Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Front sub-frame rusted through. Local mechanic said unsafe to drive. Insurance will not cover claim because this is "prior issue" not accident related. Subaru dealership confirmed safety risk and will repair for >$3000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SYMPTOM WAS LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V283000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO WEBSTER GROVES SUBARU (7982 BIG BEND BLVD, WEBSTER GROVES, MO 63119, (314) 476-9638) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000.
HORN SOUNDS UNINTENTIONALLY POSSIBLY SIMILAR/ RELATED TO CAMPAIGN 10V283000 FROM PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR. HORN SOUNDS WHEN I AM TURNING THE WHEEL AND ACCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING FROM A STOP, UP A HILL, OR HARDER ACCELERATION. OCCASIONALLY WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, ESPECIALLY OVER SPEED BUMPS. HORN ALSO SOUNDS WHEN I HIT THE RIM OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY FIST.
STEERING WHEEL REMOTE RADIO VOLUME CONTROL INTERMITTENT TO NON-OPERATIONAL. PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE PARKED AND RUNNING AFTER ADJUSTING STEERING WHEEL TO FULL LENGTH POSITION (CLOSER TO DRIVER).
WHEN DRIVING OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ROUGH ROAD, NOT POTHOLES OR LARGE BUMPS, BUT SURFACES THAT SEEM TO BE JUST ROUGH OR SLIGHTLY RIPPLED MAYBE, IT VARIES FROM DIFFERENT SURFACES, THE STRUTS SHAKE AND CAUSE A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE AS IF THEY ARE LOOSE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN OTHER CARS AND THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN STRUT MOUNT. WHEN REPLACED IT WAS FIXED . I CAN'T GET THE SUBARU MECHANICS TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE THEY DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE STRUTS MOUNTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE TIGHT. HOWEVER I BELIEVE THEY MAY STILL BE CRACKED OR BROKEN IN SOME WAY. SIMPLY PUTTING A WRENCH ON THEM AND FINDING THEM TIGHT WILL NOT REVEAL A BROKEN STRUT MOUNT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS OF THE 6 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. LATELY IT HAS BEGUN TO SORT OF DRIFT AND STEERING IS VERY SENSITIVE AT HIGH SPEED. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 54,000 AT 6 YEARS. *TR
VEHICLE SWAYS SIDE TO SIDE FROM ONE SIDE OF ROAD TO OTHER SIDE OF ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH. WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ABOUT 45 HAD NOT EFFECT ON STEERING. WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE STEERING PULLS EXTREMELY, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE GRIPING THE STEERING WHEEL HARD. THE CAR IS BEING PULLED SIDE TO SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEED 60 MPH CAN NOT GET THE SPEED UP PASS 60 MPH AND HAPPENS IN SLIGHT WINDY CONDITIONS. DEALER IS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM SINCE ALL THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW, ALIGNMENT IS FULLY PERFECT. SUSPENSIONS ARE PERFECT. *TR
DRIVING ON NEWLY PAVED HIGHWAY AT 80MPH THE CAR STARTS TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. AT LOWER SPEEDS THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE. *TR
2011 SUBARU LEGACY. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A FLAW OF WANDERING WHEN DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH OR LESS, THE STEERING WAS FINE, ALTHOUGH IT WAS CONSIDERABLY STIFFER. IN THE LOWER SPEED RANGE, THE DEAD-BAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NEAR ZERO. HOWEVER, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DEAD-BAND APPROACHED 1 INCH. THE DEAD-BAND SEEMED TO BE WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER CONTINUOUSLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LANE TO THE OTHER. THE WANDERING ONLY OCCURRED ON A STRAIGHT WELL USED HIGHWAY. ON CURVES, THERE WAS NO WANDERING BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS AT THE EDGE OF THE DEAD-BAND. THE CONSUMER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME. THE WHEELS WERE ALIGNED, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE SHOP COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO STRAIGHT WORN HIGHWAYS CLOSE BY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE WANDERING PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/19/12
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GOING AROUND TURNS STEERING IS VERY LOOSE, CAR TO WONDER AND NOT MAINTAIN TRACK CAUSING YOU TO JERK THE WHEEL TO CURRECT.. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60+ MPH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A SEVERE "SWAY" OR PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE SEVERITY OF THE SWAYING INCREASES WITH SPEED, THE DRIVER HAS TO "FIGHT" THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTERED IN ITS LANE. THE SWAY/PULL HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE FIRST HIGHWAY TRIP AT ABOUT 1000 MILES, AND IS STILL PRESENT AFTER DEALER CHECKS AND REALIGNMENTS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO MAKE THE DRIVER FEEL THE CAR IS UNCONTROLLABLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SWAYING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DEPART FROM ITS LANE. THE SWAYING/PULLING OCCURS IN ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE COMMENTED ON THE SWAYING, STATING THEY FELT "UNSAFE". TIRE PRESSURES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ADJUSTED TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS BEFORE EACH HIGHWAY TRIP. WHEN TESTED WITH A CHASE VEHICLE THE 2ND VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT THESE SYMPTOMS RULING OUT ROAD/WIND CONDITIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY WINDS OR WHEN A HEAVY VEHICLE WOULD PASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR FOUND TO BE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR PARTIALLY CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT ALL OF THE 2011 SUBARU LEGACY VEHICLES RODE THE SAME IN HEAVY WINDS DUE TO THE VEHICLE DESIGN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MOVED ONE INCH IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD INCREASE EXCESSIVELY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE SOFTWARE IN THE PCM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
FEELING UNSTEADY ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS 60+, WHISTLE NOISE IN HEATER VENT NOT FIXED BY DEALER, VOLUME BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL NOT WORKING BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO DEALER TO FIX, WHISTLE NOISE IN WINDOW WAS TOLD IS THE MIRRORS OUTSIDE HOWEVER WHEN ROLL WINDOW UP AND DOWN SEVERAL TIMES...IT HITS THE TOP HARD, BUT SHUTS FULLY AND NOISE STOPS SOUND LIKE WINDOW WILL BREAK, HARD START 3X DEALER ASKED WHERE I BUY MY GAS, HOOD OF CAR VIBRATES ON HIGHWAY, HEAT COMES OUT STRONG ON WINDSHIELD ON FOOT SETTING, DEALER SAID NORMAL AND SHOWED MAP HOWEVER ITS THE SAME AS SETTING IT TO FOOT AND WINDSHIELD SETTING, MILEAGE: ON FULL SAYS 430, I CLOCKED IT AND WHEN IT SHOWED 380 WE HAD ONLY DROVE 17 MILES INACCURATE. CUP HOLDER BROKE AFTER PUTTING WATER BOTTLE IN IT WAS REPLACED BY DEALER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING DOWN BY BUCKING DEALER STATED MEMORIZES DRIVING. INSIDE SCRATCHES EASY CHEAP. HAVE CASE W SUBARU OF AMERICA BUT GETTING NOWHERE. *TR
DASH TROUBLE LIGHTS FLASHING CONSTANTLY ON AND OFF CHECK ENGINE, BRAKE FAILURE, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, TEMPERATURE LIGHT, OIL WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE NOT ENGAGING WHEN GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. CAR WOBBLES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 60 MPH, STEERING WHEEL EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. CURRENTLY IN REPAIR FOR OVER ONE WEEK. APPEARS DEALERSHIP CAN NOT CORRECT. WHEN ORIGINALLY REPORTED TO SERVICE ADVISOR HE STATED TO BRING IN THE CAR IN ONE WEEK. TOOK CAR IN IMMEDIATELY PER OWNERS MANUAL AND HE THEN STATED HE COULD NOT RELEASE CAR BACK TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH 1500 MILES. *KB
AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60-75MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION/SHAKE THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES THIS VIBRATION CAUSES DISCOMFORT TO HANDS/ARMS. DECREASED TIRE PRESSURE, ROAD FORCE BALANCE, AND STEERING WHEEL REPLACEMENT (SOA TSB) DID NOT FIX. NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE TIRES. THESE ARE "BANDAIDS" TO THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FORCE A REAL SOLUTION.
SEVERE STEERING WHEEL/FRONT END SHIMMY ABOUT 60+ MPH WITH NORMAL DRIVING. PRETTY MUCH A CONSTANT OSCILLATION AT ROAD SPEED. ROAD FORCE BALANCING OF NO HELP, NOR DO NEW TIRES HAVE ANY EFFECT. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, NHTSA, PLEASE START A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT AND PREVALENT PROBLEM...PLEASE. *TR
2011 SUBARU LEGACY 2.5I CVT PREMIUM MODEL : AT HIGHWAY CRUISING SPEEDS OF 60+ MPH, THE VEHICLE FEELS "WOBBLY". THE CAR FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS GETTING SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, EVEN IN GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS FEELING IS VERY UNSAFE. IT CAUSES A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NORMAL (NO EXCESSIVE WINDS OR CROSS WINDS). THIS SEEMS NOTICEABLE TO THE PASSENGERS AS WELL. THE SWAYING HAPPENS IN RIGHT AS WELL AS LEFT DIRECTIONS. NO AMOUNT OF STEERING WHEEL CONTROL SEEMS TO COUNTER THIS. TIRE PRESSURES ARE ACCURATE TO SPECIFICATIONS AND THE CAR IS BRAND NEW. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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