1997 Subaru Outback Steering Problems

BACKGROUND: MY 1997 SUBARU OUTBACK DEVELOPED A PROBLEM THAT INVOLVED A FAILED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGE FROM THIS FAILURE. I TOOK MY SUBARU OUTBACK TO JIM NORTON SUBARU OF TULSA, OK, FOR REPAIR. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER DARRIN JOHNSON AND THE MECHANIC, LORIN, THE PROBLEM RESULTED WHEN THE BOLT THAT SERVES AS A SPINDLE TO THE TENSIONER PLATE SHEARED OFF THUS CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO PLASTIC COWLING, BELTS, AND THE FACING PLATE THAT ANCHORED THE BOLT. ESTIMATE FOR REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS $512.61 WITH A REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER BELTS. I TOLD MR. JOHNSON THAT I WAS ALARMED THAT THIS BOLT SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND WONDERED WHAT IT MEAN TO SAFETY OF DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 70+ MILES PER HOUR. I TOLD MR. JOHNSON THAT SUBARU AMERICA SHOULD BE CALLED TO ALERT THEM OF THIS FAILURE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES OUT OF CONTROL WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHILE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH RACK AND PINION STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK