Subaru Outback Engine And Engine Cooling Problems
- 79
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
- 15
- Years with records
- 2000–2016
- Stored years
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.
Among these 79 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
Complaints by year
What appears in the records
- head gasket · 32 records
- head gaskets · 11 records
- engine light · 9 records
- check engine · 8 records
- failure mileage · 6 records
- gasket failure · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 26 |
| 1–30k mi | 23 |
| 30–60k mi | 10 |
| 100–150k mi | 9 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint evidence
Latest stored owner-submitted records. Open a year for the full list.
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train · Visibility/Wiper
The vehicle will stall out when the brakes are pressed abruptly and the speed suddenly decreases. This is extremely unsafe. Especially for my pregnant wife to be driving. We bought a subaru because we thought they were built right and safe. We were wrong. *tr
ODI 10935430
Engine And Engine Cooling
I am concerned about the toxic chemicals that may have been used on the plastics inside the vehicle. The "new car smell" is especially fragrant, and after sitting in the car for less than five minutes, i develop a metallic taste in my mouth that lingers, even if i have left the car. It can linger for hours. I am taking measures to wipe off chemicals that may release during a hot day/open the windows, etc. This smell…
ODI 10882076
Engine And Engine Cooling
In july following the replacement of our catalytic converter i wrote to subaru to inquire about reimbursement. There was no response. The replacement cost was $728.08. Apparently only seven states issued a mandatory recall. Virginia isn't one of them. The vehicle was religiously maintained, all supported by documentation. At 97,600 miles the catalytic converter wearing out had something to do with the part itself.…
ODI 10660018
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
The engine shuts down whenever you brake suddenly or use any pressure to brake (not coast to a stop). The car shakes and then dies and you have to restart the car. This happens almost daily and after taking it to several shops it was determined that the torque converter is bad and needs to be replaced. There is a service bulletin out about fixing this so it appears to be a common problem. Even a quick search online…
ODI 10629143
Engine And Engine Cooling · Fuel/Propulsion System
Oil light came on and had to add 1 quart of oil after about 4000 miles since previous oil change. The car takes synthetic oil and is supposed to go 7500 miles between oil changes. Since then, we have had to add oil in between oil changes several times, approximately 1-2 quarts every 1500 to 3000 miles. Subaru dealer says this is normal; however, we have never had this problem with any other vehicle. We are concerned…
ODI 10691555
Engine And Engine Cooling · Suspension
In june of 2013 i took my car to the subaru dealer for service after noticing a burning smell. I was told my front right axle was broken. Seven months later (january 2014) i returned to the dealer with the same complaint. This time the left axle and left wheel bearing were broken. Two months later (march 2014) i was back at the dealer and my right axle and right axle seal were broken again. That is three axles in…
ODI 10587355
Engine And Engine Cooling · Power Train
Vehicle overheated, drove to nearest service station. Radiator flushed and tested for leaks, none found. No other determination made. Car overheating, slow coolant loss. Subaru diagnosed major head gasket failure probably occurred prior to 73000 miles, but beyond power train warranty. Subaru hq declined to help with cost considering the service tech mgr stated a 2008 model car should not have this failure.…
ODI 10513068
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System · Engine And Engine Cooling
Since i bought this car, while driving for 15-60 minutes with the windows rolled up and depending on conditions, myself and/or another passenger will begin to feel very light headed, irritated eyes, hard to focus, and nearly pass out. It's a forced situation like being put in a choke hold or suffocated gently not just feeling relaxed or comfy. The effects last for some time depending on exposure too. We could be…
ODI 10537139