Complaint 600091
1997 SUBARU OUTBACK • POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT • incident Oct 13, 2006
- Complaint ID
- 600091
- Make
- SUBARU
- Model
- OUTBACK
- Model Year
- 1997
- Component
- POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
- Incident Date
- Oct 13, 2006
- Date Received
- Oct 18, 2006
- Data As Of
- Jul 1, 2026
Complaint Summary
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Owner Narrative
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THE AAA PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE(DOUGHNUT). WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVED TO THE RESIDENCE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH WATER. THE OWNERS MANUAL IN PAGE 8-11 INDICATED IN FINE PRINT, WHEN THE SPARE DOUGHNUT WAS USED A FUSE HAD TO BE PLUGGED IN THE FUSE BOX TO MAINTAIN AN EMERGENCY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE DIFFERENTIAL OVER HEATING BECAUSE THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTION WHEN A SMALLER SIZE TIRE WAS IN USE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE REPAIRS COST.*AK
Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.
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