1996 Subaru Outback problems

SERVICE BRAKES

WHENEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE HOURS, THE CHECK VALVE IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE WILL FREEZE IN PLACE AND RESULTS IN NO POWER ASSIST BRAKING. THE FIRST APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD BE NORMAL AS THERE WAS RESIDUAL VACUUM IN THE BOOSTER. ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES WOULD HAVE NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL. MULTIPLE PUMPS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BREAK LOOSE THE CHECK VALVE AND RESTORE NORMAL BRAKING. THIS CAR WAS NEW TO ME IN 2013 AND I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS DEFECT. THE FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED TO ME, I WENT THROUGH STOP SIGNS NOT KNOWING THAT I HAD NO POWER ASSIST BRAKES. NOW THAT I KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT- BEFORE PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR, I WOULD TEST THE BRAKE PEDAL AT LEAST THREE TIMES. WHEN THE CHECK VALVE IS FROZEN, I WOULD FEEL NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE THE FIRST TIME THEN THE PEDAL WOULD GO HARD THE SECOND TIME. I WOULD THEN HAVE TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL I FELT THE CHECK VALVE BREAK FREE AND NORMAL PEDAL PRESSURE WAS RESTORED.

NHTSA complaint #10577563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING VERY BUSY HIGHWAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY TO "H". I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SOME STEAM UNDER HOOD. ADDED SOME WATER. A LITTLE LATER, STILL ON "H". MECHANIC WHO HAS SERVICED MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK SINCE I GOT IT IN 1998 SAID IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, COMMON WITH SUBARUS. IN 2009 I HAD THE 90K MILE MAINTENANCE DONE, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO HAD ALL NEW BRAKES, VERY EXPENSIVE. ALSO FOUR NEW TIRES AND LAST MONTH, A NEW BATTERY. ALSO, LAST MONTH, HAD OIL CHANGE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED EVEN ONE RECALL NOTICE FROM SUBARU, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THEIR HEAD GASKETS ARE FAILING IN THEIR CARS. I WANTED MY OUTBACK TO LAST MANY MORE YEARS BUT NOW MUST JUNK IT BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC SAID IT'S USELESS TO FIX HEAD GASKET OR REPLACE IT, AND TOLD ME TO GET A NEW CAR, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. MECHANIC PUT CHEMICAL IN LINE WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SEAL ANY LEAKS (NO GUARANTEES). I OFTEN VISIT MY DAUGHTER, WHO IS RECUPERATING FROM BREAST CANCER, IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF CT, IN A VERY SECLUDED AREA OF FEW HOMES, NO BUSINESSES. TO HAVE CAR FAILURE IN THE WOODS WOULD PROBABLY GIVE THIS 70 YEAR OLD A HEART ATTACK.

NHTSA complaint #10299746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING. SUSPECT HEADGASKET FAILURE ALLOWING COOLANT TO ESCAPE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT . (POTENTIAL FOR CAR TO UNEXPECTEDLY STALL ON INTERSTATE) UPON INTERNET SEARCH FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF THE SUBARU 2.5L ENGINES SUFFER FROM SAME CONDITION (1995-1999). HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~SKIPNOSPAM/.

NHTSA complaint #10289921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, IT SPED OFF ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AS WELL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO TALL GRASS; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RESPOND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL. SHE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 196,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000.

NHTSA complaint #10255943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1. JUST BOUGHT FROM DEALER. GOING TO GET GAS. 2. OVERHEATING. AUTO MECHANIC SAID OIL IN THE ANTIFREEZE. HEAD GASKET. 3. REPAIRED HEAD GASKET ETC.

NHTSA complaint #10225852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

ACCORDING TO SUBARU IN NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-216, THE PROTECTIVE PAINT WAS APPLIED INCORRECTLY TO '96 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK SPRINGS WHICH LEADS THEM TO RUST AND BREAK. SUBARU WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE REAR SPRINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR SPRINGS. BOTH OF MY FRONT SPRINGS BROKE, ONE OF MY REAR SPRINGS BROKE, AND THE OTHER REAR SPRING IS CRACKED AND BREAKING. WHEN THE REAR SPRINGS BREAK THERE IS THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS WHEN THE FRONT SPRINGS BREAK, THAT BEING THAT THE CAR MAY BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH COULD BE FATAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE PROMPT SUBARU TO RECALL THE REAR SPRINGS AS WELL AS THE FRONT TO MITIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #10158744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE BUT RADIATOR TEMP WAS HIGH. TOOK CAR INTO REPAIR SHOP, CRACKED HEAD GASKET. CALLED SUBARU, THEY OFFERED NO HELP OR ADVICE. COST TO REPAIR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS TO ME, A COLLEGE STUDENT. SUBARU DEALER SAID CRACKED HEAD GASKET IS A PROBLEM IN SUBARUS. I WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT THIS CAR IF I KNEW IT WOULD HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. PART TO BE REPLACED IS HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #10145111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK FILLER GUARD AND PIPE. THE GUARD RUSTED FROM DEBRIS OVER THE YEARS, AND DIRT AND DEBRIS WERE GETTING UNDERNEATH THE GUARD. THE RESULT WAS RUSTING AND LEAKING GAS FROM THE GAS TANK. THE GAS TANK WAS NOTICED LEAKING LAST WEEK. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, HAS E-MAILED AND CONTACTED SUBARU VIA PHONE. THEY SEEMED NOT INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT THE CAR WAS OLD.

NHTSA complaint #10133703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

DT: 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK CALLER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FUEL INJECTION .SYSTEM. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. WHEN DRIVING IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED, THE SPEED ODOMETER WAS 60 MPH WHEN GOING 40 MPH. SOMETIMES IT WILL PICK UP SPEED AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HE WOULD NOT WORK ON THIS CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE, AND HE WOULD NOT LISTEN . THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE ROAD SIDE NOW AND IT WILL NOT RUN. THE CAR VIBRATED WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR TODAY. AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND TODAY THE CAR JUST DIED.

NHTSA complaint #10129375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

A PERMANENT HAZING OF THE HEADLIGHT LENSES HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE, AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. THIS HAS CAUSED SAFE NIGHT DRIVING ILLUMINATION TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10113879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. POKED ACCELERATOR PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESULT, AND PEDAL DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STUCK DOWN. HELD SPEED OF VEHICLE DOWN WITH BOTH FEET HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NEAR NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION ON ITS OWN AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC TO 1 MIN, ALTHOUGH VEHICLE COULD MAINTAIN 30-40 MPH WHEN NOT TOUCHING EITHER ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. RETURNED TO FULLY NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. IN THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, VEHICLE WAS HARD TO START FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN WHEN DID START RACED TO EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. POKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION AFTER BEING TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, BUT TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND ALL DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS WERE NEGATIVE. PROBLEM IS STILL UNRESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10102225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I DRIVE A 1996 OUTBACK WITH 116,000 MILES ON IT. I'VE READ ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE TRANSMISSIONS BINDING IN TURNS, WHICH IS WHAT I'M EXPEREINCING NOW. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IF IT GETS TOO BAD, IT MAY BREAK AN AXLE OR SOMETHING. IF IT IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM/MISTAKE, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10100137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800

NHTSA complaint #10069547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHICH LEAKED ANTIFREEZE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE CAUSING MANY OTHER PARTS FAILURES. FOR EXAMPLE, O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRING VEHICLE - $4,800

NHTSA complaint #10069547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BLEW A HEAD GASKET WHILE TRAVELING WITH TWO CHILDREN. BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO WAIT ON SIDE OF BUSY ROAD WITH ONE YEAR OLD AND TWO YEAR OLD. THE CAR,A 1996 OUTBACK ONLY HAD 115,000 MILES ON IT. REAL LOW FOR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10016569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

COMPLETE SEPARATION OF TREAD FROM BODY AND SIDEWALL OF RIGHT FRONT MICHELIN HARMONY TIRE. TIRES IN SERVICE FOR THREE MONTHS ON A SUBARU LEGACY WAGON.

NHTSA complaint #10014056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

WHEELS

CONSUMER STATES WHEELS ARE OXDIZING/CORRODING AND AIR IS LEAKING IN ALL TIRES. CHECKED BY DEALER WHO OXIDIZED THE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #8019292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

ON SEVRAL OCCASIONS, THE LEFT AND RIGHT BEARINGS FAILED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AXLE ASSEMBLY. BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #566110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.