10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,374 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #11

Feb 122020

Outback 4-cyl

  • miles
My 2013 Subaru Outback has three open recalls, numbered 19V009000 (airbag), 18V626000 (parking brake), and 16V694000 (windshield wiper motor). Subaru of America has told me, within the past week, that the car is unsafe to drive because of the airbag. I live 138 miles from the nearest Subaru dealer. I have given Subaru two quotes, requested by them, including contact information at two companies, for transporting the car to the nearest dealer, rimrock Subaru in billings, mt. Subaru of America refuses to contact or make arrangements with the two companies and refuses to schedule the repairs unless I pay in advance, approximately $1,700, for round trip transportation and car rental, to get the car to the dealer and back. Subaru told me, in an email today, February 12, 2020, from [xxx] of Subaru customer service, "my ability to assist is on a reimbursement basis. There is no workaround for this." His email is custdlrservices@Subaru.com this is an extreme hardship for me as I am retired with limited discretionary funds. I hope you can convince Subaru to fulfill its legal responsibility to complete these recalls without my financial involvement. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Miles City, MT, USA

problem #10

Mar 302019

Outback

  • miles
When in reverse, the rear camera displays on the screen as it should. The problem occurs when the system connect via bluetooth to a mobile device, the rear camera view is blocked by a large notification window reporting that the connection has been made to the mobile device. This obstructs the view. The timing of this process often occurs just as one has started backing up since it takes 30-60ish seconds to get situated and then start reversing and it also take about this much time for the bluetooth connection to establish itself. A solution could be to a) not display other notifications when the backup camera is on the display, or B) make the notification not obscure as much of the camera view.

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #9

Sep 052018

Outback

  • 36,500 miles
My sunroof shattered while driving on the highway under normal conditions, and for unknown reasons.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #8

Apr 122016

Outback

  • 45,000 miles
I am initiating this complaint because the recall for the below specified problem remains uncompleted, when in fact it has been fixed and remains unproblematic. Moreover, I have repaired the recall problem regarding the windshield wiper motor on my vehicle, myself, with my own money, with parts supplied by the Subaru dealer. Please clear the status of the recall notice to reflect completed repairs. Consider this letter an affidavit confirming that, I as the owner, have done the repairs for which I am completely within legal right to perform on the above mentioned vehicle.

- Woodland, CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 072017

Outback

  • 50,000 miles
I have a 2013 Subaru Outback purchased certified pre-owned from Subaru dealership in sacramento in April 2014. The front windshield has cracked three times in less than two years. I've replaced it twice, all paid out of pocket. While there appears to be a point where the crack starts, if a rock or debris hit the window it wasn't observed or heard. All cracks have occurred on the outside edge of the window and splinter inward. Here is the history of the damage: October 8, 2015 - replaced cracked windshield (pd $324.87) June 15, 2016 - replaced cracked windshield (pd $326.80) August 7, 2017 - new crack appeared while driving out of costco parking lot (began investigating issue) August 14, 2017 - another crack appeared while leaving public parking lot in downtown sacramento I have yet to replace the current damaged windshield. I visited the dealership where I purchased the vehicle this afternoon and spoke to the service manager. I was told that they couldn't do anything about it and to contact their customer dealer services number (office in New Jersey).

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #6

May 262017

Outback

  • 63,680 miles
While driving the cover of the sunglass holder popped open. The Outback has a sunglass holder located right below the center rear view mirror. There are two tiny clips that hold the cover of this this holder closed. The clips have failed and the cover remains open. This may seem like a trivial problem, but it obstructs part of the mirror. There are many complaints on this condition. If you do a google search on , you will find pages of complaints for the Outback, legacy and forester models.I am not sure what will happen when I flip the mirror to night mode, but I think it will obliterate the view entirely. Examples can be seen at: www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/79345-2013-sunglass-holder-not-working.html

- Littleton, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 012016

Outback

  • miles
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V694000 (visibility) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #4

Oct 012016

Outback

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. When the front windshield wipers were activated, the wipers failed to operate. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V694000 (visibility). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Oswego, IL, USA

problem #3

May 162016

Outback

  • 49,935 miles
2013 Subaru Outback front wiper motor caught fire while vehicle was in motion. Just prior to fire, wipers had been activated but would not return to home or stop when turned to off position. Vehicle was purchased new in October 2012. Root cause of wiper motor as determined by Subaru dealer shop. Subaru claims this is unrelated to prior recall for wiper motors wvw32 which had been extended to 2012 models.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #2

Jan 272016

Outback

  • 31,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 mph, the moon roof exploded. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximately mileage was 31,000.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

problem #1

Apr 082014

Outback

  • 24,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 65 mph she heard a loud noise and the glass shattered all over the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician replaced the sunroof but was unable to determine what caused the failure to occur. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 24,000.

- Cape Elizabeth, ME, USA