NHTSA Complaint #10683761 — 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK

TWO INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE IGNITION/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THIS CAR HAPPENED DURING A SECOND START AFTER A SHORT TRIP IN COLD WEATHER. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN TEMPERATURES AT OR BELOW 5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY, THEN AFTER I DROVE FOR SHORT TRIP (BETWEEN 5 AND 10 MINUTES LONG) I PARKED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF AND LEFT IT FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES. FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT: THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE ACCESSORIES, INCLUDING THE HEAT/FAN SYSTEM AND RADIO WORKED, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. THE DASHBOARD "SECURITY IMMOBILIZER" INDICATOR FLASHED AS IF THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. AFTER LEAVING THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION FOR 5 MINUTES, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BRIEFLY ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AGAIN. THE SECOND INCIDENT: THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE ACCESSORIES, INCLUDING THE HEAT/FAN SYSTEM WOULD NOT TURN ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE, BUT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO HEAT OR FAN, THE WINDSHEILD SOON BEGAN TO FOG-OVER, DIMINISHING VISIBILITY, DISABLING THE EYESIGHT SYSTEM, AND FORCING ME TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. AFTER THE CAR RAN FOR ABOUT 4 MINUTES TOTAL, THE ACCESSORIES TURNED ON AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH MY DEALER AND SUBARU OF AMERICA OF THIS PROBLEM, AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ADVISED OF A SOLUTION OTHER THAN TO AVOID SHORT TRIPS IN COLD WEATHER. *TR