Subaru OUTBACK steering problems
476 complaint narratives mention steering terms.
Key facts
9,642 owner complaints analyzed
71 distinct recall campaigns
34,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,370 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Steering behavior evidence
476 of 9,642 complaints match this topic (4.9%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10255943 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED HER VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND THEN DRIVE, IT SPED OFF ON ITS OWN AND DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AS WELL. SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER THE VEHICLE INTO TALL GRASS; HOWEVER, APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET LATER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO RESPOND AND SHE WAS ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL. SHE CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO NEVER HAVE HEARD OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10255943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726520 · 2000-08-03 (August 3, 2000)
LOCAL SUBARU DEALER HAS SOLD THESE PARTS SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY. IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHEN THIS FAILS THE PULLY SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE FALLS APART, LITERALLY, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, POWER STEERING, BRAKE WARNING... THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS HAD WE NOT BEEN ON A BACK ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136561 · 2005-09-15 (September 15, 2005)
1998 SUBARU OUTBACK - STEERING BECOMES JERKY WHEN BACKING OR GOING FORWARD AT SLOW SPEEDS AND WHILE MAKING TIGHT TURNING RADIUSES. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CALLED A LOCAL SUBARU DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOME INCIDENTS OF THIS PROBLEM BUT KNOW OF NO FIX. IT WAS SAID THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE SUSPECTED PROBLEM IS THOUGHT DUE TO UNEVEN REGULATION OF THE WHEEL SPEED IN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE REGULATOR AS ONE TURNS SHARPLY. IN A SHARP TURN THE WHEELS ON THE INNER CURVE OF THE TRAVEL OF PATH NEED TO TRAVEL AT A SLOWER RPM THAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146907 · 2006-01-04 (January 4, 2006)
THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER $700. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES DON'T HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 856987 · 2000-02-15 (February 15, 2000)
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOOSE STEERING OVER ROUGH SURFACE WHEN TRAVELING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *ML
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856987 at NHTSA ↗