general problems of the 2008 Subaru Outback

Four Subaru dealership licensed service centers in maine and new hampshire have had for some 8 weeks my Outback to evaluate, diagnose, and -upon my approval- service. Every one of the four Subaru locations was been unable to resolve a single one of these chronic problems of the Outback's erratic 1) start/no-start, 2) triggered security light and activated alarm, 3) dashboard battery and brake icons lighting/pulsing, 4) error code 55 (or ss) and 5) car headlights pulsing. The above problems compound with the issues Subaru's service teams have failed to resolve since early days of new car ownership (despite repeated repair) for 1) brakes regularly making noise, 2) radio randomly changing volume or shutting off, and 3) back tail light not working. Note: during the first two years of ownership, Subaru's service stated it "could not replicate" the problem with the brakes I'd reported within weeks of purchasing the new car. But a few weeks out of warranty, the same Subaru service location stated "I need whole new brakes" and quoted some $1,800 in repairs. A few months later, Subaru issued its first admission to the defective brake system. These four Subaru dealership licensed service centers in part or full 1) held my car at least 2x - 4x longer than quoted, while upselling me on the loaner model, then missing several by which they'd a written diagnostic report , 2) refused diagnostic report and when sought provided scant or impractical information, 3) demanded under threat of rental fees if loaner was not retuned within a couple of hours . . . . During a business day (including at distant locations too far to reach by deadline), and 5) sought many hundreds of dollars in payment for undisclosed and unapproved work without ever diagnosing issue, which they demanded in conjunction with the rental fees ginned up by dragging out and then failing to do the diagnostic work. Subaru USA added years of delay and refuses to honor manufacturer's or licensee-issued warranties.

Transmission failed, on the road, problem shifting, I want to know if there has been a recall. I could find the place to enter that info. I am not a machanic!.

I was driving and without notice the cruise control shut off, because of a minor problem with the catalytic converter efficiency. Had the vehicle behind me been any closer I could have been rear ended. It turns out that Subaru has programed their vehicles to do this. Why would anyone program a car to have a sudden loss of power over such a minor issue. Recalls for "keys turning off" have happened, and the manufacturers knew about it. Subaru knows this happens and I hope there will be a recall to fix this very dangerous situation. I hope this is bought to the highest officials at NHTSA and is address properly. I hope no one gets killed before this is addressed.

The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the abs, traction control, engine, and other unknown warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

Blown head gasket, damage occurred over many years while car was under warranty and was being serviced regularly by the Subaru dealer. No notification of this damage was given to me until the car was just outside of its warranty. Previously Subaru has acknowledged this defect which could cause an engine to seize while driving causing a safety issue if that occurred on a highway.

The problem is the car suddenly loosing power at various speeds for no apparent reason. Has occurred over 6 times in the past month, 4 times in this last week. The most recent on 4/30/10 the car completely shut down while driving at a speed of 20 mph. No warning indicators came on the dashboard. First time was when accelerating up an on ramp and several more times on other inclined ramps, then leaving a street to enter a hwy 4/28/10, another at a complete stop the car shuddered 4/29/10, same day traveling at 60 mph lost power for a brief moment then resumed, these two incidents were within 5 minutes. I have taken it to the dealer where purchased and serviced to have them locate and repair the problem. Have not received information as yet.