2010 Subaru Outback Exterior Lighting Problems
- 31
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
What owners report
- beam headlights · 8 records
- beam headlight · 7 records
- passenger side · 5 records
- drivers side · 5 records
- safety issue · 5 records
- headlight went · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 10 |
| 100–150k mi | 7 |
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
| 30–60k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Exterior Lighting
I have had to change both passenger and driver side low beam headlights three times within the last three months. It's is not the lights themselves but the vehicle. This is costly as so much has to be removed in order to replace the lights. This is going to be my third time replacing my lights since january.
ODI 11193548
Engine · Exterior Lighting · Power Train
My vehicle head lights have burnt out at least once a year since i have owned this car. The engine has began stalling when i come to a full stop. It is equipped with a cvt and it feels like coming to a stop in a manual transmission without depressing the clutch. If i let off the brake quickly it will continue idling but coming to a complete stop kills the engine. I guess subaru has issued an extended warranty but i…
ODI 11187256
Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. On several occasions, while the vehicle was being driven, the low beam headlamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to schlossmann subaru city of milwaukee (located at 4640 s 27th st, milwaukee, wi 53221, [redacted]) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. The…
ODI 11161225
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
My headlights both low beam and high go out on a monthly basis. I have a 2 year old daughter and live in the mountains of lake tahoe. This is a nuisance as well as a considerable safety hazard and the dealership seems to think there is no issue other than continual bad bulbs. I am considering filing a law suit against suba [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c.…
ODI 11098504
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
In march 2013 an authorized subaru service department noted there was a recall (49 cfr part 573.6) for puddle lights on my car and ordered the parts. This is noted in my file at the service department. They were going to call me when the parts came in. That did not happen. Now my puddle lights have failed and the short makes it so many more features in my car do not work (interior lights, gauges and key fob…
ODI 11075509
Exterior Lighting
The headlights are dim and do not project a safe beam of light. This only affects the normal beam. The high beams work well.
ODI 11130341
Exterior Lighting
I bought this vechicle new in 2010. Since that time i have had to change the low beam headlights 4 times on the passenger side of the vehicle and 5 times on the drivers side. I consider this a safety hazard as it takes almost 1 1/2 hours to change the bulb. You must remove the wheel, the wheel well, then the water proof cover, the small retaining bracket and then disconnect the bulb all through an opening only a…
ODI 10993096
Exterior Lighting
The passenger headlight has went out again. This seems to happen every three to six months that either the drivers side or passenger side headlight blows out.
ODI 10944281
Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlights have needed to be replaced 4 times now (8 bulbs total). First time, it blew out about a year after purchase. Then the second 6 months after that. Third time about a year ago and the fourth time the headlight failed was today (november, 2016). Also my rear night time light also blew out this past august, 2016. Worst part is the difficulty of replacing the headlights. You have to remove the front…
ODI 10928419
Exterior Lighting
My low beam headlights last 3-6 months. I've replaced both drivers side and passenger side five times in three years.
ODI 10855005
Exterior Lighting
Replacement of headlight bulb requires removal of wheel and partial removal of wheel well. This is a major safety design flaw. Headlights are obviously a key safety feature and replacement of the bulbs should not require service at an auto repair facility. One burned out bulb renders the car unusable for night and foul weather driving. This design flaw needs to be corrected and owners should be reimbursed for labor…
ODI 10850447
Exterior Lighting
Replacement of headlight bulbs requires removal of front wheels, wheel wells, and bumpers. Headlights are a key safety feature on a vehicle. They should be easily accessible for maintenance and replacement at any time. As designed, if headlights fail while traveling at night it is essentially impossible for the driver to replace them to safely continue the voyage. This should be a safety recall and dealers should…
ODI 10817397
Exterior Lighting
Replacing low beam headlamp bulbs every 15k miles or less on this vehicle. 4th bulb in 3 yrs just burned out on 10/28/15. Occurs at random times - no pattern. Discontinued using the headlamp auto on/off feature and still no improvement in situation. Becoming a safety issue due to periods of having to drive with one headlight. Impossible for typical owner to replace low beam bulbs on their own due to difficulty of…
ODI 10786926
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlight went out after replacement a year and 3wks ago. This is the 3rd headlight replacement on a 2010 vehicle since purchase 3yrs ago at 29,500mi as a certified used subaru from the dealer. *tr
ODI 10643245
Exterior Lighting
Condensation continually gathers inside one of the light fixtures. The car has not been in an accident and the bulb and fixture are installed to factory specifications-the dealer has checked this. I believe this is a safety issue-with the amount of condensation inside the light, the illumination of one headlight is greatly diminished making driving at night very difficult especially in dimly lit situations. I also…
ODI 10629492
Exterior Lighting
Problem started in about july, 2014 when my front drivers side low beam headlight went out. I purchased two new bulbs and changed them (and this is no easy process with this vehicle). I wore latex gloves so as not to damage the new bulbs. Approximately a week after installing the new bulbs, my drivers side headlight went out again, but would come on and go out sporadically. It seemed to come and go with damp weather…
ODI 10702784
Exterior Lighting
I have had this car since it was new from the dealer and unlike any other vehicle that i've ever owned this one has to have the headlights replaced every 3 to 6 months. The fog lights, and clearance lights have had to be replaced several times during my ownership of the car, but nothing like the headlights. I have spent hundreds of dollars buying the best lights you can get by sylvania at $70.00 plus for a set and i…
ODI 10561645
Exterior Lighting
Approximately 1 year ago a low beam headlight was replaced. Approximately 1 month later the other low beam headlight was burned out and need to be replaced. 1 week ago a low beam headlight was replaced. Today the opposite low beam headlight is burned out. This is abnormal headlights should not burn out this often. The bulbs were not touched on the glass when replaced. *tr
ODI 10535544
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Headlights burn out in tandem. The first occurrence was in 2012. It happened again almost exactly one year later. Headlights shouldn't burn out after less than one year of regular use. There are few miles on this vehicle and it does not have excessive use (either night driving or leaving the headlights on during regular use). My mechanic feels this is a sign of a larger issue and it looks like it's fairly…
ODI 10558002
Exterior Lighting
I have a 2010 subaru outback. Beginning in december 2012 i have had to replace burned out headlights four times in the past year. Besides the cost... It is a major safety issue considering visibility is half of what it should be when they blow out. I never know when i'm going to pull the switch and not have lights. *tr
ODI 10560644
Exterior Lighting
Low beam headlamps are burning out ridiculously fast, and with lowest brightness bulbs (longer lasting you'd think) they are so dim, i have great vision and find them incredibly unsafe for vehicle speeds above 25mph which is appalling for highway visibility and down right dangerous! *tr
ODI 10502744
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
The outside bulbs constantly burn out, it can be a headlight, (high beam, low beam) license plate light, brake lite, running lights....the inside lights have been ok this bulb issue started at 27,000 miles and has been a constant problem since. Out of 24 service orders, nine of those orders have needed to have one or more bulbs replaced. I live in the foothills of calaveras county, california and the excuse the…
ODI 10648479
Engine · Exterior Lighting
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights suddenly failed to illuminate. The low beam headlight bulbs had been replaced on six separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (ultimate automotive subaru, 5150 jefferson davis hwy, fredericksburg, va) and was repaired per the manufacturer's customer satisfactory extended warranty program. The…
ODI 11090982
Exterior Lighting
Without warning, both of the low beam headlights blew out within moments of each other. Replacements don't last more than 3-6 months after being replaced. Dealership will not address issue without charging exorbitant service fees. Researched online and discovered that this is not an isolated incident. Request your assistance in having subaru address the underlying fault(s) leading to these potentially hazardous…
ODI 10498055
Exterior Lighting
My headlights (low beam) burn out at a very frequent rate. I have changed them at least 4 times in 3 years. I use gloves and never touch the bulb. This is a major safety issue! *tr
ODI 10548898
Catalog parts for this system
Catalog year/make/model rows for 2010 Subaru Outback.
Catalog fitment does not by itself prove OEM-equivalent compatibility.