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Subaru Outback Visibility Defroster/defogger System Safety Report | June 13, 2012



Reported on June 13, 2012


SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, WHILE DRIVING FOR 15-60 MINUTES WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DEPENDING ON CONDITIONS, MYSELF AND/OR ANOTHER PASSENGER WILL BEGIN TO FEEL VERY LIGHT HEADED, IRRITATED EYES, HARD TO FOCUS, AND NEARLY PASS OUT. IT'S A FORCED SITUATION LIKE BEING PUT IN A CHOKE HOLD OR SUFFOCATED GENTLY NOT JUST FEELING RELAXED OR COMFY. THE EFFECTS LAST FOR SOME TIME DEPENDING ON EXPOSURE TOO. WE COULD BE LIVELY WITH GOOD ENERGY, BUT USING THE CAR AS SAID WILL KILL IT. IT ALSO OCCURS FASTER THE MORE YOU BREATHE. THE ONLY CURE IS FRESH AIR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE HVAC SYSTEM FIRST, BUT THE FAN SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO AFFECT IT SO I'D GUESS IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. MY BEST GUESS IS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE REAR TAIL GATE SEAL NOT SEALING RIGHT SUCKING IN EXHAUST. THE REASON WE CAN'T READILY IDENTIFY A SMELL IS PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S A PZEV SYSTEM, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T HAVE A TYPICAL EXHAUST ODOR. SUBARU REFUSED TO HELP AND SAID IT SMELLS FINE . AFTER A MONTH OF TRYING THEY FINALLY AGREED TO DO A RIDE ALONG FOR JUST 30 MINUTES. AFTER COMPLETION ONE SAID I DON'T FEEL ANYMORE TIRED THAN USUAL AND THE OTHER AGREED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME AT ONE POINT AUTO NATION'S SUBARU REGIONAL REP SAID YOU CAN PUT YOUR MOUTH ON THE TAIL PIPE AND SUCK ON IT AND YOU'LL BE FINE ... IN THE END I JUST TRADED IT IN FOR A 2013 OUTBACK BUT SOMEONE ELSE WILL OWN THIS CAR SOON. THIS CAR NEEDS A REAL INSPECTION BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY DIES FROM IT. I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SURVIVED BECAUSE PROLONGED USE OVER A FEW WEEKS MAKES THE EFFECTS WORSE BUT IF DRIVEN SOMEONE WHO ISN'T VERY ALERT PROBABLY WILL FALL ASLEEP AND CRASH. I ALMOST DID A FEW TIMES AND WHY I SPENT THIS SUMMER WITHOUT AC EXCEPT IN MY TESTS, ALL BAD. AGAIN, I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, OTHER PASSENGERS HAVE TOO. MY NEW OUTBACK DOESN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE EITHER. PLEASE KEEP ME UPDATED. *TR
Make: Subaru
Model: Outback
Manufactured by: Subaru of America, Inc.
Year: 2012
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: PHOENIX AZ
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 4S4BRBHC4C1
Mileage: 49 miles.
Speed: 65 MPH
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel:
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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