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2010 Outback steering wheel shaking and hesitation

145 messages,  Last post on Aug 17, 2012 at 7:34 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Outback, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 9 of 15

#80 of 145 Re: 2010 Outback steering wheel shaking and hesitation issues? [xwesx] by efti

Oct 28, 2010 (8:46 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 30, 2009 3:22 pm)
Fortunately, I do not own a 2010/2011 Outback or Legacy, thanks to the various posts on Edmunds.com. As to the steering/shaking problem, I have been telling our local Subaru service manager that I believe the defect in these cars has been built in at the factory and that no solution, fix, etc., in the field is ever going to make it right. The real solution is to take each defective vehicle and send it back to Lafayette. Immediately. Of course, Subaru cannot afford to do that so they have fiddled around for over a year with a so-called fix that doesn't seem to work. I prefer to call it a "patch. I told our service manager that, in simple terms, "A defective part plus a patch doth not make a good part." He adamantly disagrees. Of course.
 
    Thanks to all who have posted their experiences on this problem. I am sure that you have saved many potential buyers a lot of money and agony.

#81 of 145 What % of 2011 outbacks have this steering shimmy problem? by bergkamp11

Nov 12, 2010 (6:16 pm)

I'm thinking of buying a 2011 2.5 limited outback.
 
AWD is a must for me, and it seems to be better value than the Volvo XC70, Audi A4.
 
Obviously I'm very concerned about the steering shimmy issue.
 
I read Outback sales are still very strong for 2010 despite this.
  
Would love to get info on % of cars by build date having this problem.
  
Does anyone have an idea about that?
  
Many thanks

#82 of 145 Re: What % of 2011 outbacks have this steering shimmy problem? [bergkamp11] by thor14

Nov 12, 2010 (9:50 pm)

Replying to: bergkamp11 (Nov 12, 2010 6:16 pm)
No one really seems to know the actual number of cars affected. I too was worried about purchasing one with a steering shake, but like you mentioned, it was hard not to ignore the high amount of sales. Every time I looked at one on the lot, it was gone with a week or two. I also recognized that things on the web can get blown out of proportion a bit. To this day, I have not seen a report on the steering shake outside of the blogs. I believe the steering shake is a real issue, but I think many cars have a potential for problems of some sort or another.
 
After much deliberation, I decided that I would thoroughly test drive an Outback and if it did not shake, I would take it home. And thats what I did, and I have not looked back. Some people have reported that their Outback developed the shakes later on, but again, I decided I would accept that chance.
 
Like many other people, I love this car and I am glad that I was not scared away from it.
 
Best of luck to you and your decision.

#83 of 145 Re: What % of 2011 outbacks have this steering shimmy problem? [thor14] by bergkamp11

Nov 13, 2010 (8:54 am)

Replying to: thor14 (Nov 12, 2010 9:50 pm)
Thanks for the reply. It's hard to get an idea of the statistics. 1%, 5%, 10% ? Obviously for anyone affected the odds don't matter anymore and I have a lot of sympathy.
 
Subaru claims 66,384 outback sales for 2010 through September, which is on pace for approx 90,000 cars in 2010.
 
Suppose say 500 cars have/develop the problem? (total guess from amount of forum posts. Please correct me if this is a bad estimate).
That would be just over 0.5%.
 
I guess I'm weighing that against dropping another $10,000+ for an audi a4.

#84 of 145 Re: 2010 Outback steering wheel shaking and hesitation issues? [xwesx] by ernestg

Nov 14, 2010 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 30, 2009 3:22 pm)
I just purchased my Subaru Outback 1779 miles ago. I have recently become MORE aware of the shaking in the steering wheel at speeds at and above 65 MPH. It almost feels as though the tires or the wheels are out of round. I have the 17" alloys on this vehicle. It ( the vibration ) really comes alive at 70 to 80 where the steering wheel really vibrates a lot. I also have noticed that a vibration or "Pulse" is evident at slower, driveway speed while just slightly turning the wheel in either direction, which makes me think it is in the Rack Assembly or Power Steering pump. I am wondering also if this "vibration" is the cause of the small plastic "pins" that hold the sound deadening material to the hood disappearing as I have so far lost 5 of them in the first 1000 miles. I had to pay for these myself as the Dealer said I must be slamming the hood down too hard. Right. I now own a Vehicle that shakes apart on itself? Also have a clear coat paint peeling going on but that's a different problem. I have seen no bulletin for this from Subaru and my dealer says they can't feel it at all when they test drive it They can't feel it but they only go on city streets. I told them to take it home and drive the Interstate or I'll take 'em for a ride. Other than the annoying shaking at speeds I love the thing, although I am also just beginning to notice a "LAG" when accelerating from a dead stop when it is just warmed up. Seems to bog down a bit then go like normal.
Kinda wish I had kept my Volvo wagon I traded in on it. It was SO smooth and peppy but the Warranty was almost out so...there ya go!

#85 of 145 Re: What % of 2011 outbacks have this steering shimmy problem? [thor14] by priggly

Nov 15, 2010 (3:39 am)

Replying to: thor14 (Nov 12, 2010 9:50 pm)
It is simply not possible to know presently how many of these shakers there are but the number is appreciable.
 
If it were me, I would walk and consider the Forester or new Jeep GC, both great cars.
 
The new OB is for the gambler. I've heard it's Kenny Rogers' favorite vehicle!!! (Tongue-in-cheek!)

#86 of 145 Re: 2010 Outback steering wheel shaking and hesitation issues? [ernestg] by ateixeira

Nov 15, 2010 (11:05 am)

Replying to: ernestg (Nov 14, 2010 12:55 pm)
I wonder if there is a poll somewhere, so it could actually be measured.

#87 of 145 Re: 2010 Outback steering wheel shaking and hesitation issues? [ateixeira] by priggly

Nov 15, 2010 (11:25 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 15, 2010 11:05 am)
There are lots of polls at subaruoutback.org but they are not scientifically constructed, double-blinded studies and so are not statistically valid. What they do do however is let it be known that there are lots of shakers on the road. We are not talking about a few dozen cars here and there and the abnormal ones probably number in the thousands.

#88 of 145 Unbiased Assessment by techmoron

Nov 15, 2010 (12:18 pm)

I've had a 2011 Outback 2.5 since August. I noticed the shaking at highway speed the first time I drove any distance. It's gotten better with a tire rebalance, but I still feel like I'm fighting oversteer and understeer at highway speeds. Need to make lots of minor adjustments. It's fatiguing, and dangerous in a crosswind. I thought I was the only one with this problem until I checked here and at Subuaroutback.org. this weekend. So I guess it's not my imagination. Mine isn't as bad as what some others report, but I'm considering taking the financial loss and getting rid of the car. It's very disappointing to invest $30,000 and get a car that's not fun to drive. My dealership also poohed poohed my complaint about the lag in acceleration out of a coasting stop, but come to think of it, I don't think it has done that since I last took it in. Maybe they secretly fixed it for me. I'm going to stick with this car and not try and put too many miles on it and see if they can come up with a fix. Otherwise, it's just another in a series of bad luck that I've been experiencing this year.

#89 of 145 Re: acura owner [priggly] by clarkkent

Dec 04, 2010 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: priggly (Oct 20, 2010 7:37 pm)
"The AWD capability is also second to none. If it's possible to get through it, Subaru will do it! "
 
The above quote is: WISHFUL THINKING AND JUST NOT TURE.
 
 Subaru has a great AWD system for the size of car it is. It may be the best "in it's class" but that is not saying much if you live where you get 10 to 12" of snow all the time. If you put a Subaru in 10 to 12" of snow it goes nowwhere!
 
 It gets stuck due to: #1 Not enough power and #2 Not enough ground clearance.
 
I have had 5 Subies and have one now. They are great for snow and ice on plowed roads. If you have over 10" of snow I leave the Subie in the garage (as it is worthless. (power and clearance). If the snow is 10" I take one of my Jeeps which will go through up to 14" without much trouble. If the snow gets over 10", power Is much more important than clearance. A Jeep has the power (and a low range) Subies do not.
 
And don't even talk about off raod or mud if your driving a Subie. You need an AWD with Power that a Subie doesn't have.
 
That being said, I always sent my kids to college in a Subie, and that is all my wife drives when we have less than 10" of snow (as long as she stay on the roads.)
 
CK
 
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