NHTSA Complaint #10690760 — 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK

DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. AIRBAG SAFETY SYSTEM IS SUBSEQUENTLY DISABLED, EVEN IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. SOURCE OF PROBLEM IS TRACED BACK TO INDICATOR LIGHT IN THE OVER HEAD CONSOLE. THE WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP AS THEY SHOULD. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT OR OFF LIGHTS DO NOT APPEAR WHEN THEY SHOULD SOMETIMES THEY ARE DIM AND RESOLVE WITH A LIGHT TAP OR CHANGE IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THIS IS COMMON AND IS THE RESULT OF FAULTY SOLDER IN THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE. DEALERSHIP ADVISES REPLACE THE ENTIRE CONSOLE AT OWNER EXPENSE. PART COSTS $130, LABOR IS EVEN MORE. I AM NOT AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND HAVE NO IDEA IF SOLDERS SHOULD FAIL AT 8 YEARS. THIS PARTICULAR SOLDER IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. SUBARU SHOULD REMEDY THIS WITH A RECALL OR AT LEAST REIMBURSE MY COST. I WILL PROVIDE THE DEALERSHIP WITH A COPY OF THIS REPORT.