10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 9,144 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.
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle started reversing unintendedly while the gear shifter was in drive(D). The contact stated that the vehicle reversed on a steep road, drove onto a curb, and onto the poles that were lying down, and the vehicle stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained pain on the right side of the lower back but had not yet received medical assistance. The vehicle sustained damage. The vehicle was towed to the Executive Auto Body repair shop. A police report was filed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
- Elkins Park, PA, USA
My name is [XXX] [XXX] Phone Number: [XXX] My complaint is with Subaru of America, 1 Subaru Drive, Camden, NJ 08103 Phone Number: 800-782-2783 I would like the Pennsylvania State Attorney General-??s Office to become involved with the two lemons/pieces of junk my wife and I have been sold. My Subaru is a 2019 Outback and my wife-??s Subaru is a 2020 Forester. My ongoing problems with my 2019 Subaru Outback are as follows and in my opinion, I am driving a very unsafe car putting our lives at risk: 3 batteries prior to 80,000 miles resulting from a class action lawsuit filed against Subaru. Replacement of the ECM or Engine Control Module. Burns a quart of oil at the price of $11 per quart every 3,000 miles, that-??s an engine problem. Right front axle broke and had to be replaced. After replacement of the right front axle, the right front axle seal, which is the axle replaced started to leak and I was charged to replace the axle seal due to a mechanics incompetence. I received a card from Subaru stating a windshield issue. Received another card regarding a fuel pump issue. A letter received this past week from an apparent CVT or continuously variable transmission issue. Now my radio stations jump around arbitrarily changing stations, tracks on my CD, and my hatch doesn-??t open, but gets stuck shortly upon opening. This car is a lemon, a piece of junk and very unsafe. How many more problems are unknown to us and when will any of them occur while we are driving putting our lives in danger. If Subaru had any ethics character integrity or business morality they would have replaced this piece of junk. They are a horrible company to work with INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Harleysville , PA, USA
I have had 3 dead battery issues with this car. Something is draining the battery while the car is off.
- East Moriches, NY, USA
The car got stuck in 1st gear and shortly after a fire began between the engine and transmission. The car became fully engulfed and it blew up.
- Harwood, TX, USA
Took in 2 yr old car relating to vehicle veering to the right, ticking helicopter noise on driver side. Took to Continental Subaru Anchorage Alaska on 11/2/22. For tire change over, alignment, oil change and for diagnostics on noise. I was told that my vehicle needed a complete driver side cx axle replacement. After axle was installed, they said they heard another noise and that it was my transmission, and now it needs replaced. I didn't get alignment according to papers. This car is 2 yrs old. 2019 bought in 2019 at Christmas or 2020. Why is transmission out? Low miles and drivers are very safe! I was given a rental till transmission could be ordered and replaced.
- Anchorage , AK, USA
Travelling on the freeway and tapped brakes to disengage the adaptive cruise control due to slowing traffic ahead. The anti-lock brakes came on and the car came to a complete stop even though I had only tapped the brake and taken my foot off the brake. After coming to a stop the car was still running, but the transmission was completely out and the car wouldn't move. Was disabled on freeway until the Highway Patrol came and pushed me off the road.
- Auburn, WA, USA
Chain slippage according to Subaru Repair Service. They can't really give an reasonings as to why the slippage has occured. Says transmission is slipping as a result. Car isn't safe to drive and wheels do not turn properly. Haven't drove car in months because of this issue.
- Ashland , KY, USA
Sudden Acceleration Defect has occurred several times with last incident Friday 21Jan2022. Each time I have had the brake pedal engaged, yet vehicle fails to stop, and accelerates on it-??s own, causing me to go through stop signs with potentially dangerous outcomes for pedestrians, other vehicles, barriers. Dealer appointment rescheduled for Monday 24Jan2022. No inspections to date. No warnings- the first time I thought I may have caused it by accidentally touching the accelerator, but now I know that is not the case. First occurrence was in Dec 2021, exact date not known, happened in a parking lot.
- Northford, CT, USA
I am trying to submit a complaint to the electronically with no success. Is there an email address that I can send my complaint directly to? The complaint in its entirety takes up one 8.5 by 11 inch-sized paper, I need enough space for 3494 characters. Not enough space given to explain my situation. In order for the context of the complaint to be understood, it must be read from top to bottom. As I have no idea where this is going, nor to whom, I am hoping to hear back from someone. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Lynn, MA, USA
Certain year models of Subaru vehicles suffer from -??sudden and unexpected acceleration-??. We know since it has happened to us and, research shows, many, many other people. Waiting for the automatic garage door to open, the vehicle experienced the sudden and uncontrollable acceleration. This resulted in extensive damage to the vehicle, garage and contents in the garage. What will Subaru do when this happens at a crosswalk?
- Cochise, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a stand still, facing forward on her inclined iced driveway, when the vehicle began to roll down. The contact stated she did not use the emergency brakes while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was towed to local dealer riverhead bay Subaru (1521 old country rd, riverhead, NY 11901: (631) 727-4000) and she was informed the cause of the failure was due to the ice and the no use of emergency brakes. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,214.
- Riverhead, NY, USA
On the morning of December 9th, 2020 I was driving to work on the freeway and was on an interchange from one freeway to another when I suddenly heard a 'crack'. as I arrived to work a few minutes later I noticed that my windshield now had a large crack in it. I looked for a point of impact thinking a projectile might have hit it but I did not find one. At that point I remembered that I was the only one on the interchange at the time and that there was no car in front of me to send any projectiles flying back. I believe this is due to a faulty windshield as there was no other cause for the crack. Additionally, engine feels like it sputters or as if transmission does not change gears causing a delay in pick up and potentially dangerous lack of acceleration.
- Downey, CA, USA
Unknown origin. Currently approximate miles 12500. Travel 450-550 miles per week, 400-450 miles are highway miles. Somewhere between 10,000-11,000 miles I started noticing a high-pitched squealing/whining only while in motion. It starts around 20-30 mph, and either goes away or becomes unnoticeable after ~50 mph. Could not pinpoint where it was coming from. When scheduling regular maintenance, dealership was notified of noise. At the time of maintenance, service department investigated said noise. The service department stated that it was the carrier bearing. He did not make it sound urgent, that it was "more of an annoyance right now" and would cause "more serious issues eventually ".
- El Dorado, KS, USA
First oil change at 5,850 miles no problem. After second oil change at 11,948 miles, vehicle became undrivable as it stumbles and loses power between 2,000-2,700 RPM. Dealer has repeated oil change 3 additional times as they are not certain if they may have overfilled the engine (known Subaru issue). They have also replaced the exhaust, catalytic converter, air filter, intake system, and transmission, all to no avail. Disconnecting the battery and grounding the cables to discharge all capacitors provided temporary relief, but the problem returned within 36 hours and 200 miles. Now entering 3 weeks and 600 miles of troubleshooting and test driving by the dealer, but they have been unable to fix the problem. The car is still unsafe and undrivable, as 2000-2700 RPM is the heart of the power band that is always used when driving.
- Mesa, AZ, USA

- Holmdel, NJ, USA