2006 SUBARU OUTBACK Exterior Lighting Problems

REAR WIPER CEASED FUNCTIONING. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BROKEN WIRE(S) IN A WIRING HARNESS THAT PASSES THROUGH A RUBBER ACCORDION BOOT BETWEEN THE CAR BODY AND THE TAIL-GATE (NEAR THE RIGHT-HAND TAILGATE HINGE). MANY OF THE OTHER WIRES, AFFECTING UPPER BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, AND TAILGATE LATCH/LOCK, WERE FRAYED AND WERE REPLACED DUE TO IMMINENT FAILURE OF THE ABOVE LISTED COMPONENTS. RESEARCH AT AN ONLINE FORUM FOR SUBARU OWNERS SHOWED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS (OF 2005 AND 2006 SUBARU OUTBACKS) HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES DUE TO BROKEN WIRES IN THIS WIRING HARNESS. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS AN UNDER-REPORTED PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE ASKED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON. THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT MORE THAN ABOUT 40' IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON HIGHWAY 108 BETWEEN SONORA AND JAMESTOWN, CALIFORNIA. THERE WAS A PEDESTRIAN WALKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE HIM UNTIL I WAS LESS THAN 40' AWAY. THERE WAS GREAT POTENTIAL FOR HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN, LUCKILY HE WAS OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS JUST ONE INCIDENT WHERE I FELT MY HEADLIGHTS FAIL. ANY TIME I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I HAVE LIMITED VISIBILITY TO THE FRONT OF ME, WHICH MEANS I CANNOT SEE POTHOLES OR ANIMALS IN THE ROAD. ALL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DRIVEN OR RIDDEN IN MY CAR AT NIGHT ARE SHOCKED BY THE LACK OF VISIBILITY WITH THE LOW-BEAMS. AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, I DRIVE WITH MY HIGH-BEAMS ON AT NIGHT, BUT OFTEN THIS...

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO JUST MY CAR BUT IS WHAT I CONSIDER A FAULT FOR THE WHOLE CAR MODEL. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS HARD-WIRED ON. THAT'S OK, BUT POSES A PROBLEM AT NIGHT AS ONE CAN SEE THAT THE HEADLIGHT IS ON, NOT REALIZING THAT THE TAILLIGHTS ARE NOT ON. YOU START THE CAR AND DRIVE OFF NOT REALIZING THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR IS NOT VISIBLE. THERE IS NO ALERT (SUCH AS NO OR DIMMED DASHBOARD LIGHTS) TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE BACK OF THE CAR CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE DARK. NOT ONLY HAVE I MADE THIS MISTAKE MANY TIMES, BUT I HAVE ALSO NOTICED OTHER DRIVERS OF MY CAR MAKE AND MODEL DOING THE SAME THING. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD BE REMEDIED BY HAVING THE TAILLIGHTS BE HARD-WIRED AS WELL OR BY HAVING NO DASH...