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.
Windshield cracks and instantly spread with minimal impact disabling car speed control and safety systems such as pre-collision braking and lane keep assist.
Key has begun to get stuck in ignition each time I shift into park and shut off the engine. One has to repeatedly slam the gear shift into park for the ignition switch to recognize the car is indeed in "park" and release the key. Could create an issue for anyone without the physical strength to "slam" the gear shift into "park" or someone who needs to quickly exit their vehicle and get into their locked house or building. House keys are always attached to car keys, which are inevitably stuck in the ignition. A search of online forums shows this is a known issue that Subaru has not made good on and dealers are charging owners upwards of $600 to repair.
The keys could not be removed from the ignition after shifting the car into park and turning the car off. The problem first appeared around September 2019 (approximately 42,000 miles). Over the next few weeks the problem progressively got worse, and required shifting from neutral to park multiple times until the keys could be removed. The select lever assembly (part 35111al00B) was replaced with the newer version (part 35111al00C) which fixed the issue. The original select lever assembly (35111al00B) was tested and it had a problem with the "P" range switch. Resistance across select lever assembly pins 1 and 2 showed a resistance of 2-3 ohms when the select lever was in the park position. The service manual states that the "P" range switch resistance should be less than 1 ohm when in the park position. This high resistance likely caused the ignition to fail to recognize that the car was in park and prevented the keys from being removed.
Can not remove key after turning car off. Vehicle is stationary, in park and engine off when this occurs. Key stays in column. Slamming shift lever a few times sometimes frees it up. Subaru claims it's not a recall issue. Been happening each day the last week.
- Osseo, WI, USA
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Battery dead several times. Have had to have it jumped six times. Battery replaced by dealer once. I note that many Subaru owners have similar problem.
My vehicle, while stationary without anything plugged in or running (I.e. ac), has the battery die. The vehicle is a 2018, and this happened 08/24/2019. I believe a battery to be a maintenance item, but being less then 2 years old under 'normal' use is contrary to industry or manufacturer standards, which I believe the unexpected timing and nature creates a safety issue. I replaced the battery, and found this to be a common issue with Subaru's; however, never received any advisement or notification from the company.
Cannot remove key from ignition when in park. Many others have reported this online, and the dealership is charging me to check what the issue is. When in park, steering wheel is straight, not on a slope, the key is stuck in the ignition. Can turn it off, but can't remove the key. Sometimes jiggling, sometimes starting and turning back off, and sometimes starting, putting in drive, and slamming the shifter into park again solves the issue, but sometimes not. Spent over 20 minutes today trying to get it out, drove to the dealer, and it came out without an issue. No consistency to the issue.
The attached invoices are a result of numerous electrical issues that I have experienced since owning the Outback. Each time I would go for service with key fobs not working the employees were so rude and spent all their time making me feel like an idiot instead of trying to solve the problem. I have left in tears many times. The radio and bluetooth were not working right from day one. When I complained to grayson in knoxville he dialed a local number in knoxville and said "nothing wrong" with the telephone system I still struggle with calls thru the bluetooth. Earl duff in harriman has been the most considerate of all the others. However, I find it hard to believe that at 58,000 miles, the passenger airbag is out of commission. Right now I am driving with every one of the digital indicators on. Cannot use cruise control. The rear hatch only raises abt 1/4 of the highth that it should. I have heard so many good things about a Subaru and had to have one. I have had nothing bur disappointment from the mentioned dealers. Right now the car is parked in the garage. It still runs but who knows what will happen while I am driving.
Once the vehicle is placed in park, the key gets stuck in the ignition and can't be removed. The only way to remove the key is to place the vehicle in drive and back in to park (with more force). This happens about 50% of the time when trying to remove the key. My warranty is for 36K miles or 3 years. The car is currently at 38K miles.
The key gets stuck in the ignition at the accessory position and will not come out. The shifter also does not lock making it easy for the shifter to be knocked out of park. The car was parked in the driveway at my residence on a slight grade. As I was getting out of the car I accidently hit the shifter knob knocking it out of park into reverse. The vehicle was rolling back but I was able to get back in quickly and stop the vehicle.
The eye sight goes out at 3or 4 times a wk. Dealer said that it was normal. I feel that if the eye sight going is normal, them why have it. When it goes out I will be driving it on different roads.this has been going on I bought the car.
After using remote start and after driving vehicle, it would not shut off. Was able to actually turn off ignition, remove key and still drive car. Had to pull fuel pump fuse to disable the car.
Twice since purchased March 2017 electrical failures have caused all dashboard warning lights to go on; stability control, anti-lock, various driver aids have ceased to operate, and engine power was severely reduced (although car still ran). First failure was rectified within a few days, but current failure has had the car at the dealer for a month with no prospect of a repair. Car was running at the time of each failure. Dealer is saying the manufacturer is trying to design a wiring harness or instrument cluster that will work, but backorders are piling up across the country and he has no promise to give me. I'm curious about how long I must wait before I ask the dealer to replace the entire car with one that does work.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. While the vehicle was stationary, the key became stuck in the ignition and the contact could not turn off the vehicle. The contact restarted the vehicle and toggled the steering wheel to correct the failure. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. Capitol Subaru in san jose, California was notified and stated that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.
On the highway cruising at 10:19am in Oct 13 2017, a number of electrical components on my Subaru Outback froze abruptly. Specifically, my on-board gps navigation screen froze, the digital clock froze (on 10:19am), and the heads up display of navigation directions on the driver's hub froze. Who knows what other systems also locked up, which I couldn't observe. After I stopped and restarted the car, those things unfroze.
7,180 mileage, purchased new 12-2016. Garaged kept, 80 degree temp. We both are 70 + years, safety reliability are major considerations. On 10-21-17, we made a 20 mile grocery trip. Auto drove as usual. On 10-23-17, we had M.D. appointment. Starter wouldn't turn motor over. Original battery came with the car, had zero electrical energy left...I connected my battery charger to the battery posts, waited 10 minutes. Dash lights came on, motor still wouldn't turn over. Charged battery an additional 30 minutes, and switched charger mode to 50 amp 'start' mode, starter motor slowly turned, and motor started. Made the 60 mile trip to M.D's office, and back home, and when arriving home, found out that the passenger nor driver's electric window wouldn't open, to get mail from our mail box. On 11/26/17 I took the car to Subaru of jacksonville. Three hour wait at dealer, even with an appointment. The warranty repair was listed as ECM update. Dealer's work order copy re. Windows was " all systems operating as designed." Service department mentioned that there may be an additional update required. With our last couple of G.M. cars, various "updates or adjustments" were made via satellite. This technology is certainly available...with bluetooth perhaps, through cell phone ? I made the 30+ mile trip from the dealer home to St. Augustine without further problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Richwood, TX, USA