2022 Subaru Outback: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 26, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · NJ · fire

Driving on the highway, engine started making a rattling noise, then began to labor and eventually stopped being able to accelerate at all. Oil pressure warning light came on around the time the acceleration gave out altogether. We pulled over to the side of the highway and got out of the car, seeing steam/white smoke coming out of the front of the car. The smoke increased and after several minutes, the front of the car caught on fire.

Filed Mar 14, 2025 · Brakes · FL

The front rotor warp excessively causing the brake pedal and the entire car to shake uncontrollably. The entire front brake assemblies were replaced at Subaru of Coconut Creek. Our safety was definitely at risk as it was very hard to brake going downhill with the brake pedal and the car shaking uncontrollably. The dealer confirmed black spots on the front rotors and warped front rotors. There were not warnings prior to, during, or after the shaking. Going downhill was made very uncomfortable. Subaru of Coconut Creek services the vehicle and notified me of the black spots and warped front rotors. There was nauseating burning smell coming from under the hood and we had to wait 15 minutes for it to disssipate.

Filed Jan 11, 2024 · Electrical · 40,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, there was a smoke odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed smoke coming from the battery. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

Filed Nov 6, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · 23,000 miles · NJ · fire

The contact owned a 2022 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 30 MPH, she heard an abnormal sound emanating from the front of the vehicle, and the vehicle suddenly lost all electrical power. She was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. A short time later, the contact's wife observed white smoke rising from the engine compartment, and within 15 minutes, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. Local emergency services were called and were able to extinguish the fire. A fire and police report were filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, awaiting inspection. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · Electrical · NJ · fire

Vehicle was purhased in early June 2021. Vehicle was being operated on State Highway Route 55 at Milepost 46.7, in Elk Township, Gloucester County. Traffic was heavy, with southbound transient traffic traveling to New Jersey Shore points. Vehicle simultaneously lost power and began to display several error/warning messages on dashboard at approximately 13:52 hours. Vehicle was pulled to the right shoulder of the roadway and I began to smell something burning. As I removed personal effects from vehicle I exited and saw smoke coming from the passenger's side wheel well. I walked back approximately 100 feet and called 911, by time a dispatcher came answered, the engine compartment of the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames. No modifications of any kind were done to the vehicle since its purchase. I was the sole occupant of the vehicle and not injured. The vehicle is fully insured and payments are current. It's mileage at the time of the incident are 3,042. That information along with the error messages were provided through the Subaru Starlink App.