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.
Multiple cracked windshields unexplained. Cracked under minimal stress in heat and cold while in motion. Insurance did not cover deductibles or alternate transportation during repairs
Battery has died twice in the last 5 months when nothing was left on and the car has been driven at least once a week. It continues to drain even when we replaced with a high level battery
Windshields keeps cracking. Repairs are expensive because of eyesight calibration. Windshield cracked shortly after purchase in early 2018, repaired it immediately, then cracked again within 2 or 3 months. Crack both times spread more than 6 inches in less than an hour.
My 2016 Subaru Outback all of sudden had warning lights such as: Brake, ABS, and stability traction control popped up on the dashboard when the car was in park ans when I was driving down the road and will not go away. It has made my steering wheel really hard to turn.
Since purchasing vehicle on 6/16/2016 we have had a recurring problem with drivers side window engaging the auto-reversing (anti-entrapment) feature causing an inability to close window. We have mentioned this issue to dealership numerous times sometimes documented, sometimes not. They reset switch, only for the problem to return. On our last visit6/31/2020 we were told there was a tsb (12-272-19R) but we would be charged $276.22 for the repair. This is a safety issue and should be covered. We also purchased an extended warranty for $2547 good until 6/16/2026 or 126000 miles and were turned down on coverage from them as well.
The car is stationary when this happens. The ignition key gets stuck in the ignition after turning the car off. Besides being annoying, this prevents the car from being locked thus introduces a theft risk. Eventually, we are able to remove the key but there is no consistent method of doing so. It's a matter of time and messing with turning the car on and off, moving the shifter, jiggling the key, or moving the steering wheel before it comes out. Google indicates this is a common problem with Subaru so I don't know why there is not a recall. This happens sporadically and has been ongoing for the past several months.
Sometimes the key won't come out of the ignition when I try to turn the car off (even though the car is in park). Based on what I've read, this is a defect with a sensor not recognizing that the car is in park. I think there should be a recall for this particular defect. I believe the service bulletin that addresses this defect is tsb number 16-112-18R.
We were driving on I5 North through Washington on a roadtrip (going ~65mph), about to enter a thunderstorm, and our moonroof unexpectedly shattered, making an explosion sound. Thankfully no one was hurt and we were able to go to a nearby Ford dealership to help us patch the car so we could make our 2+ hour drive home, but it was absolutely terrifying. After further research, we think it's in relation to the pressure difference inside and outside of the car. There was little glass in the car, making it seem as if the explosion was coming from inside. No rock or debris hitting the car was noticed. Here's more information about the issue from an article last year that referenced NHTSA: Https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/my-sunroof-exploded-government-investigating-exploding-sunroofs/283-C529D7E5-F2C4-488E-AE34-96F781ad5466.
My 2016 Outback's horn stopped working. Over a year ago, it started working only when I was turning the wheel, then eventually in July 2019, it stopped working all together. It is mostly an annoyance, but I can't use it to warn others. I called an told my dealer's service dept, but they never got back to me. Later on, I talked to them, but was told they would not do anything because my car is out of warranty. They do know the part on it that "goes". I thought that if I got an expensive mileage check up service that they would feel badly that they know they have a "part that goes" and fix it, but they didn't offer to do anything. It is obvious that since they know exactly what part "went" without even looking at the car, they had a badly made part. I have a history of driving cars until they are over 20 years old and can hit 200 miles on a car and I never had a hard just stop working and don't think this should happen. I do not want to pay Subaru to fix this since they know their part goes wrong and is a safety issue. I am not confident that a non-Subaru mechanic will know exactly what to do, though since outside mechanics won't be familiar with this issue.
Key sticks in ignition when parked and turning off the vehicle. Key turns, but not to the point where it reaches the position of removal. It often takes several starts and turn off's to achieve removal of the key. Often requires very firm forces of the shift lever in the park position to achieve release of the key.
Happens when stationary. When you pull into a parking spot and put the car in park, the key will not turn all the way off and cannot be removed. Subaru dealer diagnosed it as 'faulty shifter assembly'. this would be from the manufacturer as no work has been done in those areas of the car since purchased brand new from Subaru dealership in 2016. Causes the key to become stuck in the ignition and unable to remove when put in park.
The starlink infotainment system in the Outback affects iphone mapping when connected to the car's usb slots. The maps go haywire, always pointing the wrong direccion, rerouting consistently, resulting in very dangerous routing. This issue has been present since day one. I had to stop connecting the iphone to the usb slots when driving so I can use apps like google maps and apple maps. This is a know issue with the first generation of starlink infotainment. It only happens when I connect the iphone to the Outback and not to any other model.
The battery on our 2016 Subaru Outback keeps discharging and car won't start. It is in the garage. Drove it to the store yesterday. Bought a new battery 4 months ago, has happened 5 times in 6 months.
Battery runs down often. I've had the battery checked multiple times and no problem with the alternator either. I know it will run down during loading or unloading that lasts more than 30 minutes, so I manage that situation. But it is starting to run down more often while parked. This has left me stranded multiple times over the last 6 months.
Can not remove key when in park!! leaves me stranded..have to keep trying various methods to turn car off and remove key!! this should be a recall.. have seen many complaints as well on line.
When putting auto into park, key will not turn far enough to allow key to come out. Have to restart car, shift into other gears and return to park until the key will come out. I have another exact year and model vehicle which had the same issue and it was repaired about 1 1/2 years ago. Vehicle stationary.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mooresville, NC, USA