NHTSA Complaint #10201601 — 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number	10201601
Vehicle	1998 SUBARU OUTBACK
Component	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Date of Incident	February 21, 2007
Date Filed	August 31, 2007
Mileage	110,000 miles
Crash	No
Fire	No
Injuries	0
Deaths	0
Vehicle Towed	Yes
State	OR

Consumer Description

WE BOUGHT A 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK IN 2004. AT APPROXIMATELY 110,000 MILES, WE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $3,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE HEAD GASKET, RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OXYGEN SENSORS AND (2) CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR SUBARUS OF THIS VINTAGE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND OUR MECHANIC TELLS US HE FIXES AT LEAST ONE OF THESE PROBLEMS PER WEEK AT HIS SHOP. CLEARLY, THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *JB

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