NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
24 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jan 11, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
1997 SUBARU OUTBACK BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *BF THE VEHICLE LOST INTERNAL HEAT AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE READ HOT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY LOSS OF STEAM, HOWEVER, THE RESERVOIR BOTTLE WAS EMPTY AND FLUID HAD SPILLED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF SIX OTHER VEHI…
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1997 SUBARU OUTBACK BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *BF THE VEHICLE LOST INTERNAL HEAT AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE READ HOT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY LOSS OF STEAM, HOWEVER, THE RESERVOIR BOTTLE WAS EMPTY AND FLUID HAD SPILLED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF SIX OTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10109554
157,000 miles · Dec 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10105304
99,800 miles · Apr 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE NOW INFAMOUS "BLOWN HEAD GASKET" IN PHASE I 2.5L ENGINES IS THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS AT LEAST RECOGNIZED THE PHASEII 2.5L ENGINES IN 1998 MODELS AND NEWER, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENT METAL WAS THE "PROBLEM". THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CASES IN THE PHASE I 2.5L (1998 AND PRIOR) ENGINE IS AN OBV…
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THE NOW INFAMOUS "BLOWN HEAD GASKET" IN PHASE I 2.5L ENGINES IS THE FOCUS OF MY COMPLAINT. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS AT LEAST RECOGNIZED THE PHASEII 2.5L ENGINES IN 1998 MODELS AND NEWER, BUT ONLY BECAUSE OF A DIFFERENT METAL WAS THE "PROBLEM". THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF CASES IN THE PHASE I 2.5L (1998 AND PRIOR) ENGINE IS AN OBVIOUS INDICATOR OF DESIGN FLAW IN THE ACTUAL SHAPE OF THE PRODUCT ITSELF. A RECALL INVESTIGATION IS A DEFINITE MUST. JUST ANOTHER UNHAPPY SUBARU CUSTOMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10066010
137,000 miles · Mar 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE DIED. SPARK PLUG UNABLE TO BE REINSERTED RESULTING IN A HEAD REPLACEMENT. VERY EXPENSIVE! ONLY 135000 MILES REGULAR MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN 4 OF THESE CASES IN THIS MODEL IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM DEALER ABOUT MECHANICAL DEFECT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10060531
60,000 miles · Feb 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE SEALS OF THE MAIN CAM SHAFT FAILED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LEAK OIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEALS AND THE TIMING BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10057602
68,526 miles · Jan 4, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
2.5 LITER ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED, CAUSING REPEATED INSTANCES OF OVERHEATING REQUIRING STOPPING IN DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATIONS AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT OF BLOCK AT OWNER EXPENSE. TS
NHTSA ODI #10000526
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
OVERHEATING CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BLOCK WHICH CRACKED REQUIRED REPEATED IMMEDIATE PULLOVERS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO PREVENT SEVERE OVERHEATING. MR
NHTSA ODI #768414
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CRANK/CAM/OIL PAN SILICONE SEALS FAILEDS EARLY IN VEHICLE LIFE. ALSO, ALTERNATOR BELT FELL OFF, MAIN PULLEY BROKE, CENTER OF PULLEY BADLY WORN, AND VALVES BENT ON CYLINDER #2. $635 TO REPLACE SEALS, $415 TO REPLACE MAIN PULLEY, AND $1107 TO REPLACE VALVES.
NHTSA ODI #766302
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH WATER PUMP FAILED ,ALLOWING TIMING CHAIN TO SLIP OFF, AND BENDING VALVES TO ENGINE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8015022
Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED SENSOR VALVE TWO TIMES AND COMPUTER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #899867
Official recalls
4Jun 25, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
May 4, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THROTTLE SHAFT BALL BEARING ON THE SENSOR SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS NOT INSTALLED IN CERTAIN THROTTLE BODIES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: OPERATION OF A VEHICLE WITH A MISSING THROTTLE SHAFT BEARING CAN EVENTUALLLY LEAD TO AN INCOMPLETE RETURN OF THE THROTTLE VALVE RESULTING IN A HIGH IDLING CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY IF THE BEARING IS MISSING.
Feb 20, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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