2011 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems

A dealership discovered rust and rot on your 2011 Subaru Outback's front subframe during an inspection, despite the dealer performing 100-point inspections every six months when you get oil changes — and the problem wasn't caught until last October. The dealer says fixing the subframe will cost $5,368.96 and needs to be done within 12 months, though you haven't noticed any warning lights. The repair will likely involve removing the affected subframe components and either replacing them or treating the rusted areas.

I have maintained my 2011 Outback well, and in August of 2023, while driving the vehicle, I lost the brakes. I had to fully depress the brake pedal to the floor in order to stop, fortunately not hitting the car in front of me . I brought the car to my local mechanic who advised me that the brake line rusted and failed as a result. As he was making the brake line repair, he advised me that there is SEVERE rusting to my underbody of my car and it's not normal. I then contacted Subaru Corporate Customer Service who asked me to bring the car into a Subaru Repair facility to have the car inspected. I brought the car into Ramsey Subaru, and with a charge of $150 to inspect the car, they advised me that the rust is significant and is unsafe to drive. They proceeded to quote me an estimated repair bill of over $6,000 to correct the rust issues. I then contacted Subaru Corporate HQ (Case #231011-1901134) and they advised me that the car is old, and there's nothing that they can do to assist me. However, what I'd like to bring to your attention, is the Outback model up to 2010, had a brake line rusting issue and they had a recall on it. In addition, when you search for 'Rust on Subaru" you can see that previous models years have been identified with Body Frame rusting issues, that prompted a recall on previous models. My ask is? Have you be contacted by other 2011 Subaru Outback owners about severe rust issues, and as a result lost their brakes and were told there car in no longer safe to drive?

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated there was a clunking sound coming from the front suspension location and the vehicle started feeling unstable while driving approximately 30 MPH. The steering wheel began to sway towards the left causing the contact to use excessive force to steer the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the front subframe had fractured due to severe corrosion and needed to be replaced along with the front suspension. The front subframe and suspension was repaired; however, while doing so the dealer further diagnosed that the rear subframe and suspension had severe corrosion. The rear subframe and suspension was not repaired or replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. The contact stated that the brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that subframe was severely corroded. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

Failure of front subframe while driving. Vehicle is unable to be driven. Vehicle pulled severely to drivers side while driving. Subframe had severe deterioration by rust . Vehicle is at Annen Brake Fond du Lac, Wi and available for inspection. Replacement part is unavailable and there is no ETA by manufacturer.

The 2011 Subaru Outback subframe (K-Frame) failed structurally while the vehicle was in operation. The bolted connection between the left side (driver side) control arm broke due to extensive corrosion of the K-frame allowing the bolt to pull through one side of the box-shaped frame. The vehicle exhibited a pronounced pull to the left and handled erratically. The vehicle was immediately driven to a local repair facility where the broken frame connections at the control arms was discovered. The vehicle has approximately 79,000 miles and has been regularly serviced. Evidence of heavy corrosion and metal fatigue were noted at several locations on the K-frame (photo attached). The 2011 Subaru Outback has been owned/operated in western NY State where roads are frequently treated with brime and salt throughout the winter season. Servicing mechanic noted that he had completed recent replacement of the K-Frame on an identical year, make, model Subaru within the previous 3 months. Comparison of the K-Frame removed from my vehicle with the identical model showed similar corrosion and failure points. The symptoms and causes of this structural failure are nearly identical to vehicle safety complaint filed by another 2011 Outback owner; NHTSA ID # 11474045. The failed subframe, along with a second subframe from an identical Subaru replaced earlier this summer are available for inspection at the motor vehicle repair facility. Photo attached. Insofar as this is the third reported structural failure on this model within a short span of a few months and Subaru has declined to address the matter responsibly, NHTSA intervention is warranted and necessary.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT GARAVEL SUBARU (10 TINDALL AVE, NORWALK, CT 06851, (203) 642-0620) FOR MONTHS DUE TO AN INTERNAL OIL LEAK THAT WAS IMPACTING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE IN A TIMELY MANNER TO ALERT THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARINGS SEVERAL TIMES. THE RADIO, SPEAKER PHONE, AND GPS WERE ALSO SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVIGN AT LOW SPEEDS, A DIVOT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LINKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN AGAIN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUTS AND SUPPORT BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INDIVIDUAL INSPECTION THEY FOUND THE STRUT AND SUPPORT BEARING WAS NOT THE CORRECT SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ *CN

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXCESSIVE FRONT END VIBRATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED, BUT THE FRONT END VIBRATION CONTINUED. THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER, THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FOUR NEW TIRES, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

MY 2011 OUTBACK IS UNSTABLE AT HIGH SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT TENDS TO WANDER AND HAS A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING STRAIGHT AT 70+ MPH. THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING LONG DISTANCE. CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS ARE NECESSARY AT 70+ MPH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I NOTICED THIS SOON AFTER TAKING POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED 70+ MPH ON A 65-68 MILES TRIP TO WORK. I IGNORED THE SITUATION THINKING IT IS NORMAL UNTIL THE VEHICLE ALMOST WANDER INTO A BIG RIG TRUCK IN THE NEXT LANE DURING A LANE PASSING IN OCTOBER 2011. SUBARU DEALER HAS ALREADY PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT IN NOV 2011 WHICH HELPED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, BUT THE WANDERING ISSUE APPEARS AGAIN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN IN DEC 2011, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN IN SPEC AND DID NOT NOTICE THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE IF THIS IS A DEFECT OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS JUST DESIGN AS-IS. HOWEVER, I DRIVE WITH "WHITE KNUCKLES" AT SPEED 70+ AND FEEL THIS VEHICLE MAY NOT BE SAFE TO KEEP LONG TERM. *TR

VEHICLE VIBRATION - AFTER ABOUT 8K MILES A VIBRATION STARTED IN THE SEAT AND STEERING. TIRES WERE REBALANCED USING A ROAD FORCE BALANCING MACHINE. THEN THE VIBRATION WOULD COME AND GO EVEN AT SET SPEEDS. BUT WOULD GET WORSE GOING AROUND TURNS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP DID A "FIX" WHICH DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. NO MATTER THE LOAD IN THE CAR 5 PEOPLE IN THE CAR OR EMPTY VIBRATION COMES AND GO. THEY SAY THE ISSUE WAS FIXED IN 2012 MODELS HAD A LOANER WHILE CAR WAS IN FOR THE 2 DAY FIX. SAME VIBRATION ISSUE AS I HAD. THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS FIX. MY REAR TIRES ARE WEARING BETTER THEN THEY WERE BEFORE IT. THE OUTSIDE OF MY TIRES WERE WEARING FUNNY EVEN WHEN THE ALIGNMENT WAS WITHIN SPEC. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING ABNORMALLY WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS RE-EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING THAT CAUSED THE BALL JOINT TO FRACTURE AND WOULD NOT TAKE ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.