2003 SUBARU OUTBACK Engine And Engine Cooling Problems
8 NHTSA complaints on file
Engine And Engine Cooling Issues in the 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK
8 engine and engine cooling complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Engine And Engine Cooling Complaints
AFTER SMELLING LEAKING OIL FOR MANY MONTHS, MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. OIL IS LEAKING DOWN ONTO THE EXHAUST CREATING A CONSTANT BURNING SMELL. I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS IN ANY WAY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. *TR
SUBARU HAS BEEN SELLING CARS KNOWING OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURES. 1998 TO 2002 HEAD GASKETS FAILED WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAKS. SUBARU HAS ISSUED THE WWP99 CAMPAIGN (UPTO 8 YR 100,000 MILE). THIS CAMPAIGN INTRODUCES AN ADDITIVE INTO THE COOLANT TO "PLUG" THE LEAK. THEY ALSO WILL REPAIR THE GASKETS IN RARE CASES. THE 2003 HEAD GASKETS ARE ALSO FAILING PREMATURELY EVEN WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. THESE FAIL WITH AN EXTERNAL OIL LEAK THAT DIRECTLY HITS THE EXHAUST CAUSING FIRE HAZARD AND NOXIOUS FUMES IN AND AROUND THE CAR. THE REPAIR IS $2000 AT DEALER. SUBARU IS NOT ADDRESSING THIS. *TR
THE CAR WOULD DIE USUALLY WHILE COMING TO STOPS. AND ON MOST OCCASIONS WILL START BACK UP. AT FIRST IT SEEMED TO ONLY DIE IN VERY HOT WEATHER AND ON ONE OCCASION IT DIDN'T START BACK UP FOR 15 MIN. BUT IT HAS SINCE DIED ON DAYS WITHOUT EXTREME TEMPERATURES. MOST OF THE TIMES IT DIES WHILE STOPPING, TWICE IT DIED WHEN BRAKING ON HIGHWAYS WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 15 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY USELESS. THEY HAVE RESET THE COMPUTER A FEW TIMES. ONE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THIS STILL OCCURS. THE OIL AND FILTER ARE CHANGED REGULARLY, I EVEN USE 93 INSTEAD OF THE 91 RECOMMENDED FUEL AND IT HAS STILL OCCURRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WASN'T COOLING AND THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE A LEAK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE VIN INFORMATION WASN'T AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 76,600.
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH LEAKING HEAD GASKETS. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR COST. *KB AT AROUND 80,000 THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING OIL. THE CONSUMER STATED SUBARU RECALLED OTHER MODELS BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE EXTERNAL LEAK AT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. THE CONSUMER STATED HER MODEL HAS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE OTHER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED SUBARU WAS ONLY WILL TO COVER 50% OF THE COST. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE WITH THE ENGINE ON. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A BURNING OIL SMELL. HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR SUBARU WAS UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STALLING PROBLEM. *SC *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *ND WHEN BRAKING TO STOP OR MAKE A TURN THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEE ARE OTHER VEHICLES (SAME MAKE/MODEL) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *SCC
Other 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK Problem Areas
Air Bags
18 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
7 complaints
Engine
5 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
5 complaints
Power Train
5 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
5 complaints
Electrical System
4 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Suspensionrear
4 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
3 complaints
Tires
3 complaints
Wheels
3 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
2 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Suspensionfront
2 complaints
Tiressidewall
2 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
1 complaint
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control Esc
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
1 complaint
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
1 complaint
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingtail Lights
1 complaint
Fuelpropulsion System
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionparkneutral Start Interlock Switch
1 complaint
Power Trainclutch Assemblypedalhand Levermotorcycle
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmission
1 complaint
Service Brakes
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscpads
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentshoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsmaster Cylinder
1 complaint
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
1 complaint
Structure
1 complaint
Structurebody
1 complaint
Structurebodydoor
1 complaint
Structurebodyhatchbackliftgate
1 complaint
Structureframe And Members
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing
1 complaint
Unknown Or Other
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controllinkages
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Controlsprings
1 complaint
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
1 complaint
Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesinterior
1 complaint
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
1 complaint
Wheelslugsnutsboltsstuds
1 complaint