2010 Subaru Outback Lights Problems

When you set your lights to parking light mode at night, the instrument cluster and front lights illuminate, making it seem like your headlights and brake lights are on. However, your brake lights actually remain off, so other drivers can't see you from behind. This design issue can lead to rear-end collisions since drivers may not realize their brake lights aren't functioning. A fix would involve rewiring the parking light circuit so that brake lights automatically activate whenever parking lights are on.

About three years ago; there was a recall for the headlights. Subaru did replace the headlights, but I have replaced the headlights two additional times since then. And I currently have a headlight out a marker light out. I also last year had all of my marker lights burn out.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG. MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS JUST GO OUT ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DRIVING HOME MY HEADLIGHTS WILL JUST BURN OUT AND IT LEAVES ME TRYING TO NAVIGATE HOME IN THE DARK. WHEN I GO TO MY SUBARU DEALER THEY OFFER ME NO SOLUTION. I ASK IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR THAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING IS WRONG AND THEN CHARGE ME $60+ TO CHANGE THESE HEADLIGHT BULBS. THIS IS UNSAFE AND IT IS EXTREMELY COSTLY. ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS TO BE PUT IN THE SHOP WHEN THE BULBS NEED TO BE CHANGED DUE TO THE WEIRD DESIGN THEY USED. THE DATE FOR THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY 2 TO 3 MONTHS SINCE THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT'S IS NOT THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES BUT THE VEHICLE. THIS IS COSTLY AS SO MUCH HAS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS. THIS IS GOING TO BE MY THIRD TIME REPLACING MY LIGHTS SINCE JANUARY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCHLOSSMANN SUBARU CITY OF MILWAUKEE (LOCATED AT 4640 S 27TH ST, MILWAUKEE, WI 53221, (414) 459-3677) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND DO NOT PROJECT A SAFE BEAM OF LIGHT. THIS ONLY AFFECTS THE NORMAL BEAM. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK WELL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN REPLACED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (ULTIMATE AUTOMOTIVE SUBARU, 5150 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA) AND WAS REPAIRED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SATISFACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. THE DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN MAKING AN ABRUPT STOP AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY TURN OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

I BOUGHT THIS VECHICLE NEW IN 2010. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND 5 TIMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT TAKES ALMOST 1 1/2 HOURS TO CHANGE THE BULB. YOU MUST REMOVE THE WHEEL, THE WHEEL WELL, THEN THE WATER PROOF COVER, THE SMALL RETAINING BRACKET AND THEN DISCONNECT THE BULB ALL THROUGH AN OPENING ONLY A CHILD HAND COULD FIT THROUGH EASILY. I HAVE NEVER HAD BOTH LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, ON A DARK MOUNTAIN ROAD THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ONLY 3 MONTHS AFTER ACQUIRING THE VEHICLE AND THE LAST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AGO.

THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS THAT EITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BLOWS OUT.

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES NOW (8 BULBS TOTAL). FIRST TIME, IT BLEW OUT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. THEN THE SECOND 6 MONTHS AFTER THAT. THIRD TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE FOURTH TIME THE HEADLIGHT FAILED WAS TODAY (NOVEMBER, 2016). ALSO MY REAR NIGHT TIME LIGHT ALSO BLEW OUT THIS PAST AUGUST, 2016. WORST PART IS THE DIFFICULTY OF REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE FRONT BUMPER TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT WHICH JUST ADDS TO THE AGGRAVATION. SOMETHING LIKE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY FEATURE THAT NEEDS TO BE EASILY REPLACEABLE BY THE CAR OWNER. REGARDLESS OF THE DIFFICULTY IN REPLACING THE HEADLIGHTS, THESE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS FREQUENTLY AS WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING.

MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LAST 3-6 MONTHS. I'VE REPLACED BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE FIVE TIMES IN THREE YEARS.

REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULB REQUIRES REMOVAL OF WHEEL AND PARTIAL REMOVAL OF WHEEL WELL. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY A KEY SAFETY FEATURE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS SHOULD NOT REQUIRE SERVICE AT AN AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. ONE BURNED OUT BULB RENDERS THE CAR UNUSABLE FOR NIGHT AND FOUL WEATHER DRIVING. THIS DESIGN FLAW NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AND OWNERS SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR LABOR CHARGES INCURRED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BULBS.

REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT BULBS REQUIRES REMOVAL OF FRONT WHEELS, WHEEL WELLS, AND BUMPERS. HEADLIGHTS ARE A KEY SAFETY FEATURE ON A VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT AT ANY TIME. AS DESIGNED, IF HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT IT IS ESSENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO REPLACE THEM TO SAFELY CONTINUE THE VOYAGE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND DEALERS SHOULD REPLACE BULBS AT NO COST FOR SERVICE (PARTS ONLY).

REPLACING LOW BEAM HEADLAMP BULBS EVERY 15K MILES OR LESS ON THIS VEHICLE. 4TH BULB IN 3 YRS JUST BURNED OUT ON 10/28/15. OCCURS AT RANDOM TIMES - NO PATTERN. DISCONTINUED USING THE HEADLAMP AUTO ON/OFF FEATURE AND STILL NO IMPROVEMENT IN SITUATION. BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO PERIODS OF HAVING TO DRIVE WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. IMPOSSIBLE FOR TYPICAL OWNER TO REPLACE LOW BEAM BULBS ON THEIR OWN DUE TO DIFFICULTY OF ACCESSING HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.

THE HEADLIGHTS, PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT IN APRIL 2011 AS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. SOME LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR OR MORE TIMES. SOME HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN A WEEK AFTER THEY ARE REPLACED.

I HAVE 2 CARS, A 2002 CHEV. IMPALA AND A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. BOTH CARS HAVE AN AUTOMATIC ON HEADLIGHT FEATURE. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE IMPALA IS ON THE DASHBOARD AND I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED IT IN THE 13 YEARS I HAVE THE CAR. IT WORKS PERFECTLY, WHEN THE LIGHT LEVEL IS LOW THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON. THE OUTBACK HAS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON THE END OF THE TURN INDICATOR STALK. THE SWITCH HAS A NUMBER OF POSITIONS, THE FIRST 3 BEING HEADLIGHT AUTOMATIC ON, HEADLIGHT MANUAL ON AND PARKING LIGHTS ON. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, EITHER ON THE AUTOMATIC ON OR HEADLIGHTS MANUAL ON POSITIONS AS WELL AS THE PARKING LIGHTS ON POSITION THERE IS AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE ON. WITH THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON YOU CANNOT TELL WHICH OF THE 3 POSITIONS THE SWITCH IS AT, ALL INDICATORS ARE THE SAME. MANY TIMES, INADVERTENTLY BECAUSE OF USING THE TURN SIGNAL STALK, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TURNS TO THE PARKING LIGHT POSITION AND I FIND MYSELF DRIVING WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS ON RATHER THAN THE HEADLIGHTS, A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THERE IS NO INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD OF THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE LIGHT INDICATOR BULB IS ON AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE ON BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. AGAIN A DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE LIGHT SWITCH SHOULD BE RELOCATED FROM THE TURN SIGNAL STALK TO THE DASHBOARD OR THE LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD SHOULD BE OFF WHEN IN THE PARKING LIGHT POSITION. *TR

PROBLEM STARTED IN ABOUT JULY, 2014 WHEN MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. I PURCHASED TWO NEW BULBS AND CHANGED THEM (AND THIS IS NO EASY PROCESS WITH THIS VEHICLE). I WORE LATEX GLOVES SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE NEW BULBS. APPROXIMATELY A WEEK AFTER INSTALLING THE NEW BULBS, MY DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN, BUT WOULD COME ON AND GO OUT SPORADICALLY. IT SEEMED TO COME AND GO WITH DAMP WEATHER OR WHEN I HIT BUMPS WHILE DRIVING, SO I QUESTIONED THE SEAL OF THE FIXTURE COVER AND/OR THE WIRING CONNECTION, SO I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN AND CHECKED THE SEATING OF THE BULB, WIRING CONNECTION, AND SEAL OF THE HOUSING, AND ALL WERE FINE. THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THEN STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF ON/OFF OPERATION, IT WENT OUT FOR GOOD. I PULLED THE BULB AND CHECKED THE FILAMENT, AND IT WAS FINE, BUT I PUT THE OLD PASSENGER BULB (ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE) IN. IT WORKED AND DID NOT FLICKER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT EVENTUALLY STARTED TO SHOW THE SAME SIGNS AS THE NEWER BULBS I PUT IN. THEN IT STOPPED WORKING ALTOGETHER. THE BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, BUT I AM HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE AGAIN, STILL WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS MANY TIMES IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THE WIRING OR WITH THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHT UNIT ITSELF. OF COURSE, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND I DREAD TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO HEAR IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX. WITH SO MANY DOCUMENTED OCCURRENCES, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY SUBARU. *TR

CONDENSATION CONTINUALLY GATHERS INSIDE ONE OF THE LIGHT FIXTURES. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BULB AND FIXTURE ARE INSTALLED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS-THE DEALER HAS CHECKED THIS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE-WITH THE AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION INSIDE THE LIGHT, THE ILLUMINATION OF ONE HEADLIGHT IS GREATLY DIMINISHED MAKING DRIVING AT NIGHT VERY DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY IN DIMLY LIT SITUATIONS. I ALSO DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE COMBINATION OF ELECTRIC AND WATER INSIDE COMPONENTS IS "NORMAL" UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND SUBARU-THE COPY OF THE SENT TEXT FOLLOWS-THEY DO NOT RESPOND. I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS COMPONENT IS MAKING A FAULTY PRODUCT THAT DECREASES SAFETY. I JUST WANT THEM TO REPLACE THE COMPONENT AT NO COST TO ME SINCE I'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG. SENT TO SUBARU OF AMERICA- "THIS IS PERTAINING TO PROBLEMS WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2010 OUTBACK. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MY DEALER-GOLDSTEIN SUBARU-THAT "CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHTS IS NORMAL IN THE NORTHEAST" THEY ALSO TOLD ME I "COULD DRILL A SMALL HOLE IN THE LIGHT TO LET MORE AIR IN". QUESTION-IF IT IS "NORMAL" WHY SHOULD I DRILL A HOLE-THE LIGHT DESIGN SHOULD ACCOUNT FOR PROPER VENTILATION OF THE FIXTURE-SECONDLY HOW COME NO OTHER CARS ON THE LOT HAVE THIS, IT ONLY HAPPENS IN ONE LIGHT AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER SUBARU OWNERS ONLINE? THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE-ELECTRICITY AND WATER DO NOT MIX-THIS "NORMAL" CONDENSATION GREATLY REDUCES THE ILLUMINATION OF THE HEADLIGHT AND VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT DRIVING-IT'S LIKE DRIVING WITH ONE HEADLIGHT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM-MY LIGHT WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER-THERE IS NO DAMAGE AND ALL THE FACTORY SEALS AND BULBS ARE INTACT, YET WATER CONTINUALLY GETS INSIDE THE FIXTURE. I THINK SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE THIS SAFETY ITEM AT NO COST TO ME. (MY VIN WAS HERE). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEFECT WAS A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW FROM THE DEALER AND UNLIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT I'VE EVER OWNED THIS ONE HAS TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS. THE FOG LIGHTS, AND CLEARANCE LIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR, BUT NOTHING LIKE THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BUYING THE BEST LIGHTS YOU CAN GET BY SYLVANIA AT $70.00 PLUS FOR A SET AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 5 SETS OF THESE LIGHTS. LUCKY FOR ME THAT AFTER HAVING PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BY A MECHANIC THE FIRST FEW TIMES I WAS ABLE TO THEN DO IT MYSELF. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF CAR. I'M 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED MANY CARS IN MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS PROBLEM.. I'M SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT KEPT RECORDS OF THE OUTAGES. THANK YOU.. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. BEGINNING IN DECEMBER 2012 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS FOUR TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. BESIDES THE COST... IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CONSIDERING VISIBILITY IS HALF OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE WHEN THEY BLOW OUT. I NEVER KNOW WHEN I'M GOING TO PULL THE SWITCH AND NOT HAVE LIGHTS. *TR

MY HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) BURN OUT AT A VERY FREQUENT RATE. I HAVE CHANGED THEM AT LEAST 4 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. I USE GLOVES AND NEVER TOUCH THE BULB. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER THE OTHER LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS BURNED OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. 1 WEEK AGO A LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED. TODAY THE OPPOSITE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT IS BURNED OUT. THIS IS ABNORMAL HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT BURN OUT THIS OFTEN. THE BULBS WERE NOT TOUCHED ON THE GLASS WHEN REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED ONE OF THE TWO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE UPON ACTIVATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE WHERE THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO REPLACED NUMEROUS HEADLIGHT BULBS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS ARE BURNING OUT RIDICULOUSLY FAST, AND WITH LOWEST BRIGHTNESS BULBS (LONGER LASTING YOU'D THINK) THEY ARE SO DIM, I HAVE GREAT VISION AND FIND THEM INCREDIBLY UNSAFE FOR VEHICLE SPEEDS ABOVE 25MPH WHICH IS APPALLING FOR HIGHWAY VISIBILITY AND DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS! *TR

WITHOUT WARNING, BOTH OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WITHIN MOMENTS OF EACH OTHER. REPLACEMENTS DON'T LAST MORE THAN 3-6 MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ADDRESS ISSUE WITHOUT CHARGING EXORBITANT SERVICE FEES. RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN HAVING SUBARU ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING FAULT(S) LEADING TO THESE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS EVENTS. THANK YOU *TR

CONSTANT LOW BEAM BURNOUT I NOW HAVE 49,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND AM ON MY SEVENTH HEAD LIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE HE HEADLIGHTS ARE OPERATIVE, THEY POORLY PROJECT LIGHT ONTO THE ROAD-WAY. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE CANNOT SEE SIGNS, PARKED VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOW BEAMS WERE HITTING THE BULBS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 396.