1998 SUBARU OUTBACK — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY STREETS, I CAME TO A STOP AND REALIZED THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID 3 BRAKE LINES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK 1998 HAD BROKEN. I LIVE IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS INCIDENT COST ME $500 IN REPAIRS. I REALIZE THERE IS A RECALL FOR NEWER MODELS, BUT MY OLDER SUBARU OUTBACK IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

ON MARCH 19, 2013, I WAS RETURNING TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AFTER PICKING UP MY OUTBACK FROM BLOOMINGTON ACURA SUBARU, BLOOMINGTON, MN AFTER A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A NEAR CATASTROPHIC COLLISION WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. DEALER INSPECTION CONFIRMED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LINE BY THE FUEL TANK PROTECTOR HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION RESULTING IN SEVERE FLUID RELEASE THUS NOT ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM TO PROPERLY PRESSURIZE RESULTING IN A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKE LINES REPLACED WERE PART NUMBER 26522AA010 AND 26522AA020 (RIGHT AND LEFT). ON MARCH 27, 2013, THE NHTSA ISSUED CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V110000 FOR SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACKS REGARDING "BRAKE LINES MAY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION". THIS RECALL PERTAINS TO MODEL YEAR 2005 TO 2009. THIS CITIZEN REQUESTS, NAY, INSISTS THAT THIS RECALL NOTICE BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE LATER MODEL YEARS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 90 IN IDAHO AT 62 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH FAILED. THE HOOD WAS SECURED DOWN ALL THE WAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND HAD NOT BEEN OPENED IN TWO WEEKS. THERE HAD BEEN OVER 100 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING OVER 60 MPH SINCE THE HOOD WAS LAST OPENED. THE HOOD FLEW UP WITH NO SAFETY CATCH OR HESITATION AND SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, THE HOOD BENT AND THE ROOF DENTED. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLEW OFF INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE PERSON FOLLOWING ME ON THE INTERSTATE PULLED OVER AND HELPED ME TIE IT DOWN TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE THE SCENE. WE BOTH DETERMINED IT WAS LATCH FAILURE. IT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS MY FRONT VISION WAS COMPLETELY BLOCKED. *TR

SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS A POP IN MY FRONT CORNER. STILL DROVE OK UNDER 20-25 MPH. FASTER THAN THAT THE WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. BACKING UP THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK TO FRIENDS HOSE WHO WORKS ON CARS. HE SAID IT WAS MY FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CONTROL ARM AND THE FRONT (HE CALLED IT HANDLING BUSHING) WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY IN TWO. HE FOUND A USED CONTROL ARM AT A JUNK YARD AND REPLACED IT FOR ME. WE TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART THAT I CAN PROVIDE IF NEEDED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE OLD PART. *TR