2011 Subaru Outback exterior lighting problems

“LOW HEADLAMP BULB HOUSING MELTED SO BAD IT MUST BE REPLACED AT ESTIMATED DEALER COST OF $650. THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE FOR REPLACING THE BULBS THAT HAVE BEEN BURNING OUT EVERY 6-9 MONTHS. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN BURNING UP DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE HOUSING THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE LOW-BEAM HOUSING UNIT AS IT POSES A FIRE RISK. THE EXTENDED BULB REPLACEMENT WARRANTEE IS A BAND-AID THAT DID NOT ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING ISSUE.”

“HAVE HAD THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK, 2011, AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES EACH ONES, LEFT AND RIGHT. DON'T REMEMBER IF I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU OR SAW IT ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME COMPLAINT FROM MANY OWNERS AND SUBARU HAVING A FIX FOR IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2017 AND THEY REPLACED THE BLOWN BULB AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A IMPROPER CONTACT THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 2 TIMES SINCE AND HAVE ONE BLOWN AGAIN. SUSPECT THAT THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND NEEDS A THROUGH FIX. IT CAN CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF BOTH HEADLIGHTS BLOW AT THE SAME TIME.”

“LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHT BURNS OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. REPLACING THE BULB IS NOT THAT EASY. THIS IS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND SUBARU HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR LAST EIGHT PLUS YEARS. INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING SYSTEM SUBARU HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS AND IT REIMBURSES THE COST OF THE NEW BULBS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL THESE DEFECTIVE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE REPLACED. LOW BEAM LIGHTS BURNED OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.”

“HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY, WITHOUT WARNING OR INCIDENT, SOMETIMES BOTH WITHIN A WEEK. CAR IS DRIVEN LESS THAN 10K MILES PER YEAR, YET ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ANNUALLY ON AVERAGE. BULBS ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO REPLACE AND MUST BE DONE BY GARAGE OR DEALERSHIP. ON ONE OCCASION BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE OUT BEFORE VEHICLE COULD BE TAKEN TO GET BULBS REPLACED.”

“MAIN HEADLAMPS BURN OUT EVERY 9 TO 10 MONTHS CAUSING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. REPLACEMENT OF THESE BULBS IS UNNECESSARILY CUMBERSOME FOR THE OWNER AND SUBARU DEALERS CHARGE $150 TO REPLACE A $15 DOLLAR BULB. IF NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY YOU RISK A FIRE HAZARD. THIS SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE OF REASON, AND A POOR DESIGN THAT RISKS LIVES. I HAVE FOUND MYSELF AWAY FROM HOME WITH NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES NOW.”

“HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WITH ABNORMAL FREQUENCY. DRIVER'S SIDE BULB HAS NEEDED CHANGING ON AVERAGE EVERY 3-4 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN AT NIGHT. PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.”