NHTSA Complaint #10401241 — 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK

SUBARU OUTBACK 2005 PZEV - HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE FAILED SUCH THAT ENGINE OIL DRIPS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND PRODUCES VISIBLE, FOUL SMELLING SMOKE WHENEVER THE CAR IS DRIVEN. MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, OR RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN EARLIER MODELS, AND PREVIOUS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT BECAUSE OF THOSE FAILURES. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER AN EMISSIONS WARRANTY THAT WILL EXPIRE AT 157,500 MILES. THE CAR WAS SOLD AS A PARTIAL ZERO-EMISSIONS VEHICLE, BUT CLEARLY THE SMOKE FROM THE DRIPPING OIL EXCEEDS ANY EMISSION STANDARD. MY FEELING IS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPAIR THE CAR UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY, AS WELL AS PRIOR FAILURE HISTORY. *TR