2006 Subaru Outback problems
The Subaru Outback is an automotive nameplate used by the Japanese automaker Subaru for two different SUV-themed vehicles: a Legacy-derived crossover station wagon, the Outback (1994–present, also sold as Legacy Outback (Japanese: スバル・レガシィアウトバック, Hepburn: Subaru Regashi Autobakku) in some markets), and an Impreza-derived off-road themed hatchback, the Outback Sport (1994–2011).
Most versions of the Outback wagon and Outback Sport have had all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
History
The original Outback station wagon was derived from the wagon variant of the second-generation Subaru Legacy. The first-generation Legacy, which made its debut in 1989, did not receive the cosmetic and suspension modifications to create an Outback version, although Subaru offered an Outdoor option package for the 1994 model year Legacy L all-wheel drive model, which added a compressed air strut height adjustable suspension, a luggage rack, a skidplate, and mud flaps.
Earlier, a raised-roof "Touring Wagon" variant had been offered on the preceding Subaru Leone for the 1988 and 1989 model years. Subaru also sold a raised-roof variant (chassis code BF) of the first-generation Legacy wagon outside the United States. North American Legacy wagons were only offered as the flat-roof variant (chassis code BJ) until a special "GT" model was marketed for the 1994 model year.
The second-generation Legacy wagon became the first generation of the Outback crossover series, called the "Legacy Grand Wagon" in Japan in 1995, and the "Legacy Outback" in most other markets. Compared to the existing Legacy wagon, the "Outback" variant added partial protective plastic side body cladding for off-road conditions, used a raised roof, and would later raise the suspension to provide additional ground clearance. It was introduced at the 1994 New York Auto Show. Aside from other small differences in trim, the Outback shares almost all of its components with the Legacy donor model.
When launched in Australia in 1996, the name "Legacy Outback" was shortened to "Outback", followed in other markets afterwards. In the United States, Subaru also retailed the Legacy SUS sedan between the 1997 and 2007 model years, with similar modifications to distinguish it from the equivalent Legacy model sedan. The Impreza Outback Sport was introduced at the 1996 New York Auto Show, but for the 1997 model year, the donor model names were dropped, and the cars were known as the "Outback" and "Outback Sport".
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Common 2006 Subaru Outback problems
The 2006 Subaru Outback has been reported to have several common problems, primarily related to its engine and transmission.
One of the most significant issues is with the head gaskets, particularly in the SOHC EJ253 2.5L engine. This engine is known to blow head gaskets at around 160,000km, causing significant problems. However, this issue can be resolved by replacing the head gasket with an EJ255 head gasket (turbo engine).
Another common problem with the EJ253 engine is leaking power steering pump, leaking valve cover gasket, and leaking oil pan gasket. These issues can be resolved by replacing the faulty parts, but they can be costly and time-consuming.
The rear suspension of the 2006 Subaru Outback is also known to have issues, causing what is known as "ghostwalking." This issue can be resolved by swapping the rear trailing arm bushings with Whiteline polyurethane ones, which can significantly improve the car's handling and stability.
Another problem reported by owners is the car's tendency to chew through headlight bulbs, particularly in the 05 OBXT model. This issue can be resolved by replacing the standard bulbs with LEDs, which can significantly increase the bulbs' lifespan.
The exterior door handles are also known to break, particularly in the 05-09 Outback models. This issue can be resolved by getting the door handles from the dealer, as the latest part revision fixes the issue.
The 2006 Subaru Outback's steering and suspension system is also known to have issues, including shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage, power steering, wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension. These issues can be resolved by replacing the faulty parts, but they can be costly and time-consuming.
Finally, the transmission of the 2006 Subaru Outback is known to have issues, particularly in cars with automatic transmission. Subaru recommends towing with the transmission in D range, as it can best control the transmission oil temperature through control of the torque converter lock-up clutch to protect the transmission against overheating.
Overall, the 2006 Subaru Outback is a good solid car, but it does have several common problems that owners should be aware of. Regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent these issues, but they can still occur, particularly in high-mileage cars.
Is Subaru Outback 2006 a good car?
Solid all-terrain capability, nimble handling, a varied engine lineup and a luxurious interior make the 2006 Subaru Outback an excellent all-weather family vehicle. If you're thinking of buying a traditional SUV, you may find this Subaru car a better fit.
What year was bad for Subaru Outback?
2010 and 2011 Subaru Outbacks Stand Out as the Worst Years Due to High Recall Count, Excessive Oil Consumption, Head Gasket Failures, and Transmission Problems.
How many miles can a 2006 Subaru Outback last?
There are reports from loyal drivers that Subaru Outback milage can get up to 300,000 miles. This is of course with proper care and maintenance. As long as The Outback isn't starved for oil, you can expect to get at least 200,000 miles out of it without needing major repairs.
What is a common problem with a Subaru Outback?
A: Common issues with Subaru Outbacks across various years include vibration during acceleration, problems with the AC system, O2 sensor failures, weak windshields prone to cracking, cooling system failures, headlight burnouts, excessive oil consumption, and unintended acceleration in specific models.
Is Subaru Outback 2006 a good car?
Solid all-terrain capability, nimble handling, a varied engine lineup and a luxurious interior make the 2006 Subaru Outback an excellent all-weather family vehicle. If you're thinking of buying a traditional SUV, you may find this Subaru car a better fit.
How long will a 2006 Subaru Outback engine last?
Most Subaru Outback owners report getting over 200,000 miles out of their cars when following proper maintenance procedures.
What year was bad for Subaru Outback?
2010 and 2011 Subaru Outbacks Stand Out as the Worst Years Due to High Recall Count, Excessive Oil Consumption, Head Gasket Failures, and Transmission Problems.
What is a common problem with a Subaru Outback?
A: Common issues with Subaru Outbacks across various years include vibration during acceleration, problems with the AC system, O2 sensor failures, weak windshields prone to cracking, cooling system failures, headlight burnouts, excessive oil consumption, and unintended acceleration in specific models.
2006 Subaru Outback car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Subaru Outback problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Engine problems
- Electrical system problems
- Air bags problems
- Suspension problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2006 Subaru Outback vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2006 Subaru Outback
The NHTSA has received 278 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2006 Subaru Outback. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2006 Subaru Outback vehicles.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-11
- VIN: 4S4BP62C367
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Was driving approximately 35mph missed my turn went to hit brakes and brakes pedal went straight to the floor.started pumping the brakes to stop the car and had to use emergency brake to stop completely. After getting car home inspected rear brakes and both rear brakes lines are rust covered at connections.The passenger rear brake line had burst where 2 pieces of the line connect before going up and over gas tank.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-15
- VIN: 4S4BP61C466
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: All the brake lines rusted through where they were unprotected and inserted into body clips resulting in a complete loss of brake fluid and the inability to stop the vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-12-01
- VIN: 4S4BP61C967
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V311000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and had the recall repair completed. The contact stated on 11/30/2022 while his wife was driving 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the low brake fluid warning light was illuminated. The driver continued to depress the brake pedal until the vehicle started to decelerate. The vehicle was parked on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact drove another vehicle to the location and trailered the vehicle back to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-16
- VIN: 4S4BP61C767
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Rusting brake line recall WQK47 supposedly done to the vehicle June of 2015 with the vehicle having 244,246 miles. No brake lines were replaced at that time and only assume they only sprayed something on them. Car now has 288,500 miles and the right rear brake line rotted out in the clip mount to the body. Luckily wife was able to stop the car and didn't get into an accident.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-07
- VIN: 4s4bp61c067
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Rear hatch door malfunction of security lock.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-04-14
- VIN: 4s4bp61c267
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
- Summary: The engine will randomly loose power. This has happened three times now. You must coast to a stop, turn the key off and try to restart the car. Sometime it will take several tries to restart. I see this as a real safety concern in heavy traffic. Especially so if heavy traffic makes it impossible to reach the side of the road safely. The service code points to the throttle peddle position sensor. Reading some of the internet forums it seems to be a fairly common issue. Of course internet forums must be considered carefully. However with the above said I see this issue as a real safety concern. Not only for my safety but those around me if this happens in heavy traffic. Thank you
SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-07
- VIN: 4s4bp62c666
- Components: SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The vehicle becomes uncontrollable on light ice. The rear end will "ghost walk" (seems to steer on its own). I have driven in snow my entire life and have never experienced this issue in any other vehicle. I am also an ASE certified master technician. It only happens if I have passengers in the rear seat or groceries in the cargo area. The car is not even close to its cargo limit. The tires have been replaced and an alignment performed and the issue remains. I found that this is a commonly reported problem in the forums. The car is absolutely unsafe in this condition. I was being passed by every other car on the road. The rear end will float back and forth over 35 mph regardless of any driver input (acceleration, deceleration, steering input etc).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-12-29
- VIN: 4S4BP61C267
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The accelerator pedal position sensor is faulty. It is prone to wear in these vehicles based on my research. This caused my car to go into limp-mode on the highway, rapidly cutting my speed in half. The accelerator provides no response until vehicle was restarted. The ECU put out the code P2138 for loss of voltage in throttle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-10-12
- VIN: 4S4BP61C067
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: OBD Code P2138 (Throttle/ Pedal Position Sensor/ Switch D / E voltage correlation). This code pops up intermittently resulting in the car going into "limp mode". Truly dangerous, if this occurs when traveling at speed in traffic or when pulling away from a stop light. It is hard to pin down; but, it generally happens with high humidity or When you start the car after a cool night when there has been a lot of condensation that has formed on the car. A check of Subaru forums shows that this is a prevalent and / or recurring problem with many Subaru models. (I have also found mention of similar problems with other manufactures.) Dealers and mechanics have confirmed this problem with other Subaru makes. There is no advance warning of this malfunction until after it occurs. Once it occurs the car goes into "limp mode", the check engine light flashes and the cruise control light flashes.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-15
- VIN: 4s4bp67c764
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle shut-off with the check engine and cruise control warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle went into limp mode as the contact steered the vehicle to the shoulder of the highway. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective throttle body. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 217,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-24
- VIN: 4S4BP62C367
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,WHEELS
- Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK HEAD GASKETS WENT BAD AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES.HAD TO REPLACE THOSE CALLED SUBARU AND THEY HELP ME GET THOSE REPLACED. THOUGHT ALL WAS WELL SOON AFTER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE HEATER .THEN I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DEFAULTED AND TO BRING IT INTO REPLACE THEM WHICH I DID. THE FINAL STRAW IS THAT THEY CALLED ME AGAIN TWO WEEKS AGO TO BRING THE RIGGING TO REPLACE THAT SAME AIRBAG AGAIN. I ASKED THEM WHY THEY GAVE ME A CAR THAT WASN'T SAFE. THE WHEEL BEARINGS ALSO WORE OUT VERY EARLY AROUND 50 MILES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SO EXPENSIVE. AND NOW THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL ON THE AIRBAG. SO I BRING IT IN FOR THE SECOND TIME REALIZING THAT NOW IN 2021 THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN SAFE THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT WITH MY FAMILY MY DAUGHTER LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE IN THIS CAR AND SO DID MY SON. AS THEY WERE REPAIRING THE FAULTY AIRBAG THEY CRACKED THE DASHBOARD AND THEN INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE $300 TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT HAD A TINY CRACK IN IT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THEY WERE THE ONES THAT TOOK THE DASHBOARD OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE. SUPER RUDE! I CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY DECIDED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DASHBOARD. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GLUING IT BACK TOGETHER LAST I HEARD I'M VERY MUCH HOPING THIS IS NOT THE CASE MY DAUGHTER ENSURES ME THAT IT ISN'T BUT WE'LL SEE. ALSO HE INFORMED ME THAT MY HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING AGAIN. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON ONCE YOU'VE HAD YOUR GASKETS REPLACED. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 160,000 MILES ON IT AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALREADY PLAYED OUT AND NOT SAFE. WHAT A JOKE. I'LL NEVER BUY A SUBARU AGAIN.THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST CAR AND APPARENTLY THE MOST UNSAFE CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. NOTE:THIS CAR WAS CONSISTENTLY UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT HAD A FIVE STAR RATING FOR SAFETY WHAT A JOKE!
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-03-02
- VIN: 4S4BP62C367
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: I EXPERIENCED MY GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKING WHILE DRIVING, CAR WAS DRIVING WELL, ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET GOING ABOUT 25 MPH, THEN THERE WAS SUDDENLY NO GAS/ACCELERATION, HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WAS FLASHING. ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER THE CAR WAS RUNNING NORMAL AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSIS CODE GIVEN WAS P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH D/E VOLTAGE CORRELATION. IT IS VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE TO SUDDENLY NOT HAVE POWER WHILE DRIVING, WILL BE DRIVING ON THE OUTSIDE LANE UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FIXED TO I CAN GET OUT OF TRAFFIC SAFELY.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-17
- VIN: 4S4BP86C264
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I'M DRIVING ALONG & SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS GO ON & THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOES NOTHING, THE CAR JUST LOSES POWER. I HAVE TO PULL OVER, NOT ALWAYS IN A SAFE SPOT, BECAUSE IT WON'T DO ANYTHING! TURN THE CAR OFF & WAIT 5 MINUTES. THEN IT WILL START BACK UP, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BLINKING. AFTER ABOUT 3 RESTARTS THOSE LIGHTS TURN OFF. I'VE HAD THEERROR CODE READ & ITS P2138. WHEN A CAR JUST STOPS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS & I'VE BEEN READING ONLINE THAT IT'S COMMON IN THIS YEAR SUBARU & IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!! IT'S BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY & LAST TIME ON THE FREEWAY!!!
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-07
- VIN: 4S4BP61C367
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50-60 MPH AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY THROTTLE PEDDLE FAILED TO WORK. MY CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO A CRAWL AND I HAD TO QUICKLY FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER ON A ROAD WITH BARELY ANY SHOULDER. LUCKILY NOT MANY CARS WERE ON THE ROAD SO I DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A PILE-UP ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A FEW MINUTES I DECIDED TO TRY AND DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN SINCE I WAS IN AN AREA WITH NO SERVICE AND IT WAS BELOW FREEZING OUTSIDE. THE CAR STARTED AND I COULD USE THE THROTTLE PEDDLE AND THE CAR DROVE WITH NO PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED. LUCKILY SOMEONE DROVE BY AND I WAS ABLE TO CATCH A RIDE WITH THEM TO GET SERVICE AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. THIS ISSUE CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH NO PRIOR ISSUES TO THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN NOT ONLY AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE RAPID SPEED DECREASE BUT ALSO RISKS LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED LIKE I WAS.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-01-12
- VIN: 4S4BP61C667
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HOWEVER, THE PEDAL REMAINED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-11-26
- VIN: 4S4BL86C364
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOLID WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT BLINKING. THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. UPON STOPPING AND SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR HELD ITSELF AROUND 2800RPM WITH NO ACCELERATOR INPUT FROM THE DRIVER. AFTER READING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE, THE CAR GAVE A P2138 INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-06-12
- VIN: 454BP61C367
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: GAS PEDAL QUITS WORKING LEAVING MY DAUGHTER STRANDED, MUST BE IN THE DRIVE BY WIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LOOKING AT FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-03-30
- VIN: 4S4BP61C167
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THREE TIMES THE ENGINE RPM'S SPEED UP AND THE THROTTLE PEDDLE FAILS TO WORK, THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THIS IS PULL TO THE SIDE TURN CAR OFF AND IT USUALLY BUT NOT ALWAYS RESETS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND ONCE WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK. LUCKILY I WAS IN A 40 MPH ZONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT AND IT HAS A ENGINE CODE THAT SAYS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND THROTTLE PEDDLE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND UNABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROADWAY.
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-03-11
- VIN: 4S4BP61C467
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: UPON RETURNING TO MY HOME LAST WEEK I NEARLY WENT THROUGH MY GARAGE AFTER MY BRAKE LINES FAILED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, LUCKY FOR ME I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AS I KNEW ONCE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY I WOULD HAVE SOME REMAINING BRAKING ABILITIES. I DO LIVE IN MICHIGAN WHICH DOES ACCOUNT FOR RUST ON THE UNDER BODIES OF VEHICLES, ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT I AM VERY ANGERED BY WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL TO PREVENT PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINES IN MY CAR (RECALL WQK47, NHTSA 14V311), WHICH MY CAR TOOK PART IN AND WAS ONLY COATED WITH ANTI-RUST WAX ONLY TO FAIL A YEAR LATER. AT THE TIME OF REPAIR I HAD ASKED IF THE LINES WHERE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, AND WAS TOLD THEY WHERE ALL GOOD AND JUST HAD TO BE COATED. SINCE I HAVE A MECHANICAL BACKGROUND I DECIDED TO L LOCATE THE BRAKE LINE THAT HAD FAILED ON MY CAR AS WELL AS LOOK INTO THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR THE REPAIRS REQUIRED FOR THE RECALL, AND UNSURPRISINGLY THE EXACT IMAGE ON THE SERVICE MANUAL FOR PROBLEM AREAS TO CLEAN AND COAT WAS THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. I FIND IT VERY IRRITATING TO RECEIVE A FALSE SENSE OF HOPE IN RELIANCE OF THE BRAKES ONLY TO BE LET DOWN BY THE ONE PART THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKED AND CORRECTED. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU WITH MY CONCERNS, ONLY TO BE OFFERED A VOUCHER FOR SERVICE THAT WILL COVER TO MY UNDERSTANDING A THIRD OR LESS OF THE REPAIR COST FOR A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED DURING A RECALL! ATTACHED YOU WILL FIND MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH SUBARU SUPPORT AS WELL AS IMAGES THAT DEPICT THE FAILURE OF NOT ONE BUT 2 JOINTS IN THE SAME AREA ABOVE/IN THE CREVICE OF THE FUEL TANK, AND THE VERY LITTLE SO CALLED PROTECTIVE ANTI-CORROSIVE WAX OVER THESE AREAS THAT WAS APPLIED DURING THE RECALL.
AIR BAGS,SEATS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-20
- VIN: 4S4BP62C467
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: SUBARU DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DISCUSS SAFETY ISSUE RECALLS SELLING VEHICLE WITH OPEN SAFETY RECALLS AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY REMEDIED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AND PROBLEMS WERE NOT ADDRESSED. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS "SOLD AS IS" AND BUYER BEWARE, AFTER WE HAD LEASED A NEW 2019 VEHICLE AND PURCHASED A LIKE NEW USED VEHICLE THAT HAD GONE THROUGH THEIR EXTENSIVE MULTIPOINT INSPECTIONS. ISSUES FOR AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM LEAKING, POTENTIAL FIRE AND EXPLOSION, FAULTY SEAT LATCHES AS SAFETY RECALL. DEALERSHIP HAS VIOLATED TRUST AND EXHIBITED NO CONCERN FOR ANYONE'S SAFETY. WE CAN NOT TRUST THIS DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR OR SERVICE OF OUR VEHICLES.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-12-25
- VIN: 4S4BP62C467
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: NO HEAT, AIR AND OF ALL DEFROST FOR THE FRONT WINDOW STOPS WORKING WHILE DRIVING, ALSO EVERYTHING IS CONTROLLED THRU THE RADIO WHICK COULD HAVE BAD COLD SOLDER JOINTS . VERY DANGEROUS WHEN SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-01
- VIN: 4S4BP62C167
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: THE CAR'S AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS RECALLED FOR AN AIR BAG ISSUE ONE OR TWO YEARS AGO SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE ISSUE. BUT NOW THIS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A MONTH AGO. IT TURNS OFF AT TIMES, BUT IT COMES BACK ON EVENTUALLY.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-01-11
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 4S4BP62C467
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
- Summary: ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO, ON LATE SATURDAY MORNING, DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, FROM RICHMOND, VA MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN HAMPTON. THE CAR JOLTED A LITTLE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SMOKE BECAME VISIBLE, BUT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS NOT RUNNING HIGH. A WITNESS RAN TOWARD THE CAR YELLING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE. EVEN THOUGH 2 FIRE TRUCKS WERE ON THE SCENE, IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT RECOVERABLE. ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT MAY HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN?
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-02-01
- VIN: 4S4BP61C166
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, RANDOMLY, WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, BOTH ON HIGHWAY AND ON AUXILIARY ROADS AT LOWER SPEEDS. ON 01/20/2020, WHILE DRIVING ~65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY, THE CAR LOST POWER--ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL, NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE. THE CAR "LOCKED UP," AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE, SINCE NO GAS WAS AVAILABLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WITH THE FLASHING CRUISE LIGHT SIMULTANEOUSLY ON. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, AND I RE-STARTED AND DROVE AWAY. WHEN THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT OCCURRED ANOTHER TIME, ON 02/01/2020, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON AN AUXILIARY ROAD, ~30 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE CAR AGAIN LOCKED UP, NO GAS WAS AVAILABLE--THE CAR WAS ONLY ABLE TO DRIFT VERY SLOWLY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A STOP LIGHT, WHICH, LUCKILY, WAS A RED SIGNAL. AT THE STOP, I SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE REVVED TO ~2500 RPM, EVEN THOUGH NO PRESSURE WAS BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T CLEAR RIGHT AWAY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, IT DID. IN THE SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES WHEN THIS VERY UNSAFE CONDITION OF LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION AND REVVING IN NEUTRAL HAS OCCURRED, WHEN THE CAR RESETS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO RESETS, SO THE CODE CANNOT BE READ IN TIME. FOLLOWING THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, I WAS ABLE TO READ THE ERROR CODE: P2138 THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH "D"/"E" VOLTAGE CORRELATION. I HAVE READ MANY OTHER REPORTS TO NHTSA AND ON SUBARU ONLINE FORUMS OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ON SUBSEQUENT YEAR MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE 2005 AND 2006, AND DEALERS DON'T FIX. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS, DANGEROUS, LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. SHOULD BE A RECALL.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-02-01
- VIN: 4S4BP62C767
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: P2138 CHECK ENGINE CODE. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING 55MPH IN 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC. GAS PEDAL DIDN'T WORK AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD WHILE IN DRIVE AND AT A SLOW CRAWL. I WAS ABLE TO GET A LARGE ENOUGH WINDOW TO CRAWL ACROSS THE OTHER 2 LANES AND CRAWL INTO A PARKING LOT. I ENDED UP GETTING TOWED FROM THERE. WHEN CHECKING FOR REPAIRS I HAD A SMALLER 'SUBARU ONLY' REPAIR SHOP TELL ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THEY SAID THEY REPAIR 1 TO 2 OF THESE EACH MONTH. MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THE ERROR CODE OR MY SPECIFIC PROBLEM. THEY DON'T EVEN STOCK THE PART I NEED. THE INTERNET HAS MANY REPORTS OF MY SPECIFIC SCENARIO. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO ME. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE BUT NO BY SEEMS TO BE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
2006 Subaru Outback recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 7 recalls for different components of the 2006 Subaru Outback.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Summary: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
- Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
- Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
- Summary: Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
- Consequence: Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
Negative 2006 Subaru Outback car reviews
Positive 2006 Subaru Outback car reviews
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Congratulations on your third Subaru since 1996! It's great to hear that the car has evolved so much in ten years and now has a fit and finish that is expected in cars over $40K. Choosing the 175hp was a smart decision since it runs on regular unleaded and will be given to kids in 6 years. The engine power is better than expected and is perfect for daily driving. If you're not looking for extra power, the six is not worth the extra cash. According to the on-board computer, you're averaging 23.8 MPG on a mixed daily highway and suburban 70 mile commute. The ride and handling are tight and make for a sportscar-like feel, which is great. The sunroof is huge and lets in a lot of light, which is a must in the cloudy Midwest winters. Overall, the Subaru is the best value in AWD, so it's definitely worth buying!
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Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my 2006 car that I bought in 2008 with only 13k miles on it. I'm happy to say that it has been virtually maintenance-free, with the exception of a recent power steering pump replacement that cost $950. The car is pearlcoat white with an ivory interior, and my wife is a bowhunter, so it's been a great fit for us. Although there are a few rust spots that I've covered up, it still looks great overall. I plan on selling it outright when my wife buys a new car in the coming year. Thanks for listening!
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I absolutely love my 2006 Outback, which is actually my third vehicle. They say the third time's a charm, and I couldn't agree more! As a former pickup truck lover, I was always frustrated with the poor gas mileage. However, I found the perfect solution with the Outback. It has AWD, which is great for dirt roads and bad weather, and it also has better fuel economy, handling, and reliability. It's the perfect combination of utility and style. On the highway, I get an impressive 26-31 mpg, and I've even hit 31 mpg on the highways of Montana and Maine! The Outback is excellent on dirt roads and deep snow, and it handles better than my dad's '04 Acura TL. The performance is outstanding, and it even beats both of my old 6 cylinder trucks. The only minor complaints I have are that the oil filter is a bit tricky to remove due to its location near the exhaust piping, and the transmission upshifts a bit too early. Overall, I couldn't be happier with my Outback!
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I test drove this vehicle about 6-8 times comparing it to Audi, Lexus, Toyota, Acura, Nissan, BMW and each time the handling and 'feel good' factor made the Outback the superior choice for me. My wife and I travel to the mountain states each year and we can't wait to get into the Outback and put it through mountain roads at a good pace. We also have a Lexus RX 350 and we both love to use the Subaru each week. If there is a hint of rain or severe weather, the Subaru is the automatic choice. The acceleration and combined handling with the fuel economy make this vehicle a strong contender for our 'all-time favorite vehicle owned' at our house. It's a smart choice!
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The Subaru Outback XT Limited is a fantastic car that offers the perfect balance between performance and practicality. With its powerful 250 hp turbocharged, intercooled 2.5 liter Boxer engine and 5-speed manual transmission, it's a car that's perfect for people who love to drive. Despite its high road clearance of around 8.5 inches, it handles corners exceptionally well. Additionally, this model comes with a range of creature comforts, including heated seats and a high-quality stereo system.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2006 Subaru Outback problems:
05-09 Outback issues : r/subaruoutback
May 5, 2023 ... Exterior door handles break. · The SOHC EJ253 2.5L engine blows head gaskets at around 160,000km. · Common issues with the EJ253 includes leaking ...
Subaru Outback Questions - What are common problems with 2006 ...
Dec 13, 2015 ... Best Answer. The biggest deal with those are the head gaskets! Make sure they are not leaking. Also it's very important to have the timing belt ...
How Concerned Should I be About Outback XT problems? | Subaru ...
Sep 22, 2015 ... Lots of folks having issues? I've never owned a turbo vehicle before and know that they require a bit more attention than N/A vehicles. I am ok ...
Subaru Outback Questions - hi i'm looking at buying a 2006 subaru ...
May 3, 2016 ... Sorry, Mark---don't mean to be mean, but radiators and water pumps are the LEAST of the common problems with these old-timers. 8 people ...
Considering a 2006 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited. What should I ...
Dec 11, 2019 ... I've read about the oil issues, but it seems like proper maintenance should go a long way... There aren't exactly a ton of black early gen ...
Other years of Subaru Outback
Are you having problems with your 2006 Subaru Outback?
Taylor Wyman 2024-11-29
I've heard that burning oil is a common issue with Subaru vehicles. It can be frustrating because the oil level can get low without the oil light coming on, and if it's not addressed, it can lead to engine problems that can be expensive to fix, sometimes up to $7000.
Jaron Hermiston 2024-11-18
I was really hoping that my Outback would be a reliable and safe car for me and my kids to drive. Unfortunately, I have had a lot of issues with it. The inside door panels had to be replaced because the fabric came up when using the armrest, the front seat handle broke off, and the mud flap in the back was missing screws. Additionally, the air conditioner made horrible sounds and had to be replaced. I went through a minor puddle and had to have the car towed, and to top it off, the ABS and brake light comes on and the car died with oil coming out of it. I'm feeling really frustrated with the situation, especially since roadside assistance won't come unless I pay for the tow and have it towed to my house and then towed again in the morning to Subaru. Overall, I'm disappointed with my purchase and the issues I've had with the car.
Murphy O'Conner 2024-07-15
I really liked this car at first - it was solid, classy, and fast. I bought it used in 2011 with 63k miles. Unfortunately, not even a month after owning it, the CV boots melted due to a manufacturing defect in the heat guard. I had to replace both front wheel bearings, and it seemed like repairs like this happened more often than I thought was acceptable. It was a bit of a hassle. At 16 years and 126k miles, I was still within reasonable mileage, but then the head gaskets blew while I was driving from CT to NY. The car was overheating, and even after replacing the thermostat, it was still overheating and the oil was mixing with the coolant. Within a month, the transmission blew as well. I ended up selling it to cash for cars, which was a shame because the body and frame were still in great shape. I would caution against the alum on alum block. Overall, this car was not very reliable, and I had too many issues with it over the 11 years I owned it. I'll give it two stars for its solid build, drive, and fast acceleration, but that's about it.
Edward Koepp 2024-03-21
I'm really enjoying my new Outback 2.5i! While I have had a couple of issues with the airbag system and the gas mileage hasn't been amazing (I'm getting between 23 and 24 mpg in mixed driving), I was pleasantly surprised to average 31 mpg on a recent road trip to New York. While the Outback isn't known for its sportiness, a little bit of that would have been nice. On the plus side, the cargo area is extremely useful!
Loy Ratke 2024-03-01
Although this is not my car, I have driven it for several thousand miles over the past decade. Unfortunately, I have found that the steering feel is atrocious, the fuel economy is terrible, the reliability is sub par, the visibility is obstructive, and the seats are cramp inducing. However, the Outback is pretty average in all other categories. The steering feels loose and the wheel rotates several degrees before the wheels respond, which is similar to large sedans like a Lincoln Town Car, or offroad capable SUVs like a Jeep Wrangler. If the steering was looser for offroad purposes I would not mark it down, but the Outback is not capable of tackling anything more than a dirt road. The owners manual also warns you that it is not designed as an offroad vehicle. As a result, the car feels a lot heavier and less nimble than other vehicles in the same size category. Secondly, fuel economy is terrible, averaging 17 in the city and 26 on the highway for an average fuel economy of 22 mpg. This is 2 mpg better than the EPA rating, but still worse than contemporary RWD V8s or AWD cars with similar power. Speaking of the AWD, it takes a huge toll on the suspension and steering elements after 10 years. Unfortunately, we had to replace a part of the front axel shaft and cv joint as it had worn down and was creating a grinding noise at highway speeds. Parts like that should not wear out in under 60k miles. All other cars we have owned have not had any mechanical failures until reaching over 100k miles. This car was also subject to the Takata airbag recall and the dealer says that we will need to wait another 6 months before it can be fixed after waiting a year already. Finally, the interior comfort and design could be improved. The materials of the interior are mostly cheap hard plastics with a few soft touch panels. The seats were uncomfortable. undefined