bheinen74 Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 correctly stated, snow is not when it occurs, its ice while slightly loaded, ice, that other cars do not have problems with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjeep Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Did you ever load the car? That seems to be a common precursor to the problem. Also, seems snow is not an issue, but slick packed snow or ice. Dave Driven on lots of icy and snow packed roads. As far as a "packed car", I have driven with two passengers. I don't recall driving in snow and ice with a heavy load in the back though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 Driven on lots of icy and snow packed roads. As far as a "packed car", I have driven with two passengers. I don't recall driving in snow and ice with a heavy load in the back though! It does seem that some of these cars exhibit this problem, and some do not. I'm sure if all of them did, there would be a lot more NTSB/Subaru action on the issue. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 (edited) if this posting blows up usmb i really did not mean it and will delete if something happens. from NHTSA COMPLAINTS - SEARCH RESULTS Navigate: ODI Home » Search Complaints » Results List Search Results Report Date : January 7, 2010 at 10:24 PM Search Type : VEHICLE Year : 2006 Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Results : 51 | All records displayed Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10298350 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 30, 2009 VIN : 4S4BP61C566... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: THIS PAST WEEK IN MINNESOTA WE HAD COLD ENOUGH TEMPS SO THAT ROAD SALT WAS INEFFECTIVE ON I-35 NORTH OF MINNEAPOLIS. WE HAD LIGHT SNOW AT THE TIME I WAS DRIVING SO THAT SLIPPERY ICE FORMED ON THE WHEEL RUTS IN THE RIGHT LANE. MOST OF THE OTHER DRIVERS IGNORED IT. MY SUBARU, HOWEVER, BEGAN FISHTAILING IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED AN ICY SPOT, SO THAT I HAD TO SLOW TO 45 MPH IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED REGULARLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR WINTERS I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. WHEN ON ICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT BEGINS FISHTAILING OUT OF CONTROL. IT HAPPENS WITH ALL LOADS. THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF TIRES (NOT THE SAME AS THE FIRST). I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN WINTER ROADS FOR 45 YEARS. THIS CAR IS (AND HAS BEEN SINCE IT WAS NEW) VERY DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY IN ICY CONDITIONS. Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10298335 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: November 27, 2009 VIN : 4S4BP61C667... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I BASE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE HAS A NOTICEABLE ERRATIC STABILITY HANDLING PROBLEM ON THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN IT HAS A LITTLE EXTRA WEIGHT (LIKE A COUPLE MEDIUM DOGS, OR A FEW NORMAL WEIGHT PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT) WHEN DRIVING ON ICE CONDITIONS, THE CAR REAR OF THE CAR WILL SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT AS IF SOMEONE IS PUSHING THE BACK SIDES OF THE CAR LEFT TO RIGHT. THIS IS UNCONTROLLABLE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION IS VERY SCARY. ALL MY OTHER SUBARUS 83 GL, 85BRAT, 92 SS, 92SVX, 94 TW, NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE ON THE SAME TYPES OF ROADS. THE OLDER SCOOBS WERE ROCK SOLID, STABLE AS A SNOWMOBILE ON ALL CONDITIONS, AND THEY NEVER HAD DEDICATED SNOWS, AND COULD BE LOADED TO THE HILT, OR NOT LOADED AT ALL, BUT THE 06 OUTBACK CANNOT MAINTAIN A SPEED OF 40 SAFELY WHILE TRUCKERS, YUGOS, NEONS, AND THOSE WITH WORN SUMMER TIRES PASS GOING 55 NOT HAVING TROUBLE. WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT LIKE THE WHOLE BACK END, BOTH REAR TIRES, ARE ON MARBLES WITH SOMEONE PUSHING THE CAR LEFT TO RIGHT ON THE BACK WINDOWS. DRIVING SLOWER IS NOT THE SOLUTION, WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY AT 40MPH AND THE CAR IS DOING WIERD MOTIONS IN THE BACK, AND 99% OF THE OTHERS ON THE SAME ROAD, SAME LANES, ARE NOT HAVING CONTROL ISSUES, THEY ARE CRUISING AT 55-60 AND ALMOST ALL THE CARS ARE MASHING THE BRAKES TO NOT REAREND GRANNY IN THE UNCONTROLLABLE SWAYING OUTBACK. AH, SO YOU SAY GET DEDICATED SNOWS. MY OTHER OLDER SOOBS DID NOT NEED THEM TO BE CONTROLLABLE, THE OTHER CARS ON THE SAME ICY ROAD DO NOT HAVE DEDICATED SNOW AND THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM. SOMETHING IN THE BACK END DESIGN, AND YES THEY DID HAVE A TSB ALIGNEMNT UPDATE, STILL IS NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE AS SAFE ON ICE AS OTHER CARS ARE. Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10296172 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 15, 2009 VIN : 4S4BP62C766... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK LIMITED WAGON. DRIVING ON WET ROADS, NOT EVEN ICY, THE MOST MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD, OR FROST HEAVE, WILL SEND THE VEHICLE'S REAR END SWAYING, ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY KNOWN AS GHOST WALKING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AS IT HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ON STRAIGHT ROADS, AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SWAY BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE LANE. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS SUBARU DEALERSHIP PERFORMING A FULL ALIGNMENT. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AWD, SO RAIN SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR. I ALSO NOTICE THIS SWAYING HAPPEN ON DRY PAVEMENT, BUT NOT AS THREATENING. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS PLAY IN THE REAR END, BUT CAR WAS FULLY SAFETY CHECKED BY SUBARU AND PASSED ALL POINTS. SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR FLAW IN THE AWD, NAMELY THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IN THE REAR END. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER CONDITIONS, YET THAT'S WHAT SUBARU'S ARE KNOWN FOR. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10290004 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 26, 2009 VIN : Not Available Component: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK AUTO TRANS. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE'S REAR-END SIDE-STEPS OR OSCILLATES ON ICY/SNOW-PACKED ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED AS "GHOST-WALKING" WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE AWD SYSTEM IN THE REAR IS OVER COMPENSATING, LEADING TO THE VEHICLE BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BEHAVIOR SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE 30-40MPH RANGE. ALTHOUGH, I PREFER NOT TO DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN THE ROAD CONDITIONS ALLOW, IT CAN BE VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN OTHER 2WD CARS AND TRUCKS ARE PASSING YOU GOING 20MPH FASTER AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND HAD BRAND-NEW ALL SEASON TIRES INSTALLED, WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10290004 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 26, 2009 VIN : Not Available Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK AUTO TRANS. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE'S REAR-END SIDE-STEPS OR OSCILLATES ON ICY/SNOW-PACKED ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED AS "GHOST-WALKING" WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE AWD SYSTEM IN THE REAR IS OVER COMPENSATING, LEADING TO THE VEHICLE BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BEHAVIOR SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE 30-40MPH RANGE. ALTHOUGH, I PREFER NOT TO DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN THE ROAD CONDITIONS ALLOW, IT CAN BE VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN OTHER 2WD CARS AND TRUCKS ARE PASSING YOU GOING 20MPH FASTER AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND HAD BRAND-NEW ALL SEASON TIRES INSTALLED, WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10290004 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 26, 2009 VIN : Not Available Component: TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK AUTO TRANS. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE'S REAR-END SIDE-STEPS OR OSCILLATES ON ICY/SNOW-PACKED ROAD CONDITIONS. THIS HAS ALSO BEEN DESCRIBED AS "GHOST-WALKING" WHERE IT FEELS LIKE THE AWD SYSTEM IN THE REAR IS OVER COMPENSATING, LEADING TO THE VEHICLE BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. THE BEHAVIOR SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE 30-40MPH RANGE. ALTHOUGH, I PREFER NOT TO DRIVE ANY FASTER THAN THE ROAD CONDITIONS ALLOW, IT CAN BE VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN OTHER 2WD CARS AND TRUCKS ARE PASSING YOU GOING 20MPH FASTER AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD OR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AND HAD BRAND-NEW ALL SEASON TIRES INSTALLED, WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10258795 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 24, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61C467... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: 2006 SUBARU LEGACY OUTBACK 2.5I WITH 44K MILES. ON HARD PACK SNOW/ICE/SLUSH THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE TENDENCY TO LOSE CONTROL AT THE REAR WHEELS. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES ANYTIME I ENCOUNTER THE IDENTICAL CONDITIONS. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE ALIGNED AS SUGGESTED BY MY LOCAL SHORTLINE SUBARU DEALER AT MY COST. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE AT LESS THAN 30MPH WHILE TRACKING STRAIGHT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. AS THIS VEHICLE IS ALL WHEEL DRIVE DRIVERS WILL HAVE A TENDENCY TO USE THIS VEHICLE IN THE ABOVE CONDITIONS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND TEST THIS VEHICLES REAR SUSPENSION. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10256638 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: January 24, 2009 VIN : Not Available Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING ON SNOWPACKED/ICY ROADS THE REAR END BEGINS TO SWAY ABRUPTLY BACK AND FORTH, EVEN ON STRAIGHT SECTIONS OF ROAD. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AS IT WANTS TO START FISHTAILING. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW WELL BELOW A SAFE SPEED AND THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC, CREATING ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE CAR IS LOADED WITH 3 TO 5 PASSENGERS PLUS SKI GEAR. I DO A LOT OF DRIVING IN WINTER CONDITIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CO AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I JUST HAD MY CAR IN TO THE LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP (FOR THE 2ND TIME) AND THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OTHER CUSTOMERS HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES EITHER. HIS ONLY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO GO TO A MORE AGGRESSIVE SNOW TIRE. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF WHY THE CAR IS SWAYING BACK AND FORTH IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT WOULD JUST CREATE MORE FRICTION ON THE ROAD SURFACE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM SLIDING SIDE TO SIDE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE TRAVELING AT SAFE SPEEDS FOR THE CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO REASON A VEHICLE SHOULD BE TRYING TO FISHTAIL WHILE TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD, REGARDLESS OF HOW SLIPPERY IT IS. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10255376 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 28, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP61C267... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: I OWN A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ABOUT 28,000 MILES. IT IS AN ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE. ON "BLACK ICE", REGULAR ICE AND HARD SNOW PACK, IT WEAVES SIDE TO SIDE ON ITS OWN. THE DRIVER BASICALLY LOSES THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE EXPERIENCE WOULD BE SIMILAR TO BE DRIVING WITH A STRONG SIDE WIND WHICH MOVES YOUR VEHICLE ON YOU. THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH THE WIND YOU CAN TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND STEER INTO THE WIND TO COUNTERACT ITS EFFECT. IN THIS CASE, YOU ARE CAPTIVE TO WHEREVER THE VEHICLE TAKES YOU AND CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT SHORT OF SLOWING DOWN OR STOP DRIVING IT ALTOGETHER. THIS IS UNNERVING TO SAY THE LEAST AND FRIGHTENING OTHERWISE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING BY ITSELF IS TO SLOW DOWN TO 35MPH OR LESS. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT (YET), WHILE DRIVING IT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IT IS VERY NERVE RACKING. SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS CHOSEN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT TO THIS POINT. THEY MUST BE WAITING FOR FATALITIES OR LAWSUITS BEFORE THEY FEEL A "FIX" IS NECESSARY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS REAL AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT FIXED. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10254484 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: January 10, 2009 VIN : 4S4BP61C467... Component: SUSPENSION Summary: I EXPERIENCE A SIDE-TO-SIDE SHAKE ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING TO THE CAR AND IS NOT SIMPLY ROAD CONDITIONS. FWD, RWD, AND OTHER AWD VEHICLES ARE NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE AND I¿M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO STAY ON THE ROAD AND AM DRIVING AS MUCH AS 20 - 30 MPH SLOWER THAN THE NEXT SLOWER CAR ON THE ROAD. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SUBARU OUTBACK VEHICLE DYNAMICS ON ICE. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10254233 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: February 1, 2008 VIN : Not Available Component: SUSPENSION Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON ICY OR PACKED SNOW CONDITIONS SOMETIMES THE OUTBACK'S REAR-END FEELS LIKE IT'S BREAKING FREE, IN A SIDE-TO-SIDE MOTION. THIS IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS GHOSTWALKING OR MAYBE FISHTAILING, BUT NOT THE KIND OF FISHTAILING MOST ARE FAMILIAR WITH. IT SEEMS THE CAR ISN'T EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THESE VERY SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND AS A RESULT THE REAR-END STARTS WOBBLING. I'VE DRIVEN IN FOUL WEATHER MANY TIMES, MANY MILES, MANY YEARS AND DO NOT DRIVE TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS AND I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. I'M 99% SURE THIS CONDITION IS RESULTING FROM THE CAR, NOT THE DRIVER. WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN I END UP DRIVING MUCH SLOWER THAN OTHER TRAFFIC, TO THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE ARE EAGER TO PASS AND ARE ANNOYED. I ALSO RUN DEDICATED SNOW TIRES. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A "GO-ANYWHERE" CAR WITH PROVEN AWD CAPABILITIES, AND I BELIEVE IT WAS IN PRIOR GENERATIONS, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 3RD GENERATION MY2005+ CARS. SOA PLEASE DO SOME TESTING AS I CANNOT HONESTLY RECOMMEND THIS CAR AND I WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER. I'M STILL DEBATING IF I'LL BE KEEPING THIS ONE. PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR REPUTATION AND LOOK SERIOUSLY INTO THIS MATTER. YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIFIC PIECE OF THE AUTO MARKET AND I HOPE YOU HAVE INTENTIONS OF KEEPING IT. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY BE A RESULT OF THE AWD SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, ALIGNMENT OR ANY COMBINATION OF THEM. WE NEED YOUR HELP IN STAGING TESTS TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE. I HAVE CONTACTED SOA DIRECTLY AND HOPE THIS WILL TAKE ACTION. *TR Edited January 8, 2010 by bheinen74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 (edited) and even more as we have 20,000 character limit. this is just where the other left off Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10253921 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 24, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP61C067... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: I AM IN MY THIRD SEASON DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK TO LAKE TAHOE FOR WINTER SKI SEASON. I'VE ALWAYS FELT CONFIDENT DRIVING ON SNOWY OR ICY ROADS UNTIL MY LAST TWO TRIPS--CHRISTMAS 2008, AND NEW YEAR'S 2009. ON THESE TRIPS, I EXPERIENCED VERY DISTURBING FISHTAILING THAT EVERYONE IN THE CAR NOTICED, AND I HAD TO FIGHT TO COMPENSATE FOR. THIS OCCURRED EVEN ON LONG STRAIGHT SECTIONS. EACH TIME I HAD TO SLOW DOWN WELL BELOW THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, AND THE SPEED OF PREVIOUS TRIPS. THIS ISSUE MADE ME WONDER ABOUT IMPROPER TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE, SO WE CALLED THE TIRE DEALER, WHO CONFIRMED THIS WAS NOT THE CAUSE. IT FELT AS IF THE REAR WHEEL TRACTION WAS OVERCOMING FRONT WHEEL TRACTION, THAT MADE ME ALSO WONDER WHETHER THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I ALSO CONSIDERED WEIGHT AS A CAUSE, BECAUSE ONE DAY I DROVE FROM RENO TO TAHOE WITH ONLY ONE PASSENGER, AND LITTLE CARGO, AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. BUT, THE FULLY LOADED VEHICLE WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN MANY TRIPS THE PREVIOUS TWO SEASONS, WHEN THE FISHTAILING DID NOT OCCUR, AND I COULD MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT SPEED TO STAY WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. SAME VEHICLE, SAME TIRES, SAME LOADS, SAME ROAD, SAME CONDITIONS, YET MUCH DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE. I NOTICED OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, SOME OF WHICH REFER TO "GHOSTWALKING." PLEASE WORK ON IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE AND SOLUTION FOR THIS ISSUE, TO PREVENT SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY. THANK YOU. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10253796 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 4, 2008 VIN : Not Available Component: TIRES Summary: ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE IN ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. OTHER CARS PASS WITH EASE WHILE MINE FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING AND FLOATING OVER THE ROAD. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR IN ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. WE ACTUALLY SPUN OUT ON ICE WHILE ONLY DRIVING 30MPH, CLIPPING A ROAD SIGN. WE'RE LUCKY THE DAMAGE/INJURIES WEREN'T WORSE. CAR FEELS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. IT IS TERRIFYING TO DRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10252815 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 24, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP61C467... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: REAR TRACKING BEGINS OSCILLATING DANGEROUSLY IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. GOING 30 MPH AND BEING PASSED BY EVERY CAR ON THE ROAD WHILE I AM FIGHTING TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. REAR WHEELS SEEM TO TRANSFER TRACTION TO TIRES THAT ARE SLIPPING, OSCILLATING BACK AND FORTH, CAUSING REAR END TO FISHTAIL AT ANY SPEED. REPLACED TIRES AND SAME THING. THIS IS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. BEEN DRIVING IN WISCONSIN WINTERS FOR 35 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE AND ON INTERNET POSTINGS. I AM SERIOUS - THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SUBARU ACCOUNTABLE? *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10251878 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 15, 2008 VIN : Not Available Component: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Summary: '06 SUBARU OUTBACK(AUTO) SEEMS TO HAVE HANDLING ISSUES CAUSED BY AWD SYSTEM. SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS "GHOSTWALKING", WHERE THE REAR END OF THE CAR SHIFTS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE AWD KICKS IN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10251878 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 15, 2008 VIN : Not Available Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: '06 SUBARU OUTBACK(AUTO) SEEMS TO HAVE HANDLING ISSUES CAUSED BY AWD SYSTEM. SOME HAVE DESCRIBED IT AS "GHOSTWALKING", WHERE THE REAR END OF THE CAR SHIFTS SIDE TO SIDE WHEN THE AWD KICKS IN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. HAVE REPLACED TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10239037 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: August 2, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP62C867... Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER Summary: OUR 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAS TAKEN ON AN EXTENDED TRIP IN THE SUMMER OF 2006 WHERE THE ALIGNMENT WENT SO FAR OUT OF TRUE THAT THE TIRES ALMOST BLUE (PROBLEM CORRECTED ENROUTE). A 2ND EXTENDED TRIP WAS TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, EVEN THOUGH THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT OK'D THE CAR. THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE CAR WAS NO MORE THAN PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND SOME FOOD BUT, DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT (AS VERIFIED BY SUBARU MECHANICS), THE TIRES CAME FRIGHTENINGLY CLOSE TO BLOWING. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10225538 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: April 23, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP61C167... Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK Summary: I HAVE A 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I WAGON WITH LESS THAN 16,000 MILES. THE BRAKES GRIND AND SEEM LIKE THEY MAY NOT CATCH. IN FACT, A YEAR AGO WE SLID THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON OUR WAY TO HAVE OUR TAXES DONE WHEN THEY DID NOT HOLD. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO RUST AND THAT SUBARU DOES NOT COVER RUSTED BRAKES ON THEIR WARRANTY. WE CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER 1-800-782-2783 AND TALKED TO MATT AND HE ALSO INDICATED THEY DID NOT WARRANT RUSTED BRAKES BUT THAT HE WOULD CALL THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE, AND 36 MONTH 36000 BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN STORED IN A GARAGE. THE BRAKES SHOULD NOT FAIL AT LESS THAN 16000 MILES. THIS CAR SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. ARE THEY USING SUBSTANDARD METAL IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM? SHOULD THIS CAR BE RECALLED FOR FAULTY BRAKES? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. M Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10221459 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 26, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61C267... Component: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Summary: WHEN DRIVING OUR SUBARU 2006 2.5I OUTBACK WAGON (4-SPEED AUTO W/SPORT SHIFT) IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGINS TO FLOAT OR DO MINI-FISHTAILS. IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY PUSHING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH OR LIKE THERE ARE WIND GUSTS HITTING THE CAR. THE FLOATING HAS A RHYTHMIC FEEL AND MAY CONTINUE FOR MANY MILES UNTIL THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS ¿FLOATING¿, YOU SENSE THAT ANY CHANGE (STEERING, GAS OR BRAKING) WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, IT IS A TRULY SCARY DRIVING SENSATION AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO EASE UP ON GAS UNTIL YOU FIND A SPEED (USUALLY UNDER 40 MPH) WHERE THE FLOATING IS LESS PRONOUNCED. THIS IS OUR 9TH SUBARU AND WE HAVE 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING SUBARU AWD VEHICLES ON MINNESOTA WINTER ROADS. NONE OF OUR FORMER CARS, UP THROUGH THE 2004 OUTBACK, EVER BEHAVED IN THE MANNER. PLEASE NOTE, NOT ALL WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS SEEM TO TRIGGER THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOST FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FLOATING WHEN ON ASPHALT ROAD SURFACES THAT ARE ICY OR COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW OR SLUSH. I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR ON COMPLETELY STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER STEADY THROTTLE WHILE TRAVELING UNDER 45 MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRIVING AT SAFE SPEEDS AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE PASSING BY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS AND SEEMED COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD NEW MICHELIN TIRES PUT ON AND THE DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SUBARU. YOUR DATABASE OF VINS COMES UP WITH THE KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10221459 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 26, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61C267... Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT Summary: WHEN DRIVING OUR SUBARU 2006 2.5I OUTBACK WAGON (4-SPEED AUTO W/SPORT SHIFT) IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGINS TO FLOAT OR DO MINI-FISHTAILS. IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY PUSHING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH OR LIKE THERE ARE WIND GUSTS HITTING THE CAR. THE FLOATING HAS A RHYTHMIC FEEL AND MAY CONTINUE FOR MANY MILES UNTIL THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS ¿FLOATING¿, YOU SENSE THAT ANY CHANGE (STEERING, GAS OR BRAKING) WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, IT IS A TRULY SCARY DRIVING SENSATION AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO EASE UP ON GAS UNTIL YOU FIND A SPEED (USUALLY UNDER 40 MPH) WHERE THE FLOATING IS LESS PRONOUNCED. THIS IS OUR 9TH SUBARU AND WE HAVE 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING SUBARU AWD VEHICLES ON MINNESOTA WINTER ROADS. NONE OF OUR FORMER CARS, UP THROUGH THE 2004 OUTBACK, EVER BEHAVED IN THE MANNER. PLEASE NOTE, NOT ALL WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS SEEM TO TRIGGER THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOST FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FLOATING WHEN ON ASPHALT ROAD SURFACES THAT ARE ICY OR COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW OR SLUSH. I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR ON COMPLETELY STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER STEADY THROTTLE WHILE TRAVELING UNDER 45 MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRIVING AT SAFE SPEEDS AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE PASSING BY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS AND SEEMED COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD NEW MICHELIN TIRES PUT ON AND THE DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SUBARU. YOUR DATABASE OF VINS COMES UP WITH THE KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10221459 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 26, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61C267... Component: POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) Summary: WHEN DRIVING OUR SUBARU 2006 2.5I OUTBACK WAGON (4-SPEED AUTO W/SPORT SHIFT) IN WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE REAR OF THE CAR BEGINS TO FLOAT OR DO MINI-FISHTAILS. IT FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEELS ARE ALTERNATELY PUSHING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH OR LIKE THERE ARE WIND GUSTS HITTING THE CAR. THE FLOATING HAS A RHYTHMIC FEEL AND MAY CONTINUE FOR MANY MILES UNTIL THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. WHEN THE CAR IS ¿FLOATING¿, YOU SENSE THAT ANY CHANGE (STEERING, GAS OR BRAKING) WILL CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, IT IS A TRULY SCARY DRIVING SENSATION AND ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY SOLUTION I HAVE FOUND IS TO EASE UP ON GAS UNTIL YOU FIND A SPEED (USUALLY UNDER 40 MPH) WHERE THE FLOATING IS LESS PRONOUNCED. THIS IS OUR 9TH SUBARU AND WE HAVE 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING SUBARU AWD VEHICLES ON MINNESOTA WINTER ROADS. NONE OF OUR FORMER CARS, UP THROUGH THE 2004 OUTBACK, EVER BEHAVED IN THE MANNER. PLEASE NOTE, NOT ALL WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS SEEM TO TRIGGER THE PROBLEM. I HAVE MOST FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED THE FLOATING WHEN ON ASPHALT ROAD SURFACES THAT ARE ICY OR COVERED IN COMPACTED SNOW OR SLUSH. I HAVE HAD IT OCCUR ON COMPLETELY STRAIGHT ROADS UNDER STEADY THROTTLE WHILE TRAVELING UNDER 45 MPH. WHEN IT OCCURS, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRIVING AT SAFE SPEEDS AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE PASSING BY AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS AND SEEMED COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WITH THE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE MOST SERIOUS INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER WE HAD NEW MICHELIN TIRES PUT ON AND THE DEALER HAD COMPLETED AN ALIGNMENT. NO OTHER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS A SUBARU. YOUR DATABASE OF VINS COMES UP WITH THE KEYSTONE RV MANUFACTURER. THIS IS NOT CORRECT. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10221214 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: January 19, 2008 VIN : Not Available Component: SUSPENSION:REAR Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WAGON 2.5I REAR-SWAY SIDE-STEPPING AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN DESCRIBED AS "GHOST-WALKING" ON ICY CONDITIONS. THE AWD SYSTEM ON THE CAR SEEMS TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT SIDE-TO-SIDE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10220837 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: March 1, 2008 VIN : 4S4BP61C766... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER Summary: WHEN DRIVING MY 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR 30 OR MORE MINUTES, THE REAR SHOCKS LOSE THEIR DAMPENING ABILITY DUE TO OVERHEATING, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE'S REAR TO BOUNCE UP AND DOWN UNCONTROLLED. OVER EVEN THE SLIGHTEST DIPS IN THE ROAD, THE REAREND WILL COMPRESS CAUSING THE VEHICLES SUSPENSION TO COMPRESS AND HIT BUMP STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST, AND IN MY OPINION, MAKE THE OUTBACK DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. SUBARU HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND STATED IT IS PER FACTORY SPECS. *TR Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10205563 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 8, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61CX67... Component: SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK 17,500+MI. 14 MOS. OLD REAR STRUTS [20365AG13A] HAVE FAILED [LEAKED] VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO OPERATE DEALER & MFGR. HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED PROBLEM REQUEST FOR FAULTY PARTS DENIED FOR WARRANTY REASONS. *JB Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10197091 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: June 19, 2007 VIN : 4S4BP61C067... Component: TIRES:TREAD/BELT Summary: 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 26450 DATE OF PURCHASE: 05/18/2007 ODOMETER AT PURCHASE:32743 DEALER: WALSER SUBARU INC. ADDRESS: 14900 BUCK HILL ROAD BURNSVILLE, 55306 DEALER LICENSE: DT36027 ON 07/02/2007 FOUND OUTER EDGE OF REAR TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN, STEEL BELTS VISIBLE. CALLED DEALER TOLD THEM NEEDED VEHICLE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY, AS WE FELT IT WAS UNSAFE. DEALERSHIP THE STATED WE NEEDED TWO NEW TIRES AND A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PICKED UP THE VEHICLE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS FINE AND THAT WE HAD ?OVER LOADED? THE VEHICLE. THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE WEAR ON THE TIRES. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE AXLE HAD BEEN DEPRESSED SUFFICIENTLY TO CAUSE WEAR MARKS FROM THE RUBBER STOPS ON TORSION ARMS?? ASKING WHAT CONSTITUTED ?OVER LOADING? WE WERE REFERRED TO THE STICKER ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE DOOR. SEATING CAPACITY TOTAL 5 FRONT 2 REAR 3 THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NOT EXCEED 408KG OR 900LBS TIRE SIZE COLD TIRE PRESSURE FRONT P225/55R17 220KG/32LBS REAR P225/55R17 210KG/30LBS SPARE T155/7017 420KG60LBS THE FOLLOWING WAS THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE TRIP TO NEW YORK: 2 ADULTS APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 210LBS EACH 420LBS 1 10-YEAR-OLD CHILD APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 100LBS 100LBS 1 EACH BAG PER ADULT APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 40LBS EACH 80LBS 1 EACH BAG PER CHILD APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 30LBS EACH 30LBS 1 20 QT COOLER APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 10LBS 10LBS 1 PLASTIC CONTAINER APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 15LBS 15LBS MISC TOOLS, TOYS, ETC APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 50LBS 50LBS APPROXIMATE TOTAL WEIGHT: 705LBS NEVER RECEIVED A COPY OF THE SERVICE REPORT. NO REPORT THREE DAYS CALLED DEALERSHIP TOLD THAT THE REPORT HAD BEEN MAILED BUT THYE WOULD CHECK AND SEND A COPY. JULY 14, 2007:- STILL NO COPY OF SERVICE REPORT BY MAIL. 7/16/2007 11:05 AM?BURNSVILLE SUBARU, STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED SERVICE REPORT. TO DATE WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A COPY OF THAT SERVICE REPORT. WE ARE COPYING THIS LETTER TO SUBARU AMERICA AND NHTSA FOR THEIR COMMENTS. Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10181972 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: December 21, 2006 VIN : Not Available Component: TIRES Summary: WE PURCHASED A NEW 2006 SUBARU WITH BRIGSTONE TIRES. WE DRIVE IN WET AND SNOWY CONDITIONS REGULARLY. ON OUR FIRST DRIVE TO CO FROM WI, WE NOTICED POOR WET WEATHER HANDLING. ON OUR NEXT TRIP TO CO FROM WI, WE EXPERIENCED HORRIBLE TRACTION ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS. WE HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED PER WARRANTY, WE HAVE HAD THE ALIGNMENT AND SUSPENSION CHECKED. THE TIRES APPEAR TO BE THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE EMAIL THE MFR/BRIGSTONE TWICE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER. I BELIEVE THE OEM TIRES ARE NOT SAFE ON WET AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. *NM Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10175528 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: October 1, 2006 VIN : 4S4BP62C067... Component: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:BLOWER Summary: MY NEW 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK WILL NOT FULLY DEFROST THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY DEALER TOLD ME THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT! I FEEL IT IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. *JB Check to Request Research. Submit below. Make : SUBARU Model : OUTBACK Year : 2006 Manufacturer : SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0 ODI ID Number : 10169379 Number of Deaths: 0 Date of Failure: June 19, 2006 VIN : Not Available Component: TIRES Summary: TIRES ARE FALLING APART. AT LESS THAN 10,000 MILES SUBARU ADVISED US TO REPLACE THEM. THEY ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92A 225 55R 17. *JB Edited January 8, 2010 by bheinen74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bheinen74 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 (edited) this list is not even including model year 2005's. I juyst want to forewarn anyone considering these cars, who drives in any winter conditions. enough. all the above were taken directly from the NHTSA site which is accessed here http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/ someone else can search year 2005 and post I really did enjoy my old Subarus but the facts about the 2005+ outbacks are just ridiculous. even the Headgasket issues were far less serious. Edited January 8, 2010 by bheinen74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffenrider Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Hey Hankosolder - thanks for the compliment, I'm definitely no expert on suspension systems, just a general mechE with a totally untested theory. To answer your thoughts: I don't believe that the problem is related to over (or under)steer. The problem, as far as I understand it, happens with the steering wheel straight, and is rather an issue with the stability of the rear end on surfaces of varying traction characteristics. If you do stiffen the rear end, stiffening the front is certainly a good idea, as is realigning the whole deal, I agree with that for sure. As far as the frequency issue, increasing speed would be equivalent to putting more energy into the system, which would make the oscillations worse, not better. The system behaves more like plucking a guitar string than swinging a pendulum - if you just touch the string, it vibrates, but you can't hear anything (less than 40mph), if you pluck in a little harder (40 mph), you can hear the sound, and the faster you drive (harder you pluck), the worse it gets until something catastrophic happens. I'd expect the problem to get worse at higher speeds as a result. I don't know nearly enough (or really much at all) about the geometry of the toe-angle adjustment on the rear suspension of '05 and later subies, If anyone could put an angle strain gage on the bearing hat and reference off the frame, it would be interesting to see what kind of data we get back. Griffenrider, I'm not going to claim that I have as sophisticated understanding of suspension systems as you do, but two "laymen's" thoughts. I may have misunderstood your point. Wouldn't a stiffer rear sway bar make the car more oversteer prone though? Seems like the wrong direction to go in a "squirrelly rear end" situation. It also seems like if it was a problem with the suspension resonating at a specific frequency, it would be very speed dependent and you could press on and drive past the "twitchy" speed. (I'm NOT advising trying that...I'm just saying that no one has noted that the problem gets better when you go faster.) I'm inclined to guess (and this is a guess) that the suspension has excessive toe change as the wheel travels up and down... so it's primarily a geometry issue. The toe would change less with stiffer springs, as the suspension would be closer to its normal position when the car was loaded, so that could mitigate the problem to an extent. Once again, stiffer rear springs would shift the handling balance more towards oversteer, so it'd probably be best to up the spring rates at all four corners and realign the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 "ghostwalking" is the car moving sideways while trying to go forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CNY_Dave Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 "ghostwalking" is the car moving sideways while trying to go forward? It's the back end wagging back and forth on a flat, level, slick/icy road. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-3-2-4 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 It's the back end wagging back and forth on a flat, level, slick/icy road. Dave Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macnore Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 To whom it may concern: if you think my Subaru came with this problem you are wrong. The rather rapid onset of this twitchie problem started after about 95,000 miles. the tire are in good shape and I don,t carry dog food. This problem started abruptly, one day it was fine and over the next two days it was there (on the same road, at the same time of day, at around 40mph and with the same two average people in the outback). I then parked the car for the winter. Perhaps it is the rear struts. So far I have not read any comments by somebody with a 05 outback with this problem that has resolved it. So please lets keep this simple by not speculating and maybe we can make the roads a safer for all..... I feel better now! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 HUGE thread on this issue here: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/11267-2005-2009-outback-dangerous-ice.html over 130 pages of discussion Thread with detailed repair information here: http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/66-problems-maintenance/30747-2005-2009-ghostwalking-abnormal-winter-handling-fixes.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brus brother Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) I have an 05 OB and thought that I too was experiencing the Ghostwalking mentioned here. New tires and realignment (which was way off) and the four corners of the car stopped fighting with each other for control. Problem solved. Edited July 1, 2014 by brus brother 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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