NHTSA Complaint #10045296 — 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK

I HEARD A CLICKING IN MY CAR WHEN ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP. IT DID NOT SOUND TOO SERIOUS, BUT I MADE A NOTE OF IT. I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHIN A HALF A MILE MY CAR BEGAN TO WEAVE. THE STEERING APPEARED TO FAIL AND I WENT INTO A SPIN. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR AND LOST CONTROL. THE BRAKES WERE WORKING BUT AT THE SPEED I WAS GOING (40-45MPH) I HIT THE LEFT BARRIER AFTER GOING OVER TWO LANES. THERE WAS NO RAIN OR ICE BUT THE ROAD WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE FROM CONSTRUCTION. I HAD EXPERIENCED THAT WEAVING SENSATION BEFORE IN THE SUBRARU ON UNEVEN ROADS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE SHOP DID NOT REALLY CHECK WHAT WENT WRONG THEY SAID THE AXLE AND BRAKES AND TIRES SEEMED FINE. THE CAR COULD NOT START AND APPARENTLY THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN DAMAGED. *LA