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.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be serviced; however, while the mechanic was inspecting the vehicle, he noticed oil splatter inside the engine compartment. The vehicle was diagnosed with an oil leak. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V502000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,315.
Subaru dealer diagnosed oil leaks on the valve cover gaskets. I took the car to an independent repair business and the problem was diagnosed as a camshaft carrier oil leak. Upon removing the necessary parts, the company reported to me they found chunks of silicone around the carrier. I first noticed a smell of something burning after Subaru had done an oil change about 2 months prior. I was also getting the Check Oil lamp about 2 months after the oil change. It was losing oil. That-€™s when I had Subaru diagnose the problem. The loss of oil could have started a fire. Parts are available for inspection.
Unable to turn key to off position when in neutral and unable to remove key from the ignition. In order to get the key out of the ignition, the car needs to be restarted and turned back off or the gear shift needs to be pushed as hard as possible into the neutral position multiple times. With the inability to turn the car totally off and remove the key, there are multiple safety issues that can arise. Was informed that the entire select lever assembly needs to be replaced due to a known issue by Subaru. The issue was reproduced by an independent service center. No warning lamps are illuminated.
- Baraboo, WI, USA
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Parking shifter sensor is failing intermittently. This prevents removing the key from the ignition. Seems to react better when you throw the shifter into park forcefully.
Complete draining of battery just sitting there for no reason... we see this is an enormous problem with Outbacks, and we have one with great problems leaving us stranded !
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife had attempted to park the vehicle, the vehicle independently accelerated while at a complete stop. The contact stated that the vehicle jumped a curb and hit a tree; however, his wife was unsure if any warning lights had illuminated during the failure. The air bags did not deploy upon impact and the contact's wife was not injured. The police were called to the scene; however, the contact was unaware if a police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was repaired for the damage. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle was placed under recall NHTSA campaign number: 15V794000 (power train) where it was serviced by North end Subaru(757 chase rd, lunenburg, MA 01462). The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,343.
2.12 February 2021, vehicle milage approaching 42,000. Traveling from mazama wa to seattle via wa hwy 20, us 97 and I-90, traveled +/- 200 miles. Temperature ranges from 10F to 20F. Traveling West on I-90 +/-50 mph, lanes clear, snow in between lanes. New Michelin tires on all 4 wheels. Holding the speed constant following 18-wheel rig. Subaru started wobbling as if one of the tires was going flat. Tried accelerating and slowing to determine if this was front or back tire. Determined it must be a rear tire. No low-pressure indication on the instrument gages (I have had tire warning during summer driving and found a nail in tire). Next off ramp checked all 4 tires, all appeared to be the same in appearance. Resumed travel. During acceleration and de-accelerating no differential sway. When constant speed maintained around 50 mph swaying occurred un to we reached the West side of snoqualmie pass and the temperature was into the 30's. last year when having vehicle serviced, I told the service check-in person & a supervisor the car was stalling out when hard acceleration during merging left into highway where speed limit was 50 mph. The car stalled and I kicked the accelerator. Luckily, the car responded the supervisors response was 'there's no way this can happen'.
While driving on the highway, the transmission in my 2016 Subaru Outback started making a loud grinding sound and violently halted the car to a stop. I was lucky enough that it wasn't during a busy time and an accident was narrowly avoided. This transmission only had 67,000 miles on it and is actually the second transmission that car has had. In 2018 the transmission had to be replaced after 68,000 miles. Luckily it was fully covered under an extended warranty I purchased when I bought it. Later the transmissions were given a warranty extension which extended the warranty to 100,000. The newest transmission (the one that just violently grinded to a halt on the highway) currently has 67,000 miles on that new transmission, but Subaru will not honor the 100,000 warranty extension because the remainder of the vehicle has 135,000 miles on it. I do count myself lucky that this didn't cause an accident because I had my family in the vehicle with me and we could've been seriously hurt.
We have had 2 major issues with this car: 1- multiple episodes of battery failure requiring a jump start over the last year. This has happened when the car was not used for a week, but also randomly after a drive. Just happened 4 days ago after a 30 minute highway drive- when we came back out to the car after 15 minutes, it wouldn't start. We jump started it, and it was fine for a few days, but now dead again in my driveway. The car often has a shuddering and occasional stall when starting it. Most worrisome, I was recently driving with my daughter and after we exited the highway, and slowed down for a toll, the car lost it's acceleration, despite rpms revving. We pulled to the side of the road, turned the car off and re-started, and it ran regularly home, but this was frightening.
For a few years off and on with the car stopped and attempting to complete parking, the key would not turn from the acc to off position or release the key from the ignition. Of the several times we mentioned it to multiple dealerships, we were told it was our technique, not a problem with the vehicle. Finally a dealership reported the shift assembly was not recognizing the car was in park thus would not turn the key past the accessory position to off or release the key. This occurred with multiple keys and different people. The safety issue is that you cannot lock the car with the key in the ignition. Also, if you cannot remove the key and leave the car, you are handing the car over to whomever wants to steal it. Only with lots of time, starting the car, putting it into another gear, then back to park and turning it off again, with luck the assembly recognizes you are in park and allows the key turn to off and allows the key to be removed. The dealership who identified the defective shift assembly stated the only fix is to replace the entire assembly at a cost of $1100.
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Outback. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. Aaa was contacted and the vehicle was jump started. The contact stated that the failure recurred 4 times. The vehicle was taken to competition Subaru of smithtown located at 601 middle country rd, St james, NY 11780 where the battery was replaced. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and the battery was replaced. The failure recurred and the contact was informed of an unknown voluntary manufacturer recall to replace the exhaust and catalytic converter however, the part was not available. The contact was provided a loaner vehicle. The contact was informed a week later to return the loaner and retrieve his vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 13,270.
The cvt transmission failed at 79K miles at highway speeds causing the car to violently stall. We barely avoided hitting the cars around us trying to pull over. Luckily there was no car to rear end us. We were very lucky the traffic was light. These transmissions are defective and when they fail, they fail in a spectacular manner causing the vehicle to violently jerk and stall, a traumatic event equivalent to jumping on the breaks at highway speeds. It is extremely dangerous and will cause people to die in crashes. Subaru needs to recall every single cvt and stop putting them in new cars. Extending the warranty is insufficient.
Front right cv joint started making a clicking sound that became extremely bad after one month. We were told to replace immediately due to safety hazard. Had to replace the cv axel costing over $600. Got it back from the Subaru dealership, just to be told the left one is now going out and will have to be replaced as well.
Noticing when I park my car the key won't release from ignition switch when car lever is set in "P" position. As I push in and turn the key from start to lock the key will stay acc position won't go into lock.
I regularly cannot remove key from ignition while in park. The ignition does not seem to recognize the vehicle is in park, so I have to restart car, shift do drive, reshift to park and try to remove key multiple times. This has been happening consistently and is worst when parked on a hill.
Subaru Outback 2016 4dr 2.5I - vehicle began making loud noise when driving in the highway. Noise coming from the rear passenger side of vehicle. Took to Subaru dealer in chandler AZ and dealer changed right-rear wheel hub bearing. Vehicle only has 67 K miles.
Wobbling and shaking occurs when the car is in motion (when accelerating). Happens on street and on highway. Service advisor recommended transmission replacement. Please see attached extended warranty offer from the manufacturer as a result of previous complaints.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Winchester, VA, USA