NHTSA Complaint #10378290 — 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK

COMPLAINT FOR A 2008 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS A MAJOR STABILITY CONTROL ISSUE AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED (CONSTANT AND LOW THROTTLE POSITION) ON A FLAT, GOOD ROAD, WITH THE STEERING WHEEL POINTED STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE BACK END OF THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OSCILLATE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR "GHOST WALK" WHEN THE ROAD HAS ICE ON IT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT EVER LOSE TRACTION PER SE; IT JUST STEERS ITSELF ALL OVER THE ROAD. TIRES ARE AT THE PROPER PRESSURE, TIRES ARE ALL BRAND NEW (ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF TIRES. THE ISSUE IS NOT TRACTION ON DEEP SNOW, NOR IS IT A PROBLEM WHEN CORNERING, BRAKING, OR ACCELERATING. I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER IN SNOW/ICE AND HAVE OWNED SEVERAL SUBARUS. THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING ON ICE AND VERY HARD-PACK SNOW. NOTE THAT HAVING ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IN THE CARGO AREA OR REAR PASSENGERS MAKES THE PROBLEM MUCH WORSE. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 20 MPH WITH REAR-WHEELED DRIVE CARS BLOWING BY ME BECAUSE OF THE GHOST WALKING ISSUE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR-ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE. IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR