2013 Subaru Outback Seats Problems

Your electronic seat recliner motor makes noise when you try to recline the seat, and the dealership says the motor is defectively designed and can only be replaced—not repaired—at a cost near $1,000. After replacement, your seat got stuck in the fully reclined position, which reduces your driving comfort and visibility. The dealership suggests this electronic system is inferior to a manual reclining lever in terms of speed, reliability, durability of the buttons, and cost.

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that after driving for about two hours, she switched seats with her boyfriend. While her boyfriend was driving, there was an abnormal odor present. The contact noticed smoke under the front passenger seat. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The driver attempted to put out the fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire and disconnect the battery. The contact removed the passenger seat fuse. The passenger seat was jammed. A police report was filed. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 173,400.

THE HEADREST POINTS AT A HARSH ANGLE FORWARD AND MAY CAUSE SEVERE NECK INJURY. TWO SEPERATE INCIDENTS: 1. MOVING FORWARD AT A LEFT TURN ANGLE, CARS HITTING EACH OTHERS RT FRONT. RESULT BRAIN STEM HEMORRHAGE AND BILATERAL HEMATOMA. APRIL 3, 2018 2. STOPPED IN TRAFFIC HIT FROM THE REAR. RESULT NECK STRAIN. MAY 10, 2018 *TT *TR

I TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE TO REPORT AN ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY, REQUIRING THE CAR TO BE JUMPED STARTED IF LEFT SEVERAL DAYS PARKED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT TESTED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. CAR WAS PARKED IN THEIR LOT FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND ON RETURN THE CAR WAS WAS FOUND TO BE HEAVILY DAMAGED BY SMOKE AND FIRE FROM PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DATE NOR WAS THERE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM. DUE TO THE NEW DESIGN OF SEATS AND HEAD RESTRAINT I AM NOW IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEAD AND NECK PAIN. STARTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT MY NEW CAR. HAD DOCTOR APPT, HEAD SCAN AND NOW PHYSICAL THERAPY. I BELIEVE THE SCOOPED SEATS DO NOT ALLOW FOR AN IMPERFECT SHAPE. MY RIGHT LEG IS NOW LEGGED AND I SIT AT A TURN I. THE SEAT WHICH PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY SPINE IN THE OVER SHAPED SEAT. MOSTLY THE NEW HEAD RESTRAINT IN RELATION TO THE SHOULDER POSITION OF THE SEAT PUTS A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY NECK. I AM TAKING IBUPROFEN EVERYDAY AND THE PAIN IS A REAL DISTRACTION TO MY WORK AND DAILY LIFE. I PROVIDE ANESTHESIA FULL TIME AND NEED TO BE AT MY BEST FOR THIS LINE OF WORK RATHER THAN IN PHYSICAL THERAPY. THIS ALSO COSTS MONEY AND TAKES AWAY FROM ENJOYING MY LIFE. FOR A FEW MONTHS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AN OLDER CAR 80% OF THE TIME AND FOUND THE ACHING WENT AWAY. I ONLY DRIVE LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO WORK. *TR

SEAT HEAD REST IS TOO FAR FORWARD AND UPPER SEAT CONTOURS BACKWARD, PUTTING PRESSURE ON NECK AND AFFECTING SPINE. SEAT NEEDS ADDED SUPPORT (WITH A SMALL UPPER BACK SUPPORT AND PROBABLY A LUMBAR SUPPORT) TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE NECK AND GET THE HEAD FREE FROM BEING PUSHED. NECK SHOULD BE STRAIGHT. OVER TIME THIS WILL DAMAGE THE SPINE IF THE HEADREST ISN'T MADE ADJUSTABLE OR SUPPORT ADDED TO THE SEAT. I'M ADDING SUPPORT TO THE SEAT FROM AFTERMARKET CUSHIONING TO GET THE PRESSURE OFF MY HEAD/NECK. WOULD LIKE AN ADJUSTABLE HEADREST AS WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA TO GET THE HEADREST OFF THE HEAD (AND THE PRESSURE OFF THE NECK, TO GET MY NECK AND BACK STRAIGHT). --- I AM WORRIED ABOUT RECEIVING SPAM SO DIDN'T WANT TO FILL OUT SOME OF THE EXTRA INFO ASKED FOR. *TR