What 649 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Outback Wilderness

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK: I INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A SHAKING AFTER 45 MPH AND A TRAMPING EFFECT AT LOWER SPEEDS. THEY DID A ROAD FORCE BALANCE AND IT WAS BETTER BUT STILL FELT ANNOYING AND UNSAFE. THEY PUT ON NEW STEERING WHEEL AND NOW IT WAS WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER TIRE/SERVICE DEALER AND THEY IMPROVED THE SHAKING QUITE A BIT BUT I WOULD STILL LIKE IT FIXED. SUBARU STATES THERE WILL BE A FIX IN A FEW WEEKS BUT READING ALL THESE OLD COMPLAINTS MAKES ME DOUBTFUL. SUBARU SEEMS TO BE AWARE CARS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHIPS THEM TO DEALERS ANYWAY HOPING A FIX WILL BE FOUND. I NOW WOULD LIKE A BUYBACK FROM SUBARU. *TR

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I PURCHASED A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED ON NOV 30 2010. ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE NEW CAR DEALERSHIP THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A SHIMMY AND THE ENTIRE CAR WAS VIBRATING. THE VIBRATION BEGAN 45MPH AND HAD GOTTEN WORSE AT 65/70MPH. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THEY DETERMINED BY TEST DRIVING THE CAR THAT THE FOUR CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. EVENTUALLY THEY REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH NEW CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT. THE CAR IS RIDING MUCH BETTER AND SMOOTHER. THE DEALER WANTED TO INSTALL A VIBRATION DAMPER KIT ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND I DECLINED. I PREFER TO KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM RATHER TO COVER IT UP. I HOPE THIS MAY HELP ANYONE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

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2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R - CAR HAS VIBRATION THAT CAN BE MOSTLY FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VIBRATION CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE SEATS AND FLOOR. VIBRATION COMES AND GOES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10371785

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R LIMITED PURCHASED NEW IN OCTOBER 2010. VEHICLE HAD STEERING/HANDLING ISSUES FROM THE START. EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL/TIRE VIBRATION/SHIMMY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WAS IMMEDIATELY EVIDENT. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAD A PULSATION IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING HAD A "STICK-SLIP" PHENOMENON WHILE NEGOTIATING CURVES IN THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A SERIES OF FIXES RECOMMENDED BY SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) INCLUDING NEW TIRES WITH ROAD FORCE BALANCING, STEERING BOX REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS, STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP REPLACEMENT, REPLACEMENT STEERING WHEEL, AND REPLACEMENT OF STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE VARIOUS FIXES THE TIRE VIBRATION WAS ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATED. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PULSATION/STICKING WAS ONLY AMELIORATED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT SOA WAS AWARE OF THE STEERING ISSUE AND WAS WORKING ON A SOLUTION, BUT THAT NOTHING FURTHER COULD BE DONE WITH MY VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE CONDITION I HAVE DESCRIBED IS, IN MY OPINION, A DANGEROUS ONE. WHILE DRIVING WINDING COUNTRY ROADS IN THE RAIN THERE IS A DISTINCT LOSS OF FEEL FOR THE ROAD, SIMILAR TO ENCOUNTERING A MOMENTARY PATCH OF ICE. BECAUSE OF THE VARYING RESISTANCE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL THE CAR TENDS TO OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER IN THE TURNS. IT IS CLEAR THAT SOA'S PIECEMEAL REPLACEMENT OF PARTS TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE SOLUTION. THERE IS MORE LIKELY A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY THAT IS MITIGATED BUT NOT CORRECTED WHEN MAJOR PARTS ARE REPLACED, PERHAPS DUE TO COMPONENT TOLERANCES. THIS ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED BY SOA AND A VEHICLE RECALL ISSUED. *TR

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1.) 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK PREMIUM - NEW CAR PURCHASE - WITH LESS THAN 300 MILES ON IT. 2.) THE CAR LOSES CONTROL AT UPPER SPEEDS (65MPH+) WHERE IT SWAYS OUT OF CONTROL AS IF AN ICY PATCH WAS HIT. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES AT A RAPIDLY LOW FREQUENCY CREATING A NUMBNESS IN THE DRIVER'S HANDS AND FOREARMS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURS EVERY DAY WHEN ABOVE 65MPH. 3.) SUBARU DEALERSHIPS HAVE SAID THEY CAN NOT REPEAT THE ISSUE (HOWEVER THEY DO NOT TAKE THE CAR OUTSIDE THE CITY, THEREFORE THEY ARE NOT DRIVING BEYOND 65MPH). NO PARTS OR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ALTHOUGH TIRES WERE CHECKED OVER FOR BALANCE. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH SUBARU OWNERS FOR THE 2010 AND 2011 MODEL. I KNOW OF OTHER SUBARU OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TIRES ROTATED, BALANCED, ETC AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. THOUSANDS OF FORUMS ARE NOW ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10368421

PURCHASED NEW SUBARU 2011 OUTBACK ON 07.31.10. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED VIBRATION IN STEERING BEGINNING AT 60MPH AND GRADUALLY GET WORSE AT 70MPH. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT. ON 08.23.10 THE DEALER TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED SLIGHT VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. THEY ADJUSTED TIRE PRESSURE BUT DIDN'T CORRECT PROBLEM. ON 08.27.10 LEFT CAR AT DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROAD FORCE BALANCED. AFTER ROAD FORCE BALANCING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION IS BETTER BUT STILL NOTICEABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS SOME VIBRATION IS NORMAL FOR OUTBACK. STILL BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL DRIVE CARE FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES BEFORE RETURNING TO SEE IF PROBLEM GETS WORSE. OPENED CASE WITH SUBARU. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN RESPONSE FROM DEALER AND SUBARU TO THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE AUTO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10358841

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED PURCHASED AUG 10, 2010. NOTICED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION FROM TIME OF PURCHASE, ASSUMED IT WAS JUST ME GETTING USED TO DRIVING THE CAR. A WEEK LATER EVEN MORE NOTICEABLE, BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER. CHECKED BALANCE, FOUND TWO TIRES OUT OF ROUND. REPLACED THOSE TIRES (TSB 05-50-10), REBALANCED - VIBRATION STILL THERE. DEALER THEN INSTALLED VIBRATION KIT (TSB 05-48-10), VIBRATION PERSISTS. HEAD OF SERVICE STATED HE DID NOT NOTICE VIBRATION AT 65MPH, TECH TAKEN FOR RIDE WITH THIS OWNER (OWNER DROVE CAR - AVERAGE SPEED 70-75MPH). TECH OBSERVED VIBRATION, STATED "THIS SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THAT ON A NEW CAR." AWAITING RESPONSE FROM SERVICE MANAGER ON NEXT STEPS. IN THE COURSE OF A MONTH, MY CAR HAS SPENT 5 DAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP! VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU AT THIS TIME! *TR

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TEST DROVE 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R BEFORE PURCHASE AND VEHICLE HAD FRONT END SHAKE AT FREEWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH OR SO. AS RESULT DID NOT BUY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20.

NHTSA ODI 10349635

STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING BAD AROUND 500 MILES. IT IS A CONSTANT PULSATION LEFT/RIGHT. HAND/ARM PAINS AND ACHES WHILE TRYING TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS ALSO TERMED AS SHIMMY / STEERING WHEEL SHAKE PROBLEM AND SUBARU HAS 2 TSB IN EFFECT 05-50-10 AND 05-48-10. 05-50-10 (RFB) WAS PERFORMED. THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND THE STEERING WHEEL STILL CONTINUES TO SHAKE. THEY HAVE NOT YET SCHEDULED 05-48-10 (BUNCH OF PARTS REPLACEMENT) FOR ME, BUT I HAVE A CASE OPENED WITH SOA (SUBARU OF AMERICA) - CASE # [XXX] IN ADDITION, DURING LONG MODERATE-SPEED TURNS LIKE HIGHWAY RAMPS, HIGHWAY ENTRANCES THE STEERING WHEEL PULSATES. IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A "FREE-PLAY" GOING AROUND MID-TURN. ALSO, I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT OTHERWISE IT TENDS TO GO AWAY OR FLOAT. FROM WHAT I GET FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO GOT THIS TSB DONE, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. SUBARU SEEMS TO BE MASKING THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM. [REFER LINK : HTTP://WWW.SUBARUOUTBACK.ORG/FORUMS/108-STEERING-WHEEL-SHAKE-ISSUES/] I AM YET TO GET THE MAJOR TSB DONE. SOA SAID PARTS WILL ARRIVE AT DEALER THIS WEEK. I WILL FOLLOWUP WITH MY DEALER ON THIS. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS AS A CRITICAL ISSUE SINCE I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TSB WILL FIX MY PROBLEM (BASED UPON EXPERIENCE FROM OTHERS). PLEASE HELP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10349662

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE; HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE CALLED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER NEXT WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 500. UPDATED 09/28/10 *BF UPDATED 10/01/10

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