1997 SUBARU OUTBACK Complaints

I HAVE A '1997 LEGACY OUTBACK SUBARU. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS. TODAY, JUNE 21, I STOPPED ON MY WAY TO BAR HARBOR, MAINE FOR A CUP OF COFFEE. I PLACED THE COFFEE CUP IN THE CUP HOLDER AND GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, I THOUGHT I SMELLED BURNING, BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. I THEN STOPPED AT A BANK TO TAKE CARE OF A TRANSACTION, AND AS I WAS LEAVING THE BANK, I AGAIN SMELLED A FAINT BURNING ODOR. LUCKILY, NOT FAR DOWN THE ROAD, I PASSED MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP, FOR A SHORT DISTANCE PAST THE DEALERSHIP I HEARD A CRACKLING COMING FROM MY CAR RADIO. THINKING I'D LEFT IT ON, I WENT TO TURN IT OFF, ONLY TO DISCOVER IT WAS OFF. THEN THE BURNING SMELL BECAME MUCH MORE EVIDENT, AND I REALIZED I MUST HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I TURNED AROUND, AND WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT COFFEE HAD SPILLED ONTO THE RADIO FROM THE STYOFOAM CUP(WHICH HAD A TIGHT CAP ON IT, BY THE WAY!), CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. A WOMAN I HAD BEEN CHATTING WITH WHILE WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC WORK TO BE DONE SAID THAT HER '97 SUBARU HAD HAD THE CUP HOLDER BY THE RADIO TOO, BUT THAT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE CUP HOLDERS HAD BEEN MOVED FROM THAT LOCATION. IF THE SUBARU COMPANY HAD KNOWN OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE, WHY WASN'T I MADE AWARE OF IT? LUCKILY, I WAS NOT COMING THROUGH THE BLACKS WOODS INTO ELLSWORTH WHICH IS 20 MILES OF NOTHING BUT TREES! I BOUGHT MY SUBARU BECAUSE THEY ARE TOUTED AS ONE OF THE SAFEST VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY. I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THEY ARE TAKING CARE TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS OF PENDING SAFETY ISSUES. TODAY COST ME OVER $T60.00, AND I'M OUT A RADIO TO BOOT. BUT I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NEAR A SUBARU DEALER, BECAUSE THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE RADIO AND TOLD ME THEY COULD ORDER ONE, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SHIPPED FROM CA. I HAD JUST SPENT OVER $700 THE WEEK BEFORE WITH THEM, INSURING MY CAR WAS MAINTAINED AND SAFE FOR THE ROAD. GEE, WAS I WRONG. *AK

AFTER ALTERNATOR REPLACED, NOTICED THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCES OF ELECTRICAL OUTAGES: REAR POWER OUTLET, SEAT HEATER SWITCHES, RADIO DIAL ILLUMINATION LIGHT, KEY-IN-IGNITION ALARM, DOOR AJAR LIGHTING, SEATBELT OFF LIGHTING.*AK

THE NOW INFAMOUS "BLOWN HEAD GASKET" IN PHASE I 2.5L ENGINES IS THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS AT LEAST RECOGNIZED THE PHASEII 2.5L ENGINES IN 1998 MODELS AND NEWER, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENT METAL WAS THE "PROBLEM". THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CASES IN THE PHASE I 2.5L (1998 AND PRIOR) ENGINE IS AN OBVIOUS INDICATOR OF DESIGN FLAW IN THE ACTUAL SHAPE OF THE PRODUCT ITSELF. A RECALL INVESTIGATION IS A DEFINITE MUST. JUST ANOTHER UNHAPPY SUBARU CUSTOMER. *AK

SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE DIED. SPARK PLUG UNABLE TO BE REINSERTED RESULTING IN A HEAD REPLACEMENT. VERY EXPENSIVE! ONLY 135000 MILES REGULAR MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN 4 OF THESE CASES IN THIS MODEL IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM DEALER ABOUT MECHANICAL DEFECT. *JB

THE ENGINE SEALS OF THE MAIN CAM SHAFT FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK OIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEALS AND THE TIMING BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

POWER BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY AND SHORTLY AFTER (WITHIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES) AFTER COLD START IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 10 DEGREES F. BRAKE PEDAL REMAINS HIGH AND STIFF WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAVEL DISTANCE INDICATING NO POWER TO POWER BRAKE SYSTEM BUT BRAKE PEDAL APPARENTLY TRAVELS ENOUGH DISTANCE TO ALLOW SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. USER REMEDY IS TO ALLOW MORE THAN 5 MINUTES TO WARM AND VERIFY BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. OTHER REMEDY IS TO SHARPLY DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS NORMAL DISTANCE INDICATING POWER BRAKE SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING BEFORE SHIFTING OUR OF PARK. THIS REMEDY WORKS FINE FOR ME WHEN I REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE DURING TEMPERATURE BELOW 10 DEGREES F. OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DO NOT DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS OFTEN AS I DO ARE PRONE TO FORGETTING TO FOLLOW THE REMEDY PROCEDURE. FOR ANYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT IS EITHER UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN VEHICLES OPERATION OR FORGETS TO FOLLOW THE REMEDY PROCEDURE FINDS THEM SELF IN A VERY SURPRISING SITUATION IF TRAVELING AT A SPEED TO FAST TO ALLOW FOR BRAKING WITH A FAILED POWER BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE ACTUALLY NOTICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE WINTER OF 2002 - 2003 AND HAVE NOTICED THIS ONCE AGAIN THIS WINTER WITH THE RECENT ONSET OF FRIGID WEATHER HERE IN THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF MASSACHUSETTS. I HAVE YET TO BRING MY VEHICLE IN FOR SPECIFIC SERVICE ON THIS MATTER, HOWEVER, I DO PLAN TO CONTACT A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. *AK

VEHICLE FUEL FILL TUBE ROTTED RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK. *MR THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IF THE TANK WAS KEPT ON 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL, THE LEAK WOULD CEASE. THE MECHANIC HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM ON A SUBARU, A WEEK PRIOR AND HAD SINCE REPEATED THAT TASK AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT SUBARU COVER THE COSTS INCURRED. *SCC ALSO THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT LATCHES, LOCKS AND HINGES ARE RUSTED. DEALER STATED NOTHING WE COULD DO. VEHICLE'S WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROUTE. 495 AT 65 MPH DURING THE 6:30-6:45 A.M. RUSH HOUR, (PRIMARILY LARGE TRUCKS BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY), THE HOOD OF MY CAR POPPED OPEN, SHATTERING MY WINDSHIELD, DENTING AND CAUSING THE HOOD TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED, DENTING THE ROOF, AND CAUSING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO FALL OFF. WITH THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE MINOR INJURIES I SUSTAINED WERE TO MY UPPER BACK AND LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK. THESE INJURIES ARE NOT DISABLING, BUT PAINFUL AND ANNOYING. I DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS MORE SHAKEN UP AND IN SHOCK THAT THIS HAPPENED. *JB

WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB