NHTSA Complaint #10865610 — 2004 SUBARU BAJA

"GHOST WALKING" I PURCHASED THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO FROM MY FATHER WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER FOR THE LARGEST SHIPPING COMPANY IN THE US AND HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR THEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR HE CAUTIONED ME THAT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE DOESN'T PROVIDE CONSISTENT TRACTION TO BOTH REAR TIRES. THIS OCCURS ON ANY SURFACE AT VARYING DEGREES WHILE MOVING STRAIGHT ON A LEVEL ROAD, UP HILL, DOWN HILL, ON CORNERS, WHILE ACCELERATING/BRAKING OR COASTING. EXAMPLES WHICH CAUSE THIS ARE SMALL TO LARGE POTHOLES, CRACKS IN THE ROAD SURFACE, DRIVING WITH ONE TIRE ON THE PAINTED LINE IN THE ROAD (VERY NOTICEABLE SURGING AND CAN BE SCARY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET), SAND OR GRAVEL ON THE SHOULDER OF A PAVED ROAD EFFECTING ONE SIDE OF THE CAR ONLY, PUDDLES, SLIGHT SNOW/SLUSH COVER, ETC. HAVING HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS IT IS SOMETHING I EXPERIENCE DAILY, AND THE CAR IS DOWNRIGHT SCARY, UNSAFE IN SOME CONDITIONS. I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY GOOD DRIVER, I'M 35 AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DESPITE DRIVING ABOUT 35K MILES A YEAR. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS, I HAVE NO DOUBT MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT, I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. I CANNOT SELL THIS CAR WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE UNLESS I CONVEY THIS SAFETY HAZARD TO A POTENTIAL BUYER SO THE VALUE HAS ALSO BEEN DESTROYED BY THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. I WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND CROSS MY FINGERS THAT SUBARU OWNS UP TO IT BEFORE ANY MORE PEOPLE (OR MYSELF) SUFFER THE LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT IT GOES THROUGH REAR TIRES QUICKER THAN I EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE DESPITE BEING IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, IT SEEMS TO BE EXAGGERATED IF THERE IS ANY AMOUNT OF ADDED CARGO WEIGHT OR ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS. STEP UP SUBARU, PREVIOUS LOYAL OWNERS ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES IN MY AREA.