10 of the
408 complaints about the 2013 Subaru Outback are about the
seats — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
55,000 miles.
F
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Seats
880.0%
Head Restraint
220.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Eugene, OR
SEATS
Electronic seat recliner motor (outer bushing) noise when reclining, but Kendall Subaru in Eugene saying motor can not be fixed (defective design), only replaced with another (defective) motor @ cost near $1,000. Seat then stuck all the way back; even with seat headrest behind my back (w/sweaters on top of it even) driving comfort/visibility are not as good. [This entire electronic seat recliner motor system is inferior/defective to begin with vs. a typical manual seat reclining lever design, for at least the following reasons: 1) much slower/less easy to operate 2) plastic activation buttons easily break off 3) much less reliable, where manual lever system safety & other problems are almost unheard of 4) much more costly].
NHTSA complaint #11561860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 173,400 milesLincoln City, ORFire
SEATS
The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after driving for about two hours, she switched seats with her boyfriend. While her boyfriend was driving, there was an abnormal odor present. The contact noticed smoke under the front passenger seat. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver attempted to put out the fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The contact removed the passenger seat fuse. The passenger seat was jammed. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 173,400.
NHTSA complaint #11452044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 105,000 milesBoyertown, PA
SEATS
RED AIRBAG LIGHT . DEALER DIAGNOSIS CODE B1650. RESPONSE IS TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM PART OF PASSENGER SEAT. 1840.00 REPAIR. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG RELATED TO TAKATA RECALL. SOA HAS OFFERED 1000.00 'IN GOOD WILL GESTURE ' . SAW A RECALL IN 2015 FOR IMPREZA WAGONS THROWING OFF B1650 CODE. WAS TOLD BY SOA NOT TO DRIVE MY OUTBACK AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I TOTALLY AGREE, BUT ALSO THINK THAT A 6 YEAR OLD OUTBACK SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS KIND OF SAFETY ISSUE . I AM UNABLE TO REPAIR DUE TO THE COSTLY REPAIR AND IN MY OPINION THIS IS SUBARU'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX! THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY I COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #11204864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesCoarsegold, CACrash1 injured1 killed
SEATS
THE HEADREST POINTS AT A HARSH ANGLE FORWARD AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE NECK INJURY. TWO SEPERATE INCIDENTS: 1. MOVING FORWARD AT A LEFT TURN ANGLE, CARS HITTING EACH OTHERS RT FRONT. RESULT BRAIN STEM HEMORRHAGE AND BILATERAL HEMATOMA. APRIL 3, 2018 2. STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HIT FROM THE REAR. RESULT NECK STRAIN. MAY 10, 2018 *TT
NHTSA complaint #11099247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,000 milesCoarsegold, CACrash1 injured1 killed
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
THE HEADREST POINTS AT A HARSH ANGLE FORWARD AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE NECK INJURY. TWO SEPERATE INCIDENTS: 1. MOVING FORWARD AT A LEFT TURN ANGLE, CARS HITTING EACH OTHERS RT FRONT. RESULT BRAIN STEM HEMORRHAGE AND BILATERAL HEMATOMA. APRIL 3, 2018 2. STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HIT FROM THE REAR. RESULT NECK STRAIN. MAY 10, 2018 *TT
NHTSA complaint #11099247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,000 milesClinton, CTFire
SEATS
I TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE TO REPORT AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY, REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE JUMPED STARTED IF LEFT SEVERAL DAYS PARKED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT TESTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. CAR WAS PARKED IN THEIR LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND ON RETURN THE CAR WAS WAS FOUND TO BE HEAVILY DAMAGED BY SMOKE AND FIRE FROM PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10985455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesRobbinsdale, MN
SEATS
THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MALFUNCTIONED OR SHORTED OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT ENABLE EVEN WHEN OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT PASSENGER. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CONSTANTLY IN OFF MODE. IN ADDITION THE ODS APPARENTLY CONTROLS THE SEATBELT WARNING FEATURE. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT AN ADULT PASSENGER IS OCCUPYING THE SEAT THE ODS IS CONSTANTLY DETECTING A PASSENGER AND THE PASSENGER SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME CONTINUOUSLY ARE ON. WHEN THE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS BUCKLED THE WARNING LIGHT AND CHIME REMAIN CONTINUOUSLY ON. THE VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES AND THIS SYSTEM IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURES EXTENDED WARRANTY OR THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT SOLD BY SUBARU THROUGH CNA. THE DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A NEW ODS BE INSTALLED AND CALIBRATED AT A COST OF $1,200 PLUS APPLICABLE TAX AND FEES.
NHTSA complaint #10733025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesEscanaba, MI
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE NOR WAS THERE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM. DUE TO THE NEW DESIGN OF SEATS AND HEAD RESTRAINT I AM NOW IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEAD AND NECK PAIN. STARTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT MY NEW CAR. HAD DOCTOR APPT, HEAD SCAN AND NOW PHYSICAL THERAPY. I BELIEVE THE SCOOPED SEATS DO NOT ALLOW FOR AN IMPERFECT SHAPE. MY RIGHT LEG IS NOW LEGGED AND I SIT AT A TURN I. THE SEAT WHICH PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY SPINE IN THE OVER SHAPED SEAT. MOSTLY THE NEW HEAD RESTRAINT IN RELATION TO THE SHOULDER POSITION OF THE SEAT PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY NECK. I AM TAKING IBUPROFEN EVERYDAY AND THE PAIN IS A REAL DISTRACTION TO MY WORK AND DAILY LIFE. I PROVIDE ANESTHESIA FULL TIME AND NEED TO BE AT MY BEST FOR THIS LINE OF WORK RATHER THAN IN PHYSICAL THERAPY. THIS ALSO COSTS MONEY AND TAKES AWAY FROM ENJOYING MY LIFE. FOR A FEW MONTHS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AN OLDER CAR 80% OF THE TIME AND FOUND THE ACHING WENT AWAY. I ONLY DRIVE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10543650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,500 milesGainesville, FL
SEATS
SEAT HEAD REST IS TOO FAR FORWARD AND UPPER SEAT CONTOURS BACKWARD, PUTTING PRESSURE ON NECK AND AFFECTING SPINE. SEAT NEEDS ADDED SUPPORT (WITH A SMALL UPPER BACK SUPPORT AND PROBABLY A LUMBAR SUPPORT) TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE NECK AND GET THE HEAD FREE FROM BEING PUSHED. NECK SHOULD BE STRAIGHT. OVER TIME THIS WILL DAMAGE THE SPINE IF THE HEADREST ISN'T MADE ADJUSTABLE OR SUPPORT ADDED TO THE SEAT. I'M ADDING SUPPORT TO THE SEAT FROM AFTERMARKET CUSHIONING TO GET THE PRESSURE OFF MY HEAD/NECK. WOULD LIKE AN ADJUSTABLE HEADREST AS WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA TO GET THE HEADREST OFF THE HEAD (AND THE PRESSURE OFF THE NECK, TO GET MY NECK AND BACK STRAIGHT). --- I AM WORRIED ABOUT RECEIVING SPAM SO DIDN'T WANT TO FILL OUT SOME OF THE EXTRA INFO ASKED FOR.
NHTSA complaint #10502116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,500 milesGainesville, FL
SEATS
WITH THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM, OUTBACK MAY START BRAKING WHEN YOU ARE COMING UP ON ANOTHER CAR OR TRYING TO PASS IT, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE MOVING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE TO PASS IT AND ARE NOT ENDANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. VERY ANNOYING AT TIMES AND FORCES YOU TO DISABLE IT BUT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE IF IT DIDN'T GO OFF JUST FROM COMING NEAR VEHICLES. I SUPPOSE THEY DON'T WANT IT TO GO OFF TOO LATE. THE SEAT/HEADREST IS THE BIGGER PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10502121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.