NHTSA Complaint #10290730 — 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK

WE PURCHASED A USED 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. WAGON IN AUGUST OF 2008 AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE REPLACED 3 MORE LEFT SIDE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS AND 2 RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS. SUBARU TELLS US THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH THEIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, YET THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES NOW AND THAT THEIR BRANDED BULBS SHOULD WORK. AT APPX. $20.00 EACH, THEIR SOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. WE HAVE SPENT OVER $100.00 REPLACING BULBS THAT SHOULD LAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS, NOT 2-3 MONTHS! WE ARE ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. WE LIVE IN A RURAL AREA OF COLORADO WHERE THERE ARE FEW STREET OR HIGHWAY LIGHTS AND WILDLIFE IS ALWAYS A CONCERN WHILE DRIVING. YOU NEED PROPER VEHICLE LIGHTING TO REMAIN SAFE ON THE ROAD AND THIS KNOWN DEFECT BY SUBARU NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. HEADLIGHT FAILURE DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN NEAR A SUBARU DEALER. OFF THE SHELF REPLACEMENT BULBS SHOULD DO THE JOB, BUT DON'T BECAUSE SUBARU IS NOT SHARING THE CORRECT LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY WITH THE AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURERS. THIS MAY NOT BE THE FIRST COMPLAINT YOU HAVE RECEIVED. WE SEE MANY 2005-2006 SUBARU'S LIKE OURS WITH BURNED OUT HEADLAMPS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF OUR COMPLAINT. *TR