NHTSA Complaint #10139805 — 2005 SUBARU BAJA

THIS IS REGARDING A 2005 SUBARU BAJA TURBO, VIN #:[XXX]. IN SERVICE DATE IS 6/9/04. PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. IN FEBRUARY, 2005 THE PROBLEM FIRST MANIFESTED ITSELF. THIS IS A STEERING CONCERN. ON MAKING A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN AS WELL AS A K TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN AND/OR WHEEL LETS A VERY LOUD SQUEAL. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A STUCK PIG!! WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD TO MANEUVER ALMOST AS THOUGH IT WENT BACK TO UNASSISTED STEERING. AFTER THE TURN IS COMPLETED THE STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL DEALER ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS. THE LAST TIME HE KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND GAVE ME A LOANER. BECAUSE IT DIDN'T "SQUEAL" FOR THEM THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO WAY TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS AND/OR REPAIR. FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW I FIND THIS SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE. I AM FEARFUL THE STEERING COULD GO OUT AT ANY MOMENT WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY, OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER, AND COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT FOR MYSELF OR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE SUBARU CORPORATION HAS OFFERED NOTHING IN THE WAY OF SOLUTIONS.*JB UPDATE 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)