1999 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems

Your car was hit from behind in a crash, but the airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor neck and lower back injuries. Additionally, your front wheel bearing failed at 50,000 miles. The airbag issue may require diagnostic testing of the airbag system, and the wheel bearing will need to be replaced.

Your front coil spring broke completely in half while the car was parked, and the broken piece got wedged into your tire sidewall, nearly puncturing it and leaving your car unable to drive. This could have caused a tire blowout and accident if it happened while you were driving. Even though Subaru has a recall for this coil spring problem, your vehicle was told it wasn't covered due to its VIN range, despite being affected by the same issue. The fix would involve replacing the broken front coil spring and inspecting the tire for damage.

Your front coil spring broke and separated into pieces, with a sharp fragment puncturing your tire. The spring showed heavy rust and peeling paint coating, which likely contributed to the failure. This type of suspension failure could be dangerous at highway speeds and may require replacing the entire front coil spring assembly and repairing or replacing the damaged tire.

While driving in reverse, your passenger side coil spring broke and punctured your front passenger tire. You didn't notice the problem until you changed the tire. The repair will likely involve replacing the broken coil spring and the damaged tire.

I WAS QUITE HURT (TO THE DEGREE OF HAVING TO GO ON SSD) IN A REAR END COLLISION IN A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY WAGON. IN TRYING TO RECOVER THE ORIGINAL HEAD REST OF THIS CAR I LEARNED IT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND CAN ONLY BE REPLACED WITH A MUCH SAFER MODEL. IN DOING A RECENT CRASH ANALYSIS WITH THIS NEW HEAD REST I REALIZED THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AND HOW MUCH SAFER THE NEW HEAD REST IS. I LEARNED ON YOUR CAR SAFETY WEB SITE OF THE NATIONAL CAUTION ON THE WHOLE SEAT OF THIS MODEL SEATS AND HEAD REST. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ORTHOPEDIC (LEFT ARM, ALL/WHOLE BACK, RIGHT LEG, BOTH KNEES, POSTURE) AND BRAIN INJURY PROBLEMS FROM MY CAR ACCIDENT. I RECENTLY LEARNED (3/06), THAT SUBARU STARTED UNOFFICIALLY REPLACING THE SEAT AND HEAD REST OF THIS MODEL LEGACY 1998 THRU 1999 WHENEVER POSSIBLE. MEANING WHENEVER THESE MODELS REQUESTED NEW PARTS, THERE IS AN UNOFFICIAL RECALL IN THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE ORIGINAL PART ONLY THE SAFER NEW PARTS. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW EASY A RECALL FOR APPROXIMATELY A 2 AND A HALF YEARS MODEL CAR IS (I HAVE EXPERIENCED A GM RECALL OF A PART THAT WENT VERY SMOOTHLY). THERE IS A GREAT COST TO SOCIETY AND MYSELF OF THERE NOT BEING AN OFFICIAL RECALL. PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL WITH A LETTER OR I WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER BY SIGNED RECEIPT EMAIL. SINCERELY, MARCIE ELLIS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THIS PUNCTURED THE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE TIRE OFF AND FOUND THAT THE COIL SPRING FRACTURED. THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL, 01V216000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP GETTING REPAIRED.

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA RECALL 01V216000. PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING BROKE WHICH AND CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO BECOME SHREDDED. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. WE DISCOVERED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 01V216000). HOWEVER, SUBARU REFUSSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BATCH OF CARS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. WE THEREFORE HAD OUR MECHANIC REPAIR THE VEHICLE.

I BOUGHT A 1999 SUBARU OUTBACK 30TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IN JUNE OF 1999. WITHIN SIX MONTHS, THE CAR BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF THE SUBARU DEALER. FOR THREE YEARS THEY DENIED THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, ALWAYS SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY IN JUNE OF 2002, I WAS ABLE TO GET A REGIONAL SERVICE SUPERVISOR TO ADMIT THAT THE CAR DEFINITELY HAD PROBLEMS. HIS FIRST SOLUTION WAS TO SUGGEST THAT I TRADE THE CAR IN ON A NEW ONE. WHEN I DECLINED, HE OFFERED TO HAVE THE CAR PROPERLY REPAIRED, AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREE YEARS PRIOR. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERS AND AFTER SUPPOSEDLY HAVING THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE CAR IS IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN. SUBARU HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE CAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY TO DEAL WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE CAR NOW OPERATES AS DESIGNED AND THAT ANY PROBLEMS I AM NOW EXPERIENCING ARE A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS. SUBARU REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO STALL ANY REPAIRS UNTIL THE CAR PASSED THE TWO YEAR LEMON LAW EXCLUSION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED BRAKE FAILURES. THE CAR WENT THROUGH A SET OF MICHELIN RADIAL TIRES IN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES. THIS CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN SNOW (CONTRARY TO SUBARU'S COMMERCIALS) BECAUSE THE TIRES BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ARE THROWN OUT OF BALANCE. THE BRAKES ALSO BECOME COMPACTED WITH SNOW AND ICE AND HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, ALMOST CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY. THE RADIO ANTENNA REFUSES TO RETRACT IN COLD WEATHER. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT SUBARU REFUSES TO LISTEN OR REPAIR THE CAR.

CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

CONSUMER COULD HEAR A GRATING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, DEALER SATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

REAR WHEEL BEARING HAS WORN OUT, REAR END STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, AND VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL ALSO, SMOKE AND OIL CAME FROM WHEELS. THIS WAS THE 10TH TIME THA CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE IT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING.