2014 Subaru Outback Electrical Problems
29 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
Owner Complaints (29)
Your EyeSight forward collision avoidance system, which includes adaptive cruise control, has malfunctioned multiple times since you purchased the vehicle. The adaptive cruise control has shut off unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds on several occasions, creating a safety risk. The dealership diagnosed the issue under a warranty extension but is only covering 75% of the $1,467 repair cost, leaving you responsible for over $1,000. Fixing this will likely require replacement of the EyeSight camera module or related sensors.
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Your car is experiencing intermittent electrical failures where the engine suddenly stops while driving and won't restart. Multiple repair attempts have identified fuse #13 as a temporary fix, but the problem returns after a few drives. The root cause remains unclear despite electrical testing, and you're concerned this may be a known recall issue affecting the 2014 Outback. A complete electrical system diagnosis and potential wiring repair or replacement may be needed to resolve the underlying electrical fault.
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Your navigation, camera, and radio display screen randomly goes black while driving with no warning, and only comes back on when you restart the car. This is especially dangerous because you lose your backup camera when it happens, which has nearly caused accidents. An independent Subaru service provider has indicated this is a known issue affecting multiple vehicles and suggested it may warrant a service campaign from the manufacturer.
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Your horn stopped working while driving. You're not sure if this happened after your airbag was replaced or if it's a separate issue. This is concerning because drivers typically don't test their horns until they need to use them in an emergency. The repair cost $529.58 and likely involved diagnosing the electrical connection between your steering wheel controls and the horn system.
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The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while the vehicle was at a standstill when the contact saw unknown warning lights were flickering on and off. The contact parked the vehicle and went inside a store when approximately 10 minutes later the vehicle was on fire. Fire marshals and police extinguished the fire and a report was taken; no one was injured. The vehicle was then towed to an insurance lot where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
Driving at highway speeds with over half a tank of gas and car just shut down, no warning lights, no noise just shut down and lost all control. Fortunately was able to safely move to shoulder. Sat there for a few minutes, called subaru dealer (no suggestions though i now know there is a recall (NHTSA 21V587000) for an identical problem in newer subaru outbacks and also plenty of online sites suggesting this has happened to other outbacks. Car restarted and we were able to complete our ride home, very scary to think of what could have happened if we were in a different situation of traffic or highway conditions.
Horn malfunctions. Press horn on steering wheel is dead silent. However, if I enable the Panic button on key, the alarm sounds. When I start the car after pressing Panic button, the horn I steering wheel works. Sporadic operation.
THE REAR VIEW CAMERA WAS NOT DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED PROPERLY AND IT ALLOWS MOISTURE TO GET INTO THE CAMERA ITSELF. AFTER A WHILE THE CAMERA WITH FUZZY PICTURE AND EVENTUALLY YOU CAN NOT VIEW THINGS PROPERLY OR SEE THEM AT ALL. THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS ON THE INTERNET. THIS MAKES IT UNSAFE TO BACK THE CAR UP IF TRYING TO USE THE CAMERA TO ASSIST IN CLEARING THE PATH ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
1. REAR LIFTGATE WILL NOT OPEN WHEN USING REMOTE OR SENSOR ON VEHICLE. ONLY WAY TO OPEN IS TO CRAWL FROM INSIDE TO THE BACK, POP A LID AND THEN MANEUVER LATCH RELEASE. NO WAY TO OPEN LIFTGATE FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I'M 66 AND DISABLED. 2. EXCESSIVE OIL USE REPORTED BY TECHNICIANS DURING OIL CHANGE.
HVAC FAN CONTROL SWITCH AND CONNECTOR MELTED
THE BACK-UP CAMERA STARTED FLICKERING WHEN BACKING IN PARKING LOT. THAT HAPPENED TWICE. THE NEXT TIME IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. THE SCREEN DOESN'T EVEN SHOW THAT I'M BACKING-UP. *TR
MY BACK-UP CAMERA COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN SWITCH INTO A MODE WHERE I CAN SEE THE CAMERA WHEN I SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE; IT STAYS ON WHATEVER SCREEN IT WAS ON. NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE, IT JUST QUIT WORKING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
SINCE 5/2019 MY SUBARU HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES DUE TO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHING WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT. MY REMOTE STARTER AND RADIO DO NOT WORK EITHER. EACH TIME IT'S BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I AM GIVEN A DIFFERENT REASON, CHARGED A FEE AND SENT ON MY WAY, UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN! GETTING A LITTLE TIRED OF HAVING MY CHAIN YANKED. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS RECURRING PROBLEM.MY CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS CHANGED, DUE TO A RECALL.
BATTERY FAILING PREMATURELY EVEN NEW. LEAVING DRIVERS AND OCCUPANTS STRANDED IN WINTER FREEZING , OR SUMMER HOT WEATHER. I HAD TOTAL OF 4 EPISODES OF BATTERY FAILURE IN MY 2014 OUTBACK BOUGHT NEW ON 8/12/2014. SUBARU FACTORY BATTERY FAILED TWICE WHEN CAR WAS LESS THEN 20K MILES IN JANUARY 2017, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN AGAIN FAILED TWICE AGAIN WITH THE REPLACED BATTERY 11/26/2019 AT 47K MILES. SUBARU DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY THIS TIME STATING WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. RESEARCHED ONLINE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT SUBARU BATTERIES BELOW: VEHICLE 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED 4DR SUV AWD (2.5L 4CYL CVT) REVIEW I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH A DEAD BATTERY. IF I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR AT LEAST ONE-HALF HOUR EACH DAY,THE ... 3.9/5(196) MILEAGE: 106400 DRIVE TRAIN: ALL WHEEL DRIVE MPG: 25 COMBINED MPG SUBARU BATTERY PROBLEMS? QUESTIONS ABOUT SUBARU BATTERY ON ... HTTPS://WWW.JUSTANSWER.COM/TOPICS-BATTERY SUBARU BATTERY PROBLEMS A CAR OR AUTOMOBILE BATTERY IS A DEVICE WHICH STORES AND SUPPLIES ELECTRICAL ENERGY. THIS IS SUPPLIED TO THE IGNITION SYSTEM, APPLIANCES AND LIGHTS, AND TO POWER THE STARTER MOTOR. AN AUTOMOBILE BATTERY CAN BE RECHARGED WHICH BEGINS TO HAPPEN ONCE THE ENGINE IS STARTED. BATTERY ON MY NEW 2017 SUBARU FORESTER RUNS DOWN - CAR ON ... NOV 18, 2017 ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO I HAD A DEAD BATTERY THAT I NEEDED ... JUL 21, 2012 SUBARU ALTERNATOR TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING, THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND ATM OIL TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE GEARS AND CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GROVE SUBARU OF SILVERTHORNE (171 9TH ST, SILVERTHORNE, CO 80498, (970) 276-6039) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT CODE: P0971 FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
WHILE DRIVING LOCALLY THE INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING (CRUISE CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHTS).PARKED CAR, CHECKED GAS CAP AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY AND CLEANED TERMINALS, PROBLEM CONTINUED. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC (AFTER SOME NOT SO PLEASANT DEALINGS WITH SUBARU) 7/22/19 HE PERFORMED COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR. $601.38. CAR WORKED WELL UNTIL TODAY. RETURNING HOME FROM STORE THE LIGHTS ARE FLASHING AGAIN BACK TO THE MECHANIC. 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR!
SPONTANEOUS ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING - MAR 07,2019 - 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH CURRENT MAINTENANCE AND NO PRIOR HISTORY OF MALFUNCTION. DURING A 2.1 MILE DRIVE ON CITY STREETS ELECTRICAL DISTURBANCES OF THE RADIO/MEDIA CONSOLE WERE NOTED, FOLLOWED SHORTLY THEREAFTER BY BLACK SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON EXITING THE CAR, THE SMOKE HAD BECOME WHITE AND FLAMES WERE NOTED UNDER THE CAR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS BURNT/MELTED. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
REAR TAIL RUNNING LIGHT BULBS INSIDE THE LIFT/TAIL GATE WERE BURNT OUT AND WHEN REPLACING THE BULBS THE PLASTIC HOUSING THE BULBS PRESS INTO WERE CHARRED AND CRACKED. I FEAR THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD GIVEN THE STATE OF CHARRING. MY VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FIRE, BUT I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THIS AREA.
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU CAN'T USE THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE EYESIGHT SAFETY EQUIPMENT DOES NOT WORK. THIS OCCURS AT STARTUP, WHEN THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH IT'S DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS. CAR HAS STRANDED US TWICE WITH THE BRAKE NOT ALLOWING US TO DISENGAGE. EVENTUALLY, AFTER STARTING CAR MULTIPLE TIMES OR REMOVING BATTERY, IT WILL WORK BRIEFLY TO ALLOW TO DISENGAGE. NOW WE DON'T SET THE PARKING BRAKE, OR USE THE EYESIGHT. SUBARU HAS RECALLED THEIR MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODELS WITH THIS ISSUE, BUT NOT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODELS.
4 HEADLAMPS CHANGED. 2 FOG LAMPS, BOTH FRONT MARKER LIGHTS, BOTH REAR STOP LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. UNIT WAS PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2014 FROM DEALER SHOWROOM. I HAVE CHANGED MORE LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE THAN MY LAST 5 CARS COMBINED. IS THERE AN ELECTRICAL OR WIRING ISSUE HERE?
VEHICLE IS STOPPED, TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK AND IGNITION KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. JIGGLING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER SEEMS TO FIX THE ISSUE.
ON OR ABOUT NOV 24, 2015, AN IGNITION PROBLEM DEVELOPED. WHEN TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH THERE WAS NO POWER. WITH EACH TURN, MORE AND MORE POWER TURNED UNTIL IT FINALLY STARTED. ACCORDING TO SHEEHY SUBARU, SPRINGFIELD, VA, THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND STATED "I NEEDED TO START THE CAR EVER COUPLE OF DAYS." ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, REYNOLDS GMC SUBARU CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR AND SAID THERE WAS TECHNICAL BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM (I WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE) AND THEY HAVE FIXED TWENTY OTHER CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL JANUARY 11, 2016, THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME IGNITION ISSUES. I CONTACTED REYNOLDS WHO CONTACTED SUBARU ENGINEERS WHO SAID NOT TO HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION KEY. THE VEHICLE STARTS WITH A FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL OR NOT. THEY STATED THE CAR WAS DESIGNED NOT TO START WITH A FOOT ON THE PEDAL. I WAS CALLED BACK AND THEN TOLD THE SUBARU ENGINEERS SAID THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, SOME VEHICLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND OTHERS DON'T. DEAL WITH IT. THE CAR HAS 15K MILES AND IS ALMOST BRAND NEW AND HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2015, DASH INSTRUCTIONS BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. PRIOR TO HAVING NITROGEN PUT IN THE TIRES, THE CAR CONSTANTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND LOST AIR PRESSURE WEEKLY. BUT NOW I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. SUBARU HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
ON 3/22/15 WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE LOCKED ON AT 10 MPH. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES IT FINALLY RELEASED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE AND FLASHING BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR 10 MINUTES THE SYSTEM RESET TO NORMAL. THE SYSTEM REMAINED NORMAL UNTIL ARRIVING AT A SUBARU DEALER ON 3/24/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE DEALER TOOK CONTROL, IDENTIFIED AND REPLACED A RELAY AND SEVERAL SENSORS. THE CAR PERFORMED NORMAL UNTIL 4/1/15 WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH. AFTER STOPPING AND RELEASING AND APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES THE SYSTEM RESET BUT THE CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS REMAINED STEADY OR FLASHING. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SET FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF. ANOTHER APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN MADE AT THE DEALER FOR 4/6/15. THE CONCERN IS THAT IF THE PARKING BRAKE LOCKS AT HIGH SPEED OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
THE CAR DOES NOT STAY ON. STARTED THE CAR BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE "START" POSITION FROM THE "ON" POSITION. THE CAR STARTS BUT ONCE THE KEY MOVES BACK TO "ON", THE CAR STOPS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN STRANDED BY THIS OCCURRENCE. AFTER 20-30MINS, THE CAR STARTS AGAIN. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHEN IT WAS RELATIVELY HOT (+85 DEGREES F). SEEMS TO BE AN IGNITION ISSUE. *TR
ZERO OIL PRESSURE (RED) INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT SAFE AND PRUDENT OPERATING SPEED. LOW OIL INDICATOR LIGHT (YELLOW) NEVER ILLUMINATED. LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR THREE MILES, ONE AT SPEED 55 MPH TO ZERO AND TWO AT 20 MPH. THEN WENT OUT. INSPECTION OF OIL LEVEL SHOWED LEVEL APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER ABOVE LOW LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. ADDITION OF .5 QUART US RAISES LEVEL TO APPROXIMATELY ONE CENTIMETER BELOW FULL LEVEL MARKER ON DIPSTICK. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP; HAD FULL OIL SERVICE PERFORMED 2,500 MILES AHEAD OF SCHEDULED SERVICE. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "SENSOR RESISTANCE IS HIGH, WILL R&R." DEALER FAILED TO PROVIDE EMPIRICAL OIL PRESSURE PSI READING DESPITE REQUEST. PART REPLACEMENT YET TO BE DONE. *TR
UPON INSPECTING THE TRAILER HITCH AND WIRING LOOM THAT THE RENO, NV, SUBARU DEALER INSTALLED FROM THEIR INVENTORY, THE WIRING LOOM AND CONNECTOR WHICH CONNECTS TO A TRAILER'S LOOM WAS FOUND TO BE HANGING FREELY IN THE WIND. THE TRAILER'S LOOM RUNS BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOOM WAS ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER HITCH WITH A SINGLE PLASTIC WIRING TIE WHICH WENT THRU THE WHOLE IN THE TRAILER HITCH INTENDED FOR THE ATTACHMENT OF THE TRAILER'S SAFETY CHAINS. THE PLASTIC TIE USED WAS OF THE TYPE NORMALLY USED TO HOLD A GROUP OF WIRES TOGETHER. UPON ATTACHING THE SAFETY CHAINS, THE PLASTIC TIE WHICH SUPPORTED THE WIRING LOOM, CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL SAFETY CHAIN HOOK. NOWHERE ON THE HITCH WAS THERE ANY METAL BRACKET TO ATTACH THE WIRING LOOM PLUG TO PREVENT THE LOOM FROM SWINGING IN THE BREEZE. IF THE PLASTIC TIE WERE TO BREAK OR BE WORN THRU BY ABRASION OF THE SAFETY CHAIN HOOK THE WIRING LOOM WOULD DRAG OF THE GROUND AND THE BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS ON THE TRAILER WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. THE PLASTIC TIE WHICH WAS THE ONLY SUPPORT FOR THE WIRING LOOM AND COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO WITHSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS IT WOULD BE SUBJECTED TO LIKE; WIND, RAIN, SNOW, MUD, NOR COULD IT WITHSTAND CONSTANT ABRASION FROM THE SAFETY CHAIN HOOK. THE WIRING LOOM WAS ATTACHED TO THE SAFETY CHAIN BRACKET HOLE 3 OR 4 INCHES FROM THE PLUG WHICH TERMINATED THE LOOM. THIS CREATED A PINCH POINT IN THE WIRING LOOM WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE SAFETY CHAIN BRACKET. AS THE LOOM WOULD SWING IN THE WIND, THE COPPER WIRES WOULD BE CAUSED TO BEND AT THE PINCH POINT AND BREAK. NORMALLY, A PINCH POINT IS AVOIDED BY FIRMLY ATTACHING THE PLUG AT THE END OF THE WIRING LOOM. THE DEFECTS MENTIONED ABOVE WILL CERTAINLY CAUSE UNEXPECTED BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHT FAILURE. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
THIS IS AN UPDATE: DEALER CALLED US TO HAVE [XXX] DRIVE THE CAR WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN PRESENT ( TECH NAMED [XXX]) CAR WAS DRIVEN APROX 5-6 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT ...SYSTEM DID NOT FAULT. DEALER TOLD US THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH SUBARU TECH CENTER & COMPLETED ALL THE TEST PROCEDURES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE ANY OF THE BRAKE-CHECK/ ENGINE FAULTS EXPERIENCED 3 ON 5/22 OR 1 ON 5/23/2014. [XXX] SERVICE COORDINATOR IS NOT CERTAIN WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE ASKED IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE ONCE THE SYSTEM FAULTED & THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION & TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ARE SHUT DOWN ( AS A RESULT OF THE FAULT). I ASKED THEM NOT TO GUESS WHEN THEY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION. DEALERSHIP HAS DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING. THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE SYSTEM TO FAULT WHILE UNDER TEST PROCEDURE. THE DEALERSHIP APPEARS TO HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL THE STANDARD PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE. IT SEEMS SUBARU FACTORY MUST GET INVOLVED WITH THIS VEHICLE BEYOND THE DEALERSHIP TELEPHONE CALLS. OUR CONCERN IS A VEHICLE WILL BE RETURNED TO US IN AN CONDITION WHICH MAY PROVE TO BE UNSAFE...SINCE THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN ON THE TELEPHONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ENGAGES WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDERWAY. WHEN THE FAULT IS CLEARED AND DRIVING RESUMES THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE AGAIN ENGAGES. THE MFG ( SUBARU) PROVIDES A SMALL TOOL & INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO CRAWL UNDER THE CAR, USE THE TOOL TO MECHANICALLY RELEASE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. IF A TOOL IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER MANUAL HOW TO RELEASE A FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE ( WHICH MAY ENGAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS UNDER WAY ) THIS IS A CLEAR WARNING OF A POSSIBLE UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS US ( THIS PARKING BRAKE PROBLEM HAS NEVER HAPPENED) THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR TELLS US TOWING VEHICLES TO DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE OF FAULTY ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKES IS A MAJOR PART OF HIS BUSINESS. *TR
THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHERE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE LIGHT INDICATES THE BRAKE HAS BEEN SET & NOT RELEASED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY (5/22/2014) FOR SAME REASON. DEALER STATED THEY SPOKE WITH SUBARU & WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY REASON FOR THE FAULT. THEY STATED COMPUTER INDICATED THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGED BUT THAT THIS SAME SYSTEM DOES DISABLE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WHEN THIS FAULT OCCURS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE DESPITE THE ASSURANCES OF THE SERVICE MANAGER ( [XXX]) THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE (NO WORRIES). THE INSTRUMENT LIGHT ON THE PANEL ALSO FLASHES "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME LIGHT FLASHES INDICATING PARKING BRAKE HAS BEEN SET & NOT RELEASED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR