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.
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Outback. When the contact starts the vehicle and attempts to change gears, the vehicle jerks very strongly. The dealer stated that the transmission was the cause of the failure. The transmission fluid was changed, but the failure persisted. The dealer recommended that the transmission be rebuilt. The failure mileage was 83,000 and current mileage was 93,000. Updated 4/23/09 updated 04/27/09
2000 Subaru Outback, transmission slips until warmed up. Started at 60,000 miles and getting worse. Web research indicates a common failure of piston seals and a known problem as Subaru has redesigned. What about us past customers?
Transmission will intermittently fail to go into drive from park or reverse. Happens at random. Engine can be cold or warm and it still hesitates. Sometimes takes over a minute to get the transmission to engage. Only a matter of time before we get stranded. Took car to dealer and they topped off the transmission fluid and said the delay was normal. Issues began at 65K miles and have progressively gotten worse. Car now has 77K miles and only option given has been to replace the transmission.
The contact owns a 2000 Subaru Outback. The vehicle would jerk when idling. When the accelerator pedal was depressed, there was a delay and the vehicle would jolt forward. The dealer stated that internal transmission parts failed and the transmission needed to be replaced. At 64,000 miles, the contact smelled rotten eggs when driving 35 mph. The dealer replaced the catalytic converter. While driving between 25- 60 mph with the air conditioner activated, she smelled something burning inside the passenger compartment. The dealer stated that the head gasket failed and needed to be replaced. The head gasket failed at 55,000 and 80,000 miles. The failure mileage was 55,000 and current mileage was 95,000.
There is a delay in the transmission when shifting from park or reverse to drive. The car has already been involved in a minor accident because of the problem. The car was taken to a Subaru service center and I was told I needed a new rebuilt transmission at $3600.
- Wyncote, PA, USA
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Vehicle will not engage into drive from park, or vehicle will disengage from drive without warning, putting the car into neutral. Although no accident has occurred vehicle has failed to engage into drive in several high traffic situations. The vehicle only has 67,000 miles.
The automatic transmission has delayed engagement when changing from park to drive. The transmission will not engage for up to 10 seconds then it will engage abruptly causing the vehicle to lunge forward uncontrollably in an unsafe manner. Subaru has deemed the problem a transmission failure requiring a new transmission. Problem has occurred at 74,000 miles despite regular maintenance. This situation has been described in complaint# 10074032, 10090065, 10106683, and 10122566. Subaru of America denies that there is a pattern of complaints/problems.
Vehicle approximately 9 months ago was experiencing a slight delay in engaging automatic transmission from any gear into drive. Had dealership look at it and do a transmission flush of all fluid. The problem really didn't get better until finally on 3/19/05 at only 51,800 miles the transmission would no longer engage in drive at all. A transmission shop looked at it and said an 'O' ring failed causing the entire transmission to need to be rebuilt and catalytic converter to be replaced. Cost was $2,644 and was only 6 weeks past expiration of the warranty.
Consumer complained about a transmission problem. Vehicle delayed when it was put into drive. Also, consumer would be driving and suddenly the transmission would go into neutral without changing gears. Consumer contacted the dealer, who recommended that the transmission needed to be replaced.......initially, dealer could not find a problem. After 2 mor evisits to dealer, it was determined that transmission needed to be replaced.
Transmission will not go into gear. When driver applied the gas vehicle will not move. Consumer was told by the dealer to wait until it failed completely. Dealership will not acknowledge the defect until it happened permanently.
Consumer states that vehicle is unable to shift into drive intermittently. The dealer indicated that transmission needed to be replaced due to an internal failure. When the computer diagnostic was done no codes registered, according to the diagnostic machine the vehicle was not in need of repair.
The vehicle experienced a delayed response when changing from one gear into another. The vehicle was stopped on a steep slope and put into reverse. The driver took his foot off the brake and onto the accelerator then the vehicle rolled forward. The consumer believes this problem is called shift lag.
There is slippage in transmission. When driving, it can happen at any speed, and will happen more often in stop and go traffic. Contacted dealer. Consumer states that oil light and check engine light come on together and then the power goes out, this has occurred when stopping and moving, the problem is still on going. Dealer claims that the onboard computer shows that a problem exists but they can?T identify the cause unless it happens in their presence.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tuckahoe, NY, USA