SUBARU LIFEGATE RECALL?

[Rolla Subaru Guy]

Our 2016 Subaru Outback seems like it is possessed.

On Monday, July 27, 2016, we were parked at a restaurant when our daughters' noticed the rear liftgate opening on its own. At the time, the only people with the keys to the locked vehicle were me and my wife, who were both 75 yards away inside the restaurant. Neither of us was handling our remote keys. It seems hihgly unlikely either of us accidently hit the remote button.

 

Since we were staying at a hotel, I disconnected the battery so that the liftgate would not open overnight. Once I reconnected the battery, a whole host of other electronic issues started. Half of the readouts on the dash intermittently stopped working. They were the information display between the tachometer and speedometer, the readouts associated with the air conditioner and the map display and GPS. The clock, which worked when reconnecting the battery, then was stuck at 9:19 a.m. The right front remote window control only worked from the passenger side, not the driver's side.

So, we drove straight to our destination three states away, not stopping or turning off the car since it had taken three seconds to start after battery reconnection. I was unsure if the car would restart again.

 

We drove to the Subaru dealer in Normal, Illinois. As expected, the problems cleared up as soon as we hit the dealership service bay. The dealer spent a hour wiggling wires under the dash and driving over bumps along with putting it on a code reader.

We got a PNF--Problem Not Found-- diagnosis and we left the dealership very disappointed. I parked the car two miles away, went into the house and returned five minutes later to find the liftgate again open wide.  At that point, I abandoned the remote-entry key and used the key that did not have any remote features. Unfortunately, once I unlocked the door, the car alarm began honking and was only silenced after starting the car.

 

At this point I am considering selling our Subaru with only 3,000 mile son it. We have already endured a painful recall of its steering column and now this liftgate issue. I have zero confidence in Subaru and this vehicle keeping my family safe.

 

I am writing this only to alert other Subaru owners who may experience similar problems in the future. Maybe I can trigger a similar national recall as the Subaru owner who had the steering defect. 

 

Please contact me by my email at tbarner@centurylink.net and not call our home or work contact numbers.

 

Sincerely,

Terry Barner

 

[carfreak85]

Do us all a favor and enter your complaint here:  https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

[MR_Loyale]

You may have gotten a bad vehicle. Doesn't mean all Oit backs are bad. Best course of action is to document your incidents if they don't happen at the dealership.

 

Also, filing the complaint as Carfreak suggested. You should probably contact Subaru directly to discuss this.

[ezapar]

Seems like a problem with the remote.  Maybe it got squished near the hatch popper button and it's kinda sticking.  Maybe it got wet?  Have you changed the battery in the remote?

 

I would still feel safe if my hatch pops open.  Startled a little, but safe none the less.  lol