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.
Our 2015 Subaru Outback occasionally accelerates sharply without the driver's foot being on the gas peddle. It always happens when decelerating and applying the brakes. Suddenly, the engine roars and revs up, all while the driver is depressing the brake pedal, desperately trying to bring the vehicle to a safe stop. In our case, we've always been able to stop without hitting anything, but we've had some near misses. It seems to happen in the winter. The Subaru dealer we purchased the vehicle from denies any knowledge of this particular problem, even though numerous drivers have reported similar incidents.
Entering a residential garage to park; experienced sudden acceleration while braking. Vehicle went through drywall/wall about 2 feet. Placed vehicle in park to stop vehicle. No airbags went off. Driving vehicle to repair shop later; experienced same rapid unexpected acceleration with different driver. No issue with floor mats. OEM mats. Service center cannot provide any insight or reproduction of event.
While driving at highway speed and traveling over about 6 hours, the car simply shut off. We were traveling on the highway in the passing lane. Without warning the car began to slow down rapidly, no dash lights on, but the engine was off. We managed to cross two lanes of traffic without power assist and once on the shoulder and slowing down, the engine lights all came on. Once fully stopped, we turned the car off, waited a few seconds and restarted. We were then able to complete our trip without difficulty. This has happened twice. The dealer has done full diagnostics twice but has been unable to find the problem. We have heard that other year Subaru outbacks have been recalled for this problem but our year isn't included.
We called Subaru Roadside Assistance Sunday, July 25, 2021 because the Subaru lost power, as though it were out of gas, but the gage showed we had over an eighth of a tank. We mentioned this to the roadside assistant Rep. several times. She took our cell and credit card #s and said she ordered us a tow truck. I asked if the driver will have a gas can with. She said, "Well do you need a tow or fuel". Again we repeated we didn't know and explained again what happened. She said it would be 60-90 minutes. It was 94 degrees, we had no water, no shade, it was horrible. After 90 minutes still nobody came. We called again to see how much longer it would be. COME TO FIND OUT, THEY DIDN'T SEND ANYONE!!!. They said they didn't know if we needed a toe or fuel, so they didn't send anyone, didn't call, NOTHING. They said it would be another 90 minutes. We told them to forget it, hung up and went to a nearby house and the guy gave us a bottle of water and from a gas can, provided us enough gas to get to the next gas station 11 miles away. I tried calling subaru headquarters to report the issue and to let them know if our credit card was charged, they need to reimburse it since we did not receive service, but I was on hold for so long, I hung up and emailed them - 3 times and I NEVER heard anything back from them. So here I am reporting to not rely on their gas gage and reporting a safety concern that they would leave people in massive heat, probably would in the terrible cold as well. They do not call to let you know that nobody is coming. Subaru roadside assistance is one big joke. Subaru service is a big joke because obviously they don't care since they never responded to any of my emails. Needless to say, we will never call their roadside assistance again and will NEVER buy a subaru again since they have shown lack of interest. Thank you.
I was going 55 mph on a straight flat surface when all of a sudden the RPM's shot up to around 4000 but the car was not accelerating. It was like it went into neutral. I pulled over to the side of the road and the car proceeded to die. Fortunately, it started right up and I drove home. I had a almost a full tank of gas. I had only driven it for 5 minutes as I was on my way home from work. I just had the oil/filter changed not even 2 months ago. I have 54,000 dealer serviced miles on the car. It was 86 degrees out. 2015 Subaru Outback premium 2.5
- East Peoria, IL, USA
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A supposed gas cap seal caused 20 icons to flash constantly upon my dash. The car had been sitting in a parking garage for two days prior to the incident
Please read upload documents. My 2015 Subaru Outback began showing signs of excessive oil consumption in the summer 2018. Apparently this was a known problem with Subaru and class action lawsuit was filed against Subaru for models made prior to 2015. My vehicle failed a oil consumption test in the fall of 2018. I was told by white bear Subaru if the vehicle failed an oil consumption test Subaru of America would pay to have a new short block installed due to this ongoing engine defect. However, Subaru of America refused to pay the full amount to have a new short block installed as even though my car was make in 2014 it is technically a 2015 that the class action lawsuit only protected consumers of models prior to 2015. Also, in the fall of 2018 the interior of this vehicle began to have a exhaust smell and was making me feel sick. They determined that part of the exhaust system was broken but told me not to have it fixed before the new short block was installed and the exhaust system would just become clogged with the oil the car was burning. I went ahead had had the repair done anyway as the exhaust air was terrible.
Gas pedal sensor dose not respond on take off from stopped vehicle. Have almost been T-bone 5-6 times. Also from a cost to putting pressure on pedal it fails to respond. On left turns you are a sitting duck not knowing if pedal will respond or you are sitting out in front of some closing in on you at high rate speed. This has happened 10 -12 times on highways an city streets
Very difficult to start-problem with push to start button and engine not getting fuel. Vehicle stationary in parking lot. Have had to get jump start 3 times
October 1, 2016 11:50am, 32,00miles sudden unintended acceleration (sua) my wife had an acceleration and brake malfunction on this date and time.she had just turned into a parking lot and attempted to turn into a parking space. As she took her foot off the accelerator and applied pressure to the brake, the car accelerated and the brake would not function. The car ran over the yellow cement barrier and was heading for a tree, she continued to apply pressure to the brake and it did not respond as she turned the car right to miss the tree. Realizing she may be heading for the street she turned hard right, still applying pressure to a unresponsive brake pedal. She continued to steer hard right to miss a fire hydrant. She left tire marks in the bark chips near the hydrant. The brake finally engaged and the car came to a stop in front of another cement parking barrier that was perpendicular to the street. She sat for approximately a minute, gathering her thoughts and talking to her grandchild, in the back seat. She then drove slowly over the barrier and parked. She drove around the parking lot stopping and starting before proceeding home, approximately 2 miles. This was a sudden and random acceleration and the brakes would not function. We believe it has to do with the computer that controls throttle and that it malfunctioned. We do not fee safe in this car and are concerned that this sua might happen again. We are asking Subaru to replace this control computer. It is at the dealership waiting on their evaluation. We want to drive and feel safe in our 2015 Subaru Outback! there should be no doubt or hesitation in keeping us safe and one incident of sua/brake malfunction is one too many. We have pictures of the area showing the tree, fire hydrant and bark chips with tire marks. You can follow the path of the vehicle through the picture.
The vehicle is equipped with the 3.6R engine and a continuously variable transmission. When descending a long hill in a fixed gear ratio (usually 2nd or 3rd) the vehicle slows normally until the RPM reaches approximately 1200 RPM at which point the vehicle suddenly begins accelerating until the RPM reaches approximately 2500 RPM at which point the process repeats. I observe the "mpg" suddenly drop at the same time to around 25 mpg when the vehicle accelerates. It rises back to "99" when it slows. Note that during the entire sequence my foot is off the accelerator pedal and the throttle angle display shows zero. I find this very hazardous as the unintended acceleration can occur when entering or within a turn creating a crash risk. Upadte 9/15/15
When the engine is cold, the idle speed is 1600 RPM when started. When placed in reverse or drive it reduces to a nominal 900-1000 RPM. When the vehicle starts to move it suddenly drops to 600 RPM. When braking to a stop after moving vehicle the RPM suddenly jumps to 900-1000 RPM just before vehicle halts. This causes sudden unexpected acceleration of the vehicle and presents a safety hazard. I believe this is due to an engine/transmission software issue. This has occurred since new. Updated 9/15/15 updated 11/07/2017
Unintended acceleration. When driving at low speeds--what would traditionally be 1st and 2nd gear (the car has a continually variable transmission)--and while keeping constant pressure on the gas pedal, the transmission changes the acceleration of the vehicle on its own in a process that feels like it can't find the right "gear", and it provides a "jerking" feeling (usually only a couple of "jerks"). yet the transmission is not just finding the right gear for a specific constant speed; as it shifts around, the acceleration changes and has, with constant pressure on the pedal, accelerated faster on its own. I have never felt less control of a vehicle as I have with this one.
I warmed the car up and drove to shoprite. Twenty minutes later I returned to the car to put the stuff away to go home. When I pressed the button to start the car only the radio started and the message flashed keyless start up deactivated see manual. I saw the manual could, just about understand it, did what it told me nothing changed. I called roadside assistance at Subaru and the lady said it was my battery even though I told her what the message said on the screen. She sent someone to jump the battery.when he arrived 50 minutes later the car started perfectly. I called Subaru service at my dealership, that I have used since 1979. The person I spoke to said he knows nothing about it. I looked on line at the Subaru forum and found others experiencing the same or similar message. I am including their website www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/220162-2015-Outback-not-starting. I want to know if the car resets itself. No one can tell me at Subaru (glannzmans) I have driven Subaru since 1979 and they started all the time. This is the eyesight model supposedly really safe but I do not know when I leave my house if the car will start. I makes me feel not very safe.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Decorah, IA, USA