Jul 19, 2023Visibility & wipersBody & structure
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while entering the vehicle, it was discovered that rainwater had leaked into the vehicle from the sunroof. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on six separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the cause of the failure was due to the sunroof drainage tubes being clogged with debris. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact stated that an unknown TSB addressing the failure had been issued by the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 16,781.
NHTSA ODI 11533208
Jul 18, 2023Body & structure
It was looked at by a subaru dealer but claims fault isnt on subaru. The paint is chipping around the trunk and other areas and has been getting progressively worse over the last several years. Paint ahould not chip at all unless its damaged and due to this now rust is starting to form i continually have to touch up new spots and try to slow the spread of paint flaking off for no reason at all. My 06 impreza never had this issue ir my 2012 town and country. The paint used is subpar needs to be repainted. ,
NHTSA ODI 11532907
Mar 27, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structureCrash1 injury
SUBARU OUTBACK (2012), WHEN STOPPED FOR 1-2 MINUTES, WITH THE ENGINE AND IGNITION OFF, AND THE GEAR SHIFT IN PARK, ON A SLIGHT INCLINE (TO CHECK A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD) SUDDENLY ROLLED BACKWARDS AS I WAS LEANING IN TO RETRIEVE MY BAG. I WAS DRAGGED ACROSS THE NORMALLY BUSY ROAD, BARELY ABLE TO HANG ON (BY BOTH HANDS GRABBING ANYTHING I COULD INSIDE THE CAR). MY LEGS SCRAPED ON THE GROUND VIOLENTLY BURNING THOUGH MY SNEAKER THEN ANKLE FLESH AND GRAZED THE BONE BADLY. MY LEGS ON THE ROAD TURNED THE 1.5 TON VEHICLE A FEW DEGREES AS IT CAREENED UNDER RAPID ACCELERATION REACHING AN ESTIMATED 8-10 MPH BUMPING OVER 2 KERBS PULLED ME EVEN FURTHER OUT OF THE CAR, BUT STILL HANGING ON. LUCKILY THE OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR ENGAGED WITH A HEDGE WHICH RIPPED THE DOOR ALMOST OFF THE CAR AND TURNED THE CAR ANOTHER 35 DEGREES OR SO, AVOIDING A VIOLENT CRASH INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. INSTEAD THE CAR GRAZED A WOODEN POST (FURTHER SLOWING IT) THEN HIT A SECOND POST WHICH BROUGHT THE CAR TO A HARD STOP. THIS PUSHED ME OUT OF THE CAR ONTO A PATCH OF GRASS, BACK TO THE CAR. AN ENGINEERING ASSESSMENT LATER REVEALED THE SHIFT-INTERLOCK HAD FAILED (INVOLVING A COUPLE OF PARTS) SO THAT THE GEAR MAY BE SHIFTED (OR SHIFT ITSELF) WHEN THE ENGINE AND IGNITION ARE OFF WITH THE KEYS STILL IN. MY INJURIES INCLUDE ANKLE (ON A LEG WITH A HIP REPLACEMENT), PTSD (DIAGNOSED AS CAUSED 100% BY THE CRASH) AND EXACERBATION OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS CAUSING DEBILITATING BOUTS OF TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA AND WITH ADDITIONAL BRAIN DAMAGE (PROVEN BY INCREASED LESION LOAD ON MRI SCAN). THEREFORE THE VEHICLE FAILURE ON THIS MODEL IS ALSO POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR. WE ALSO RESEARCHED AND FOUND ONE ALMOST IDENTICAL CASE WITH THE SAME MODEL, THE SAME ROLL-IN-PARK BUT FAR MORE SERIOUS INJURY AS THE DRIVER WAS KNOCKED DOWN BY THE DOOR, APPARENTLY AS THE CAR ROLLED OVER.
NHTSA ODI 11405138
Nov 28, 2017Body & structureCrash
MY 2012 SUBURU OUTBACK WAS STOPPED AT A GAS STATION IN NEUTRAL AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. MY WIFE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD. I COULD NOT GET BACK INTO THE CAR IN TIME AND MY WIFE COULD NOT PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE SUBARU DID NOT PUT AN EMERGENCY BRAKE INTO THAT MODEL THAT YEAR. THEY HAVE SINCE CORRECTED THAT DESIGN FLAW. THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARD ACROSS A ROAD AND ONTO A CONCRETE ISLAND AND OVER A ROCK WHICH DAMAGED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE AND NOT HAVING AN EMERGENCY BRAKE TROUBLES ME. I THINK THE VERY LEAST SUBARU SHOULD DO WOULD BE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY NOT HAVING AN EMERGENCY BRAKE IN THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11051084
May 14, 2013Transmission & drivetrainBody & structure
2012 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A HIGH PITCH SQUEAL IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE NOISE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED INTO THE 40'S AND LOWER. SUBARU OF AMERICA DECLARED THE NOISE AS NORMAL WITHOUT EVEN EXAMINING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER, HOWEVER, DID HEAR THE NOISE, BUT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OR THE DRIVE MECHANISM.
NHTSA ODI 10511095