2010 Subaru Outback steering problems

STEERING

We experienced a steering failure which could have led to a very serious accident. Returning on a freeway after purchasing groceries we heard a kind of rattle rhat seemed to come from behind the hub of the steering wheel. We made it home but as we pulled into our driveway the steering failed completely. The steering wheel spun around like a pinwheel, no resistance whatsoever and absolutely no effect on the car’s steering. If this had happened on the freeway I hate to think what might have happened. The car had to be towed to the local Subaru dealer where it took 17 days to repair the vehicle. We were lucky. It could well have been a disaster.

NHTSA complaint #11433732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

EXTREME SHIMMY / VIBRATION IN FRONT END CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO SHIMMY AGGRESSIVELY. THIS EXPERIENCE STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, THE CAR HAS APRPOXIMATELY 150K MILES. WHEN DRIVING CAR OVER 40 MILES AN HOUR THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES LIKE A VERY OUT OF BALANCE TIRE OR THE FEELING OF A WARPED ROTOR WHEN BRAKING. THE SHIMMY CAN BE SEEN IN THE STEERING WHEEL BOUNCING, AND FELT THROUGH THE FLOOR AND SEATS.TIRES AND BRAKES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I SEE THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. WHY IS THIS NO A RECALL? I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11210396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK K-FRAME AND A-FRAME ROTTED OUT, AFFECTING MY STEERING, MY BREAKING AND MY ABILITY TO CONTROL MY STEERING. THIS CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. I NOTIFIED SUBARU AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE K-FRAME OF THIS YEAR'S VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN FOR THE REAR SUB-FRAME ON THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, SUBARU WANTED $1400 TO REPAIR THE SUB-FRAME, SO I WENT TO A SALVAGE YARD AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL BUT TWO OF THE SUB-FRAMES IN THE SALVAGE YARD WERE ALL ROTTED IN THE SAME AREAS. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE SUB-FRAME SHOULD BE REPORTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE; AS IF THE SUB-FRAME FAILS AT THE A-FRAME, YOU WILL LOSE STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY OTHER OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS UNDERCOATED BY THE MANUFACTURER WHEN IT WAS BOUGHT--YET IT STILL ROTTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #11209146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE STEERING HAS A SHAKE TO IT ON THE HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 45 MPH AND UP . GETTING WORSE. I HAVE 125,000 IN IT, ITS IN GREAT SHAPE-CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE AND WHEN TURNING OFF THE HIGHWAY ON THE OFF RAMPS IT JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL FROM MY HANDS. ALMOST GONE OFF THE RAMP TWICE NOW.... BARE WHITE KNUCKLE DRIVING. NEW TIRES, BALANCED THREE TIMES, ROTORS TURNED, NEW BUSHINGS (WHICH WERE NOT NEEDED BUT SUGGESTED AS A FIX) ETC.... NO MECHANIC KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING. I AM GETTING SCARED TO DRIVE IT, BUT I LOVE THE CAR OVER ALL I JUST WANT AN ANSWER TO GT IT FIXED OR HAVE SUBARU TO FIND A FIX AND PUT OUT A RECALL SOON. NOW I SEE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME THING---PLEASE, PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA complaint #11048599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE BACKING UP SLOWLY ON A CITY STREET. HYDRAULIC LINE CORRODED AND BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #10935133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

SINCE DELIVERY, CAR HAS HAD SLIGHT SHIMMY OF STEERING WHEEL AT MOST SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. NOW STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED NOTICEABLE SHAKE ABOVE 60 MILES PER HOUR. DEALER SAYS CAR STEERING IS WORKING NORMALLY, POSSIBLY A TIRE ISSUE BUT I DISAGREE. I NOW SEE MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN OF SAME PROBLEM SO I AM REPORTING MINE AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10618430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

SUBARU OUTBACK STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND VIBRATION. I PURCHASED MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK NEW IN OCTOBER OF 2010. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND SPENDING A FEW MILES GETTING USED TO THE FEEL AND SENSATION OF A NEW CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE RIDE OF THE CAR WAS SOMEWHAT UNSETTLED, VIBRATING AND SHAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I INITIALLY ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE NEW TIRES AND SLIGHTLY OVERLY INFLATED TIRE PRESSURE. I PRECISELY ADJUSTED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND SPENT THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WAITING FOR THE TIRES TO "SETTLE IN" AND SMOOTH OUT. MY WIFE STARTED DRIVING THE CAR REGULARLY AND DID NOT MENTION ANY ISSUE ABOUT THE RIDE. I DROVE THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AFTERWARDS AND ON EACH TRIP FOUND THE CAR VERY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THE RIDE IS NOTICEABLE LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY BUT IS MOST APPARENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, MOST ESPECIALLY IN LOW POWER SITUATIONS LIKE COASTING DOWN DESCENTS AT GREATER THAN 60MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES DRAMATICALLY IN THIS SITUATION. THINKING THAT THE CAUSE OF THE SHAKING WAS THE OEM TIRES, I REMOVED THE CONTI CONTISPORT TIRES AND REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELIN DEFENDER XT'S FROM COSTCO. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE NO SMOOTHER THAN THE OEM'S. I HAD COSTCO REMOVE AND REBALANCE THE TIRES. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AND VIBRATION REMAINED EVEN AFTER THE REBALANCE. I WAS ABOUT TO RETURN THE CAR TO COSTCO WHEN I FOUND THE LINK ON THE SUBARU FORUM ABOUT "SHAKY SUBARUS" AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO WIDESPREAD THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) HAD BEEN ISSUED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, MANDATING THAT MAJOR MODIFICATIONS BE MADE TO THE CAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY SOA ABOUT THE TSB.

NHTSA complaint #10553529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

FOLLOWUP TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10525592 THE EFFECTED LOT NUMBER IS 0423SD (YEAR 2010, APRIL 23, LOCATION SD) THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL EFFECTED LOCATION OF 9X13A OR EARLIER (OCT 13, 2009, LOCATION A AND EARLIER). EXHIBITS THE SAME SYMPTOMS. ORIGINAL COMPLAINT: VEHICLE PADDLE SHIFTER FUNCTION, CRUISE CONTROL, HORN CONTROL ARE INTERMITTENT AND VOL UP AND MUTE RADIO FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V283000. I WILL HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR LOT NUMBER TO DETERMINE IF MY VIN HAS AN OLDER STEERING COLUMN ON TUES. MY VIN IS OUTSIDE OF THE EFFECTED RANGE OF A*310001 TO A*377827.

NHTSA complaint #10526149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

VEHICLE PADDLE SHIFTER FUNCTION, CRUISE CONTROL, HORN CONTROL ARE INTERMITTENT AND VOL UP AND MUTE RADIO FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V283000. I WILL HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR LOT NUMBER TO DETERMINE IF MY VIN HAS AN OLDER STEERING COLUMN ON TUES. MY VIN IS OUTSIDE OF THE EFFECTED RANGE OF A*310001 TO A*377827.

NHTSA complaint #10525592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

VEHICLE PADDLE SHIFTER FUNCTION, CRUISE CONTROL, HORN CONTROL ARE INTERMITTENT AND VOL UP AND MUTE RADIO FUNCTIONS DO NOT WORK ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V283000. I WILL HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE THE STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR LOT NUMBER TO DETERMINE IF MY VIN HAS AN OLDER STEERING COLUMN ON TUES. MY VIN IS OUTSIDE OF THE EFFECTED RANGE OF A*310001 TO A*377827.

NHTSA complaint #10525592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA complaint #10519678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES ON SMOOTH ROADS (RECENTLY REPAVED ROAD) AND IT TENDS TO PERSIST WHETHER YOU ARE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. PREVIOUSLY TOOK CAR IN FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND THEY STATED IT WAS A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. THEY ROTATED MY WHEELS, STATED THEY BALANCED THE WHEELS AND ALSO STATED THAT I NEEDED NEW TIRES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF WEAR LEFT ON THE TIRES. THE ISSUE NEVER WENT AWAY ON THE SHAKING FRONT END OF MY CAR AND CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE TODAY.

NHTSA complaint #10470862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL IN THE SUMMER ON A DRY ROAD AT AROUND 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVELY BEGIN TO VIBRATE/SHAKE AROUND 55MPH AND HIGHER SPEEDS LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT EXCESSIVELY. THE VIBRATION/SHAKING WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AS IF IT WERE ON BLACK ICE. THE VIBRATION ONLY BECAME CONTROLLABLE IF I SLOWED DOWN. THIS SHAKING/VIBRATION ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND OCCURS QUITE OFTEN.

NHTSA complaint #10427096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

2010 SUBARU OUTBACK EXHIBITS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH. AND POOR LANE TRACKING (WANDERING).

NHTSA complaint #10403718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

2010 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5. 9.5K AT SPEEDS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 65MPH SEVER VIBRATION OF STEERING WHEEL (STEERING WHEEL DEFLECTION ABOUT 1/8 INCH BACK AND FORTH). SPEEDOMETER HAND SEEMED TO VIBRATE - BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HANDS, ARMS, HEAD, EYES ABSORBING THE RAPID WHEEL VIBRATION). NEVER HAPPENED ON INFREQUENT HIGH SPEED ROAD TRIPS. COULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOT FELT. DEALER DID ROAD FORCE TEST ON THE ORIGINAL CONTINENTAL BRAND POWERS. TWO FAILED AND REPLACED. FAILED TIRES WHERE IN DIAGONAL POSITIONS. ASKED MANAGER ABOUT THE OTHER TWO TIRES - HE SAID TIRES WERE EITHER GOOD OR BAD. NOT CONSISTENT WITH MY EXPERIENCE. DID NOT HAVE VIBRATION WELL INTO THE MILEAGE FOR THE YEAR. SO TIRES COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BAD AT THE BEGINNING OR IT WAS NOT JUST THE TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10373404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

2010 SUBARU OUTBACK STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, NOT TIRES. SUBARU HAS INSTALLED A TSB AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG HAS MANY THOUSANDS OF POSTS ON THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10350558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

1. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE AS IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR AND HAS BEEN EVIDENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. 2. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BETWEEN 70 AND 75 MPH. IT OCCURS ALL THE TIME AT THOSE SPEEDS. CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AND ALSO CAUSES NUMBNESS IN HAND AND ARM ON LONG TRIPS. 3. TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ROTATED BY DEALER, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10350317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

MY 2010 OUTBACK HAS A STEERING WHEEL SHAKE THAT OCCURS AT HIGHWAY (65+) SPEEDS. THE WHEEL OSCILLATES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AT HIGH FREQUENCY, MOVING ABOUT 1/8" EACH WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN 4 ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE PROBLEM, BUT SUBARU HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10349672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

VEHICLE HAS PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THERE IS A VIBRATION/STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATION AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD REPAIR ATTEMPTS MADE BY SUBARU DEALER, NONE WITH LASTING RESULTS. THE TIRES WERE ALSO REPLACED AT APPROX 12,000 MILES DUE TO CUPPING. SO FAR THE TSB'S ISSUED BY SUBARU TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10349697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

MY HUSBAND HAS TRIED CONTACTING BOTH SUBARU NORTH AMERICAN CORPORATE OFFICE AND THE EASTERN REGIONAL OFFICE REGARDING THE SEVERAL RECALLS HE HAS RECEIVED ON HIS 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. HE WENT TO THE TOP BECAUSE THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE - WELL - STUPID; AND HE HIS CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO "FIX" THE CAR PROPERLY. HE ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT TSB'S AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NONE; WHEN IN DEED THERE ARE FOUR (4). THE PEOPLE HE HAS CONTACTED ARE AT THE VICE PRESIDENT LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT. HE HAS ALSO TRIED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN THE PRESIDENT'S (THOMAS DOLL) OFFICE. EVERYONE REFERS HIM TO AN 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. THE PEOPLE AT THIS NUMBER KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARS; ALL THEY DO IS READ OFF WHAT IS EVER WRITTEN ON THEIR COMPUTER SCREEN. OF COURSE, SUBARU HAS NO PLANT MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS; THEIR PROBLEMS ARE ALL CAUSED BY THE COMPANIES THEY GET THEIR COMPONENTS FROM. MY HUSBAND DOES NOT WANT TO BE "PUT-OFF"; HE WANTS SOMEONE FROM SUBARU'S UPPER MANAGEMENT TO GIVE HIM A CALL RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10342756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

MY 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FRONT END SHAKING, AND STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH, 1 TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AT LOWER SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10342535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

2010 OUTBACK 3.6 R LIMITED STEERING VIBRATION.

NHTSA complaint #10335986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED FROM LEFT TO THE RIGHT NO MATTER WHAT SPEED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT WAS ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT, AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THIS VISIT WOULD BE THE FOURTH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD BEEN KEPT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10331259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING IS VERY STIFF THEN LOOSENS AS IF YOU'VE HIT A PATCH OF ICE EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD IS DRY.

NHTSA complaint #10330633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

OUR 2010 3.6R OUTBACK ARRIVED IN APR. THE FIRST TIME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A PROMINENT HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE IS ALSO UNUSUAL FEEDBACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOWER SPEEDS THAT FEELS UNLIKE ANYTHING RELATED TO ROAD NOISE. I RESEARCHED THE "PROBLEM" ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN THAT THERE WERE MANY FORUMS IDENTIFYING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR 2010 OUTBACKS. I INFORMED OUR LOCAL SUBARU SERVICE DEPT. ABOUT THE VIBRATION AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. A SUBARU SERVICE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE VIBRATION DURING A TEST DRIVE AND RECOMMENDED A SPIN BALANCE. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND PROPOSED "FIXES" ON THE INTERNET, I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS NOT CONFIDENT THAT A SPIN BALANCE WAS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER IF THEY HAD BEEN INFORMED/AWARE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEMS AND SHE DENIED HAVING ANY PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF STEERING VIBRATION ISSUES WITH ANY OUTBACKS. THE SPIN BALANCE ADDED A MULTITUDE OF STICK-ON WEIGHTS TO ALL FOUR WHEELS (SOME EXCEED 9 IN. IN LENGTH). THE INVOICE SAID THAT A FOLLOW-UP TEST DRIVE BY A TECHNICIAN PRODUCED NORMAL STEERING AS DESIGNED. A TEST DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN PRODUCED THE SAME HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION. I INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPT. IMMEDIATELY AND THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN LEFT THERE THIS MORNING. I PRODUCED SEVERAL PAGES OF COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE INTERNET IDENTIFYING THIS ISSUE. THEY MADE COPIES OF THEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTACT SOA FACTORY ENGINEERS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS. THE VIBRATION IS PROMINENT ENOUGH TO CAUSE FATIGUE AND NUMBNESS IN THE HANDS ON EXTENDED DRIVES. THERE IS ALSO A CONCERN OF WHAT MAY FAIL AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING OR VEHICLE CONTROL. THE FAULTY COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND THE ISSUE FIXED BY SOA IMMEDIATELY. SOA HAS TRIED A NUMBER OF FIXES WITHOUT SUCCESS (SPIN-BALANCE, FORCED BALANCE, ALIGNMENT, BACKLASH SPRING, WHEEL BEARING, STEERING PUMP, REPLACE OUT-OF-ROUND TIRES).

NHTSA complaint #10330426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I PURCHASED A SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I PREMIUM (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) ON 03/15/2010 AND NOTICED MODERATE TO SEVERE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL VIBRATION ABOVE 40MPH ON THE SECOND DAY. I SUBSEQUENTLY CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE ON ALL FOUR TIRES, GAVE THE CAR SOME TIME TO "BREAK IN", AND TESTED VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND SPEEDS TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM IS MORE PRONOUNCED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THE VIBRATION CAN BE FELT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORS, SEATS, AND IN THE STEERING WHEEL, WITH THE INTENSITY INCREASING WITH SPEED, REGARDLESS OF ROAD SMOOTHNESS. AFTER THE CAR DIDN'T SELF-CORRECT, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 04/26/2010 TO DO AN INITIAL/ROUTINE CHECK OF THE CAR. THEY REBALANCED ALL FOUR TIRES AND SAID THAT SHOULD FIX IT, BUT ASKED THAT I ADVISE ANY FUTURE ISSUES. THE VIBRATION REMAINS, BUT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH (A MERE 10MPH INCREASE) FROM BOTH THE STEERING WHEEL AND TIRES, AND - AS BEFORE - IS INCREASINGLY NOTICEABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND DURING RAIN/WET WEATHER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND HAVE SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO ADDRESS THIS VIBRATION ISSUE. I WILL POST A FOLLOW-UP ONCE THIS SERVICE IS COMPLETE.

NHTSA complaint #10327720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STARTING FROM 1,700 MILES, THIS CAR STARTED DEVELOPING THE VIBRATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS VIBRATION/SHIMMY IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON HIGHWAY (>70MPH) BUT NOTICEABLE IN OTHER SPEEDS. I HAVE OWNED A COUPLE OF VEHICLES AND THIS KIND OF SHIMMY/VIBRATION HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY CARS THAT I OWNED/DROVE. I AM 100% SURE IT IS NOT NORMAL ROAD FEEL AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN DURING THE FIRST 1,700 MILES. ALSO, THE CAR DOESN'T TRACK STRAIGHT AND DRIFTS ON HIGHWAY. TWO ALIGNMENTS, TIRE BALANCING AND ROTATION HAVE BEEN DONE BUT THE VIBRATION AND DRIFTING PERSIST. I DEFINITELY CONSIDER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AND DRIFTING A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT TOTALLY ISOLATED THE ROAD FEEL ON HIGHWAY. ALSO, I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO HAVE A CONFIDENT CONTROL ON THE CAR DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. RECENTLY I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING FORUM FOR SUBARU OUTBACK OWNERS AND FOUND THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE FOR QUITE A FEW 2010 OUTBACKS. PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING THREAD. HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=20843&PERPAGE=20&PAGENUMBER=1.

NHTSA complaint #10326606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

PURCHASED BRAND-NEW SUBARU OUTBACK-3.6 LIMITED IN LATE MARCH 2010. AT TIME OF DELIVERY (PRIOR TO SIGNING PAPERS), I NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF STEERING VIBRATION. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE NEED FOR THE TIRES TO BREAK-IN AND TO CALL SERVICE IF IT CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3 MILES ON DELIVERY. THE STEERING VIBRATION CONTINUED AND I RETURNED TO SERVICE FOR A "POTENTIAL SOLUTION" TO THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SOA THAT IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE SINCE THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VIBRATION CAN ACTUALLY BE FELT IN THE FLOOR AS A DRIVER OR PASSENGER. THE INTENSITY OF THE VIBRATION INCREASES IF YOU DRIVE OVER BUMPY ROADS. (ALMOST AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE IN THE FRONT END) THE FREQUENCY OF THE VIBRATION INCREASES AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS AND IS NOT PREDICTABLE. WHAT CONCERNS ME MORE THAN THE VIBRATION IS THE OCCASIONAL PULL TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST FEELS LIKE I HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND NEED TO HOLD TIGHT TO THE STEERING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WITH CONCERN FOR SAFETY, I NOW DRIVE WITH 2 HAND ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES IN FEAR OF THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. AT PRESENT, I AM AWAITING NOTICE FROM THE DEALER ON A "PART" TO ARRIVE FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10324919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

STEERING SHAKE & SHIMMY

NHTSA complaint #10323441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.