7.6
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- No data
- Average Mileage:
- 6,450 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 14 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (14 reports)
This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Subaru dealer.
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 speeds, 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. Already filed a complaint with NHTSA to report this issue. Hope other owners having the same problem do the same.
- Ling L., Bala Cynwyd, PA, US
From day one, the car pulled and I have to keep pulling steering the opposite way. This is unacceptable for a new vehicle. It's a hazard and a danger to ride on slippery and snowing icy roads, not to mention the wear and tear to the tires, on steering mechanism and vehicle value... :(
- brogonni, New York, US
My steering wheel pulls to the right. Had alignment done 2 times and still have the same issue.
- Terri M., Aurora, US
The car pulling to right. Dealer said it is because the tire pressure. It is not, all the tire pressure is prefect. It is the wheel alignment out of the factory.
- Eddie H., Fremont, CA, US
My problem seems to be exactly like the other people who have steering issues! Today I filed an official complaint with NHTSA hoping the others that have these issues do the same. Subaru has to acknowledge the problems & take care of the owners. Don't know if they need a total recall, just take care of the Outback or tell us how to fix them. If anyone has already been helped, let the rest of us know!
- lynnfarr, Ormond Beach, US
Car pulls to the left but not all the time. Additionally there is often, but not always, a slight vibration I can feel in the steering wheel, my feet on the floor and my butt in the seat.
Had the vehicle to the dealer 4 times. The first at 1062 miles the car pulled right. Confirmed by mechanic and remedied via realign by adjustment to rear toe, front camber and front toe. A significant pull left developed at about 4500 miles at expressway speed. Returned to dealer. Dealer unable to detect the pull or the vibration. However the dealer only put 4 miles on the car and there isn't an expressway within 2 miles of the dealership. So no test at 70 mph. Dealer also didn't feel vibration.
Same problem persists intermittently. Returned to dealer at 9800 miles. Dealer realigned..Same problem persists intermittently. Service manager and I took vehicle out at 12,000 miles so he could experience the problem I continue to report. As fate would have it, the problems I've experienced were not evident in the test ride. The same problems persist intermittently. Something is wrong.
- cedarburg, Thiensville, US
2018 Subaru Outback is a nice car but the power steering has an issue that causes the driver to feel like they just momentarily hit some ice and needed to take corrective steering action which causes the driver to sway somewhat within the traffic lane. It's intermittent but disturbing and needs to be corrected.
- Alfred D., Natick, MA, US
Our Outback started to pull to the right at around 3000 miles. Currently (at 9000 miles) the car still does that. It feels as if there is strong side wind pushing the car. The car also started making knocking sounds when turning the wheel in both directions while at stop or moving slowly. We are currently scheduled for an inspection at the dealership.
The second major issue is the tire pressure monitor. The tire pressure that it displays does not match the actual one measured with several external instruments (constantly 2 psi lower on all four wheels). Additionally, the monitor sometimes switches the front tire pressure with the rear ones, i.e. the monitor displays the front tire pressure as if it is the rear tire pressure. Very confusing!
- ai, Orem, Utah, US
2018 Subaru Outback with about 7,000 miles which we had as a rental for a week. My wife and I, both experienced drivers, separately noticed the same unusual steering behavior. As described in the three comments above, the car frequently lurches gently to the right or to the left as if being pushed by a strong guest of wind. Sometimes this seems to be in response to a curve in the road, sometimes to an irregularity in the pavement. This behavior is frequent, and more noticeable at highway speeds. The car will move a few feet laterally on its own without warning. This was all on dry pavement. I tried turning off some of the automated safety features and that did not make a difference.
- wjo, Burlington, US
The car intermittently suddenly pulls to one side while traveling down the road. Like you have hit an ice patch or caught a rut in the road (flat road, though). Very concerning. The problem is worse if you have cargo in the back. I reported the problem to the dealership and they say they can't replicate the problem. I keep the "lane assist" turned off....so that is not what I am experiencing. Feels really, really unsafe. Others have reported they experience the issue at a speed of 70 or so. I have experienced it at even lower speeds 45-50 MPH as well as 70 MPH. They really NEED to address this erratic steering problem.
- Carla B., Pensacola, US
Brand new car picked up on the 10th of August and drove on highway following day. On highway car has periods will it will veer to one side or the other. At first I thought we had gone over a bump but then it became clear car was doing this on its own. I did not appreciate it at low speeds but only on highway. Someone has described the feeling as if a strong gust of wind hit the car and that is precisely what it felt like.
- M T., West Roxbury, MA, US
The problem with the steering is exactly like the others have mentioned, it feels like your steering goes away or you're hydroplaning or driving in wind. I noticed it the night I had picked up the brand new car on the way home. The car went slightly left on it's own. I thought that was weird and that it was the lane departure feature. When I got home I turned it off but the nest day driving on flat, straight road it did it again and then felt like the steering would just leave for a second or two, which when you're driving feels like an eternity. Again I thought maybe it's just me as I would get more and more of a death grip on the wheel. Then I looked for issues and found exactly what I have been experiencing. You have to stay under 50 mph to avoid the problem but even then I don't feel 100% comfortable. It goes into the shop a week from today so I am sure the battle is about to commence.
- Robin F., Martinsburg WV, US
Driving straight or on a mild curve at speeds between 30 and 60 (haven't driven faster yet) car seems to take over steering. Felt as though steering wheel is having a force applied contrary to my control. I'm not ready for this type of computer-aided driving particular since it doesn't seem to be documented!
So one example of many - driving around 40mph and enter a mild turn to left slightly uphill - my steering may lead it just slightly off lane center to right - and then feel a force which moves steering to left. The force was a bit jerky and leads to my trying to counter the force which so far has not been a problem but can easily lead to issues.
- P P., Ellicott City, MD, US
Noted the car was pulling to the right and the left without me directing it. Felt like hydroplaning or strong wind - neither situation was occurring - it was a dry day with no wind. Problem was worse with acceleration. I had tires checked for wear and alignment. Both were fine. Called dealership (Cascade Auto Center in Wentachee Washington) and was told no such problem had been reported but to manually disarm Lane Assist.
Problem continued even after disarming. I have an appointment to take car in to dealership which is 200 mile round trip and is probably a waste of time. It doesn't appear as though Subaru has taken any action. This is my 3rd Subaru Outback and I never thought I would drive any other vehicle. However, I will probably sell this car and purchase another brand.
- Barbara W., Twisp, WA, US