWER. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED SPECIAL FUEL WHICH MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN THE STATES WHERE HE NEEDS TO DRIVE. *JB UPDATED 04/11/06.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 35 WE ENCOUNTERED PATCHY ICE ON THE ROAD SURFACE. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WITH CONSTANT SPEED (60 MPH, 10 MPH BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT), ON STRAIGHT STRECHES OF ROAD, THE REAR END OF OUR 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK AWD WOULD SKID SUDDENLY. THE SKIDS WOULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND WERE LARGE ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME BODY ROLL. IN ALL CASES THE CAR RECOVERED WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. WHEN THE AWD SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED PER THE SUBARU MANUAL NO SUCH SKIDS OCCURED ON THE SAME TRIP IN IDENTICAL SITUATIONS. I HAVE DRIVEN IN MINNESOTA FOR OVER 20 YEARS IN REAR WHEEL, FRONT WHEEL, AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN SKIDDING IN STEADY STATE CONDIDITONS. THE OUTBACK WAS TAKEN TO OUR LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THE AWD SYSTEM WAS CHECKED WITH NO FAULTS FOUND. AN INTERNET SEARCH INDICATED THAT THE COMBINATIION OF BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92 225/60R 16 TIRES (STANDARD FROM THE FACTORY) AND THE AWD OF THE SUBARU MAY BE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. AS STATED EARLIER, WITH THE AWD SYSTEM DEACITVATED AND THE CAR IN FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, NO SKIDS WERE EXPERIENCED. WE HAVE THE SAME TIRE ON OUR 2004 HONDA CIVIC AND HAVE HAD NO WINTER ISSUES WITH IT.

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A BAD ACCIDENT WHEN A DRIVER DECIDED TO DO A U-TURN INTO HER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER DID NOT SEE IN SIDE MIRROR BECAUSE SHE WAS IN A "BLIND SPOT. *AK MOST EUROPEAN AUTOS HAVE A SPLIT DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR, SO THAT THERE IS "NO BLIND SPOT". THE SPLIT IS VERTICAL ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE WAY IN FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE MIRROR. MY CONTENTION IS THAT IF THE DRIVER HAD HAD SUCH A MIRROR, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENT.

I PURCHASED MY 05 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK IN SEPTEMBER 04. THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT IN OCTOBER 05 AND I HAD A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACE IT WITH THE RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT BULB. I NOTICED THAT NOW THE RIGHT LOW BEAM IS MORE ANGLED DOWN THAN PREVIOUSLY, MAKING VISIBILITY AT NIGHT MORE LIMITED THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE REPLACEMENT. IN DECEMBER 05 THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ALSO EXPIRED AND MY FATHER AND I REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME COMPATIBLE PART. I NOTICED THAT NIGHT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOW BEAM WAS NOW ONLY ILLUMINATING ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR (LESS THAN THE RIGHT LOW BEAM NOW) AND SO I HAD TO CRANE FORWARD OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE THE PART OF THE ROAD THAT WAS ILLUMINATED. MY DAD AND I ADJUSTED THEM AS MUCH AS WE COULD BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH TO ADJUST. NOW, WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT I'M MOSTLY RELYING ON STREET LIGHTS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD RATHER THAN MY LOW BEAMS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T SHOW YOU ANYTHING OF THE ROAD MORE THAN 10-20 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU (FORTUNATELY I LIVE IN THE CITY SO IT'S PRETTY WELL ILLUMINATED AT NIGHT). THE ONLY WAY TO SEE THE ROAD SAFELY IF I'M IN A POORLY LIT AREA IS WITH THE HIGH BEAMS NOW AND JUDGING FROM OTHER POSTED COMPLAINTS THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THE DEALER CAN DO TO ADJUST THEM. *NM

WE OWN A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LLBEAN WAGON WITH PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR USUALLY, BUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS I DROVE IT QUITE A BIT ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. I NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE BLACK LINE RUNNING HORIZONTALLY WITH THE VEHICLE AT 180 DEGREES THAT ALSO RUNS ACROSS THE HORIZON OF THE ROAD SIMILAR TO WHAT AN OLD PROJECTOR DOES ON A WHITE SCREEN. (CREATES A BOX OF LIGHT FOR THE IMAGE. BUT OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARY OF THE PROJECTOR THERE IS NO IMAGE OR LIGHT. WHEN DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL ROAD THE PROJECTOR LIGHTS EXTEND OUT LET'S SAY 250 YARDS +/-. BUT WHEN THE ROAD UNDULATES THE HEADLIGHT PROJECTION OF THE ROAD AHEAD IS CUT OFF! IT'S LIKE SOMETHING SHUTS OFF THE PROJECTED LIGHT AHEAD AND THE ROAD BECOMES SEVERELY DARKENED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TURN ON MY HIGHBEAMS THE ENTIRE ROAD FRONT AND SIDES ARE ADEQUATELY LIT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A PENITENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE DRIVING IN FOG, HEAVY RAIN, OR SNOW. HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE CONDITION IF YOUR FORWARD LIGHT IS ESSENTIALLY CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION OF THE PROJECTOR DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT? I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ACCORDING TO PERSON I SPOKE TO. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH MY CONCERNS. APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO THE SUBARU MECHANIC I SPOKE TO TODAY, OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRIBECA WHICH HAS THE SAME HEADLIGHT SET UP. SINCERELY, AP GULLA. *NM

WE OWN A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LLBEAN WAGON WITH PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS. MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR USUALLY, BUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS I DROVE IT QUITE A BIT ESPECAILLY AT NIGHT. I NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE BLACK LINE RUNNING HORIZONTALLY WITH THE VEHICLE AT 180 DEGREES THAT ALSO RUNS ACROSS THE HORIZON OF THE ROAD SIMILAR TO WHAT AN OLD PROJECTOR DOES ON A WHITE SCREEN. (CREATES A BOX OF LIGHT FOR THE IMAGE. BUT OUTSIDE THE BOUNDRY OF THE PROJECTOR THERE IS NO IMAGE OR LIGHT. WHEN DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL ROAD THE PROJECTOR LIGHTS EXTEND OUT LET'S SAY 250 YARDS +/-. BUT WHEN THE ROAD UNDULATES THE HEADLIGHT PROJCETION OF THE ROAD AHEAD IS CUT OFF! IT'S LIKE SOMETHING SHUTS OFF THE PROJECTED LIGHT AHEAD AND THE ROAD BECOMES SEVERLY DARKENED. HOWEVER, WHEN I TURN ON MY HIGHBEAMS THE ENTIRE ROAD FRONT AND SIDES ARE ADEQUATELY LIT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A PONTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF SOMEONE DRIVING IN FOG, HEAVY RAIN, OR SNOW. HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN A SAFE CONDITION IF YOUR FORWARD LIGHT IS ESENTIALLY CUT OFF BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION OF THE PROJCETOR DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT? I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN TO SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ACCORDING TO PERSON I SPOKE TO. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD WITH MY CONCERNS. APPARANTLY ACCORDING TO THE SUBRU MECHANIC I SPOKE TO TODAY, OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2006 TRIBECA WHICH HAS THE SAME HEADLIGHT SET UP. SINCERELY, AP GULLA. *NM

DT: WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT ARE ON THE TAILLIGHT ARE OFF. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND AS A RESULT THE CONSUEMR DID NOT REMEMBER TO TURN LIGHTS ON WHEN IT WAS DUSK OUTSIDE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO BE REAR ENDED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUEMR FEELS THAT HTIS MAY BE A SAFTEY ISSUE THEREFORE CONTACTED TEH MANUFACTURER. *AK IPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

EVERY TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED WHILE GOING DOWNHILL THE THROTTLE BEGINS TO RAPIDLY AND WILDLY ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE AS IF IT IS OUT OF CONTROL. IT STOPS WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. VERY UNNERVING. *JB