10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,139 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 #9

Dec 062023

Outback

  • miles
On 12/6/2023, as I slowly turned right into a parking space, my car suddenly surged forward and accelerated without my input to the gas pedal. The brakes did not work, and there was no resistance from the brake pedal when I repeated to push it. The car continued to accelerate for about 80 ft as I focused on steering to avoid hitting other cars parked in the lot. The car ran over a curb, up a grassy area, and crashed into a row of trees. The airbag did not deploy. I sustained neck muscle strain/whiplash, and bruises to my chest and right knee. My safety was at risk, as well as anyone or anything that was in the car's path since I had no control over the acceleration or the brakes. The car is a 2020 Subaru Outback with about 44000 miles. It is in a body shop and they have not yet determined if it is safe to work on. So far, they have observed the engine race when the car was turned on. There were no warning signs prior to the acceleration. When I called the Subaru dealer service department, I was told that they never heard of this before and it had to have been my fault. They said I could bring it in after the body damage is repaired, and that I can pay for a diagnotic report. However, they expect that the report will not show anything.

- Elgin, IL, USA

problem #8

Jan 232023

Outback

  • miles
I pulled into my driveway, came to a stop and planned to back up a short distance to be nearer the front walkway. Before I could shift into reverse the car started to accelerate forward. I slammed my foot onto the brakes which had no effect on the acceleration. The car stopped when the lower bumper hit and ran up onto a large boulder on the edge of the driveway. The car was partially wedged on the top of the boulder but I was able to back it off the boulder, park and turn off the car. I have scheduled an appointment with the service department on February 1st, at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle in June 2020. Of note, I had a routine oil change and service check at this dealership on January 16 with no engine problems noted.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #7

Dec 282022

Outback

  • miles
The problems I have had or currently have with my vehicle are as follows: 1. On or about November 17, 2022, multiple dash lights, including the check engine light, came on while idling in a parking lot. I turned the engine off for a few minutes and when I restarted the car the lights didn't come back on. I took no further action at that time 2. On November 17, 2022, when starting the engine for the first time that day, numerous lights came on on the dash. The engine was idling and there appeared to be some braking/stuttering not initiated by the driver of the car when it was being driven. The car was returned to our home garage after being driven approximately 1/10 of a mile and another vehicle was driven that day. The Subaru dealer advised to drive the vehicle to his shop in Miami. We took it to Subaru on November 20 and they fixed it that day. The technician said that -€œThe technician completely placed the sensor and told us that the car was fixed. 3. On November 29, 2022, many dash lights, including the check engine light, came on when starting the vehicle for the first time during the day. The engine was more or less idling. The car was driven and the lights eventually went out on their own while running errands. We took the interior to the Subaru dealer. They said the battery would need to be replaced and adjustments made and we returned the Outback to the Subaru dealer on November 29, 2022 for maintenance. They changed the battery and the star/stop and returned the car 3 days later 4. You were driving on the interstate when you started to brake accidentally. This occurred on southbound I-95 just north of boca raton with 2 children in the car as passengers. All the dash lights came on including the check engine light. Less than 10 seconds later, the car began to brake against the driver's will. The interior slowed to 20 mph in less than 100 yards. The vehicle continued to resist my attempts to accelerate.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #6

Apr 072022

Outback

  • miles
3 weeks ago the all of the warning lights came on. Had vehicle towed to dealership. Could not find out what was wrong. Saw there was a lot of carbon build up which was unusual since there is only 26,000 miles on vehicle. After a week a dealership a cleaning took it home. Went back the next day. They inspected and stated it was the spark plugs and needed new fuel injectors. Had replaced. Everything still covered. Picked vehicle up finally after 17 days of it being there. When picking it up the paper work stated the vehicle had cylinder 1 misfires 30-45 times in a 3 hour period. But was assured the vehicle was repaired and fully inspected and 100% safe. Within 24hrs of driving the vehicle. The next morning we drove to school and with after the second light we smelled smoothing rolled windows down and but was sure if it was us. Then had slowed down to turn at the next light to turn to pull over but didn-€™t get that opportunity before a boom and smoke and flame came and i rushed out of the car and took immediate action and got my 4 year old out of her car seat. Before the whole car was up in flames. I have heard that similar vehicles had similar issues but have had other repairs to deal with it.There was no lights that came on in the vehicle to warn us that something was wrong so thought the smell was from outside. Insurance and the auto maker are inspecting but i had to alert the automaker the dealership wasn-€™t going to. They stated that the insurance and automaker will just compare notes.

- Lakeside , CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 122021

Outback

  • miles
Car has twice stalled out when driving slowly in hot weather. When trying to restart vehicle the engine turned over just fine, but wouldn-€™t restart until much later after the car had a chance to cool down completely. Possible vapor lock or faulty fuel pump.

- Lake Oswego, OR, USA

problem #4

Jul 182021

Outback

  • miles
We are getting about 24.5 mpg highway on a car that was advertised at 33 mpg highway. We traded in a 2015 outback that did consistently get 32 mpg on the type of driving we do. (mostly Highway). I have taken the car to the dealer where we purchased the vehicle several times but they say the computer shows no problem. They cannot conceive that the sensors or the computer might be in error. This 30%reduction in gas mileage will cost us about $600/year. We are winter Texans and drive to Alaska every summer and there is the danger of running out of gas on some of the long stretches on the Alaska highway.

- Boerne, TX, USA

problem #3

Aug 282020

Outback

  • 3,300 miles
Driving on a busy road, made a stop at a light. When I got the green arrow to turn left, car just died in the middle of the intersection. Was fortunate, 4 good individuals jumped out of their vehicles to push us out of the intersection and avoid collision with oncoming traffic. Called Subaru for a tow. During the 2 hour wait, tried to start a couple of times with no luck. When tow truck arrived, was to put it in neutral, so attempted to start again, which it did. Drove immediately to dealership. Stayed there for 2 and a half weeks. They replaced fuel pump, which in my mind, may not be at the root of the problem. My thoughts are that something overheated, possibly a circuit or software that caused the malfunction. It was a 95 degree day, the car had been idling for about 20 minutes in a store parking lot right before the shutdown. In talking with Subaru, they will not give me root cause once they do further analysis on the problem. I feel at great risk this can happen at any time going forward, (ie on the interstate, at an intersection, etc). I'm hoping that logging this incident will help other Outback owners know of the potential danger they may be in.

- Urbandale, IA, USA

problem #2

Aug 292020

Outback

  • 6,000 miles
Was driving Subaru Outback, came to a red light and car stopped as it's designed to do. When light turned green, car stalled and never started again leaving me on a 3 lane highway called route 19 in hudson Florida.

- New Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #1

Mar 102020

Outback

  • 950 miles
When driving my vehicle around 50-70 it will hesitate and acts like it wants to stop. No warning lights come on have taking back to the dealer. They couldn't get it to do this. The vehicle is not cold when this happens. It can be after I've been driving for 30 minutes or more. This happens on main roads and highways.

- Fennville, MI, USA