NHTSA Complaint #11057883 — 2007 SUBARU OUTBACK

VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT LESS THAN NORMAL SPEED, STRAIGHT HIGHWAY DRIVING THIS MORNING ON I-69, SOUTH OF LANSING, AND ON I-94, BETWEEN I-69 AND M131. ROAD HAD NO SNOW, BUT PATCHY ICE CONDITIONS. BACK OF VEHICLE WAS LOADED WITH SUITCASES AND TELESCOPE. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS FELT MULTIPLE, SLIPPAGE IN CONTROL OF VEHICLE = UNSAFE. OTHER VEHICLES DRIVING AT GREATER SPEEDS THAN OURS WERE NOT EXPERIENCING ISSUES. CONFIDENCE WAS LOST IN THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN TRACTION. DRIVER FEEL WAS THAT TWO REAR TIRES WERE ALTERNATING WHICH TIRE HAD MORE AUTHORITY IN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. FELT AS UNNERVING AS PRIOR DRIVER EXPERIENCE WITH BLOWING OUT THE REAR TIRE ON A GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. DRIVER FOUND THIS ON INTERNET, AND IT DESCRIBES EXPERIENCE WE HAD TODAY: "SUMMARY OF THE GHOSTWALKING SYMPTOMS: IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ESPECIALLY ON ICE, SOME USA 2005-2009 OUTBACKS APPEAR TO HAVE A CHASSIS TUNING ISSUE WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION OSCILLATES IN SUCH A WAY TO CAUSE REAR-STEER. THIS IS NOT FISHTAILING DUE TO USING TOO MUCH GAS, LIFTING OFF THE GAS MID-CORNER, OR HITTING THE BRAKES TOO ABRUPTLY. THIS CAN OCCUR DURING STRAIGHT LINE DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEEDS. ROAD FEEL AND HANDLING CONFIDENCE IS TOTALLY LOST WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE SYMPTOMS ARE NOT 100% REPRODUCIBLE AND SUBARU HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. SUBARU DID REVISE THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS FOR THESE CARS IN 2007 DUE TO REAR TIRE WEAR COMPLAINTS. THE CHANGE TO ALIGNMENT SPEC TIGHTENS THE TOLERANCE FOR REAR TOE."