10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,299 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #148

Mar 252023

Outback

  • miles
Ignition switch fails to revert to last forward position, so unable to remove key. So far have been able to start, stop, and generally go forward, reverse, keep manipulating key and ignition position until it works again.

- Ponsford, MN, USA

problem #147

Feb 022023

Outback

  • miles
Can not remove ignition key at times. Have tried all suggestions on line. It can take up to five minutes of various things to ge it out. It is never the same. Mary

- Butler, WI, USA

problem #146

Mar 062023

Outback

  • miles
Yesterday the windshield began to spontaneously crack. This is the THIRD windshield in this vehicle to do this. All three windshields cracked starting in an area below the hood line, so stone chips are highly improbable. We bought this vehicle new. That windshield we replaced in 2018. Then we put another new windshield in in 2020. I believe, as I did when I filed a previous complaint in 2020, that there's a structural issue with the car that causes this undue stress.

- Junction City, WI, USA

problem #145

Mar 042023

Outback

  • miles
Secondary hood lock lever not functioning, spring is missing.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #144

Feb 102023

Outback

  • miles
We have owned our previously owned Subaru Outback 2017 for 18 months and have replaced the battery 3 times. We are now on our 4th battery. That battery turnover seems rather excessive, doesn't it? My thoughts: 1. Phantom drain 2. Short (harness or wires cut by abrasion) 3. Programming (shut alternator off to increase mpg) 4. Faulty programming - see 3.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #143

Jul 232022

Outback

  • miles
I experienced 2 incidences of sudden unexpected acceleration (SUA), the second one led to an explosive collision. Subaru asked that I sign the EDR release but refused to give me (rightful owner) a copy. With significant effort I obtained a copy of the EDR for myself. It is near impossible for the consumer to obtain their rightful copy, significant because it stinks of poor transparency for Subaru to investigate Subaru (see below). Once I obtained my copy, I released the EDR to Subaru and my vehicle was inspected by SOA at our local dealership. For some untold reason, the vehicle would "not to be released to me" at the end of the day but was held for additional time at the dealership. Later Customer "Advocacy" informed me that the results of the investigation was that the throttle was active 1.5 seconds prior to impact and that it was a case of "pedal misapplication". Because I also had the data I was acutely aware of how SOA cherry picked data to match their own narrative. I know for a fact what happened considering all the data, together with the actual facts of this potentially fatal accident. I was pulling straight into the parking spot, yet the EDR MISTAKENLY "thinks" that the car is turning sharply to the right the entire time (EDR shows this and why PBS not active). The electronic sensors are being fed ERRONEOUS information. With the steering wheel 'supposedly' at full lock, the power steering pump is told to spin faster to maintain pressure. The computer tries to pick up speed for this and sends an electronic message to open the throttle. The rpms suddenly surge and the vehicle explodes forward leaving only a fraction of a second to react before impact (at which point EDR confirms brake was on). Intermittent failures in electronic sensors do in fact happen as experts know. Incredibly, SOA refused to hear me. I am concerned for the safety of other Subaru drivers as well as those in the path of a Subaru SUA incidence. Ignoring this can have fatal consequences.

- Alameda, CA, USA

problem #142

Jan 082023

Outback

  • miles
Windshield Cracked for no apparent reason. Parked the car in front of the house for a few hours. When I came out the windshield had a 6" crack (starting at the bottom of the windshield going up then towards the passenger side of the vehicle). by the next day it was more than 12".

- Lewes, DE, USA

problem #141

Dec 232022

Outback

  • miles
front windshield cracked spontaneously during extreme cold while front defroster was running set on high. no overhead objects. no other cars or vehicles on the roadway. 15 mph. crack is in the windshield wiper resting area extending from the black edge to the center, in a horizontal crack, bilaterally.

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #140

Sep 222018

Outback

  • miles
2 yo 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 weeks. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2 years later, 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 1 week. When trying to start, it had a dead battery. 2017 Subaru Outback was left untouched for 2 days. When trying to start, it had a dead battery with a 1 - and 8 month old battery. Basically, when this 2017 Subaru Outback hasn't been started every day, it will have a dead battery.

- Henderson , NV, USA

problem #139

Nov 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery goes dead, known problem with unusual drain on battery due to electrical issue. If car sits unused for a few days, battery dies.

- Cornish, NH, USA

problem #138

Nov 232022

Outback

  • miles
We have replaced the battery every 2 years.

- Pataskala, OH, USA

problem #137

Sep 262022

Outback

  • miles
Battery was defective.

- Hickman, TN, USA

problem #136

Jan 202021

Outback

  • miles
Our car battery does not hold a charge. One year ago January we had Triple AAA replace the battery after several problems starting. This year we have had 3 calls to Triple AAA to charge the battery. It starts right up when they apply the charger--alternator tests as working properly, battery tests OK once charged--but the problem keeps happening. I am now afraid to take it anywhere where I might be stranded. Got a card about a class action lawsuit against Subaru regarding battery drainage issues. I mentioned this to the Triple A tech who mused, "You know, I have had a lot of dead battery calls in the last year for Subarus." Since AAA changed that battery a year and a half ago, he said if it happens again, they will replace the battery because it is under their warranty. The Subaru dealership has not sent us a recall notice. It seems they are not accepting responsibility for this defect. What is an owner to do?

- Glastonbury, CT, USA

problem #135

Sep 122022

Outback

  • miles
1st battery failure within 3 years of purchase of vehicle. Jumped 3 times in 2 mths. Purchased new battery (interstate)10/7/2020 Today 09/12/2022 same issue began. Car shows no issues with battery failure. Drove on Sun. to church and around for a little drive, no issues. Left home Monday afternoon, gone couple of hours, not stop and go traffic. Turned off ignition. After about 30 min went to start car and nothing. Just complete nothing. 8:36 p.m. AAA.comes to jump battery - drove home. AAA man said the battery was totally dead and that I needed a new one

- Lambsburg , VA, USA

problem #134

Aug 262022

Outback

  • miles
2017 Subaru Outback -- have nearly 50K miles on it. Suddenly the key is not removing from the ignition key slot. I looked this up and see this is a recurring problem in Subarus. I anticipated it can't cost a huge amount to take care of this problem. See people have quoted $500 / $600, or more, and that was a few years ago! Are you kidding? That's ridiculous and not in a cost range I can afford! It's obviously a Subaru flawed design.

- Gillette, WY, USA

problem #133

Aug 142022

Outback

  • miles
I was pulling into a parking lot. The attendant told me to back our 2017 Outback into a spot running along a fence and row of trees. I pulled forward, put my foot on the brake to fully stop. I then moved from "drive" to "reverse". Immediately, the engine started to rev very loudly as if my foot was on the accelerator (it was not!). The accelerator seemingly went to the floor and within a few seconds our car was in reverse at high speed. The only thing that stopped us was a maple tree and fence that we hit - about 15-20 yards behind us. The backend of the car is pushed in, including into the cabin, the rear window shattered etc. The fence is destroyed and tree damaged. My spouse, in the passenger seat, experienced a minor concussion and we both ended up with severe whiplash. If it weren't for the tree we would have just kept going. We are waiting on State Farm claim adjustor to see the car. I did inform Subaru (where the car was towed) what happened; they didn't seem particularly interested. We did get a police report. Thankfully, no one was hit. There were no signs of any problem with the accelerator prior to this incident. I am now, however, aware of numerous complaints and suits in related cases.

- Amherst, MA, USA

problem #132

Aug 182022

Outback

  • miles
I arrived at my destination. I turned the ignition OFF. The engine turned OFF. I opened the driver's door and the engine turned ON. I did not turn the ignition ON. I again turned the ignition OFF. This time the engine remained OFF.

- Incline Village, NV, USA

problem #131

May 012022

Outback

  • miles
Battery continually drains. I have had 2 replaced since May. I have contacted Subaru and they said I just have not driven it around enough after battery install. I have had them check for a drain, and they can-??t find anything. There are no lights on or any other reason to drain the battery. This coincides with my key becoming stuck in the ignition. Waiting on a part to replace the ignition under warranty.

- Chester, VA, USA

problem #130

Jul 132022

Outback

  • miles
The battery of the car keep dying, leaving us stranded in what could possibly be unsafe situations. We have gotten the battery checked out numerous times at the dealership, plus got a battery replacement in October 2020 but it still keeps occurring. This is a 2017 Outback with less than 30,000 miles, so should not be happening.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #129

Apr 152022

Outback

  • miles
My windshield cracked for no apparent reason (no impact) - in the bottom quarter of the passenger side. The crack spread, requiring replacement of the windshield. I had Subaru replace the windshield. Exactly one week later, the new windshield cracked in exactly the same place. It, too will require replacement.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

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