10 of the 116 complaints about the 2003 Subaru Outback are about the throttle and cruise control — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 37,000 miles.
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CPSC#I11C0409A. 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *LN THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE STOP AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR GARAGE. THE MECHANIC FOUND DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10443069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. SHE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALERS DIAGNOSIS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD TO BE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87000. 11/9/10 *CN THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK WHILE TRAVELING UP A 9% GRADE. THE CONSUMER STATED HER FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, HITTING THE BRAKE DISENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR. UPDATED 11/16/10
NHTSA complaint #10348489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUBARU OUTBACK, 2003, 4-CYLINDER WITH 90,000 MILES S/N: [XXX] SIGNIFICANT ACCELERATION FROM VERY SLOW SPEED; TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WAS THE ONLY METHOD OF STOPPING THE CAR. DROVE THROUGH GARAGE WALL; OCCURENCE OVER SIX MONTHS; ABOUT ONE-TIME PER MONTH. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL THE CAR WENT THROUGH THE GARAGE WALL. PER DEALER: "SIGNIFICANT CARBON BUILD-UP IN THROTTLE HOUSING & IDLE CONTROL VALVE. CARBON BUILD-UP CAUSED BY REFORMULATED GASOLINE." REPIAR ACTION: CLEAN THROTTLE HOUSING & REPLACE IDLE CONTROL VALVE = $ 750.00 AT MAY 11, 2010. NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR HISTORY, PER DEALER. MY COMMENT: "POTENTIAL DISTEROUS SAFETY ISSUES: NOT ONLY PROPERTY DAMAGE, BUT SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL INJURY COULD BE CAUSED IF THIS HAPPENS IN PARKING LOTS, CROSSWALKS, DRIVEWAYS, ETC." [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10330546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ENGAGING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO THE HIGHEST RPM'S AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE VEHICLE STEERING, BRAKES, GEARS WERE ALL LOCKED. THE GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. SHE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF BY USING THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END IN THE FENDER AREA WAS DAMAGED AND THE PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT OPEN. SHE SUSTAINED A BRUISE FROM MID PALM TO HER WRIST, AND SKIN REMOVED FROM KNUCKLE TO WRIST FROM THE LEFT HAND. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE'S REAR END AND PASSENGER SIDE PANEL WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS 10/2003.THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #10221473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ACCELERATOR ON VEHICLE STUCK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL HOWEVER RPM'S SPUN TO 7000. HAD TO EVENTUALLY TURN CAR OFF IN DRIVE AFTER RIDING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES, AND TOLD ME "IT'LL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN"
NHTSA complaint #10122351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS
ACCELERATOR ON VEHICLE STUCK ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL HOWEVER RPM'S SPUN TO 7000. HAD TO EVENTUALLY TURN CAR OFF IN DRIVE AFTER RIDING APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WITH BOTH FEET ON BRAKE. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY ISSUES, AND TOLD ME "IT'LL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN"
NHTSA complaint #10122351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON A VERY COLD MORNING THE VEHICLES GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO 4 OTHER CARS. *AK *SB
NHTSA complaint #10119359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SERIOUS HESITATION IN FIRST GEAR WHEN STARTING AT INTERSECTIONS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 2.5L ENGINE). ENGINE SPEED DROPS SHARPLY. MUST STOMP GAS PEDAL IN UNSAFE MANNER TO RECOVER. VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC - SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MODULATE IN FIRST GEAR WITHOUT USING CLUTCH. ENGINE IS STRONG AND PREDICTABLE IN ALL OTHER GEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10088106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STIFF WHEN FIRST OPENED. RPM'S WILL JUMP WHEN THROTTLE PRESSED. NOT SMOOTH AT ALL. HARD TO REGULATE SPEED, WITHOUT BUCKING. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR COMPUTER REGULATED CAR. BALONEY.
NHTSA complaint #10066366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE SURGED AFTER COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SURGED NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER THAT, ALWAYS AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED THE COMPUTER BE REFRESHED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SURGED SINCE THEN. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10040053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.