NHTSA Complaint #10377291 — 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK

WHEN DRIVING ON POOR TRACTION ROADS (ICE OR COMPACTED SNOW), THE REAR OF THE CAR IS VERY UNSTABLE AND SHIFTS LEFT TO RIGHT BY AS MUCH AS 2-3 FEET - WHILE GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, STRAIGHT ROAD - MAINTAINING A CONSTANT SPEED (NO ACCELERATION OR BRAKING). THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, OVER A 3400 MILE ROAD TRIP THIS WINTER - SOMETIMES LASTING FOR HOURS, MAKING FOR VERY DIFFICULT AND UNSAFE DRIVING, ALMOST GOING OUT OF CONTROL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS - EVEN AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS (20-30 MPH)! THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR, BUT A LOT OF LUGGAGE - PROBABLY EXCEEDING 400 LBS OF WEIGHT IN THE REAR, BUT NOTHING EXCESSIVE, AND WELL WITHIN THE SPECIFIED LIMITS FOR THIS CAR. I HAD MY ALIGNMENT ADJUSTED 3 MONTHS AGO TO FACTORY SPECS. IT HOWEVER APPEARS THAT WHEN THE CAR HAS ANY WEIGHT IN THE REAR, THE TOE-IN ADJUSTMENT CHANGES SIGNIFICANTLY TO CAUSE "REAR STEERING" WHICH LEADS TO THE UNSTABLE BEHAVIOR ON SLIPPERY ROADS, AND UNEVEN WEAR OF TIRES (THAT I HAVE ALSO NOTICED). THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY TO KEEP THE ALIGNMENT STABLE - DIFFERENT LOADS SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE GEOMETRY IN THIS WAY. I REALLY HOPE SUBARU CAN HELP US SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND THIS CAR IS ADVERTISED AS AN AWD SNOW VEHICLE! I WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.