NHTSA Complaint #10466702 — 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK

ENGINE issue reported to NHTSA

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Complaint Details

ODI Number 10466702
Vehicle 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK
Component ENGINE
Date of Incident
Date Filed
Mileage 80,000 miles
Crash No
Fire No
Injuries 0
Deaths 0
Vehicle Towed No
State PA

Consumer Description

HEAD GASKET FAILURE***** 2003 OUTBACK **** THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AS FOUR OF THE SUBARU'S WE'VE OWNED HAD HG ISSUES. ALTHOUGH IN THE PAST SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THE FAILURES AND REPAIRED THEM UNDER THE WWP99 CAMPAIGN (1998-2002 MODEL YEARS). WHILE THIS FAILURE CONTINUES TO BE WIDESPREAD (JUST GOOGLE SUBARU HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS AND YOU'LL GET PAGES OF COMPLAINTS OF HG FAILURES) SUBARU HAS STOPPED REPAIRING THEM OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS APPEARS TO BE SOLELY A COST SAVING STRATEGY. WHEN THE GASKETS FAIL, OIL LEAKS OUTSIDE THE ENGINE WHICH CONTACTS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE BURNING OIL PUTS SMOKE AND FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I WOULD THINK THIS IS ALSO A FIRE CONCERN. INSIDE THE ENGINE, OIL AND COOLANT MIX AND CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE/FAILURE. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS REPAIRED BY SUBARU? THEY SEEM TO BE GETTING AWAY WITH A HUGE CONSUMER INJUSTICE JUST BY ACTING LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST. CAN THEY BE REQUIRED EXTENT THE CHAMPAGNE (WWP99) WITH THE 03 AND LATER MODELS? SUBARU CLEARLY ACKNOWLEDGES A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND LATER MODEL YEARS HAVE THE SAME FAILURE. *TR

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