2013 SUBARU OUTBACK Complaints

I WAS TRAVELING WEST BOUND IN THE FURTHEST RIGHT HAND LANE AT APPROXIMATELY 45-MPH ON LOS ANGELES AVE. ON 10/31/13 IN MOORPARK, CA AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY MORNING. A FULL-SIZE FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK FAILED TO YIELD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE ADJACENT SHOPPING CENTER. HE WAS TURNING LEFT OUT OF A MEDIAN DIVIDER IN THE CENTER OF A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY. THERE IS NO MARKED SIGNS OR LIGHTS TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THERE, BUT YOU MUST YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON LA AVE. FROM THE BROKEN YELLOW LINED CENTER DIVIDER. I HIT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SPIN AROUND WITH THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS SIGNIFICANT, THE WHOLE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, AND THE CRASH WAS ESSENTIALLY HEAD-ON. I SUFFERED A ACUTE CERVICAL STRAIN, AND I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE DAY AFTER WITH PAIN. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING FURTHER TESTING TO SEE THE SEVERITY OF MY INJURIES. MY TWO-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN HER BRITAX CAR SEAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT, AND LUCKILY SHE WAS UNHARMED IN THE INCIDENT. I AM VERY SHOCKED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

THE NEW OUTBACK IS EXHIBITING LANE WANDERING AS OTHERS DESCRIBED IN GOOD DETAIL. OTHER VEHICLES I'VE DRIVEN GO IN A (MORE-OR-LESS) STRAIGHT LINE WITH MINIMAL EFFORT AND MINIMAL CORRECTIONS. THE OB IS ALL OVER THE ROAD, ABLE TO STAY IN THE LANE WITH A LOT OF EFFORT AND CORRECTION. THERE IS A BIG FLAW IN THE STEERING (MAYBE NOT ALL BUT A LOT OF THEM) AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IS IT GOING TO TAKE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND/OR A DEATH BEFORE NHTSA AND SUBARU TAKES A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND AFTER BEING RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT NO EXPENSE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,088.

I HAVE OWNED OVER 20+ CARS RANGING FROM 4RUNNERS, S2000, TO LANCER EVO. MY 2013 OUTBACK IS BY FAR THE HARDEST CAR TO STEER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WANDERS TO BOTH DIRECTIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ITS DIFFICULT TO CORRECT IT BACK TO CENTER. SOME OWNERS HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF DRIVING DRUNK IN A OUTBACK, SUBARU NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE LOOSING YOUR MOST LOYAL OWNERS! MANY 2012 2013 OUTBACK OWNERS HAVE BEEN CALLING THIS ISSUE STIFF, HEAVY, HARD, NOT RETURN TO CENTER STEERING. HERE ARE MY OBSERVATIONS AFTER SOME RESEARCH: -2013+ NEW FB25 ENGINE 2ND GEN CVT RETURNED SUSPENSION -I ALSO OWN A 2014 FORESTER WITH ELECTRIC STEERING (DRIVES NORMAL), OUTBACK HAS HYDRAULIC STEERING -I TEST DROVE COUPLE OTHER 2013 OUTBACK 2.5I SAME FIRM STEERING -I TEST DROVE A 2013 OUTBACK 3.6R (STEERING FEELS NORMAL MUCH SOFTER) -CHECK STEERING EFFORT SHOULD NOT HAVE MORE THAN 6.6 LB (MEASURED WITH SCALE) -SOME OWNERS HAD SUCCESS READJUSTING THEIR GEARBOX BACKLASH TO LESS THAN 3 LBS GO TO: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/104-GEN-4-2010-PRESENT/31638-OB-LANE-WANDERING-122.HTML -ON PAGE 114 THERE ARE 3 PICTURE ATTACHMENTS POSTED BY J DELMAN -STEERING COLUMN RECALL FOR 2013 LEGACY/OUTBACKS MANUFACTURED FROM 2012 FEB15-JUN15 (I DON'T THINK THIS WILL FIX THE WANDERING ISSUE) *TR

I HAVE HAD 2 INCIDENTS SINCE BUYING NEW OUTBACK IN APRIL 2013. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT FROM BRAKE TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR REVVED UP AND LUNGED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOW I FEEL THAT I CANNOT TRUST THE CAR WHENEVER I COME TO A STOP. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALER ABOUT THIS 2ND INCIDENT, SINCE AFTER 1ST TIME THEY TESTED AND SAID "CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM"...... HOWEVER, AFTER READING ANOTHER COMPLAINT IT COULD BE A MALFUNCTION BETWEEN ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NEW CVT TRANSMISSION!!! ALSO, SOMETIMES I FEEL THE CAR IS MAINTAINING A SPEED WITHOUT ANY ACCELERATION (LIKE ON CRUISE CONTROL). *TR

2013 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R W/SAP I AM EXPERIENCING A HEAVY STEERING ISSUE. WHERE THE RETURN TO CENTER DOES NOT HAPPEN UNLESS I MANUALLY STEER IT BACK TO CENTER. STEERING IS SO HEAVY THAT AFTER 3000 MILES. (PURCHASED IN JUNE 2013), BOTH OF MY WRISTS ARE IN PAIN, MY RIGHT ELBOW IS IN PAIN, AND MY RIGHT HAND FEELS LIKE IT HAS CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. CONSTANT CORRECTIONS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP TRACKING STRAIGHT. I INCREASED TIRE PSI TO 34/32, AND IT HELPED A LITTLE, BUT STEERING STILL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER. HERE ARE 2 LINKS TO SIMILAR ISSUES: HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/104-GEN-4-2010-PRESENT/73034-NEED-RETURN-CENTER-TEST-2013-OUTBACK.HTML HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/104-GEN-4-2010-PRESENT/31638-OB-LANE-WANDERING.HTML *JS

2013 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. WHEN DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AFTER LETTING THE ACCELERATOR UP AND SLOWING DOWN TO IDLE SPEED, THE PEDAL WAS THEN DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN STALL. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, BUT GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. THE DEALER TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM AWAY, BY SAYING THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NEW TRANSMISSION HAD TO WORK TOGETHER IN TANDEM AND THAT SOME DELAY WAS NORMAL. UPDATED 10/17/13 UPDATED 10/30/13 THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLING OCCURRED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED WHILE COASTING AT IDLE. IT HAPPENED FOR ONE TO TWO SECONDS ALMOST EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/25/14

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE NOR WAS THERE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM. DUE TO THE NEW DESIGN OF SEATS AND HEAD RESTRAINT I AM NOW IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEAD AND NECK PAIN. STARTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT MY NEW CAR. HAD DOCTOR APPT, HEAD SCAN AND NOW PHYSICAL THERAPY. I BELIEVE THE SCOOPED SEATS DO NOT ALLOW FOR AN IMPERFECT SHAPE. MY RIGHT LEG IS NOW LEGGED AND I SIT AT A TURN I. THE SEAT WHICH PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY SPINE IN THE OVER SHAPED SEAT. MOSTLY THE NEW HEAD RESTRAINT IN RELATION TO THE SHOULDER POSITION OF THE SEAT PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY NECK. I AM TAKING IBUPROFEN EVERYDAY AND THE PAIN IS A REAL DISTRACTION TO MY WORK AND DAILY LIFE. I PROVIDE ANESTHESIA FULL TIME AND NEED TO BE AT MY BEST FOR THIS LINE OF WORK RATHER THAN IN PHYSICAL THERAPY. THIS ALSO COSTS MONEY AND TAKES AWAY FROM ENJOYING MY LIFE. FOR A FEW MONTHS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AN OLDER CAR 80% OF THE TIME AND FOUND THE ACHING WENT AWAY. I ONLY DRIVE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO WORK. *TR

YOUR MANDATE FOR THE USE OF TPMS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT GOOD INTENTIONS RESULTING IN LITTLE BENEFIT AND UNNECESSARY COST TO CONSUMERS. I WANT TO RUN WINTER TIRES ON OUR SUBARU AND PLANNED TO PURCHASE THE TIRES ON WHEELS EQUIPPED WITH TPMS SENSORS. HOWEVER, THE ONLY WAY TO RE-SET THE SENSORS IS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALER AND PAY $90 IN THE FALL WHEN THE WINTER SET GOES ON AND TO PAY ANOTHER $90 IN THE SPRING WHEN THE ALL-SEASON TIRE GO BACK ON THE CAR. THE WINTER TIRES ARE EXPECTED TO ADD A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN OF SAFETY IN SNOW/ICE CONDITIONS. THE ANNUAL COST OF RE-SETTING THE TPMS SENSOR WILL LIKELY KEEP ME FROM RUNNING WINTER TIRES. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A TPMS SYSTEM THAT CANNOT BE EASILY RE-SET BY THE VEHICLE OWNER? *JB

STEERING ISSUE. THE CAR WANDERS, LEFT AND RIGHT. AT FREEWAY SPEED YOU MUST HOLD ON WITH BOTH HANDS AND MAKE CONSTANT CORRECTIONS. THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT EVERYTHING IN THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION WAS TIGHT, BUT THIS DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR NOW WITH NO CHANGE, EXCEPT I'VE LEARNED HOW TO CONTROL IT BETTER. I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AND GAVE THESE TO THE DEALER. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE JUST TWICE, AND HAVE HAD THEM LOOK AT THE ISSUE BOTH TIMES. I WAS HOPING THERE WOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX WHATEVER THE UNDERLYING ISSUE IS. THIS IS MY SECOND OUTBACK (PREVIOUS WAS A 2005) AND MY THIRD SUBARU (I ALSO HAVE A 2009 IMPREZA). *TR