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.
Since the car has been brand new, a half gallon of coolant has needed to be added to the car on a monthly basis. No leaks have been detected. There has always been a very strong odor of burning coolant. Dealer states this is normal for the 2.5L engine, so there is nothing to repair, just keep an eye on the coolant level. I filed a complaint with Subaru of North America, and received a similar response. Both the dealer and Subaru state it is unknown how to repair this issue as they can not identify the problem causing the loss of coolant. Dealer just keeps topping off the system, and stating that they still have no solution.
Diving 55 mph on highway when car started to hard shudder, lose acceleration. Engine light and all other warning lights came on. Difficult to steer and brake. Able to barely pull off road safely and avoid guard rail. No previous problems noted.
While driving, the vehicle started to lose power and engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was parked and upon inspection of the engine the engine had caught fire. The fire grew and the car was demolished as a result of an engine fire. The vehicle was in perfect working order before the fire, well maintained and had low mileage for a one year old vehicle.
Vehicle uses coolant at an alarming rate which has nearly lead to overheating and stalling while driving. Transmission disengages while at highway speeds when trying to pass making the maneuver unsafe. Manufacturer refuses to look at car again, already been in shop 4 times.
I was driving through an intersection when the engine stalled with 1/8th of a tank of gas remaining. Gas light came on only a few miles prior. Luckily I was able to coast into a gas station. Car started after turning off and back on. Only took 16.9 gallons to top off. This is the second time this has happened. The previous time the miles to empty was showing 50 when it stalled. I was told by the dealership that there is no fix for the current recall.
- Enumclaw, WA, USA
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I drove to a nearby town, indicator said 40 miles to go before empty. Parked. Restarted the car after half an hour. Most of center display functions were dead. It did show back-up view, but no radio, no map. Drove toward home and gas station. After twenty miles, on cruise control at 70mph on highway, engine suddenly started racing as though it had down shifted, I braked and headed for the shoulder. No turn signals, no indicators, no emergency flashers - it seemed that the computer crashed when I ran out of gas. After adding gas and restarting, all was normal except the the radio memory had been wiped.
Vehicle in motion approximately 30-40 mph in regular street driving. The car has felt as if the engine was about to stall or as if the transmission was seizing up. This occurred a few times. A bit unnerving because it happened with moving traffic behind, in front and to the sides.
** 2018 Subaru Outback ** this has happened three times** driving car when car shuts off complete loss of power engine turns off without warning at various speeds - seems to occur when the low fuel warning system turns on at 1/4 tank of gas. This 3rd time almost got me killed traveling at 45mpg when it happened today inside a major intersection. Software / sensor for the low fuel system" something is very seriously wrong. 1. is this car safe to drive with a full tank of gas? 2. has there been other complaints about this exact problem? 3. is there a recall or fix "
I recently purchased a 2018 Outback. I was driving it going about 25 mph on road by my house and it shut down out of nowhere, dash lights came on, gas pedal wouldn't work, the only way I got it to go was shutting it off completely and restarting it. They car has 3500 miles, I dropped it off at the dealership on 8/25 and they have had it since. They replaced the fuel pump saying it was the cause of it shutting down on me. I received the car back on 9/21 and drove it for 180 miles, this time at 65 mph the car shutdown again while I was trying to pass someone on a 2 lane road, power steering lost and all lights came on dashboard like it had some type of electrical problem. Very similar to the first time but I was driving much faster this time.after about 30 seconds the car just kind of started up by itself without me having to push the start button I believe this issue is a huge safety issue and could possibly get me killed or someone else killed while driving this car. Subaru service facility has no clue whats going on since the car is not throwing codes. I have started the lemon law process but Subaru is not being very helpful thus far. Also having a problem with passenger seat not sensing if someone is sitting in the seat and not enabling the airbags. This problem came up on the scan on 8/25 analysis. I was unaware of the issue, nothing in the car told me passenger side airbag was not working. Subaru replaced the seat but I am still concerned that the problem is going on since I have no way to tell if it works or not.
Vehicle developed drip from transmission approximately mid June 2018. Took to dealer & unable to find source after 11 days in shop. They put dye in and I drove until 7-30-18 when drip returned. Car in shop 6 days for new transmission. Car returned 8-9-18. 11 days later 8-21-18 major oil leak & vehicle towed to dealership. As of 8-24-18 they are still attempting to locate leak. Will have to pull engine. May not get car back during August. Outback has less than 15000 miles. Have contacted Subaru requested lemon law as the vehicle has nearly 40 cumulative days in the shop since purchased 8-16-18. Outback has also had 2 new radios and multiple software updates for numerous radio issues.
Subaru is selling new vehicles with inadequate amounts of coolant in the engines cooling system. This has caused an immediate need for coolant being added as residual air in the system in expelled to the reservoir. If a customer follows Subaru guidance for time/mileage to first inspection they risk having the car overheat/stall while driving potentially cause bodily and/or property damage. I brought this issue up with multiple dealers with no resolution.
Engine cuts off unexpectedly while driving down the road. I'm able to restart after pulling off the side of the road. February 22 and March 24, 2018 were the first two times the issue happened. I took my car to the dealership, and they said Subaru was aware of the issue. They told me to keep my gas above half a tank. The issue hasn't happened since I started keeping my gas half full. The 'miles to empty' gage is very inaccurate. I feel very unsafe driving the car because it spontaneously cuts off, and I'm worried it will cut off in an intersection of a major highway. The service department at macon, ga Subaru has been very unhelpful and unwilling to diagnose the problem. The field service engineer named kevin said the problem is likely caused by failure of one of two parts involving the fuel system. However, they are unwilling to replace the parts. The dealership expressed concern that their service department would have to take the brunt of the cost if they sent my part back to Subaru. This seems like an unacceptable reason to refuse to attempt the repair of such a serious safety issue.
I was driving my child to school on a rainy morning in traffic,20-30mph on a straight road. The car stalled and then the engine shut off. (I am lucky I did not get rear ended; otherwise I would be in the hospital getting my child checked out.) rolled over to the side of the road; as close as I could get.. shifted into park and restarted the car. Started right up. I had a quarter tank of gas and drove three miles after that and still have enough to get to a gas station; so it is not a fuel supply issue. This is not safe!!! this is not acceptable!!!! this is a new car purchased three months ago!!! called the dealer's service rep and asked if this could be part of the issue I am having with fuel economy. I am averaging 16.1 mpg. My 2007 Mercury millan premier AWD averaged around 22.8mpg: 10 years older and larger engine (3.0 vs 2.5). I also let him know that at low speeds the car is fighting as if in the wrong gear and low torque. Also there is not a smooth coast, it is almost as if the car is braking by being in the wrong gear. I have had a Toyota, Dodge, Ford, Mercury, Honda, and Hyundai in the family and never had problems like this. This is not safe!!! this is not acceptable!!!! this is a new car purchased three months ago!!! I also asked him if this has something to do with the head unit which is riddled with problems. How did Subaru let a car like this off the line? I now fear using this car. I do not want to be in a fatal accident and I do not want to introduce fatal risks to my family. I am told that if the problem can not be reproduced at the dealer, there is nothing they can do. Translation: Can't find the problem, can't fix the problem, I am stuck with a death trap.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Canastota, NY, USA