NHTSA Complaint #10298417 — 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK

I'M A RECENT OWNER OF A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK XT WITH 58K MILES AND UNDER CERTAIN ADVERSE WEATHER SITUATIONS; THE CAR'S TRACKING/DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS PERFORM IN A HAZARDOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY MANNER. WHEN TRAVELING IN SNOWY AND OR SLUSHY CONDITIONS ON PAVED ROADS, THE CAR'S REAR TIRES MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE LOOSING DIRECTIONAL STABILITY (I.E. OVERSTEER) WITH NO PROVOCATION FROM THE DRIVER OR OUTSIDE INFLUENCE. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS OF THE LOAD IN THE CAR (PASSENGERS/CARGO), AND UNDER ALL DRIVING SITUATIONS (ACCELERATING & COASTING). THE CAR HAS SNOW TIRES ON ALL FOUR WHEELS (NOKIAN 225-55-17) THAT HAVE LESS THAN 10K MILES OF USE AND ARE CORRECTLY INFLATED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE CAR'S MANUFACTURE (30F/32R). INITIALLY, I THOUGHT THE CAR MIGHT BE OUT OF REAR ALIGNMENT (TOE), HOWEVER AFTER BEING INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND INDEPENDENT TIRE ALIGNMENT SHOP, THE CAR IS WITHIN SUBARU'S CURRENT SPECS FOR THE MODEL AND TSB NOTICE (5-36-07) FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA. I DRIVE 200 MILES DAILY TO AND FROM WORK (PA/NJ) FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS AND IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH ZERO ACCIDENTS OR MISHAPS. THE PURPOSE OF BUYING A SUBARU WAS FOR THE ALL WEATHER CAPABILITY ADVERTISED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, APPARENTLY I AM NOT ALONE, AS A RECENT SEARCH ON LINE PROVIDED AN OUTBACK FORUM DEDICATED TO THIS CAR (2005-2009) WHICH INDICATES THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS GROUP OF CARS BY THE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC. SOA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THE OBVIOUS 'ENGINEERED COMPROMISE' WITH A RAISED REAR SUSPENSION, AND MODIFY THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE REAR END STEPPING OUT DUE TO ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS AND LOADS CARRIED BY OWNERS UNDER WHAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS. *TR