1999 Subaru Outback

I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN JUNE OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY TO DEAL WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW OPERATES AS DESIGNED AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE FAILURES. THE CAR WENT THROUGH A SET OF MICHELIN RADIAL TIRES IN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THIS CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN SNOW (CONTRARY TO SUBARU'S COMMERCIALS) BECAUSE THE TIRES BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ARE THROWN OUT OF BALANCE. THE BRAKES ALSO BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ICE AND HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, ALMOST CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. THE RADIO ANTENNA REFUSES TO RETRACT IN COLD WEATHER. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO LISTEN OR REPAIR THE CAR.

BREAK FAILURE - 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE BREAKS ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. OWNER REPLACED PADS - ROTORS, ETC TO IMPROVE THE PROBLEM. THE REPAIR DID NOT IMPROVE THE PROBLEM SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE PROTECTIVE BOOTS AROUND THE CALIPER PISTONS WERE COMPLETELY DETERIOATED AND THAT THE CALPERS NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I SUGGESTED THAT THIS COULD BE WIDE SPREAD, AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT MY ISSUE WAS ONE OF A KIND. I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF FAILURE ANALYSIS IN INDUSTRY AND I AM VERY SURE THAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE RUBBER PISTON BOOTS IS CAUSED FROM DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. DAVID SLOCUM

IN THE MORNING, WHEN I BACK UP THE CAR FROM MY DRIVEWAY, GO FORWARD AND THEN APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE IS A LOUD, MECHANICAL BANGING SOUND (LIKE METAL HITTING ON METAL) COMING FROM EACH OF THE 4 WHEELS - EITHER THE PADS HITTING THE ROTOR OR THE PISTON HITTING THE PADS WHICH IN TURN HIT THE ROTOR. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN USED FOR 2-3 HOURS AND THE CAR IS PUT INTO REVERSE, THEN FORWARD, THEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. RECENTLY THE BANGING SOUND IS BECOMING LOUDER - SO MUCH SO THAT IT ATTRACTS PEDESTRIANS' ATTENTION. THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. A SUBARU REGIONAL INSPECTOR SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME TO LIVE WITH THE SOUND/PROBLEM. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHER SUBARU OWNERS AND THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THAT SUBARU DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PROBLEM. THE CAR DOES STOP, BUT I AM AFRAID THAT ONE DAY THE BRAKES WILL FAIL WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. ... IN ADDITION THE BRAKES ARE VERY, VERY SPONGY/SOFT. IT FEELS LIKE I AM STEPPING ON AN AIR MATTRESS - THERE IS NO SENSATION OF STOPPING UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL OF ALMOST FULLY DEPRESSED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO FEEL/FEEDBACK WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED - I KNOW I AM STOPPING BECAUSE I SEE THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT SLOWING DOWN, NOT BECAUSE I FEEL THE CAR STOPPING. CONSUMER REPORTS (MAR,2000) SAID "THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SOFT AND NOT REASSURING. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED SOME MODERATE BRAKE FADE".*AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD APPLIED BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION JUMPED HARD INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN BRAKES WOULD GRAB. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING 35MPH WITH SNOW ON THE ROAD AND COMING OFF A RAMP, TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A POLE. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REDESIGNED. *AK