2006 SUBARU LEGACY — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Hub was replaced in June of 2019. Car was driven about 14,000 miles (estimate) since then. While driving down the road, I hard a noise on the front right tire. When I pulled the hub cap off, two bolts were sheared off, one nut was loose. I checked the torque on the remaining two bolts, and it was about 80 ft-lbs, which is what is specified in the manual. Since I torque all 5 in star order (twice) when I change tires, there is no change they were under or over torqued. Tires were changed twice a year by myself, so nuts went on/off four times since installing the hub. No other failures on any other studs, on two subaru cars that I followed the same practices on. I used a press to press out the studs (as pictured), but due to a defective design, the studs can't be removed without pressing out the bearing and separating the halves. Additionally the replacement studs I bought are a larger diameter, and have a shoulder that would have protected against this failure. As such this looks like a defective design. It's not an OEM replacement, it does not last a reasonable time, and presents a real risk of losing a tire at speed on a car. Manufacturer phone number as listed on Amazon is disconnected. Their web site is broken, and does not allow "chat" to work. Their listed phone number refused to allow a connection unless the dialer states their age, which makes it sound like a scam number. They claim a 10 year warranty, but want me to call them to process. Apparently I cannot do so, as they have made it impossible.

While driving down the highway I had to slam on my brakes to avoid colliding with someone and at that time the brake pedal went soft. Upon further inspection 2 different brake hard lines running to the rear of the vehicle have corroded and failed. This issue was supposed to be remedied under 14V311000 and the vehicle was originally taken in for that recall. Subaru of America was contacted and said because the recall work had already been completed they would not address the issue.

THE DASHBOARD SURFACE IS EXTREMELY STICKY,PARTICLES OF ANY TYPE OF RAG OR TOWEL USED TO CLEAN IT ADHERE TO THE SURFACE AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. IT ALSO CAUSES AN UNSAFE GLARE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

OUR CAR WAS RECALLED DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN 2016, SO SEVERE THAT THE LETTER STATED THAT DEATH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. AFTER AN INITIAL APPOINTMENT, WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH FOR THE REPLACEMENT TO BE DELIVERED. DURING THIS TIME, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. WE HAD TO ARRANGE FOR OTHER TRANSPORTATION ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WAS REPAIRED AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSPECTED FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IN THE COURSE OF FIXING THE AIRBAG, THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED OUR KEYLESS REMOTE (WHICH THEY FIXED). WE LOST VALUABLE TIME FROM WORK. NOW, LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER, THE SAME CAR IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POSSES A SAFETY HAZARD, THIS TIME DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. WE ARE TAKING IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, BUT AGAIN, THE SOONEST THEY CAN GET IT INTO THE SHOP IS MARCH 11. AGAIN, WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT CANNOT TRANSPORT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER FOR OVER A MONTH. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING A FREE LOANER CAR ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP, BUT WE ARE STILL LOSING VALUABLE TIME DUE TO THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE WE OWNED IT. THE FIRST WAS A BRAKE LINE RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED NOR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.