2018 Subaru Outback: lane keeping assist jerks the wheel

Filed Nov 4, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MI

While the lane keeping assistance is on the car will follow the exit lane beside the lane I’m in and jerk over into it. There has been a car beside me when has happened but I caught the steering wheel before a crash. Also if a car is turning in front of me sometimes, not always, the brakes will jam on when I’m not even close to the car that is turning but I would be going around the car after it has turned almost all the way. There has been no crashes or injuries yet.

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Driver assistance · VA · crash

I was backing out of my driveway very slowly as usual. I checked the road both ways several times. A US mail truck evidently traveling at a high rate of speed came up behind me while I was looking in the opposite direction. The automatic braking did not kick in, the warning system didn't work. After the accident the green, yellow, red lines on the camera and the warning beeping stuff-all were not working for several weeks. All of the sudden, they started working. HISTORY-4 days after purchasing the vehicle we have had lane departure, driver assist problems. The passenger window does what it wants. The electric controls for the heat/ac go blank, or can't change settings. There seems to be a huge electrical issue. Every time we've taken the car in for service, the dealership just insults me that I can't drive and they can't find any problems. They seem to have an answer for everything yet the problems persist. Efforts to go thru Subaru are stalled waiting on their response. They were to look at the BLACK BOX during time of accident. We are still waiting. We are frustrated. I wish the dealership had taken the car back after we first bought it like we demanded. I'm terrified this car is going to cause an accident.

Filed Jun 14, 2020 · Acceleration · 43,900 miles · CA

The car windshield suddenly cracked on its own without any external or internal impact while parked. The crack started from the top on passenger side and extended vertically to the middle of the windshield. This crack impaired the ability of the eyesight driver assistance system to function properly causing the vehicle to lose safety critical features like forward collision avoidance and lane keep assist.

Filed Dec 9, 2019 · Steering · 10,600 miles · OR

Intermittently while driving, the steering wheel will jerk to the right or left. Has happened on straight roads and on curved exits. Speeds from 30-60mph. Dry pavement, no sand/mud/other hazards. Has happened approximately a dozen times total. Lane assist is turned off.

Filed Oct 21, 2019 · Steering · 15,000 miles · PA

Subaru outback 2008 pulls to the left or right by itself intermittently. When it happens, car speed is always > 45 MPH and the issue is the most obvious on highways with a speed > 60 MPH. It feels like the steering has its own idea. Sometimes when I want to curve to the right, the steering turns by itself to the right and sometimes even stays there. Sometimes when I don't want to turn, it turns. This is not related to lane assistance. The feature is turned off and the issue happens when I drive in the lane. I strongly feel unsafe and a bit nervous driving on the highway recently. At the high speed, a slight turn may lead to serious consequences. Hope subaru could solve the issue. A google search today showed that many other owners of the same model are experiencing the same, potentially damaging issue.

Filed Sep 24, 2019 · Steering · 13,000 miles · WA

At 13,000 miles car steering pulled to the right and left without driver performing this act. Feels like car is hydroplaning or affected by high winds when neither condition is present. Presents danger as driver has no control as to when this happens or what direction it will go. Occurs at all speeds but worsens after 50mph. Research shows there are other complaints of this same situation with other subaru cars. My dealership claimed they had not heard of the problem but suggested to manual turn off lane assist. I performed this action to no avail - the problem continues . Happens on city streets at 25 MPH as well as on highways. While first incident was august 5, 2019 it never stopped.

Filed May 29, 2019 · Steering · 7,630 miles · VA

The steering wheel of this car randomly takes over, for no obvious reason, at high speeds (over 45 MPH). I have no control over the steering wheel when this happens. Driving this car has been terrifying! While passing a tractor trailer, the steering wheel pulled me towards the truck 3 times!!! I thought I would be killed! This is a loaner car from the dealership. I called the dealership, colonial subaru, in colonial heights, va, to tell them there is something wrong with this car. I was instructed to take it out of lane assist mode. This, however, did not solve the issue. The car randomly pulls to the right or to the left, when lane drifting isn't an issue. Why isn't something being done about this? I see there are already documented cases of this with the 2019 vehicle model.

Filed May 25, 2019 · 21,000 miles · MI

The steering with lane departure warning will sometimes jerk the car from side to side, as if self correcting, even though the car is well within the lane. At times the car also feels like it is hydroplaning on dry ground with little steering feedback. Purchased used with a carfax report indicating no problems. It is a very scary feeling on dry surfaces to get no steering feedback or have the car self correct the even while in the middle of the lane. At 20,000 miles had an alignment performed, did not correct the problem. Online there are numerous reports for this occurrence with no viable solutions. Our family always wanted a subaru for safety, but this feels very dangerous. When the lane departure self corrects there is little steering feedback and the vehicle seems to be guiding itself and steering during these times seems very loose.

Filed Apr 2, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 10,000 miles · CA

Subaru lane assist steering issue. When you have lane assist on the car will try and steer from one lane to another on its own. This happens when you are on the freeway and started after 10,000 miles was on the car.

Filed Oct 29, 2018 · Steering · 4,700 miles · PA

At least 10 times in the past week we have almost crashed due to the steering. We went off the road twice. The car is seriously veering off to the right, almost like you are hydroplaning on dry land. You can't even steer the car back into the lane. It just goes by itself. I did take it to the dealer today. They are saying that it is the lane assist being on and to turn it off. We've had the car for 5 months and now all of a sudden this is happening. It is not right and someone is going to be killed. Please investigate these complaints and please do a recall before innocent people are killed. This is happening on the highway as well as smaller streets

Filed May 2, 2018 · Steering · 200 miles · NY

Subaru better take notice on this steering issue! It is a danger!!! When pedestrians are walking on the road and you need to swing a little wider around them, the lane keep pushes you towards the pedestrian!!! In addition to this, when driving at 55 and above, it constantly feels as if the wind is blowing you around! There is no wind! This is a danger and there have been several times now, that I have almost went off the road!!! Should I turn off my lane keep assist to stop this from happening!?!? I have had this car for 2 weeks, and so far I feel like I made a huge mistake getting this car!!!!! I would like to add that this is my 4th subaru. I am loyal to the brand. If I knew it was going to be like this, I would not have bought another!! Or I would have bought a lower model. I have the 2018 limited outback. I my opinion buyer beware!! Or get a lower model without these options!!!!