Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 23 of 139 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
139 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS LOCKED UP/VEHICLE SKIDDED. CONTACT DEALER,WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND SOME WHAT SLIPPERY SURFACE, SUCH AS SNOW, THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. REP…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 45MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT. CONSUMER HIT BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT AND WHEELS LOCKED UP/VEHICLE SKIDDED. CONTACT DEALER,WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND SOME WHAT SLIPPERY SURFACE, SUCH AS SNOW, THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ON SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS, FRONT BRAKES ONLY, AND TIRES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851767
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Electrical System
BATTERY EXPLODED AND DAMAGED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MJS
THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANED IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, ENBEKNOWNST TO MY WIFE, UNTIL THE CAR DRIFTED TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE DIVIDED 4-LANE. TRACTION WAS REGAINED AND SHE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE COMING -- PLUS, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOT HER BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT AND HOME. SHOULDN'T A …
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THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HYDROPLANED IN VERY HEAVY RAIN, ENBEKNOWNST TO MY WIFE, UNTIL THE CAR DRIFTED TOWARD THE MEDIAN OF THE DIVIDED 4-LANE. TRACTION WAS REGAINED AND SHE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS AND DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THANKFULLY, NO CARS WERE COMING -- PLUS, THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GOT HER BACK UP THE EMBANKMENT AND HOME. SHOULDN'T A LIGHT OR SENSOR BE REQUIRED SO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAR OWNERS KNOW WHEN HYDROPLANING OCCURS? HOW ELSE IS THERE TO KNOW?!? THANKS SO MUCH.
NHTSA ODI #713500
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #711692
Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES ARE NOT STOPPING VEHICLE. IT HAS TO BE STOPPED BY TAKING THE BRAKES OFF THE ABS SYSTEM.DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #845891
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON TWO INCIDENTS. HOWEVER, ON ONE INCIDENT VEHICLE SURGED AND HIT THE VEHICLE ON THE BACK TAIL LIGHT AND BACK PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE. *YC
NHTSA ODI #547515
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN SEVERAL MINOR COLLISION. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #841010
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Unknown Or Other
I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NHTSA DATED 4/13/99 INDICATING THAT I HAD BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR AN AIR BAG SWITCH, BUT IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, THEREFORE, THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEE INSTALLED. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A SWITCH KIT. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LACK …
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I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NHTSA DATED 4/13/99 INDICATING THAT I HAD BEEN GRANTED APPROVAL FOR AN AIR BAG SWITCH, BUT IT HAD NOT YET BEEN INSTALLED. ACTUALLY, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH A LETTER, THEREFORE, THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEE INSTALLED. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU, THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF A SWITCH KIT. CLEARLY, THERE IS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OWNERS, DEALERS AND THE NHTSA. I HAVE TRIED, IN VAIN, TO CONTACT YOU BY TELEPHONE. HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTACT IS THE AUTOMATED ATTENDANT, AND WHEN I REQUEST A "HUMAN" TO TALK TO, I GET DISCONNECTED. I'D APPRECIATE A RESPONSE BY A HUMAN. INFORMATION REQUEST, NO SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706922
Mileage unknown · May 19, 1999
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
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.
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.
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.
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).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE WITHIN THE HAZARD WARNING LIGHT SWITCH HOUSING CAN CAUSE A BINDING BETWEEN THE ACTUATING BUTTON AND THE HOUSING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SWITCH COULD STICK IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION WHEN DEACTIVATING, RESULTING IN THE TURN SIGNALS BECOMING INOPERABLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED HAZARD WARNING SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE99067 · Electrical System
Opened Nov 1, 1999 · Closed May 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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