REAR WIPER CEASED FUNCTIONING. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BROKEN WIRE(S) IN A WIRING HARNESS THAT PASSES THROUGH A RUBBER ACCORDION BOOT BETWEEN THE CAR BODY AND THE TAIL-GATE (NEAR THE RIGHT-HAND TAILGATE HINGE). MANY OF THE OTHER WIRES, AFFECTING UPPER BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, AND TAILGATE LATCH/LOCK, WERE FRAYED AND WERE REPLACED DUE TO IMMINENT FAILURE OF THE ABOVE LISTED COMPONENTS. RESEARCH AT AN ONLINE FORUM FOR SUBARU OWNERS SHOWED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS (OF 2005 AND 2006 SUBARU OUTBACKS) HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES DUE TO BROKEN WIRES IN THIS WIRING HARNESS. I SUSPECT THAT IT IS AN UNDER-REPORTED PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE ASKED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. *TR
2011
SUSPENSION
PURCHASED MY 2011 OUTBACK IN JULY IF LAST YEAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND THUMPING IN THE TIRES...ALMOST LIKE THERE WAS FLAT SPOTS IN THE TIRES. THEY FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS FLAT SPOTS AND IT MAY TAKE UP TO 3000 MILES BEFORE IT WOULD QUIT, HOWEVER IT NEVER DID AND GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT BACK 2 MORE TIMES AND THEY FINALLY DID A FORCE BALANCE AND PUT A VIBRATION KIT ON THE STEERING. MY STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT VIBRATE/SHIMMY ANY LONGER, HOWEVER THE REST OF THE CAR STILL DOES. THEY HAD TO REPLACE 2 OF THE TIRES AFTER SEVERAL FORCE BALANCES. I HAVE TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR STILL HAS THE THUMPING...YOU CAN"T HEAR IT, BUT YOU FEEL IT, AND THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. YOU DON'T NOTICE IT AS MUCH AT A LOWER SPEED, BUT WHEN YOUR SPEED INCREASES YOU SURE CAN. THEY ARE TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. HOW IS THAT? IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR, AND I CALLED THEM AND LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM RIGHT OFF. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT'S STILL THERE. THIS IS A $30,000 VEHICLE, AND IS A LEMON. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. I KNOW IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR, BUT AS I SAID EVERY TIME I MENTION IT AT MY OIL CHANGES THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING MORE I CAN DO. I HAVE LISTED MY PERSONAL INFORMATION BELOW. ANY INFORMATION OR SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX]- CAR IS IN MY HUSBAND NAME [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR