Warning lights on in new 2008 OB

[ffjoeret]

Purchased a new 2008 OB 2.5 ltd. LLBean w/ Nav & VDC last Thursday. About 10 miles from the dealer the "check engine, " traction control, & "cruise control(blinking)" warning lights came on. I tightened the gas cap, but lights stayed on, so I returned to the dealer. They checked the codes and reset them and sent me on my way. Made it home, but next morning after about 10 miles, the same lights came on again. Took it back to the dealer and they gave me a loaner. Dealer says the codes indicate a catalytic converter problem, but they need to talk to the factory to get a remedy. Am I unique in having this problem or has it happened to others? Not a great start to my Subaru life. Thanks for any information you can give.

[Warrensden]

Originally posted by ffjoeret
Purchased a new 2008 OB 2.5 ltd. LLBean w/ Nav & VDC last Thursday. About 10 miles from the dealer the "check engine, " traction control, & "cruise control(blinking)" warning lights came on. I tightened the gas cap, but lights stayed on, so I returned to the dealer. They checked the codes and reset them and sent me on my way. Made it home, but next morning after about 10 miles, the same lights came on again. Took it back to the dealer and they gave me a loaner. Dealer says the codes indicate a catalytic converter problem, but they need to talk to the factory to get a remedy. Am I unique in having this problem or has it happened to others? Not a great start to my Subaru life. Thanks for any information you can give.

No your not the only one! have 08 OBxt second week kids driving to school call from highway all lights flashing or on on the dash. had them shut down met them waited for subaru tow to dealer. no lights when restarted and they said no codes? however kids said check engine was Definitely on and cruise was flashing. dealer said may be faulty Alternator bring in if it happens again without shutting of car. guess we wait and see!

[scargo]

We leased an '08 Outback on the 7th of Dec and have been back to the dealer three times for CEL and flashing Cruise Control light. The dealer reprogrammed the computer twice about a week apart, and then two weeks ago they tried to reprogram it a third time. The service manager finally said they would keep it and see if they could find the problem. A new part was ordered last week, and I still have not heard from the dealer.
Three trips to the dealer in three weeks and now they have had the car in their service bay for TWO weeks.
This is not a problem with the dealer. It is Subaru's problem.

[porcupine73]

Wow judging from this info Subaru has a problem on their hands. I hope they can fix it pronto. This is not good. Posters please post back about what Subaru does to solve or least attempt to solve your problem.

Slightly earlier model years posted issues like this periodically, sometimes fixed by the ECU reflash. Maybe the ECU software engineers don't quite comprehend what is going on with the '08s yet. Yes it is so easy to simulate and prototype some software but when it's out in production those lovely Easter Eggs sometimes appear!!!!

[ffjoeret]

My new 08 OB is now entering its second week at the dealer after the warning lights went on on the way home from the buying it. They have been working with the factory engineers to find out the problem. The codes indicate a catalytic problem and they replaced that sensor, but the problem persists. They have now wired a computer into the car to record everything going on and the dealer tech has taken the car home(30 miles or so) for the night to see if they can get additional information. They will then forward that information to the factory and go from there. I had a long rather heated talk with the service manager on Thursday and he is now calling me with updates every day. In addition, he has referred me to the Subaru divisional representative and I have been assigned a case number. I have no real idea what that means. I was left a phone message from the regional manager who said that they will do everything possible to fix the car and, if unable to, will take the next appropriate action. She also said that I would receive some "compensation" for my troubles. I'm still driving the dealer's loaner car. That's what's going on with my car. I hope the others are having better luck. I'll let you know when anything significant happens. Thanks for responding to my post.

[xcgates]

Sounds to me that you have made enought noise to be noticed, and actually taken care of. Keep on bugging them, and they will continue to try to fix it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[Warrensden]

Originally posted by ffjoeret
My new 08 OB is now entering its second week at the dealer after the warning lights went on on the way home from the buying it. They have been working with the factory engineers to find out the problem. The codes indicate a catalytic problem and they replaced that sensor, but the problem persists. They have now wired a computer into the car to record everything going on and the dealer tech has taken the car home(30 miles or so) for the night to see if they can get additional information. They will then forward that information to the factory and go from there. I had a long rather heated talk with the service manager on Thursday and he is now calling me with updates every day. In addition, he has referred me to the Subaru divisional representative and I have been assigned a case number. I have no real idea what that means. I was left a phone message from the regional manager who said that they will do everything possible to fix the car and, if unable to, will take the next appropriate action. She also said that I would receive some "compensation" for my troubles. I'm still driving the dealer's loaner car. That's what's going on with my car. I hope the others are having better luck. I'll let you know when anything significant happens. Thanks for responding to my post.

Just to update on our past issue, no issues again so far! we will continue to keep our fingers crossed.
I must note that our OB did not set any code which is still very surprising to me as we know check engine was on.

[scargo]

Wellll, my '08 is still at the dealer. Friday will make it Three full weeks. I finally got in contact with Subaru and was assigned a case number. That was on Tuesday of this week, and today the service manager called and said they had a handle on the problem. Last week they replaced the "chassis computer" (probably the wrong term), and that did not fix the problem. When they put the new computer in it brought up several more codes. The original code was 700. Code for computers out of sync?. So now they say the problem is either the wiring harness to the transmission or the speed sensor in the transmission. The wiring harness and speed sensor are on order and should be there tomorrow. They have to take the pan off the transmission to replace the sensors. I don't look forward to the problems down the road after this transmission has been worked on!!!

[ffjoeret]

Received a call from the dealer and he said the car was ready to pick-up, exactly two weeks after I purchased it. After much work with the factory techs, changing out sensors, hooking up computers and sending data back and forth, one of the factory techs asked if anyone had bothered to check to see if the catalytic converters were actually bad, since that was what the error codes indicated. One was removed and when it was tipped up, the entire guts fell out on the floor. Both were then replaced with new ones and the car checks out okay. I made it the 30 miles home with no more warning lights and am hopeful that good times with my Subaru have started.

[WtMtns]

You should have a great car now. Not many of us have a team of experts checking over our cars before we take possession. You might want to request an extended warranty in case something like that happens again.