10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,885 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 #12

Oct 012013

Outback

  • 97,000 miles
Sudden acceleration. Was driving at a slow speed due to light traffic at a red light. Car started to feel not normal and I knew something was wrong. I pressed on the brake but the car kept jumping forward, not wanting to stop. I was afraid I would hit the car in front of me. Luckily I was going very slow. Right after the car started accelerating for no reason. I kept my foot on the brake, my foot was never on the gas. I had taken my foot of the gas before the car started acting up, since I needed to slow down for the red light. The rpms were going very high. I was unsure what to do because I never experienced this kind of situation. I panicked and put the car in neutral, and then in park and turned the car off. I called for help and was lucky my step father was around the corner. He pushed the car to a safe spot. Then he turned on the car while still in park and it was still accelerating very high. It went down and went back to normal acceleration. He then drove the car to the mechanic which was about 200 feet away. I am now having a diagnostic done to see if they can figure out a solution to why the car had sudden acceleration. I know for a fact I did not press on the gas instead of the break, and I also know it was not the Subaru floor mat. This issue needs to be looked into as it could have been very dangerous.

- San Leandro , CA, USA

problem #11

Apr 142010

Outback

  • 54,000 miles
Unintended acceleration in Subaru Outback (2000) caused serious accident.

- Phoenix, MD, USA

problem #10

Oct 032005

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The consumer stated that the 2000 Subaru Outback suddenly accelerated. The consumer was driving around 50-55 mph when the rpms revved to 6500. The consumer had to apply the brakes to get the vehicle to slow down. The consumer had to pull over and turn the vehicle off. The consumer found a mechanic that drove the vehicle home for her. The cruise control was not in use. This occurred twice. The dealership was called and they admitted that there were problems with the vehicle acceleration. The manufacturer had not been called. The consumer that was making the complaint was not the owner, but had borrowed the vehicle and experienced this problem. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic who found nothing wrong..

- Lake Elmore, VT, USA

problem #9

Oct 041999

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. Consumer has to pull over and restart the vehicle in order to keep it from increasing speed.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 202005

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,620 miles
Engaged car into reverse and immediately the car suddenly accelerated at full throttle. I was able to stop car after approximately 10 feet of movement. Fortunately, there were no injuries to occupants or pedestrians. Brought to dealer, no evidence of problem found on car computer systems. Filed formal complaint with Subaru of America. Found this problem has been thoroughly documented by other Outback owners. Something must be done!

- Lakeville, MA, USA

problem #7

Apr 012004

Outback 4-cyl

  • miles
Subaru Outback VIN[xxx], 2000 model vehicle stalls and will not accelerate away from stops. Stalls in middle of road and is dangerous to drive. Dealer reprogrammed PCM on 4/1/04 when taken in for coolant/head gasket issue recall. Performance was poor after this and was returned to dealer 5/04/04. Stated that the spark plugs were the problem, new plugs fitted. Car is worse than before and extremely dangerous to drive due to sudden stalling and bogging on takeoff. My husband has a 1999 Subaru imprezza and has similar problems and has returned his car several times with no correction. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- West Salem, WI, USA

problem #6

Dec 022003

Outback

  • 56,000 miles
After parking the vehicle in the garage consumer was walking away and noticed that vehicle was rolling backwards. Vehicle was in park, but for some reason the mechanism was not engaged. Vehicle was examined by the dealer, but the problem was not resolved. 2000 Subaru Outback experienced roll back while parked in garage. Vehicle traveled backwards about 3 feet until consumer was able to open door and engage the emergency brake. Vehicle was taken to dealer where nothing could be found wrong as to why roll backs occurred.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #5

May 232003

Outback 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles
While going backwards into garage, the vehicle accelerated and went through the back of the garage off deck and hit a tree.

- State College, PA, USA

problem #4

Jan 012001

Outback

  • miles
Vehicle will intermittently accelerate while consumer was driving. It would usually have at very low speeds, usually when the vehicle was coming to a stop. Contacted dealer.

- Mount Blanchard, OH, USA

problem #3

Apr 092000

Outback 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While at driveway put vehicle in reverse and just tapped accelerator pedal, and engine over accelerated, causing consumer to crash into driveway.

- Boring, OR, USA

problem #2

Feb 262001

(reported on)

Outback

  • miles
On three occassions, while vehicle was in drive with foot applied to brakes, vehicle accelerated 5- 10 feet, cause unknown.

- Waterford, PA, USA

problem #1

Mar 012000

Outback 4WD

  • miles
After intial fueling, engine warning light "lights" on dash. Light continues to stay on for 3/4 of the tank of gas. Incidence of occurring is about 90%. engine hesitation is occuring 100% at initail acceleration. Hesitation lasts for 2 to 3 seconds and then normal power resumes. After initial takeoff engine seems to accelerate as to be expected.

- Howard City, MI, USA