2013 Subaru Outback steering problems

“* I detected a noise in the front end and an instability in the handling. My independent service mechanic found the cradle on the right front severely rusted out at the point where the control arm attaches. He had to condemn the vehicle. * My mechanic says that it could have resulted in a total loss of ability to steer. He says that he is unable to order the part from the manufacturer because so many are on back order. He is also unable to find any used ones. Finally, he says that in the last 3 months he has had to condemn 3 other Outbacks due to the same problem. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO ME. *Problem confirmed by my independent service center *No *No”

“Power steering failed while driving. Power steering fluid had all leaked out. Luckily car was at a very low speed as steering was quite difficult. Repaired at Subaru dealer who discovered a leak in a metal high pressure line. There was no evidence of external damage to pressure line. Photo showed a hairline crack at the outside of a 90° bend, thus probably a manufacturing defect. Dealer replaced entire steering rack.”

“DIRECTIONAL STABILITY; DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR CENTERED IN LANE; WANDERS OFF FROM WHERE STEERING IS SET; STEERING WILL NOT CENTER, BUT WILL STAY IN A GENTLE CURVE BY ITSELF UNTIL CORRECTED, THEN WILL WANDER OFF CENTER AGAIN. CONTRIBUTING TO PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH FORCE IS REQUIRED IN A STEERING ACTION TO CORRECT A WANDER CAUSING A SLIGHT OVERSHOOT WHICH NO MATTER HOW CAREFULLY CONTROLLED, CANNOT KEEP THE CAR GOING IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION, WHETHER IN A CURVE OR KEEPING STRAIGHT. THE FASTER THE CAR IS GOING, NATURALLY THE MORE INTENSE THE PROBLEM BECOMES. THE CONSTANT ATTENTION REQUIRED TO ADJUSTING STEERING IS FATIGUING AND HENCE THE CAR IS INHERENTLY UNSAFE. DEALER AND INDEPENDENTS HAVE ALWAYS SAID NO PROBLEM FOUND; ALIGNMENTS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE, NEW TIRES MAKE NO DIFFERENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AN ENGINEERING FLAW, AND/OR AN ATTEMPT TO HIDE ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS SAFETY OR DRIVABILITY ISSUE. SUBJECTIVELY IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE OVER TIME.”

“WHEN DRIVING OVER 40MPH THE CAR SEEMS TO JERK OUT OF THE BLUE IT EVEN SEEMS LIKE ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE LIFTS OR TILTS AS IF IT HAS HYDRAULICS MAKES IT HARD TO CONTROL CONTINUOUSLY GRIP THE STEERG WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP CONTROL IS UNBEARABLE. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG AFTER READG ONLINE&ON THIS WEBSITE OBVIOUS SOMETHINGS WRONG. WHY R U WAITING FOR CRASHES& POSSIBLE DEATHS TO RAISE THIS ISSUE? WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU FEEL A QUICK PULL AS IF A MAGNET JUST PULLED YOUR CAR AND IT ALSO STARTS TO LIFT WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS. CAR LIFTS THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF SUSPENSION AS IF IT'S GOING TO ROLL OVER AND AT THE TIME IT DROPS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FOLD UNDER AND YOU'RE GOING TO CRASH. LIKE IT HAS HYDRAULICS BUT ONLY ON ONE SIDE. THIS IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOUR DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS MAKES YOU SLOW DOWN OUT OF NOWHERE AND CAUSING OTHERS AROUND YOU TO SUDDENLY AVOID YOU. THIS IS A NIGHTMARE. SUBARU NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. SEE ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THERE IS A LOT MORE ONLINE BY OTHERS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO TO THIS WEBSITE AND PLACE A FORMAL COMPLAINT…”

“STEERING WHEEL VISIBLE VIBRATES AT 70+ MPH ON THE HIGHWAY DESPITE MULTIPLE REALIGNMENTS AND MECHANIC VISITS TO VARIOUS DEALERS. CAR SOMETIMES FIGHTS DRIVER TO VEER LEFT/RIGHT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE (SOMETIMES EVEN EXHAUSTING). HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR LAST 5 YEARS, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY.”

“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…”