Subaru Outback pulling problems

Filed Jun 7, 2026 · Suspension, Visibility · TN

This car has had 3-5 windshield replacements since 2022. I bought the car new. It (a) cracks for no reason or (b) cracks if a tiny pebble size rock taps the windshield. Additionally, I took the car in to get an alignment as the steering wheel is pulling left. Guy tells me driver front strut is defective / blown / poorly mounted and that he has seen this issue with a lot of Subaru’s. Also that they are aware of the problem and replacing the struts in the 24 and 25’s. Also, I already had to replace the starter, as the started went out after having the car for 2.5 years. Subaru seems to be selling lemons and I hope to be getting rid of mine soon.

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · NJ

Failure of front subassembly while driving. Car pulled hard to right while driving. Scary and dangerous. Inspection showed severe rust has eaten thru the metal. Car inoperable. Research shows it is a known problem. Recall required immediately, THANK YOU

Filed Sep 5, 2024 · Driver assistance · MI

Driving on a slightly curving road next to a lake a car started to pull from the left of the road so he could see. This was slow And I started to brake and then to continue when he stopped. He did not enter past the double yellow. Yes he was facing the wrong way. The car locked its breaks and I was shocked but the other driver was waiting still. I could not move!! It did release finally and I continued. Not able to move was terrifying that I was going to be rear ended.. But on Labor Day 3024 9/01/2025 , I went through a construction area and it locked up at a stop sign. I had floor the car to move. Pulled over and tried to fathom why the car was saying the brakes were on. The engine light on. The eye sight light on.... basically everything. . These brakes should not remain locked and I find the idea of locking brakes is not healthy. This can not be logical. Other problems of stupid risks. 1. The turn signal continues on after turns on less they are sharp? If a wheel is turned and straightens out the light should go off. Automatically. 2. The cruise control takes a 3 second wait for a response. Then it will decide to go not to 70 bit right up and past 80. It it not an easy set. Poor and distracts even trying to get it set. Maybe get used to slow. 3. The dynamic steering is a problem in that it is not adjustable. It drives what it considers the middle of the road. Trucks are in the right lanes and trying not to be so close I fight the controls and have a a sore steering arm muscles. Get used to being in the hands of truckers is not my thing. The idea they cann't adjust it is bizarre and illogical. I hate the pull to the right. Yeah. Don't use cruise and turn off the safety systems was the statements from Subaru. 4. The hatchback opens unexpectedly but not when you have hands full. Final: This car is too risky for me. I do not want to drive this machine ever again.

Filed Jul 1, 2024 · Visibility · RI

I have replaced the windshield for a second time resulting from a (non-impact) stress fracture coming from the passenger side A Pillar. It seems to be exactly the same spot as previous. The crack is large enough to put a credit card in at the start then wanders in varying directions with a finer crack. This time an aftermarket glass was available which I was told is thicker and more durable that the OEM glass. I am told Subaru has extremely thin OEM glass which they are having industry problems with. If it has any significance there is a dent in the passenger door jam B-Pillar which was there from new and painted over. It seems to be a result of manufacturing robotics possibly. I do not know if this is a clue to two windshields stress cracking.

Filed Apr 6, 2024 · Body, Locks · MA

Two times already the driver side door of the 2024 Subaru Outback opened while driving. One time it was on the freeway, at freeway speeds. The second time happened today 4/6/2024 while driving on a city street. Both times once the vehicle was in motion, there was no indication, no chime, or anything that suggested that the door latch wasn't closed. To be specific, the door actually opened, free from the latch. This was concerning and a safety issue especially when this happened on the freeway, as I was on the left lane. I was able to safely pull to the right and close the door. No lights, no warnings. Nothing.

Filed Mar 27, 2024 · Lights, Steering · TN

This vehicle has severe CVT problems. It shifts back and forth with a clunk on level roads at a steady speed. I have a 2015 Murano with over 80,000 miles that does not display this type of behavior. I am driving a loaner which is a 2023 Subaru with the same engine and transmission as mine and it has none of my safety problems. The additional safety problems are: very poor resolution on backup camera and incorrect guidance lines; we are a hands free state and my voice command will not properly make calls; built in nav is horrible and Android Auto doesn't work; Adaptive headlights don't work; lane centering hugs the left side of the lane to a degree that I have to pull to the right if a vehicle is passing me; Auto rear braking does not work properly. The rest of the items are more of a nuisance than safety oriented. I have owned over a dozen Subarus without having any issues.

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 May 20, 2023 · Steering · IL

While driving under normal conditions, (no hazardous weather or speeding), the steering will suddenly pull to the right, for only a moment, feeling as though a strong gust of wind had blown it, but there is no wind, it just does it on its on. A warning light comes on, and makes a pinging sound, then it turns off; it does not stay on long enough to be able to see which symbol lights up. This happens approximately once every 10 miles or so, more often when driving above 45 mph; occurring most often on the highway. It happens on every type of rode and in every lane. We've bought the car to be examined buy a Subaru dealership twice and was told both times that the wheels were out of alignment and we paid to have the alignment corrected, but this does not actually solve the problem. There has not been any incidents yet, but we fear that if the car pulls on its own in slick or icy weather, it may cause an accident.

Filed Jul 29, 2022 · Suspension · NY

The 2011 Subaru Outback subframe (K-Frame) failed structurally while the vehicle was in operation. The bolted connection between the left side (driver side) control arm broke due to extensive corrosion of the K-frame allowing the bolt to pull through one side of the box-shaped frame. The vehicle exhibited a pronounced pull to the left and handled erratically. The vehicle was immediately driven to a local repair facility where the broken frame connections at the control arms was discovered. The vehicle has approximately 79,000 miles and has been regularly serviced. Evidence of heavy corrosion and metal fatigue were noted at several locations on the K-frame (photo attached). The 2011 Subaru Outback has been owned/operated in western NY State where roads are frequently treated with brime and salt throughout the winter season. Servicing mechanic noted that he had completed recent replacement of the K-Frame on an identical year, make, model Subaru within the previous 3 months. Comparison of the K-Frame removed from my vehicle with the identical model showed similar corrosion and failure points. The symptoms and causes of this structural failure are nearly identical to vehicle safety complaint filed by another 2011 Outback owner; the federal safety agency ID # 11474045. The failed subframe, along with a second subframe from an identical Subaru replaced earlier this summer are available for inspection at the motor vehicle repair facility. Photo attached. Insofar as this is the third reported structural failure on this model within a short span of a few months and Subaru has declined to address the matter responsibly, the federal safety agency intervention is warranted and necessary.

Filed Oct 19, 2021 · Body · 153,800 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a clunking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was pulling to the right while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the sub-frame had fractured due to severe rust. The subframe was replaced and the failure was remedied. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 153,800.