Table 1 shows one common wheel related problems of the 2012 Subaru Outback.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Wheel problems |
Odd noise arising from front driver side wheel while driving on the interstate at 70mph. No indicator/warning lights/messages. Noise became much louder prompting us to stop driving and inspect. One of the 5 lug studs had broken off. Two of the 5 lug nuts were loose enough to hand rotate. Once diagnosed, we tightened all 4 remaining lug nuts. After driving 15min on the interstate at reduced speed, the noise from the front driver side wheel returned. The car was slowly driven off the interstate and re-inspected. The lug nuts were loose again. At this point, I felt the car was unsafe to drive, so I and my two passengers had to find an alternative ride given our safety was at risk. We were about 200miles away from home. The car was towed to the Subaru dealership in midlothian, virginia (hyman bros) for further inspection/repair. The Subaru dealership repair team told me that the lug stud was corroded and snapped off. The same Subaru dealership had recently (2,500miles prior) serviced the car including tire rotation and inspection in which they report they inspect the lug studs and they were sufficient for driving.
When driving on the highway the vehicle exhibits very poor straight line stability. Vehicle wanders within the lane and requires excessive steering wheel correction to maintain straight direction. Vehicle 500 miles on it (350 driven by owner) but is now sitting in driveway for fear of personal safety if emergency maneuver is necessary on the highway.