NHTSA Complaint #10491450 — 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK

SINCE THE CAR WAS NEARLY NEW THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY, RENDERING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED BUT THE DEALER SAID NO FAULT CODE WAS FOUND. IN DECEMBER 2012 THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY. I BROUGHT IT TO THE SUBARU DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND SERVICE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE LIGHT IN THE MAPLIGHT MODULE, AND IF SOMETHING IN THE MODULE GOES BAD THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND PREVENT THE AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING. CONSEQUENTLY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MAPLIGHT CONSOLE AT A COST OF $510 ($110 TO READ THE CODE PLUS $400 FOR THE LIGHT MODULE) TO FIX A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT AND DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUBARU. *TR