1.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,004 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Subaru Outback engine problems

engine problem

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1996 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #6

Oct 232009

Outback

  • 166,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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). home.comcast.net/~skipnospam/.

- West Milton, OH, USA

problem #5

Apr 162008

Outback 4-cyl

  • 161,423 miles
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.

- Oak Grove, MN, USA

problem #4

Dec 052004

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,600 miles
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.

- Utica, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 242003

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 115,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Eagle Mountain, UT, USA

problem #2

Aug 301999

Outback

  • miles
The rear oil pan gasket was replaced due to leak.

- Maspeth, NY, USA

problem #1

Oct 271997

(reported on)

Outback 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Oil plug broke resulting in failure.

- Redlands, CA, USA

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