10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,915 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2015 Subaru Outback steering problems

steering problem

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2015 Subaru Outback Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 082024

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car horn is unable to be used when driving straight. It only works when setting the alarm and only when you steer the wheel left or right. There are no warning lights on the instrument panel.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 312023

Outback

  • miles
Driver's seat started peeling off approximately a year after purchase. Notified dealer, they said to contact Subaru of America via social media. Now almost all peeled off, have to cover with towel possibly interfering with airbags. Steering column lock will not lock in top position. Dealer repaired once under warranty, now out of warranty. Unsafe when column moves when driving. Transmission started slipping or behaving strangely around 90,000 miles. Never received notice of extended warranty I read about on Subaru forums [XXX] ) Paid $531.43 for fluid change at dealership because of the problem on 7/27/23 and no mention was made about extended warranty. It has not solved the problem. If transmission fails, that is a safety problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Whiting, IN, USA

problem #9

May 222020

Outback

  • miles
CONSTANT CHECK ENGINE, NO ADAS FUNCTIONS AND MULTIPLE CODES AND HUD INDICATORS INCLUDING CKENGNE, XMODE FLASHING, ADAS DISABLE AND MAJOR ELECRTICAL PARASITIC DRAW AND TRANSMISSION AND OVERHEATING. I believe the past major leg relay was replaced during first recall, it was not performed correctly and tied into accesssorry aux into same wiring. defrost/ ac failure and clutch hums upon shutting down

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #8

Sep 162021

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle had recent periodic service performed prior to event at Gwinette Subaru, Gwinette, GA. Vehicle currently has 54K miles. The Vehicle was purcashed this year as a Dealer Certified pe-owned vehicle. While leaving the Walmart parkinglot and entering a busy intesection I lost control of the vehicle steering and I her severe knocking sounds against body of vehicle I barley was able to drive vehicle out of traffic. When I tried to exit Vehicle the driver's door would not open. I exited from the passenger door and walked around vehicle and found that my driver side tire was up aginst fender and had pust fender up agains driver door. the tire was at wired angle. When the tow truc arrived the technician removed the tire in order to move vehicle. Once tire was removed it was obvious that there was a catostrophic steering Ball Joint failure. the vehicle was taken to Gwinette Subaru where they denied it being a component failure and treated me as if it was my fault. The car did not collide with anything not have I hit any potholes to cause this failure. Gwinette Subuaru failed to take proper steps to report this component failure, But I am and will be contacting The State of Georgia Public Safety. I was actually on my way to Interstate 85 a very congested Interstate that moves at about 75-80 mph. I could of been Killed at that speed and worse there would of been multiple cars involved in a collision. Please Help Me! Damage was estimated at $4016.75

- Bufford, GA, USA

problem #7

Jun 112021

Outback

  • miles
When my dashboard lights lit up for no reason, it was determined after visiting the dealership that the steering gearbox needed to be replaced.

- Westwood, MA, USA

problem #6

Apr 142021

Outback 4-cyl

  • 109,000 miles
WE BUILT AND BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED: - A CONSTANT SUDDEN LOSS OF EYESIGHT SYSTEM WHILE CRUISING OR SOMETIMES JUST DRIVING WITH NO CRUISE CONTROL ON. -GAS RELEASE LEVER FREEZES UP AND WE HAVE TO FORCEFULLY USE A FLAT SCREWDRIVER TO UNLOCK THE GAS LID DOOR. -PRE COLLISION WARNING BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND PROPERLY: WE GOT SO MANY CLOSE CALLS. - ON MARCH, 2020 ; THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY ON SNOWY/ICY CONDITIONS : THE CAR SLED OFF AND ALMOST HIT A GUARD RAIL, SOON AFTER THAT ; THE STEERING WHEEL GOT TOO LOOSE /WOBBLY AND HAD A BIG GAP WHILE STEERING( ALMOST NO CONTROL OVER OUR CAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND THE RECALIBRATED, BALANCED AND ALIGNED THE CAR FOR CORRECTIONS. -LAST WEDNESDAY, ON APRIL,14,2021: MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM HOME, AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT INTERSECTION, WHILE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS GREEN AND SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN TO GO HOME; HER STEERING WHEEL GOT FROZEN ON HER WHEN SHE WAS TURNING AND BY THE TIME SHE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REACT AND CONTROL THE CAR, HER CAR ALREADY CRASHED INTO THE PICK UP TRUCK THAT WAS WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE INTO GREEN. THE WHOLE FRONT OF OUR SUBARU WAS CRASHED BUT NO PRE COLLISION BRAKES, AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED AT ALL.LUCKILY, NOBODY GOT HURT ON BOTH SIDES. THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE SHERIFF, THE TROOPER AND THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO USED TO BE A COP WERE ALL FLABBERGASTED OF WHAT THEY SAW. WE CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND OPENED A CASE, MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR INSPECTION AT A SUBARU DEALERSHIP ON MAY 6TH, 2021.WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.THEY SEEM WILLING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGES. WE FOUND OUT THAT MOST OF THOSE ISSUES WERE ON RECALL BUT WE NEVER GOT A RECALL NOTIFICATION ABOUT THEM FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA AT ALL.THANK YOU Consumer stated dealer found nothing wrong with the car so consumer filed a complaint with federal trade commission and was given a case number [XXX].

- Big Sky, MT, USA

problem #5

Dec 282020

Outback

  • 55,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driving down straight stretch of freeway on the inside lane at 65-70mph in wet but satisfactory condition, my vehicle suddenly veered violently to the left resulting in collision with central island. No prior warning. Vehicle is very good condition and mechanically sound. Although the left front tire was damaged and deflated, it didn't disintegrate as I would have expected if it had burst at high speed. I have experienced blowout tire punctures in the past and it didn't feel like that. There was a steering column recall for 2016/17 Outbacks which my vehicle was not a part of. Could this be an underlying steering issue?

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 232016

Outback

  • 15 miles
In motion.on country road. There is a gap in the steering wheel column where I got my finger caught while turning right. Very sharp pain while returning the wheel to straight. Had to more the wheel right again to remove my finger. Could have caused serious problem. I was now on a straight section of road and ended up on right shoulder as I turned the wheel to extricate my finger. I suppose one could lose part of finger or cause an accident.

- Cortlandt Manor, NY, USA

problem #3

Apr 022015

Outback

  • 10 miles
The backing on the steering wheel core is missing and when turning it is very easy to place part of a finger into the recess that would result in either losing part of the finger or having a fatal accident when straightening out the steering wheel.

- Fletcher, NC, USA

problem #2

Jan 232015

Outback

  • miles
The car does not drive strait, wandering left and right at all the time from the day one.checked alignment at the dealer - no problems. So I am very concern about my safety and can't even think how it's gonna be on the snow ( I live in the northwest )

- Bellingham, WA, USA

problem #1

Jun 012015

Outback

  • 45 miles
New 2015 Subaru Outback steering wandering left and right preventing the car from being steered straight. Without constant driver attention vehicle wanders across lanes or off road.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

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