2010 Subaru Outback: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Dec 26, 2022 · Lights · CA

This is not about my car, but instead many different cars. When a cars lights are set to it's parking lights or running lights position, often located on the turn signal stalk, at night it appears to the driver that their headlights are on, when in fact only the "parking lights are on in front. This is a problem, but not what I'm reporting. When in the parking light position (at night), it appears the headlights are on because there's some light out front AND the instrument cluster is lit up as well. Here's the defect in design, the brake lights are NOT on, completely dark at the rear of the vehicle, so drivers are driving on the highway thinking their headlights and brakes lights are on, when they're not. When the parking light position is active, it should include the brake lights. Can't imagine how many rear-enders are because of this design flaw. *The rotating light switch on turn signal stalks often get unknowingly rotated out of Auto or the headlight position when the turn signal is repeatedly used.

Filed Apr 5, 2022 · Lights · OK

About three years ago; there was a recall for the headlights. Subaru did replace the headlights, but I have replaced the headlights two additional times since then. And I currently have a headlight out a marker light out. I also last year had all of my marker lights burn out.

Filed Oct 21, 2020 · Lights · 151,000 miles · PA

I have owned this vehicle for about 4 years now and have had to replace my headlights every 2 to 3 months.. Something is definitely wrong. My headlights always just go out especially when I'm driving home my headlights will just burn out and it leaves me trying to navigate home in the dark. When I go to my subaru dealer they offer me no solution. I ask if there is something wrong with my car that makes this happen and they tell me nothing is wrong and then charge me $60+ to change these headlight bulbs. This is unsafe and it is extremely costly. Especially since this vehicle has to be put in the shop when the bulbs need to be changed due to the weird design they used. The date for the incident happened is only the most recent. This has happened every 2 to 3 months since the ownership of the vehicle.

Filed Apr 3, 2019 · Lights · CT

I have had to change both passenger and driver side low beam headlights three times within the last three months. It's is not the lights themselves but the vehicle. This is costly as so much has to be removed in order to replace the lights. This is going to be my third time replacing my lights since january.

Filed Mar 16, 2019 · Engine, Lights · 115,000 miles · WA

My vehicle head lights have burnt out at least once a year since I have owned this car. The engine has began stalling when I come to a full stop. It is equipped with a CVT and it feels like coming to a stop in a manual transmission without depressing the clutch. If I let off the brake quickly it will continue idling but coming to a complete stop kills the engine. I guess subaru has issued an extended warranty but I never recieved the notification and my vehicle is past the mileage for the warranty anyway.

Filed Dec 13, 2018 · Lights · 148,000 miles · WI

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. On several occasions, while the vehicle was being driven, the low beam headlamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to schlossmann subaru city of milwaukee (located at 4640 s 27th st, milwaukee, wi 53221, (414) 459-3677) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2018 · Lights · 80,000 miles · NY

The headlights are dim and do not project a safe beam of light. This only affects the normal beam. The high beams work well.

Filed May 29, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 134,794 miles · NV

My headlights both low beam and high go out on a monthly basis. I have a 2 year old daughter and live in the mountains of lake tahoe. This is a nuisance as well as a considerable safety hazard and the dealership seems to think there is no issue other than continual bad bulbs. I am considering filing a law suit against suba [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Apr 30, 2018 · Engine, Lights · 20,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. While operating the vehicle, the low beam headlights suddenly failed to illuminate. The low beam headlight bulbs had been replaced on six separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (ultimate automotive subaru, 5150 jefferson davis hwy, fredericksburg, va) and was repaired per the manufacturer's customer satisfactory extended warranty program. The diagnosis information was not available. The contact also stated that when making an abrupt stop and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would suddenly turn off. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer on two separate occasions, but the cause of the failure could not be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 20,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2017 · Lights · 81,346 miles · WV

I bought this vechicle new in 2010. Since that time I have had to change the low beam headlights 4 times on the passenger side of the vehicle and 5 times on the drivers side. I consider this a safety hazard as it takes almost 1 1/2 hours to change the bulb. You must remove the wheel, the wheel well, then the water proof cover, the small retaining bracket and then disconnect the bulb all through an opening only a child hand could fit through easily. I have never had both lights go out at the same time, however, on a dark mountain road this could be life threatening. The first time it happened was only 3 months after acquiring the vehicle and the last time was 2 weeks ago.

Filed Jan 11, 2017 · Lights · TN

The passenger headlight has went out again. This seems to happen every three to six months that either the drivers side or passenger side headlight blows out.

Filed Nov 28, 2016 · Lights · 107,000 miles · NY

Low beam headlights have needed to be replaced 4 times now (8 bulbs total). First time, it blew out about a year after purchase. Then the second 6 months after that. Third time about a year ago and the fourth time the headlight failed was today (november, 2016). Also my rear night time light also blew out this past august, 2016. Worst part is the difficulty of replacing the headlights. You have to remove the front bumper to get to the headlight compartment which just adds to the aggravation. Something like headlights should be considered a safety feature that needs to be easily replaceable by the car owner. Regardless of the difficulty in replacing the headlights, these lights should not need to be replaced as frequently as what I'm experiencing.