NHTSA Complaint #10161538 — 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO JUST MY CAR BUT IS WHAT I CONSIDER A FAULT FOR THE WHOLE CAR MODEL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS HARD-WIRED ON. THAT'S OK, BUT POSES A PROBLEM AT NIGHT AS ONE CAN SEE THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS ON, NOT REALIZING THAT THE TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT ON. YOU START THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF NOT REALIZING THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR IS NOT VISIBLE. THERE IS NO ALERT (SUCH AS NO OR DIMMED DASHBOARD LIGHTS) TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE DARK. NOT ONLY HAVE I MADE THIS MISTAKE MANY TIMES, BUT I HAVE ALSO NOTICED OTHER DRIVERS OF MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL DOING THE SAME THING. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD BE REMEDIED BY HAVING THE TAILLIGHTS BE HARD-WIRED AS WELL OR BY HAVING NO DASH LIGHTS UNLESS THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. *JB