NHTSA Complaint #11084529 — 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK

OUR 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS TWO YEARS OLD WHEN THE TILT STEERING FEATURE WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED INTO PLACE. THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE TILT STEERING WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD DROP WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT INTERNAL LOCKING MECHANISM HAD BROKEN AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHICH IT WAS REPLACED AND HAD HELD IN PLACE. IN MARCH OF 2018 THE TILT STEERING WOULD ONCE AGAIN NOT STAY LOCKED INTO PLACE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO DROP WHILE IN MOTION. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, WHERE WE WERE TOLD THE SAME EXACT THING HAD HAPPENED AGAIN AND WOULD REQUIRE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED. THE BIGGEST CONCERN HERE IS SAFETY. THE STEERING COLUMN DROPPING WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING PUTS THE DRIVER AND ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD AT RISK. WE WERE NEVER PROVIDED A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED TO THE CAR NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. THE EXPLANATION GIVEN FOR THE REOCCURRING PROBLEM WAS 'NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FROM USING THE TILT FEATURE TOO MUCH.' WE HAVE HAD OTHER SUBARU OUTBACKS WITH THE TILT STEERING FEATURE AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL NOT LOCKING INTO PLACE.