NHTSA Complaint #10444835 — 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK

I HAVE A SUBARU BECAUSE I LIVE OFF THE PAVED ROAD AND IT IS AN OFF-ROAD CAR. TWO PROBLEMS: 1) IF DRIVING IN SNOW, SNOW PACKS INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND PREVENTS FRONT WHEELS TURNING PROPERLY. I CARRY A WEEDOUT, OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO CARRY ICE PICKS AND TROWELS FOR GETTING THE SNOW OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE DEC 2010, WHENEVER DRIVING IN WET SNOW. I HEARD IT DISCUSSED ON CAR TALK, SO I KNOW IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. 2) MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE IS NOW EXPOSED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE 2011. THE CAR GETS STUCK IN ONE GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT. HAPPENED IN 2ND AND 4TH. I GOT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REMOVED STICKS AND GRAVEL FROM THE LINKAGE. THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY 2011 MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUBIES IN THAT WEEK WITH STICKS AND GRAVEL IN THE LINKAGE DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER. I COULD NOT GO UP HILLS OR START FROM A STOP WHEN IT WAS STUCK IN 4TH. I COULD NOT DRIVE OVER 20MPH WHEN STUCK IN 2ND. I COULD NOT REVERSE EITHER WAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW AND TRAFFIC IN THE MOUNTAINS. I ASKED THE DEALER IF THEY COULD PUT ON SOMETHING TO COVER AND PROTECT THE LINKAGE AND THEY SAID NO, EVER SINCE SUBARU WENT TO 6 FORWARD GEARS THE LINKAGE IS EXPOSED AND THEY CANNOT ADD ANYTHING TO COVER IT. I THINK THE 6 FORWARD GEAR MANUAL TRANSMISSION OUTBACKS SHOULD BE RECALLED, AND THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO 5 GEARS FORWARD AND PROPERLY COVER UP THE LINKAGE. *TR