This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Unintended acceleration of 2005 Subaru Outback, manual transmission while driving on 2 occasions within 10 minutes and 5 miles of each other. First occurred in 3rd or 4th gear, with no reason to change speeds or stop, when the car suddenly sped forward, and left the road on the right side. I was able to keep it under control, and just as quickly, it returned to normal. With in the next four miles, it was perfectly normal, with no engine lights, strange sounds or behavior. I came to almost a complete stop before turning left onto our gravel road, when again it surged forward, and this time went through a chain link fence, into a flower garden, and came to a stop, wedged against the fence. The car was towed (on a flat bed) to a repair shop, where it was examined and repaired for $5876.11. I contacted Subaru of America by E-mail that evening, , and got a letter dated September 6, that arrived on the 8th. It asked for all the details, service records, police reports, insurance company, etc. It also stated that they wished the vehicle to remain in its undamaged condition. Unfortunately, this came too late, as the car was already being repaired. I sent in all the required information and I received a call from Subaru of America pn Sept. 20, saying that they were sorry, but since the car had been repaired, they were unable to do anything about it.
Manual transmission Outback wagon non-turbo cruise control turns off unexpectedly on highways. Was filed at wilkins Subaru in md a while back and they made some change to the computer by soa and it went away. Well it came back on my latest road trip. It would kick out at vary durations, on varying terrain, at varying temperatures, and various speeds. The trip went from the gulf coast to the baltimore over 2 days. My wife put 1500 miles on the car in 2 days a week earlier with no troubles and the next 1200 it was a constant problem. It didn't seem to matter if I set the speed and left it or if I set the speed and used the "accel" "deccel" buttons. Major nuisance and unsafe. I couldn't always tell it turned off until all of a sudden the car behind me was much too close. Then the car lunges as I his "resume"
Every time the cruise control is engaged while going downhill the throttle begins to rapidly and wildly accelerate and decelerate as if it is out of control. It stops when cruise control is disengaged. Very unnerving.
Cruise control does not operate properly with manual transmission. The throttle will hesitatate and surge when descending on even a small hill. This is distracting to the driver and could be a safety concern. I contacted the dealer and was informed that this is how the vehicle was designed and a fix is not possible.
2005 Subaru Outback: When cruise control is engaged, acceleration becomes extremely irregular, especially after cresting a hill, engine pulsates as if gas flow to the engine is being interrupted irregularly, car bucks or pulses.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Evart, MI, USA