The headlights on this car repeatedly burn out. The manufacturer should cover all replacements for the life of the vehicle given that it's a known issue.
In 3 years I replaced all external and internal lights twice! This seems to be an inherant problem because there were and still are numerous electrical complaints on Outbacks. I an very disappointed in the reliability of this car. I have owned a Ford Explorer and Expedition both purchased new and each driven over 200,000 miles and I did not have a fraction of the problems I did with the Outback (which only had 122,000 miles on it when the accelerator stuck and the car hit a tree...but that's a different complaint).
I didn't know my headlight burned out until I was pulled over by a cop. I then had to pay a fine!! I had the headlight replaced less than a year ago. This is under "extended warranty" until 2020. What happens after 2020? In the meantime, every time my headlight burns out (6-9 months) I have to spend an hour at the dealership while they fix it. Come on Subaru, fix the root problem why it's burning out!
The frequency of this issue wouldn't annoy me as much if I could easily change the bulb myself (within 10 minutes). This is NOT the case. The one occasion I changed the bulb myself it took an hour. I don't have that kind of time considering how often this is a problem.
I understand that the Subaru Outback is not the only car out there with notoriously difficult-to-reach headlamp bulbs; however, at $90 a pop and the annoyance of having to frequently schedule service appointments (not to mention the loss of work time), this issue is a BIG deal on an otherwise wonderful car.
On average, I am having to replace my headlines every 6 to 8 months as they keep going out (with no apparent trigger). With 8 individual bulb changes (they never 'conveniently' go out at the same time), that's over $700 in headline bulb maintenance. Ridiculous!
I've owned my current Subaru Outback (my third) for less than 2 years and I have had FIVE (5) headlamps changed as of this morning! My two previous Subaru had a similar problem, but for $8 bucks and the fact I could change the bulb it was no big deal; i would buy extra bulbs and kept them in the glove box. Now that the design requires the wheel shroud to be removed to replace the bulb, every single blown headlight demands a trip to a service station and the charge is never less than $26. Plus I waste at least an hour of my time (1 1/2 hours this morning) and it's usually on MY day off.
To prove it to my co-worker, I pulled all my receipts out of the glove box....October 2013 and then a month later (11/13) the other side blew. Then a few months later (3/14) another headlight, within 2 months (5/14) the other side, AGAIN! Now February (2/15) a 5th bulb! I guess a "betting man" would say I 'll be needing a 6th bulb before summer gets here.
I purchased this vehicle as the 2nd owner 1 year ago. In that time frame I have replaced the 7 bulbs on the cars exterior lights .. 4 headlights and 3 turn or brake lights .. using factory recommended replacements
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Left lower-beam headlight burned up a few years ago. Now it's the right headlight. It's too hard to replace the light bulbs!
- Donald L., San Jose, US