1996 Subaru Legacy

CAR WAS PARKED, WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND IN GEAR ON A HILL. OWNER HEARD A SHARP METALLIC NOISE AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 MIN. AND SAW CAR BEGIN ROLLING DOWNHILL FROM THE PARKED POSITION, PICKED UP SPEED AND CRASHED. NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN THE CRASH WAS OVER IT WAS FOUND WITH E-BRAKE DISENGAGED AND STILL IN GEAR. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**764464

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER DASHBOARD. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS BURNED; 90 PERCENT OF DASHLIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, COMPUTERS, ETC, WAS AFFECTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ALTERNATOR SURGED BURNING OUT ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING THE BATTERY, RADIO, FUSE BOX, ALL BULBS IN THE DASH, BURNED OUT ABS AND TRANSMISSION COMPUTERS, SPEEDOMETER, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, KEYLESS ENTRY, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND HEATER CONTROL. *SLC

WHEN THE REAR CLUTCH PACK FAILS THE REAR OF CAR BINDS AND ON SLIPPERY ROADS THE CAR'S BACK END WILL LOCK UP UPON LETTING OFF THE GAS. THE REAR END SWINGS AROUND AND CAUSES THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS DONE AT 35000 MILES THE SAME PIECE HAS FAILED AGAIN AT 67000 MILES. EACH TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED TO BIND AT VIRTUALLY THE SAME MILEAGE. SUBARU REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE. SUBARU CLAIMS TIRE ROTATION CAN CAUSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE WORK PERFORMED BY SUBARU PER THEIR SERVICE GUIDELINES.

AT APPROXIMATELY 90,000 MILES I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE BINDING IN SLOW SPEED TURNS. AT TIMES, THE CAR IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHILE TURNING. THE PROBLEM, AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM, IS THAT A BEARING OR SEAL WEARS A GROOVE IN THE ALUMINUM EXTENSION HOUSING. THIS GROOVE CAUSES A PRESSURE IMBALANCE WITHIN THE TRANSFER CLUTCH AND, AS A RESULT, CAUSES THE BINDING PROBLEM. THE RESOLUTION IS ADDRESSED IN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THE BULLETIN AT MY CURRENT LOCATION) AND BASICALLY SAYS TO CHECK THE DUTY C SOLENOID, TRANSFER CLUTCH AND REPLACE THE ALUMINUM EXTENSION HOUSING WITH A STEEL REINFORCED REPLACEMENT PART. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA ON 10/2/01 AND RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING REPLY ON 10/8/01: THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT E-MAIL TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO CONTACT US. WE ARE SORRY TO LEARN OF THE DIFFICULTIES YOU ARE EXPERIENCING WITH YOUR 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. OUR RECORDS DO NOT INDICATE THAT THERE ARE ANY SERVICE PROGRAMS OR RECALLS REGARDING THIS CONCERN. SERVICE BULLETINS ARE PROVIDED TO DEALERS IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE OPERATION OF A CERTAIN COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE OR TO PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK AS TO TESTS OR REPAIRS TO PERFORM ON A VEHICLE IF IT COMES IN WITH A CERTAIN CONCERN. THEY ARE SOLELY FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND THEY ARE NOT AN INDICATION OF AN UPCOMING RECALL OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, OR SHOULD YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US AT SUBARU CUSTOMER/DEALER SERVICES AT 1-800-SUBARU3 (800-782-2783) AND REFER TO CASE NUMBER XXXXXX. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OF SERVICE.*AK

THE FRONT CRANK SEAL STARTED LEAKING FOR THE SECOND TIME AT APPROXIMATELY 102,000 MILES. THE ORIGINAL SEAL STARTING LEAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 44,000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 59,195 MILES. HEAVY SMOKE AND A STRONG BURNING ODOR IS EMITTED FROM THE SIDES AND FRONT OF THE ENGINE AREA. IN ADDITION, SMOKE WILL BE EMITTED FROM THE CENTER DASH HVAC VENTS. THE CAR JUST FAILED PA STATE INSPECTION ON 11/1/01 AS THE SEAL IS LEAKING BADLY AND IS CONSIDERED A FIRE HAZARD. I CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA VIA EMAIL ON 10/2/01 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN ON 11/1/01 AND 11/2/01 BUT STILL NO REPLY.*AK