3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,393 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #5

Jan 212022

Outback

  • miles
Driver side rear wheel bearing speed sensor experienced a spontaneous failure, leading to ABS failure and nearly lost control when rapidly decelerating from 45mph to 0mph in a short left turning lane. Failure occurred in well maintained 2013 Subaru Outback with less than 70,000 miles on it. Vehicle immediately lit up several dashboard lights (CHECK ENGINE, CRUISE CONTROL, ABS, and BREAK lights) indicating the car was unsafe to drive at moderate/high speed following the incident. ABS failure could have led to an accident in inclement weather. Wheel bearing is being replaced by mechanic.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #4

Aug 232019

Outback

  • 75,000 miles
Alloy wheels failure. The wheels have catastrophic failure (large crack and hole in center of rim) while driving. Vehicle was in motion and there were no pot holes or debris in highway. Location: Exit 1, us 7 in norwalk Connecticut. Date/time: August 23, 2019 @ 6:00pm in full daylight.

- Norwalk, CT, USA

problem #3

Jul 262019

Outback

  • 89,967 miles
Rear wheel bearing failures. Both replaced at 89,967 mi. Dealer advises there is some risk if one drove on a long drive, that overheating could allow entire wheel to fall off. Sound is noticeable over 40 mph so most people would get suspicious and ask a mechanic.

- Bedford, VA, USA

problem #2

Sep 042013

Outback

  • 6,000 miles
Your mandate for the use of TPMS is another example of government good intentions resulting in little benefit and unnecessary cost to consumers. I want to run winter tires on our Subaru and planned to purchase the tires on wheels equipped with TPMS sensors. However, the only way to re-set the sensors is to take the car to the Subaru dealer and pay $90 in the fall when the winter set goes on and to pay another $90 in the spring when the all-season tire go back on the car. The winter tires are expected to add a significant margin of safety in snow/ice conditions. The annual cost of re-setting the TPMS sensor will likely keep me from running winter tires. What is the benefit of having a TPMS system that cannot be easily re-set by the vehicle owner?

- Hockessin, DE, USA

problem #1

Dec 122012

Outback 6-cyl

  • 1,000 miles
When I make a hard right turn, such as pulling out into the near lane or parking, my front passenger tire comes in contact with my fender well - specifically the body molding and violently. When measuring my hub (center) to hub (center), the passenger side of the car is a full.5 inch closer than the driver side. You can also measure the distance between the front tire to fender well and see that the passenger side is closer to the back of the fender well than the driver side. I notified West houston Subaru in late Dec. 2012 of the problem so they checked the alignment & measured the aforementioned hub/tire/fender distances. They acknowledged a discrepancy between the driver and passenger side; said they would contact Subaru of America (soa) and follow up... unfortunately I had to contact them back... then it was suggested I contact soa myself so I did on January 8, 2013. At this time soa nor the dealership is willing to address my problem however many people in the www.subaruoutback.org forum are describing the exact same problem. [xxx] from soa has told me they are waiting for something but it is not clear... in the meantime I continue to drive my 3 year old son and wife in a car whose tire impacts the body of the car!! this is unacceptable!! please help me! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 8tr

- Houston, TX, USA