NHTSA Complaint #11297760 — 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK
SEATS issue reported to NHTSA
Complaint Details
| ODI Number | 11297760 |
| Vehicle | 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK |
| Component | SEATS |
| Date of Incident | |
| Date Filed | |
| Mileage | 200 miles |
| Crash | No |
| Fire | No |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Vehicle Towed | No |
| State | WA |
Consumer Description
2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED. PURCHASED JANUARY '19. CAR WAS LOCATED BY DEALER AT OTHER DEALERSHIP AND DELIVERED LATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT OWNERS HAVING ABILITY TO TEST DRIVE. WITHIN ONE WEEK OWNERS NOTICED SEAT ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DRIVER SEAT SLOPE ISSUE: DRIVER SEAT BASE SLOPES FROM LEFT DOWN TO RIGHT APPROX. 3/4"-1". PROBLEM NOTICED IN FIRST MONTH AFTER DELIVERY AND SUBARU WAS NOTIFIED. AREA DEALERS, SUBARU CORPORATE AND FACTORY FIELD ENGINEER (FFE) REFUSE TO PROPERLY CONFRONT/ DIAGNOSE/ REPAIR THE ISSUE. OWNER SHOWED SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND MANAGER AT DEALER USING A 1 FT' BUBBLE LEVEL THAT THE ISSUE IS EVIDENT. ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE ADMITTED TO OWNER THAT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE FACTS IN THEIR SERVICE INVOICE STATEMENTS. SEAT SLOPE ISSUE CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AS THE DRIVER HAS TO PUSH OFF OF CENTER CONSOLE WHILE LEFT HAND CORNERING AND LONG DISTANCE DRIVING IS NOT PERMISSIBLE AS IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS DRIVER USES A TOWEL OR PILLOW TO LEVEL THE SEAT BASE. NORMAL OPERATION INVOLVES DRIVE RESTING ELBO FIRMLY INTO CENTER CONSOLE TO STAY UPRIGHT. OWNERS ARE CONCERNED DUE TO DRIVER ERGONOMICS AND ABILITY OF SAFETY RESTRAINS/AIRBAGS TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED IF IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION IF THE DRIVER IS NOT CENTERED OR POSITIONED PROPERLY IN THE CAR AS DESIGNED AND TESTED FOR IMPACTS. SUBARU CORP. SR. REP. SAYS SUBARU HAS NO PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS OR MEASUREMENTS FOR SUBARU SEATS FOR FFE TO COMPARE SEAT CONSTRUCTION/INSTALL OF MY VEHICLE TO. THE FFE PERFORMED CORPORATE/CUSTOMER INSPECTION USING A CELL PHONE IN A LEATHER CELL PHONE WALLET AND A BUBBLE LEVEL APPLICATION AS HIS REFERENCE FOR DENIAL OF CLAIM. I HAVE PICTURES OF PERSONAL INSPECTION WITH LEVELS AND MEASUREMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
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