Table 1 shows one common steering related problems of the 2022 Subaru Outback.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Steering problems |
While day driving on a clearly marked interstate in slightly hazy weather from fires, the car suddenly, unprompted, steered to the left without any warning or any indicators going off. This caused the car traveling at highway speed to crash into a barrier wall, drive half way up before driver could regain control of the steering and then spun out across 4 lanes of traffic. Driver said cars lane assist was on and it was ping ponging for a moment before it suddenly steered to the left unprompted causing the crash. A witness behind stated they saw the car behave the same as did the two passengers in the car.
The 2022 Subaru Outback has a "feature" called auto start stop. This is intended as a fuel saving feature. In the car's setup menu, you have the choice to turn this feature off. However, this feature must be turned off each and every time you start the car. The change is not held in memory. This fact was confirmed by a Subaru customer service representative in a call on the morning of 9/7/2021. This auto start/stop feature works just like a gasoline powered golf cart. Take your foot off the gas and the engine dies. Press the accelerator and the engine restarts. However, there is not oncoming traffic on a golf course. If the wheels are canted to the left or right, a notable amount of force is experienced in the steering wheel. Subaru should be forced immediately to make a software change to allow this feature to be disabled permanently. I also suspect that in extreme cold or as these vehicles age, this "feature" will become an extreme safety hazard.
After 20 years of driving experience that's probably the first car where I feel unsafe. Once in my life I had such experience which I have every day right now. It was hydroplaning on the very wet road. In another words it feels like driving under strong side wind or really wet/slippy road and car not under my full control. I already had five visits in two different Subaru dealerships. They twice did wheels allignment. But it didn't help. The last my visit they told they can't find and reproduce the issue. I guess I can be close my eyes for another issue but that's can be dangerous not only but another guys on the road.