2017 Subaru Outback: pulls to one side

Filed Jun 23, 2023 · Driver assistance, Steering · MO

Had new tires installed and on the way home kept feeling wheel pulling to the right. Eyesight/lane assist feature was turned off. At one point the steering wheel dramatically jerked right and locked, completely immoveable. It jerked me into the other lane and almost into the median of the highway. I got to safety and had it towed to the dealership. I originally thought it was an issue with the tire alignment or the AWD system. They took it on a test drive and confirmed lane assist was malfunctioning in a dangerous way. They confirmed that eyesight/lane assist was turned off when this issue happened. They reset the system and said they couldn't guarantee the vehicle was safe to drive and suggested bringing it in if it happened again. I asked them to document everything they said over phone calls and voicemail. They agreed, but it took them weeks to provide a repair order. When they wrote up the repair order it included none of the information that was previously given and they said the car was, and always had been in perfect working order. I opened a case with Subaru of America and they were unable to get the information they needed from the dealership to proceed with the investigation. Upon further research, I found many similar accounts of this happening with Subarus of the same and similar year(s) and model(s). There is a class action lawsuit open for this but currently there are so many plaintiffs they cannot accept more. I refuse to drive this car as I feel that this malfunction is of life and limb consequence. I do not feel it would be ethical to sell this car without full disclosure and then would be out 30k on the car I purchased just three years ago. Reliable Subaru and Subaru of America refuse to offer a solution or help me in any way.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Suspension · 74,890 miles · FL

About a month ago, I began hearing a periodic loud metallic clack-clack-clack when making a left u-turn, which sounded as if it were tire rotation dependent. It sounded as if it came from the front end. After a couple of weeks I could hear it randomly when going from a stand still, and very seldom when braking. Last thursday, I noticed that the steering wheel center position had moved to the left, and I decided to check the whole front suspension. Tightened a bunch of under torqued bolts, including the 8 that hold the engine cradle to the body. Last night the noise was noticeable when driving over and bumps, and the car began to pull to the left when braking. A final road bump and the car sounded as if it was falling apart. When stopping at the next traffic light, the car pulled more noticeably to the left, and the rear end came up. I made it to a gas station, where I inspected both front and back but was not able to see anything. Tried to rock the top of all tires in and out and they all seemed firm. Drove 18 miles at 25-30 miles per hour, trying not to use the brakes at all. Once in the garage, I got under the car and voil... Left rear trailing link completely broken. At 74890 miles. The pictures show another crack starting on the upper bend of the arm. By the characteristics of the crack, it seems as if the part had fatigued. This morning I crawled the car to the closest subaru dealer, and even out of warranty, they replaced the link for free, of course after I got the "never saw this kind of failure before" internet forums have multiple reports of this kind of failure. Please see the attached pictures.

Filed Feb 15, 2018 · Steering · 12,000 miles · FL

The vehicle has excessive wander. The vehicle has very high steering effort. During high speed (60+ MPH) and cross winds, the vehicle will occasionally feel as if it's driving on ice. It feels as if it's slipping and sliding with little or no control through the steering system. Also, when executing a turn while driving at moderate speeds, the steering will not try to return to straight ahead as most vehicles do, when completing the turn.

Filed Jan 26, 2018 · Driver assistance, Steering · 250 miles · WA

Since purchase on 2/19/17 from parker subaru cda, complaint of shaking front end, wandering on highway and freeway from side to side in a dangerous manner, from complete loss of steering in snow, slush and gravel as of 2/28/17. I have been very specific about the incidence. Going in my driveway at least 8 inccidents; in snow or slush conditions, in depts on only a couple inches or less in the winter of 2017. In the summer of 2017 three incidents of complete failure was reported on grave road at speeds of 15-MPH, I have had the very same complaint every visit: 2/28/17, 3/23/17, 4/6/17. 9/13/17, 10/22/17, 1/22/17- @ parker subaru cda.

Filed Oct 14, 2017 · Steering · 300 miles · CO

My outback was purchased new in april 2017. My concern is that steering is imprecise, particularly at highway speeds. The vehicle wanders/requires nearly constant "centering" and does not tend to return to center after turning. I have sometimes felt a fear that a gust of wind or road anomaly at the wrong time will cause this vehicle to leave the road surface unexpectedly.

Filed May 4, 2017 · Steering · 3,200 miles · FL

I purchased my 2017 subaru outback brand new in january, 2017. Currently, in may 2017, the vehicle has 3200 miles of operation. The problem I am having is three-fold. 1. Around town in city traffic, the steering is heavy and difficult to control. It is very tiring to drive the vehicle under these condition. At times, it feels as if you may suddenly loose control of the steering. 2. The vehicle wanders. At highway speeds, it is difficult to keep the vehicle on center of the lane. You must constantly correct from left to right in order to keep the car on-track. At one time during one of these corrections, the vehicle crossed the lane divider and almost impacted the vehicle driving adjacent to me. 3. Steering wheel does not return to straight ahead. The vehicle does not "return to center" under any operating conditions. On most cars, if you turn the wheel left or right, the steering geometry tries to return the steering wheel to center position to keep the vehicle traveling in a straight line. The subaru outback does not exhibit this capability.