2009 Subaru Outback: windshield wiper failure

Filed Dec 7, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 120,000 miles · MA

There is a well documented faulty design issue that leads to failure of the wiring harness (rear gate cord) to the rear wagon door/gate of this model subaru ouback wagons. Failure of the wiring harness has affected me while driving the vehicle. As this issue has progressed, more and more wires break, completely severed, and lead to the rear lock not working, then backup lights not working, rear defroster not working, wiper not working, and license plate light not working. This is a safety issue, especially the backup lights, rear defroster, rear wiper, and locking mechanism not working at all! These compromise visibility and car safety. This faulty design, or faulty material choice is clearly subaru's fault: severed electrical wires, as a result of normal use, should not be acceptable, especially when they compromise safety by disabling backup lights and the rear lock. While the replacement cable itself is only $63, the subaru dealerships want to charge over $500 in labor. I am really disappointed that there has been no recall, or support on this issue from subaru of america. I cannot find any official response from subaru on this issue. I don't think it's fair to have loyal customers like myself, pay excessive labor charges to fix a safety problem that is a design flaw from subaru.

Filed Jan 13, 2018 · Electrical · 113,000 miles · OR

The wiring in rear hatch in really bad shape some showing the copper and two completely broke apart. Causing the latch not to work and alarm going off. Rear wiper not working.

Filed Jul 29, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 62,000 miles · NH

Individual wires in the harness powering and controlling the brake, turn, backup, and license plate lights, and the rear wiper motor and washer pump, may fail without warning. This failure could result in an rear end collision or impairing vision out the rear window in inclement weather. The point of failure is inside the flexible rubber boot protecting the harness where it passes from the rear frame of the main body to the top of the rear lift gate. It appears that repeated flexing of the wires inside the protective boot, as the rear lift gate is opened and closed, work hardens the insulation and copper wires causing them to eventually break. Symptoms may appear as static on the radio, failing rear lights, and/or failing rear wiper/washer motors. In my case, I experienced radio static and a failure of the rear wiper/washer motors. Trouble shooting LED me to cut open the protective boot revealing the broken wires. Further inspection revealed that the wire insulation was brittle in the area of the breaks. A search online revealed this is not an isolated incident.

Filed Dec 29, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 182,000 miles · WI

After fuses blown repeatedly and replaced, rear wiper, washer pump and lock ceased to operate for perhaps a year. Recently the headlights got real funky - would not operate in normal "on" position. But then some strange behavior when shifted into reverse (ignition on without starting to allow shifting). Headlights still not lit in either off or on position, but then came on as switch moved back from headlights on to running lights position! I happened upon the video mentioned in an earlier post about rear wiring harness issue which easily could have been related to wiper/lock issue, so took a look. Inspection revealed 11 severed wires with a clump of 5 or so melted together and another 3 wires nearly severed (see photos). Dealer says he'll replace wiring harness for $350 -500, and had a same generation outback in the shop for same work. Service mgr suggested a call to subaru customer care line. If you have goofy electrical issues, especially in rear, check the wiring inside boot from body to door on upper right side. It's not easy to get at as wires are short, which may have LED to quite a serious, um, short. Call subaru before your headliner ignites...

Filed Feb 21, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 118,000 miles · MI

Rear hatch wiring has worn to the point of fully breaking four and damaging five other wires out of approximately 14 total going through the flexible boot between the body and the hatch on the passenger side of the vehicle. Systems affected: rear wiper, rear lock, possibly the brake light and license plate lights. This was damage incurred over time of normal use, opening the hatch no more than once per day.

Filed Nov 24, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · WA

The rear gate wiring harness failed, causing rear brake lights and tail lights to stop working. Without replacing the rear gate wiring harness ($88.80 parts + $448.80 labor + 51.07 tax) soon the rear wiper and defrost would not work and the back hatch would lock. This is a serious safety issue, I want to see a recall and reimbursement of $588.67 from subaru of america.

Filed Oct 26, 2015 · Electrical · 99,500 miles · MO

The brake lights, hatch lock, wiper and other electrical components on the rear part of my subaru 2009 outback stopped working or working erratically. I checked the rubber boot containing the rear wiring harness for damage and discovered 13 out of 14 wires were either completely broken, or the insulation was worn, exposing bare conductor. In addition to the rear electrical issues, I replaced the bulbs for the headlights at least four times in a two year period. The am channel on my radio no longer receives signals. The rear electrical problems are causing a safety hazard due to the brake/tail lights not functioning, or the rear windshield wiper not working. Subaru is not responsive to this design flaw.

Filed Jan 29, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 35,251 miles · OR

Problem 1: experienced rear wiper (station wagon) not working. Car still under warranty, took it to the dealer and was told the wiring harness that goes through the hinge area was broken. It was repaired. Now the car has 72,000 miles and I am having rear wiper problems again as well as the rear door not locking. Wires frayed and broken again. This is a known issue both with subaru and on the forums on the web. This is a poor design and possibly dangerous as it can cause the rear lights to fail. Failure time frame was almost double mileage from the previous failure. (35,251 - 72,000). Problem 2: air bag light keeps coming on. Have had it to the mechanic several times to be checked out and reset. This is also a known problem with subaru and on the web forums. This is a serious safety issue as the air bags could fail to deploy. Subaru may say the airbags are a "secondary" safety feature, but to me they are extremely important. Airbag deployment can be the difference between life and death in an accident. Please investigate!

Filed Jan 8, 2015 · Visibility · 68,000 miles · PA

Wiper switch on steering column fails to operate at temperatures below 20 degrees fahrenheit. Please investigate. Thank you

Filed Nov 30, 2014 · Visibility · 88,000 miles · CA

While traveling on a 2 lane road at night during a heavy rainfall, my driver side windshield wiper disconnected and jammed into the bottom of the windshield, jamming the passenger side wiper as well. Visibility in the rain was reduced to almost nothing. I turned on the emergency lights and traveled further down the road a greatly reduced speed, unable to make out any place to turn off. By slowing down I was increasing my chances of avoiding an accident, but increasing the risk for the cars in front, approaching and behind me. The problem was that a small plastic pin in the wiper blade had fallen out, a quality control issue. This tiny part could have caused a major accident. I urge you to require higher quality standards for the wipe blades. I can't find a manufacturer identification on the wiper blade, but I still have it.

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Electrical, Visibility · 101,000 miles · WI

09 outback was blowing fuses on the door lock circuit. Put in a new fuse and it would blow in a few days, often when car washed or driven in rain (or perhaps when rear hatch operated). Last replacement fuse has held for a few weeks now, through summer. Then the rear wiper stopped working. Saw this video and then pulled the wiring boot connecting hatch with body (to right of hatch hinges) and sure enough four wires are snapped right where video shows - at bottom of right boot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amekptvgmhs.

Filed Feb 25, 2010 · Visibility · OH

Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) 2009 subaru outback windshield wipers ice up too easily, necessitating my pulling over and manually removing ice from between the metal parts. Have had a mild winter here and was only a problem in the past during serious winter storms. Dealer could only replace with same design. The 2010 subarus all have redesigned wiper blades that are covered to prevent the problem. These blades do not fit my model. A call to 800-subaru3, [xxx] said subaru has no plans to change the wiper blades on the 2009 model. Present design is dangerous here in northern ohio.