2001 Subaru Outback complaints

MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK HAS A CLUTCH SHUDDER ( JUTTER ) THAT IS REPORTED TO OCCUR IN ALL SUBARU MODELS WITH THE 2.5 LTR ENGINE. THERE ARE INUMERABLE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND YET SUBARU BURRIES ITS HEAD IN THE SAND AND PRETENDS THERE IS NO PROBLEM.*AK

SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CLUTCH SHUDDERS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. USUALLY ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD BUT NOT 100% OF THE TIME. HAVE COMPLAINED TO SUBARU DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SOME SUBARUS BUT NOT ALL DEALERS ADDRESS IT.

THE CLUTCH ON OUR 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED SHUDDERS WHEN THE CAR AND/OR TEMPERATURE IS COLD. IT HAS DONE THIS FOR THE LAST 30-40,000 MILES.*AK

THE VEHICLE EMITTED WHITE SMOKE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NM

ODOR MOST LIKELY DESCRIBED AS HEATED ANTIFREEZE, ALSO ROTTEN EGG ODOR - AT LEAST TEN DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY ODOR AND FIND CAUSE. CAR NOW HAS 59,000 MILES.

CLUTCH SHUDDER PROBLEM SINCE 20K MILES. HAPPENS WHEN COLD OR DAMP OUT, HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING IN FIRST GEAR, FROM STOPPED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, INCLUDING TEST DRIVE W/ MECHANIC,CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *NLM

THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT SINCE JULY 2003 TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THE RECALL IS FOR REAR SUSPENSION SUB FRAME CORROSION (3V153000) . *NLM

RECALL 03V153000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY: VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE NO SPRAY BOOTH WAS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HELP THE CONSUMER FIND A DEALER WITH A SPRAY BOOTH.*AK *JB *NLM

MY SUBARU OUTBACK UNLIMITED 2001 NEEDS A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER ONLY 74,000. ALL THE REPAIRS AND SERVICE WERE PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP INCLUDING THE 60,00 MILE MAJOR TUNE-UP. ALL THE SERVICE WAS DONE TIMELY AND AS RECOMMENDED. THE DEALER FIRST SAID THE NOISE WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER SUBARU DEALER WHO SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION AND SUSPECTED IT WAS NOT SERVICED APPROPRIATELY. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AT THEIR REQUEST. THEY THEN REMOVED THE REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND RETURNED MY ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR, BUT REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS. DOOR PLATE SHOWS 30 PSI, TIRE SHOWS 44 PSI, DIFFERENCE OF 14 POUNDS--TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD TOWARDS THE FENCE. *LA

TOLD BY DEALER THAT LEFT HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT. $1,600 TO HAVE HEAD REMOVED, PLANED AND REGASKETED, AND REINSTALLED. 75,000 HIGHWAY MILES ON VERY WELL KEPT VEHICLE. I DID NOT SMELL COOLANT UNTIL AFTER A SERVICE IN MID AUG. 03 DURING WHICH THEY FLUSHED MY COOLANT SYSTEM.

2001 SUBARU OUTBACK, 22000 MILES. CLUTCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *JB

INTERIOR LIGHTS TYPICALLY DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SHUTTING DOORS OR LIFT GATE. TO GET LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, DOORS NEED TO BE SLAMMED SO HARD I'M AFRAID THE GLASS WILL SHATTER. SUBARU DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER 3/36 WARRANTY. THEY SAID TO JUST TURN LIGHTS OFF WITH THE INTERIOR SWITCHES SO THAT THEY DO NOT TURN ON WHEN DOORS ARE OPENED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW.*AK

MY BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN COLD, ABS DOESN'T SEEM TO ENGAGE; MY ROTORS HAVE WARPED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS AND HAVE BEEN "TURNED" 3 TIMES AND REPLACED ONCE. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 37,000 MILES. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE FREQUENT WARPING OF THE ROTORS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. *JB

SUBARU 2001 LL BEAN 3.0 OUTBACK. FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 13800 MILES - SQUEAKER WAS TOUCHING, PADS WERE GONE, AND ROTOR WAS SCORED. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO REPLACED PADS AND SURFACED ROTORS AT LOCAL SHOP ON WEEKEND. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES HAD DEALER INSPECT BRAKES - PADS AND ROTOR WERE WORN AGAIN. ROTORS WERE WARPED. SUBARU REFUSED TO REPLACE PADS UNDER WARRANTY (WE PAID) BUT DID REPLACE ROTORS UNDER WARRANTY. AT 31,600 ROTORS WERE EXPERIENCING SHAKING AT BRAKE INITIATION. TOOK CAR IN, ROTORS WERE "WARPED DUE TO HEAT" AND PADS (FRONT AND BACK) WERE AGAIN WORN OUT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT AND BACK ROTORS AND PADS. SAID THAT OUR "DRIVING" MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM - USING THE BRAKES TOO MUCH AND SHOULD SHIFT DOWN ON HILLS. AT 33000 MILES FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ARE AGAIN SHOWING WEAR. AFTER MANY CALLS AND VISITS ANOTHER DEALER'S SERVICEMAN INTIMATED THAT REALLY THE "ROTORS ARE TOO SMALL" FOR THE NEW 3.0 LITER ENGINE WEIGHT. SUMMARY - BRAKES WEAR OUT EVERY 10-12,000 MILES AND ROTORS ARE SENSITIVE TO ANY HEAVY OR PROLONGED BRAKING (FOR EXAMPLE - GOING DOWN A LONG STEEP HILL). DEALERS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL AND SYMPATHETIC BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN PARKING. *MR *TS

WHEN HIT ON THEIR FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. *TT

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

HI, ON FEBRUARY 25, 2003 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE ON MY SUBARU OUTBACK BLEW UP. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS NEXT TO MY CAR AT THE TIME THE TIRE BLEW AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE. THE TIRE WAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS 225 60-16 H-RATED. PART # 074772. THE CAR IS A SUBARU 2001 AND IT HAD ONLY 21000 MILES WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND THE FIRESTONE SHOP ON DEMPSTER IN SKOKIE, ILLINOIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE 4 NEW TIRES BECAUSE IF I REPLACE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, IT WILL DAMAGE MY TRANSMISSION. I ASKED WHY THE TIRE BLEW WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN BUT SAID THEY WILL SEND IT BACK TO THEIR FACTORY FOR INVESTIGATION. THEY WERE WILLING TO PRORATE ONLY THE TIRE THAT BLEW, NOT ALL 4 NEW TIRES. I HAD TO PAY CLOSE TO $400 FOR 4 NEW TIRES. I CONTACTED YOUR OFFICE BY PHONE THE SAME WEEK AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM TO A LADY IN YOUR OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT I WILL GET A FORM IN THE MAIL TO BE FILLED OUT BY ME BUT I DID NOT GET IT SO I DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU BY E-MAIL. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHEN I CHANGED MY OIL AT THE SUBARU DEALER ON GRAND AVENUE IN NAPERVILLE ILLINOIS, AN EMPLOYEE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER INCIDENT ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER THAT A LADY CAME INTO THE SHOP WITH A SIMILAR BLOW OUT ON THE SAME FIRESTONE TYPE WILDERNESS TIRE AND SHE HAD TO BUY 4 TIRES ALSO. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE MIGHT BE MORE SUCH INSTANCES AND SOMEONE

THERE IS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DUE TO BRAKE/ROTOR FAILURE. THESE PART ARE CONTINUOUSLY REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE TIRE A THINNER BRAKE PAD WAS USED TO COMPENSATE.

WHILE CLOSING THE DRIVERS DOOR, INNER PANELS OR STRUCTURES PARTIALLY SEPARATED OR DELAMINATED FROM THE OUTER METAL PORTION OF THE DOOR IN TWO LAYERS. DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, IT WAS WINTER *JB

THE BRAKE ROTORS WORE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING CONTINUED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK LTD. THIS CAUSES SHUDDERING AND PULL TO BOTH LEFT & RIGHT UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS ETC. ( 1ST @ 18000 MILES) BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS (CURRENT MILAGE 28500) I HAVE BEEN HEARING OF OTHER INDIV. WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THIS MODEL YEAR...RUMOR : ROTORS ARE TOO THIN /UNDERSIZED? FOR CAR HEAT BUILD UP ETC. I FEEL THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL . CAR IS HARD TO STOP IN A STRAIGHT LINE...I AM ALSO CONCERNED AS TO SUBARU BACKING UP THEIR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, AS I'VE BEEN HEARING SOME "HORROR STORIES" . CAN YOU EXPLORE THE SAFETY/WARRANTY ISSUES ON THIS PROBLEM?

I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES IN MY 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK AFTER 20,000 MILES. I LIVED THE LAST TWO YEARS IN ALASKA AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN SEATTLE THE SALT FROM THE ROADS CREATED EARLY CORROSION ON THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC. THE OUTBACK IS DESIGNED FOR MORE RUGGED DRIVING AND FOR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITH HARSHER WINTERS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES CAUSES THE SALT AND DIRT FROM WINTER ROADS TO CHANNEL UP THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. I JUST PAID FOR A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AS THE FRONT PADS WERE NO LONGER ENGAGING CORRECTLY AND THE BRAKES ARE VERY WORN DUE TO THE SALT.*JB

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITH NO WARNING. *JB THE CONSUMER EXCESSIVELY CHECKED FOR CRACKS WHICH WERE FOUND ON ALL FOUR TIRES. SCC

CAR HAS SIGNIFICANT HESITATION DURING PERIODS OF ACCELERATION, USUALLY AROUND 2500-3500 RPM. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN MANY DRIVING SITUATIONS. HAVE REPORTED TO DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. RESPONSE IS ALWAYS "CANNOT REPRODUCE - COMPUTER SHOWS OPERATING AS DESIGNED". CAR ALSO HAS SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION AT LOW SPEED, SUCH AS FIRST TAKING FOOT OFF BRAKE.*JB

THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *JB

WHILE IN MOTION AND DESCENDING A STEEP GRADE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN UP TO 4500 AND 5000 RPM'S. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JG

DURING COLD WEATHER (TODAY WAS 15 F), BRAKES DO NOT WORK ON FIRST APPLICATION FROM A COLD START. BRAKES HAVE BEEN SERVICE TWICE (PADS REPLACED, ROTORS TURNED) BUT DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAS WARMED UP.

REAR HEADRESTS DO NOT LOCK INTO UPRIGHT AND DOWN POSITIONS BECAUSE THE METAL SLEEVE INSIDE SEAT SLIPS OVER TIME. HAPPENED EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED ONCE BY DEALER.

TWO CATASTROPHIC WIRING FAILURES IN MAIN COMPUTER WIRING LED TO VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOING DEAD. FIRST AT 3000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN MAIN RELAY WHICH WAS REPLACED. SECOND AT 16,000 MILES TRACED TO SHORT IN WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL. POOR DESIGN PLACED THE ESSENTIAL COMPUTER WIRES UNDER THE PASSENGER FOOTWELL WHERE IT GETS CONSTANT PRESSURE WEAR. DEALER REPLACED WIRES INSIDE HARNESS AND ADDED CUSHIONING AROUND IT. THE SECOND FAILURE CREATES DOUBT THAT THE FIRST FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MAIN RELAY. BOTH FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE DEAD. BOTH HAD NO WARNING EXCEPT THE FIRST TIME THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE CAR WENT DEAD.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, CONSUMER STATES RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW 2 1/2 INCHES FROM THE RIM, AND THERE WERE SPLITS GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS WOULD GET STUCK. DO TO DRIVING IN THE SNOW. CONSUMER STATES THE RIM SIZE ON THE VEHICLE IS 16". DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE IS LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF ASSEMBLY (HINGES). DEALER REPAIR AN CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS REOCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. WE DON'T HAVE NO RECALL LIKE THIS PROBLEM. MR

WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH AND WITH NO WARNING THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER, THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR BUT THE VEHCIE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER SUBARU REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THE CONSUMER SIGN A RELAEASE IN ORDER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PAID FOR BY THEM, CONSUMER REFUSED. *AK *YH

THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN WHILE DESCENDING A 1.5 MILE GRADE. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. *YH

THERE IS A DANGEROUS CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS. CAR CAN STALL IN BAD INTERSECTIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS A LOT OF PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM HERE: HTTP://PUB1.EZBOARD.COM/FULTIMATESUBARUMESSAGEBOARDSTHENEWGENERATIONOFSUBARUS.SHOWMESSAGE?TOPICID=3533.TOPIC

ORIGINAL JACK COLLAPSED WHILE JACKING UP FRONT END DRIVER SIDE. THE JACK WAS REPLACED AND AGAIN COLLAPSED WHILE JACKING UP THE DRIVER SIDE. IT APPEARS THE SHANK IS TOO LONG TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR.*AK

CAR ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. ENGINE ROARS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO STOP CAR. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING 5 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS. BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP CAR.*AK

THERE IS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER IS AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD A BAD HESITATION ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. ALSO BATTERY WAS DEAD. *YH

PARKING BRAKE LOSES HOLD OVERNIGHT AND CAR ROLLS DOWN HILL IF NOT IN GEAR. (5 SPD). *AK

I PURCHASED MY 2001 OUTBACK SEDAN IN SEPT OF 2000 AND HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR 7 TIMES NOW FOR FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARPAGE, THEY HAVE TURNED THE ROTORS TILL THEY COULDNT BE TURNED ANYMORE, THEN SUBARU OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED A NEW SET OF ROTORS AND THEY TOO HAVE WARPED AND CAUSE SEVERE SIDE TO SIDE SHAKING OF THE STEEERING WHEEL IN ALL BRAKING.AFTER SPEAKING WITH ALL SUBARU OF AMERICA REPS THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL DO NO MORE TO THE CAR, AND AGREED THAT THEY ARE SEEING IT OTHER IDENTICAL OUTBACKS AND IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE ROTORS ARE NOT ADEQUET FOR THE STOPPING POWER OF THE CAR. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY WITH IT, AND WHEN I DO TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS, TRAFFIC ETC SO AS NOT TO HEAT THE ROTORS UP. NUMEROUSE OUTBACKS HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE SINCE THIS CAR WAS DESIGNED PARITICULARY FOR THE WINTER ELEMENTS, SNOW DRIVING ETC. WHEN YOU GO TO BRAKE IN ANY ELEMENT THE CAR SHAKES EXTREMLY BAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR AND SEEN WHAT IT DOES, BUT CONTINUE TO BLAME THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVERS.THE BRAKE ROTORS I AM TOLD ARE BEING MANUFACTURED SMALLER AND THINNER THEREFORE DO NOT DISAPATE HEAT AND THEN WARP. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT 4000 MILES AND IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE AS I DO EXTREME MOUNTAIN PASS DRIVING IN ALL CONDITIONS. I AM ASKING FOR HELP NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT FOR THE OTHER OWNERS OF SUBARUS WITH THE SAME DEFECT.THEY R

VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WHILE DESCENDING STEEP HILL IN 1ST GEAR USING ENGINE AS BRAKE

THE CLUTCH-SHUDDER PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THIS WINTER. IT HAPPENS MOST OFTEN IN THE MORNING, COLD SEEMS TO BE A FACTOR MOST OF THE TIME, AND IT SHUDDERS WHEN YOU GO FROM STOP TO GO. FIRST GEAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT OF SMOOTHLY WITHOUT THE SHUDDERING. THE DEALER CANT SEEM TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE READ THE OTHER SUBARU OWNERS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE SUBARU MESSAGE BOARD, SO I KNOW ITS MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN JUST OUR CAR. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761667

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF MALFUNCTION ON STEERING COLUMN; HOWEVER, HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE WAS.*AK

WHEN THE ORIGINAL RECALLS OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES OCCURRED WE WERE TOLD BY SUBARU AND FIRESTONE THAT OUR SIZE TIRE WAS NOT EFFECTED. THESE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE CAR. LAST NIGHT WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT ABOUT 11:00 AND COMING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP FROM ROUTE 270 ONTO MIDDLEBROOK ROAD IN GERMANTOWN. MY HUSBAND HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND AT FIRST WE DISMISSED IT. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER AT A LIGHT WE HEARD AN ADDITIONAL SOUND AND REALIZED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. MY HUSBAND PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT TO DISCOVER THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE WAS EXTREMELY HOT. IT DID NOT SEPARATE TO THE POINT OF RIPPING THE TIRE ALL THE WAY THROUGH, BUT ENOUGH OF A GAP YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGER IN. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SEPARATION GOES AT LEAST HALF WAY AROUND THE SIDE WALL (180 DEGREES) AND PROBABLY MORE. WE ROAD ON THE FLAT (AT A SNAIL'S PACE) THE MILE TO OUR HOME SINCE WE STILL HAD RUBBER BETWEEN THE RIM AND ROAD. THE SCAREY PART IS THAT IT WAS LATE, DARK AND IF WE'D GOTTEN STUCK ON ROUTE 270 IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PLEASANT FOR MY HUSBAND TO CHANGE A TIRE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS--IN FACT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. ISN'T THIS THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE OTHER WILDERNESS TIRES--THAT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED, RIPPED AND THE TIRE WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND FLIPPED VEHICLES?! LUCKILY, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OURS DIDN'T GO THAT FAR, BUT IT COULD HAVE. OUR OUTBACK IS A WONDERFUL CAR AND WE LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF DRIVING IT, BUT FOR A S

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED (50-70 MPH) (TIRESIZE: 225/60/R16)