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 car would stall when coasting to a stop light or stop sign a few times and have been back to the dealer and can't replicated the problem. This is a dangerous situation and can cause an unsafe and huge accident with my family. The car would die while in drive and sometimes can't be restarted. It's happening again and afraid to drive the car since the dealer will say nothing is wrong with the car. It looks like it's related to idle being low or the cvt acting up when taking the foot off the gas pedal and try to accelerate from a dead stop or coasting to a stop. This happened a few times during factory warranty window.
I have had 3 radios replaced in my 2015 Outback, since 12-8-17 problems include, navigation going out, the siriusxm going out, now the replacement unit( both remanufactured) has a 'chirp' sound coming out of it when driving down the road on all channels. Very distracting as you look down at the dash to check for warnings, taking your eyes off the road.this replacement unit is less than a week old( replaced on 7-26-18. Subaru customer service contacted 8-1-18. First noticed on 7-29-17.
My car was parked at a pier. Got into car and would not start. Did not seem like a battery issue, however, as it sounded as if it would start to turn over, but then just clicked off. Then I pushed the button to the driver's seat window and it got stuck half way up, but the other windows were okay at that time. Then the wheel locked up and the break would not budge. Then after trying to turn the car on again, the other windows stopped working. Each time before trying to start it again, I waited a few minutes. Then after trying to start the car again, all the locks froze and we were stuck inside the vehicle! inside locks and lever did not work! luckily, the driver's seat window was stuck half way down, so I took my manual key out of the access key, and stuck my hand and arm out the window to open the car from the outside. It was also luck that my friend was with me, as she had to pull the inside knob at the same time (as I could not reach it) so I could open the door. Then 2 men walked by and offered their assistance. Where able to jump start the car and get it going. The problem still was not solved, however, as now my parking break was stuck on and I could not turn it off. Then I inadvertently turned the car off, and it miraculously turned right back on and all software deficiencies were cleared so I was able to drive home. This all happened over a period of 5 hours, during which time I had called aaa for a tow, my ex-husband for a ride (as aaa would not allow my dog to ride in the tow truck) and I was 1hr 20 min from home which as the evening crept in, was slowly becoming an unsafe area and we were getting more and more scared. What if I had been alone" what if my window was not half way down? what if I had broken down in an unsafe place from the get go" this car is unsafe to drive!
The infotainment system freezes up about every other day and this has been happening again for the last month. Rear backup camera stays on at times. Screen freezes and hard knob controls of infotainment system will not work when touch screen is frozen. This is the second module that has been installed due to these issues and problems continue.
- Berkley, MI, USA
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I'm writing on behalf of my brother, who is disabled. The battery in his 2015 Subaru Outback has been replaced 2 or 3 times sine he purchased it brand new. This is a serious safety issue for him. He does not leave anything on in the car ; lights, radio, etc. The dealership has replaced them so far but I'm concerned about what may happen in the future. One time the car wasn't driven for a few days and when he went to start the car, it didn't. another time he brought the car through the car wash and stood outside the vehicle with the car off but ther radio on while talking to someone he knew. When he got back in the car it wouldn't start. He was unsure if the battery was replaced a third time. With the current weather trend in Connecticut (teens, single digits, below zero with the wind chill. Prior to owning this car, he never replaced a battery in any of his other cars. I have a vehicle with over 138K miles on it and never replaced the battery. From what I've read online, this is an issue for many people. It is time the NHTSA contacts Subaru to fix this issue. My brother is mobile but he can't move quickly. If he got stuck in the cold weather without heat from his car it would not be a good reflection on Subaru or the NHTSA. Thank you for taking a close look at this issue.
Purchased in August 2014. Yesterday I put the 3rd battery in the car. This seems excessive and may indicate a problem with draw on the battery during down-time. Charging system checks fine and also checked fine at the point of replacing the battery the other times.
Rear door hatch randomly does not open, whether I press the button on it, the button inside the care, or the key fob. This happens almost every day, and always when it is raining or has rained. The driver's door will always open (though never the passenger door) with the key fob in proximity. You can hear that the back hatch unlatches, but does not raise up. Cascade Subaru in Ohio has not been able to fix it so it works as it should. This vehicle was preowned, bought from the dealer, and exhibited this problem from the first day we owned it.
The back up display screen becomes unusable as a result of the touch sensitive sensors becoming visible, thus interfering with the rear back up camera image. It is especially dangerous in bright sunlight making the rear back up camera useless. It also impacts the ability to read any of the controls on the screen, however not being able to identify objects when backing up we believe is a serious issue. The dealer has been great and has replaced two of them at no charge. However this is clearly a defect in the touch sensitive screen.
At temperature 48 F, sat in stationary car for 30 min with radio on, lights on. Battery ran all the way down. Had to get a jump. At temperature 36 F, sat in stationary car 20 min. With radio off, lights off. Battery ran all the day down. Had to get a jump. Subaru says that battery tests normal on gr-8 test and that current draw is normal at this time.010A-.027A. I'm concerned that the vehicle battery is not equipped to support its electrical needs. Could key system be a factor? Subaru would not do anything beyond the above tests. There are other reports like this on internet sites. My confidence in the vehicle is eroded.
Since the car was new, periodically when the vehicle is started, . the blind spot caution/waning system is disabled. This is confirmed by a caution light in the instrument panel. The only way to reactivate the system is to turn off the ignition and restart the engine. If the malfunction is not caught on starting the vehicle the system cannot be activated until the vehicle is stopped and the engine restarted. The problem has been ongoing for two years and 40,000 miles. Every time the vehicle is brought in for service at daryl waltrip Subaru in franklin tn the problem is pointed out to the service manager. Every time I am told by the service rep that there is nothing wrong with the system but they have updated the computer. Recently a relay in the system, part no. 87611al00B, was replaced. This has only exacerbated the problem. I have made multiple calls to Subaru's customer care line and they have not been willing to help. Multiple calls to the service manage at daryl waltrip Subaru in franklin tn have gone unanswered and have not been returned. Subaru customer care has supposedly contacted the service manager at daryl waltrip Subaru requesting that he contact me, he has not. This is a continuing problem.
Two problems. 1. replaced windshield three times in 15 months. Two were original Subaru branded windshields. Original and industry replacement windshield are too brittle and thus unsafe. Any little pebble chips them and they always have a long crack within a few hours. 2. radio system does not always function properly. At times it scrolls down and we are unable to change channels or adjust the volume. The dealer was made aware of the problem in July and would replace it since it is under warranty. Supplier has not responded to send part after four months. Subaru is non responsive to our concerns.
When I pull the express window switch to lift my driver side window, it will go all the way up and then come down about halfway. It will not let me raise the window unless I move the switch down to lower the window. I think the first time it did it was around may, 2016. By July, it was doing more and more often, and the passenger side was also doing the same thing. I took it to the dealer on July 26 and they told me they had to reprogram it. They said if it does it again, just hold the switch up for 5 seconds and that should reprogram it again. That did not help. Both my windows are doing it more often now. When I go back to dealer to have my windshield fixed, I will let them know that my power windows are still not working properly. This problem occurs while I am driving or stationary. It does not do it all the time, but it does it enough times that it is problematic.
Technician and service advisor informed me that a 80 pin connector that controls the head system had caught on fire and fused two connectors together. I used the HVAC system on my way home from work and parked the vehicle in the garage.if this happened in the garage it could have resulted in a catastrophic house fire.
Purchased the 2015 Outback in Sept. 2014. Took to back to dealership service dept. October. 24, 2014 because of loud popping noise around windshield especially when bluetooth phone connected. They could not find any problems. Popping noise around windshield continued from time to time. Took back to dealer July 29, 2015 for popping noise around windshield and poor radio am reception. They replaced the radio but am radio reception still not great. Got in the Outback on Nov 17, 2015 and there was a 5" crack on the bottom of the windshield slightly right of the center. A couple of weeks before this I was driving and heard a very loud popping noise. It made me jump as I thought the windshield was going to shatter but nothing happened. I had received a letter from Subaru about windshield cracking problems so I contacted the dealership. I took it in so they could take a picture. At that time I also reported problems with the defroster not keeping the windshield clear especially on rainy days and nights. This problem with the defroster has occurred several times and it was I the lower portion of the windshield. I thought the Subaru had electrical L issues because of the popping, poor am radio reception and the defroster. Now the windshield! this is my first Subaru and possibly last if the problems persist. All of the incidents happened while driving but when I discovered the crack it was parked in the garage. Crack us now about 9".
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that there was a chemical odor in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected; however, the mechanic was unable to determine origin of the odor. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000.
2015 Subaru Outback 2.5I limited - Monday 6 July 2015 - while driving, the check engine light, collision prevention off light, line warning off light, and X-mode light messages displayed. I had not disengaged the collision prevention or line warning lights and had not engaged the X-mode feature. There was no message indicating no brake lights. Made appointment for Thursday morning 9 July. Based on service advisor's advice that it was ok to drive the car until I brought it in, I drove the car for two days with no brake lights. (discovered this when my wife followed me to the dealer.) there should be a message to alert the driver brake lights are not operable. After service appointment Thursday (flashed computer to clear codes), noticed the vehicle was sluggish. While driving at 60 mph Friday afternoon 10 July sluggishness continued to increase, gear shifting became erratic, then the collision prevention off light and line warning off light messages displayed - but no check engine light. Shortly thereafter the vehicle totally failed to maintain speed or accelerate. Coasted off the exit ramp and called for a tow truck. Do not know whether brake lights were operable while this was occurring. I am aware there is a recall wqs-54 on the eye-sight system (which we showed the dealer service advisor). Having no way to know if brake lights are operable is a severe safety hazard. I have not received any notification from Subaru regarding this recall. Updated 11/14/2017
We recently purchased a new 2015 Subaru 3.6 R Outback (currently less than 600 miles) and the srvd (blind spot & rear cross traffic detection) system keeps malfunctioning. This happens when the vehicle is started and does not go away when driving. A small yellow " I " icon displays in the instrument cluster but is easy to overlook since there is no audible warning. The system starts working again if the car is stopped, and the engine is turned off and on - until of course the next random failure. This is a case of a "false negative" error, because the the side blind-spot mirrors indicate that the sides are clear to pass, when they may be not. It would have been preferable with a "false positive" error, namely the side blind-spot mirrors indicate that the sides are not clear to pass even if they are! what is truly alarming is that the dealer was not able to replicate the problem codes even after keeping the car overnight for further test drives. Since my family has come to rely on this safety system it is potentially a very serious hazard. I hope Subaru takes this matter seriously and (unlike Toyota) alerts all their customers immediately before it is too late, and comes up with a fix asap.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Millbrae, CA, USA