THERE WAS DIFFICULTY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST TIGHT. IN MAY, 1999, AFTER EXTENSIVE CLUTCH USE ON A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM 4TH TO 5TH OR 5TH TO 4TH. IT SEEMED TO BE OK LATER. WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS WE NOTICED A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL FROM STARTING ON A HILL AND EXTENSIVE CLUTCH SLIPPAGE. THE CLUTCH WAS EVENTUALLY REPLACED IN AUGUST, 1999, BUT THE NEW CLUTCH SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND MY SON WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN HE NEEDED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM THIRD TO SECOND TO CHANGE LANES IN BAD FREEWAY TRAFFIC. HE HAD BEEN USING THE CLUCH A LOT, BECAUSE IT WAS STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM OF BEING UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE AND IS VERY SCARY. THE CLUTCH CONTINUES TO SLIP AND BURN. WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET SUBARU TO BUY BACK THE CAR WITH NO SUCCESS. *AK
2014
STEERING
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2014 OUTBACK. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I NOTICED THE STEERING FELT A BIT "OFF" UPON DRIVING IT HOME BUT WAS CERTAIN IT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, WHO CORRECTED THE ALIGNMENT. THE CAR STILL FELT OFF. I NOTICE THAT THE WHEEL RETURNS TO CENTER WHEN TURNING LEFT, BUT THE WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER WHEN TURNING RIGHT. IT WILL MOSTLY CENTER, BUT THE WHEEL REMAINS OFF BY ABOUT 15-DEGREES. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS THE CAR WILL NOT POINT/TRACK STRAIGHT AFTER A TURN. ALSO, IT KEEPS TURNING ANY TIME YOU SLIGHTLY TURN THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, BUT NOT THE LEFT. SO, YOU CAN BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO RIGHT AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS NOT SAFE! *TR