2017 Subaru Outback
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 917 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 26 Outback model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 32 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 25 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, air bag/restraint control moduleDec 19, 2019
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Campaign 19V910000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnOct 6, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Campaign 16V716000 on NHTSA.gov
SuspensionAug 3, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Campaign 16V576000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, columnDo not drive until repairedMay 11, 2016
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Campaign 16V292000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
917 reports, newest first.
Visibility/wiper, Dec 21, 2018
DRIVING ON I 29 WITH NO CARS AROUND US. HEARD A POP SOUND AND A CRACK APPEARED IN MY WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HIT IT. IT JUST CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY.
Power train, Electrical system, Wheels, Dec 18, 2018
HAVING PROBLEM TO REMOVE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WHEN THE CAN WAS ONLY DRIVEN FOR YEAR AND HALF AND HAS LESS THAN 10000 MILES ON.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 3, 2018
FUEL GAUGE ERRATIC. CAR RAN OUT OF GAS AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE SHOWING 70 MILES REMAINING ON TRIP COMPUTER AND OVER 1/8 OF A TANK ON GAUGE. STARTING THE CAR SHOWS DIFFERENT FUEL LEVEL FROM ONE TIME TO THE NEXT (E.G.-SHOWS OVER FULL WHEN LAST STARTED, THEN IT SHOWED 3/4 FULL WHEN STARTED AGAIN. STOP/RESTART THE CAR AND GAUGE SHOWS 3/4 FULL AGAIN).
Air bags, Dec 2, 2018, crash
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON A PUBLIC STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN ANOTHER CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND DROVE OUT IN FRONT OF HIM. HE HIT HER BROADSIDE. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A CRACKED STERNUM. THE CAR WAS DAMAGED SO SEVERELY IT WAS TOTALED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, HENCE THE CRACKED STERNUM FROM THE SEAT BELT. I BELIEVE THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WHICH WOULD HAVE LESSENED THE IMPACT AGAINST THE SEAT BELT. I HAVE A POLICE REPORT, PICTURES OF THE CAR AND HOSPITAL REPORTS IF THEY ARE NEEDED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2018
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN PAST 6 WEEKS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO LOCK SO CAR IS TURNED OFF AND I CANNOT WITHDRAW THE KEY. ONLY BY EXCESSIVE "PLAYING AROUND" WITH GEAR SHIFT ETC. CAN I FINALLY GET KEY OUT. THIS COULD PRESENT SERIOUS PROBLEMS TO ANYONE. MY DEALER NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL-SAID IF NOT DOING IT WHEN BRING CAR IN-THEY CAN'T FIX. IF YOU GO ON INTERNET YOUR CAN SEE THAT HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR SUBARU OWNERS OF VARIOUS MODELS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 27, 2018
OUR OUTBACK RAN OUT OF GAS ON TWO OCCASIONS: THE LOW FUEL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON, THE FUEL GAUGE REGISTERED ABOUT 1/4 TANK AND COMPUTER SAID 100-120 MILES LEFT ON THE TANK. OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND THEY ARE DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. INCIDENT #1: 10/25/2017, GPS: 38.365669,-82.850853. INCIDENT #2: 06/05/2018, GPS: 38.519781,-89.707681. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS DURING A LONG DAY OF DRIVING. DURING THE 2ND INCIDENT I TOOK PICTURES OF THE DASH TO DOCUMENT THE GAUGES. THE DASH PHOTOS SHOW ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL REMAINING, 100 MILES UNTIL EMPTY AND NO LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT. AAA PUT 2.5 GALLONS OF GAS INTO THE TANK, WE DROVE A FEW MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT AND FILLED UP. TANK ACCEPTED 13.5 GALLONS. SO 2.5 + 13.5 = 16 GALLONS, YET THE FUEL CAPACITY IS LISTED AS 18.5 GALLONS. SO SOMEWHERE THERE IS A DISCREPANCY OF 2.5 GALLONS. ALL THESE DETAILS AND DOCUMENTATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP. WE NOTIFIED OUT LOCAL DEALERSHIP OF THE ISSUE ON 6/5/18, THEY HAD THE CAR SEVERAL DAYS AND SAID A FIX WOULD BE OUT BY END OF SUMMER. TO DATE SUBARU AND MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FIX FOR THE ISSUE. SO NEARLY 6 MONTHS LATER AND STILL NO FIX. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO SUBARU AS FAR BACK AS 12/2016. HERE'S A WRITE-UP FROM 12/2016 ABOUT A PERSON HAVING AN ISSUE RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES WERE VERY SIMILAR TO OURS: HTTPS://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/66-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE/385545-2017-OUTBACK-2-5I-PREMIUM-RAN-OUT-GAS-2-5-GALLONS-LEFT.HTML WE WERE IN THE PASSING LANE ABOUT HALFWAY AROUND A BUS WHEN WE RAN OUT OF FUEL ! THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO ADDRESSED BY SUBARU IN A PROMPT MANNER.
Electrical system, Nov 14, 2018
AFTER USING REMOTE START AND AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. WAS ABLE TO ACTUALLY TURN OFF IGNITION, REMOVE KEY AND STILL DRIVE CAR. HAD TO PULL FUEL PUMP FUSE TO DISABLE THE CAR.
Steering, Nov 7, 2018
IGNITION KEY BECOMES LOCKED IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. MANY TIMES WHEN I TURN THE CAR OFF THE KEYS BECOME STUCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT IS NECESSARY TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AND SOMETIMES EVEN MOVE THE CAR AND PARK A 2ND OR 3RD TIME BEFORE THE KEYS CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE COLUMN. ITS HELPS TO TURN THE CAR OFF QUICKLY AND THEN REMOVE THE KEYS'EVEN THEN YOU CAN FEEL THE KEYS WANTING TO STICK.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2018
BATTERY HAS FAILED THREE TIMES WITH NO REASON FOUND. CHARGED THEN DEAD NEXT MORN WITH NOTHING LEFT ON ETC. COLD TEMP WAS NOT A FACTOR. ONCE WAS POSSIBILITY CONNECTED TO THE REAR GATE MOTOR WHICH I COULD HEAR AT ONE POINT,BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING...THE CAR WAS IN THE GARAGE TWICE , AND IN DRIVEWAY OTHER TIMES.BELOW DATE IS THE LATEST, THE FIRST TIME BEING 12/17;MILAGE IS AT 11/1 ENCOUNTER
Visibility/wiper, Oct 31, 2018
THE WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY FRAGILE AND CRACKS EASILY. I FEEL IT IS A LIGHTER WINDSHIELD, PERHAPS TO HELP WITH GAS MILEAGE. ONE LITTLE ROCK CRACKED IT EASILY. PREVIOUSLY, OWNED VEHICLES OF OLDER VINTAGE AND MODELS NEVER SEEMED TO CRACK AS READILY. ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 60 SMALL STONE HIT WINDSHIELD.
Power train, Oct 11, 2018
WE LIVE IN LA. WE BOUGHT OUR CAR NEW ON 5/31/17 FROM SUBARU OF SANTA MONICA. AT AROUND 6,000 MILES WE HAD ITS OIL CHANGED PRIVATELY IN DURANGO, CO, WHERE WE SPEND SUMMERS. BACK IN LA ON 12/17/17 WE WENT TO SUBARU OF SM FOR ANY REQUIRED ADDITIONAL SERVICE. THEY DECIDED TO PERFORM THE 12,000 SERVICE WITH 10,107 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN SERVICE WAS COMPLETED, I DROVE THE CAR OFF. IT STALLED FOR MAYBE 5-10 SECONDS (BUT DIDN'T SHUT DOWN) ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE SERVICE AREA. INITIALLY, IT JUST WOULDN'T GO WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I THEN REPEATEDLY DEPRESSED IT AND FINALLY THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO 'CATCH' AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD NORMALLY. LATER, AT MY REQUEST, MY WIFE MET WITH THE SERVICE WRITER (A LADY) TELLING HER ABOUT THE STALLING. HER RESPONSE: THIS HAPPENS ON ALL SUBARUS'THEY OCCASIONALLY STALL FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. SUBSEQUENTLY OUR CAR HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH MY WIFE DRIVING. AND IT ALSO HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN, THIS TIME AFTER ITS 24,000 SERVICE BY THE DURANGO SUBARU DEALER ON 10/10/18 (SEE SERVICE WRITE-UP). AS I WAS DRIVING AWAY, I STOPPED ON A DRIVEWAY BEFORE TURNING ONTO A CITY STREET. THAT'S WHEN THE CAR STALLED. [I HAD PREVIOUSLY TOLD THE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT THE STALLING, BUT THE DEALER'S MECHANIC COULDN'T GET IT TO STALL.] THE TWO DESCRIBED STALLINGS OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND I WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO A CITY STREET. WE JUST RECEIVED A CVT TRANSMISSION WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER (SEE ENCLOSED) APPLICABLE ONLY TO 2016 AND 2017 SUBARUS (MOST MODELS) WHICH TELLS ME SUBARU KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FIXED IT ON ITS 2018 AND 2019 MODELS. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THERE BE A RECALL OF ALL 2016 AND 2017 SUBARU VEHICLES DESCRIBED IN THE ENCLOSED WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER SO THAT THIS VERY FRIGHTENING PROBLEM CAN FIXED. THANK GOD OUR OUTBACK DIDN'T STALL AT A TIME WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE PLOWED INTO IT.
Other or unspecified, Sep 30, 2018
WE WERE TRAVELING WITH OUR MOON ROOF CLOSED BUT THE MOON ROOF COVER OPEN. WE HEAR AN EXPLOSION AND I THOUGHT SOMEONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. NEXT THINK I KNOW GLASS IS FALLING ON MY HEAD AND ON MY WIFE AND DOG'S HEAD. ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOMENTS OF DRIVING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. WEATHER WAS CLOUDY NO RAIN, NO ROCKS NO OVERHEAD BRIDGES. THIS WAS TRULY A DEFECT IN THE MOON ROOF GLASS.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 24, 2018
SIMILAR TO COMPLAIN DATED 12/09/2016 BY SOMEONE ELSE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WAS AT A LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND I HAD TO SWITCH TO NEUTRAL TO RETURN TO IDLE SPEED. I NOTIFIED A SUBARU REPRESENTATIVE ON THE INTERNET. THIS MONTH I HAD 4 OCCASIONS THAT I HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCE IN A SHOPPING MALL TRYING TO TURN RIGHT INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS FRIDAY I TRIED TO PARK IN MY GARAGE AFTER 5 MILES DRIVE, AND MY WIFE WAS A PASSENGER, I TURNED THE WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP FROM IDLE OF 600 TO 2000 RPM AND THEN WENT TO 4000 RPM. I WAS USING THE BRAKE AND I FELT A SKID OF A TIRE. SWITCHED TO NEUTRAL AND PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. MY WIFE WAS SCARED AND WOULD NOT RIDE IN MY CAR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY WAKEFIELD SUBARU DEALER ON 09/25/18, I DID NOT DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THE LAST EPISODE. MY ODOMETER IS 14241 MILES. I AM POSITIVE I DID NOT STEP ON THE GAS, ONLY THE BRAKE.
Electrical system, Sep 12, 2018
TWICE SINCE PURCHASED MARCH 2017 ELECTRICAL FAILURES HAVE CAUSED ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO GO ON; STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK, VARIOUS DRIVER AIDS HAVE CEASED TO OPERATE, AND ENGINE POWER WAS SEVERELY REDUCED (ALTHOUGH CAR STILL RAN). FIRST FAILURE WAS RECTIFIED WITHIN A FEW DAYS, BUT CURRENT FAILURE HAS HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER FOR A MONTH WITH NO PROSPECT OF A REPAIR. CAR WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME OF EACH FAILURE. DEALER IS SAYING THE MANUFACTURER IS TRYING TO DESIGN A WIRING HARNESS OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WILL WORK, BUT BACKORDERS ARE PILING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HE HAS NO PROMISE TO GIVE ME. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW LONG I MUST WAIT BEFORE I ASK THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CAR WITH ONE THAT DOES WORK.
Visibility/wiper, Sep 1, 2018
SUBARU OUTBACK 2017 WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, HEARD A CRACKING SOUND AND WITH NO APPARENT IMPACT ON GLASS, WINDSHIELD HAS NOW AN ABOUT FOUR INCH CRACK NEAR THE BOTTOM CORNER EDGE OF THE DRIVER SIDE. AFTER A FEW DAYS TIME HAS DEVELOPED INTO A LENGTH APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE WHOLE WINDSHIELD.
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Aug 6, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, IT ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND STOMACH INJURIES AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WRIST INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO YARK SUBARU (6141 CENTRAL AVE, TOLEDO, OH 43615). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,500.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 26, 2018
WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT. WINDSHIELD WAS FINE WHEN I LEFT THE CAR. WHEN I CAME OUT AFTER WORK THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD. STARTED IN THE TOP CORNER EDGE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AND EXTENDED ACROSS TO MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD BY THE EYESIGHT CAMERA. NO IMPACT POINT.
Structure, Jul 14, 2018
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOT ATTRIBUTED TO IMPACT FROM FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS. CONDITIONS INDICATE THAT THERMAL SHOCK HAS LIKELY EXPOSED DEFECTS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS AND OTHER VEHICLES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SIMILAR INCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN A PARKING LOT FOR 1.75 HOURS. OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AT 92 DEGREES (F). UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS ENGAGED AND THE INTERNAL AIR TEMPERATURE WAS SET AT 68 DEGREES (F). APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND WAS HEARD. THE SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED HOWEVER LARGELY INTACT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT IS CLEARLY DISCERNIBLE THAT THE GLASS IS NOW PROTRUDING OUTWARD BEYOND THE ROOFLINE AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSIVE ACTION.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 10, 2018
MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. CAR WAS PARKED. I WENT IN A RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH, WITH CAR IN VIEW. CAME OUT WINDSHIELD HAD CRACKED FROM VERY TOP, THROUGH EYESIGHT CAMERA, DOWN THROUGH MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD IN A WIDE J. TEMP WAS IN MID 80S. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO IMPACT. THERE IS NO IMPACT MARK AT ALL. BRAND NEW CAR. HAD IT LESS THAN A YEAR. HAD 2 CHIPS PRIOR TO THIS, NOT CONNECTED TO LARGE CRACK. BEEN IN OUTSIDE SALES 9 YEARS WITH 2 OTHER CARS. NEVER HAD WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS.
Visibility/wiper, Jul 3, 2018
FIRST LARGE CRACK APPEARED JUST 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IN AUGUST 31, 2016 AT A FAIRLY SLOW SPEED (UNDER 40 MPH). SECOND CRACK APPEARED MAY 2018. THE THIRD AND LARGEST CRACK HAPPENED JUNE 30, 2018, AGAIN AT A FAIRLY SLOW SPEED.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 27, 2018
THE WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE SITTING STATIONARY OUTSIDE MY OFFICE YESTERDAY. THE VEHICLE WAS HALF IN SUN AND HALF IN SHADE. THE CRACK STARTED NEAR THE TOP DRIVER'S SIDE AND SPREAD DOWNWARD AND OUTWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 7,000 MILES ON IT.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 22, 2018
> THE AUTO IN THIS COMPLAINT IS EQUIPPED WITH SUBARU'S "EYESIGHT" DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY. > JUNE 18, 2018 - DRIVING ON DIVIDED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD "BANG," - THE NEW REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND INSTANTLY THE CRACK EXTENDED 2/3 OF THE WAY ACROSS THE FULL WIDTH OF THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE WINDSHIELD TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE CRACK, I SADLY DISCOVERED THAT ONE SECTION OF THE OUTSIDE GLASS HAD SEPARATED FROM PLASTIC BEHIND IT TO THE DEGREE, THAT WHEN RANNING MY HAND AGAINST THE OUTSIDE GLASS SURFACE, IT CUT MY HAND. THE SEPARATION WAS ENOUGH THAT I QUESTIONED WHETHER IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I DID DRIVE THE CAR HOME. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPT. - THEY POINTED TO A MINUTE NICK ON THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD, SO SMALL THAT I DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME, AS THE "OUTSIDE SOURCE" CAUSING THE CRACK. I DON'T BUY WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. I BELIEVE THE THE GLASS IS SO FRAGILE THAT IT SIMPLY CRACKS FROM STRESS FROM NORMAL DRIVING MOVEMENT OF THE AUTO. AND THAT THE FRAGILE GLASS BEGINS TO SEPARATE FROM THE PLASTIC SECURELY HOLDING IT IN PLACE. > MY COMPLAINT IS THIS: 1) THIS PARTICULAR SUBARU MODEL HAS A RECORD OF "CRACKED WINDSHIELD" COMPLAINTS. BASED ON MY LAST EXPERIENCE WITH A CRACKED WINDSHIELD, THE GLASS IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL CAR IMPOSSED STRESS WHILE DRIVING .... AND, THE SUBSEQUENT SEPARATION BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE PLASTIC BEHIND THE GLASS HOLDING IT IN PLACE IS LARGE ENOUGH THAT IT CONSTITUTES A DRIVER SAFETY HAZARD. WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTIGATION. NOTE - A PHOTO CANNOT ADEQUATELY SHOW THE SEPARATION.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 19, 2018
CAME OUT OF WORK AND FOUND A 12 INCH CRACK GOING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD WITHOUT A REASON. TOOK IT TO MY SUBARU DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A ROCK CHIP AND NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS IS THE 2ND WINDSHIELD THAT HAS CRACKED IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE 1ST WAS 4 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR. SALESMAN DID NOT TELL US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS THINNER THAN NORNAL WINDSHIELDS. SUBARU HAS A FAULTY WINDSHIELD AND THEY WON'T ADMIT IT. I COULD SEE IF THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN HIT WITH A 1 INCH ROCK BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS A ROCK CHIP OTHER THAN THE SERVICE GUYS GRAB A PEN AND RUN IT ALONG THE CRACK UNTIL THEY FIND A PLACE THAT THE PEN JUMPS AND THEN STATES ROCK CHIP DID IT. THE WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO HAVE SHIFTED CAUSING A STRESS FRACTURE BREAK AND IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THOUGHT SUBARU STOOD FOR QUALITY BUT THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES. IT'S LIKE TAKE YOUR MONEY AND RUN. SEEMS THAT THEIR ENGINEERS COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A WINDSHIELD WITH THICKER GLASS TO WORK INSTEAD OF THE INFERIOR GLASS IN THEM. TEMPTED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER BRAND OF VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE SAFER. I THINK SUBARU OUGHT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES INSTEAD OF HIDING FROM THE ISSUES.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 13, 2018
THE QUALITY OF THE WINDSHIELD LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD. IN BOTH OCCASIONS, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I THOUGHT THE FIRST CRACK WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL OBJECT/PROJECTILE I COULD NOT SEE. THEN THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER (ABOUT 5 MONTHS APART) AROUND THE SAME SPOT (DRIVER SIDE) AS THE FIRST ONE. IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE CRACK RADIATED QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. IN BOTH CASES, EVEN IF THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL OBJECT, THE IMPACT WAS TOO SMALL TO EXPLAIN SUCH MAJOR DAMAGE. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, IT WAS REPLACED BY A SUBARU RECOMMENDED PART AND NOT BY AN AFTERMARKET WINDSHIELD. I WILL USE A SUBARU RECOMMENDED PART AGAIN. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE THAT THE PROBLEM WILL NOT RESURFACE. I THINK THE WINDSHIELD IS FUNDAMENTALLY DEFECTIVE.
Other or unspecified, May 31, 2018
PARKING GEAR DISENGAGES INTO REVERSE, ENGINE RUNNING AND POWERED BACKWARDS. TWO INCIDENCES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS, BOTH ON LEVEL SURFACE WITH ENGINE RUNNING. REQUIRED GETTING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY MOVING IN REVERSE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON A LEVEL PARKING STRIP AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE PASSENGER. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS IN OUR GARAGE ON A LEVEL SURFACE, AND WE NARROWLY AVOIDED PROPERTY BY QUICKLY GAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR. A DIFFERENT DRIVER FOR EACH INCIDENT. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE PARKING GEAR DISENGAGING INTO POWERED REVERSE GEAR. OUR DEALER WAS VERY RESPONSIVE BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND OFFER A SOLUTION.