NHTSA Complaint #10370475 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R LIMITED PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2010. VEHICLE HAD STEERING/HANDLING ISSUES FROM THE START. EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL/TIRE VIBRATION/SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAD A PULSATION IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING HAD A "STICK-SLIP" PHENOMENON WHILE NEGOTIATING CURVES IN THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A SERIES OF FIXES RECOMMENDED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) INCLUDING NEW TIRES WITH ROAD FORCE BALANCING, STEERING BOX REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS, STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP REPLACEMENT, REPLACEMENT STEERING WHEEL, AND REPLACEMENT OF STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE VARIOUS FIXES THE TIRE VIBRATION WAS ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PULSATION/STICKING WAS ONLY AMELIORATED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT SOA WAS AWARE OF THE STEERING ISSUE AND WAS WORKING ON A SOLUTION, BUT THAT NOTHING FURTHER COULD BE DONE WITH MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE CONDITION I HAVE DESCRIBED IS, IN MY OPINION, A DANGEROUS ONE. WHILE DRIVING WINDING COUNTRY ROADS IN THE RAIN THERE IS A DISTINCT LOSS OF FEEL FOR THE ROAD, SIMILAR TO ENCOUNTERING A MOMENTARY PATCH OF ICE. BECAUSE OF THE VARYING RESISTANCE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR TENDS TO OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER IN THE TURNS. IT IS CLEAR THAT SOA'S PIECEMEAL REPLACEMENT OF PARTS TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THERE IS MORE LIKELY A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY THAT IS MITIGATED BUT NOT CORRECTED WHEN MAJOR PARTS ARE REPLACED, PERHAPS DUE TO COMPONENT TOLERANCES. THIS ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED BY SOA AND A VEHICLE RECALL ISSUED. *TR