2001 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems

While driving, your son heard a loud noise coming from underneath the car and experienced difficulty steering and braking. When he pulled over, you discovered that the S-arm (control arm) and subframe had broken off due to rust. The car had to be towed.

Your rear suspension subframe broke where it connects to the upper control arm, causing your tire to rub against the car body, overheat, and eventually blow out while driving on the highway. The subframe had severe rust due to poor paint quality from the factory, even though your car had been through a recall that included cleaning and repainting—the recall fix didn't prevent the failure. Replacing the subframe cost $2,000 and Subaru declined to cover it despite the known defect.

While driving at 15 mph, you lost control of your vehicle and crashed into an embankment. Upon inspection, you found the rear driver's side tire bent sharply inward and the rear subframe fractured due to corrosion. An independent mechanic confirmed the subframe failure and determined it needs to be replaced. This suspension failure caused the crash and loss of vehicle control.

Your car's subframe has rusted through and broken, even though Subaru completed a recall fix on it in August 2005. When you contacted Subaru customer service, they told you to pay for repairs yourself rather than cover it under warranty or recall. You believe the original recall repair didn't adequately prevent this rust damage from returning. Fixing this will likely require replacing or reinforcing the subframe to prevent further structural deterioration.

Your mechanic discovered that your rear sub-frame has severe corrosion. This is a structural suspension component that supports the rear of your vehicle, and corrosion can weaken it over time. Your vehicle wasn't repaired at the time of diagnosis. Addressing this may require replacing the corroded sub-frame or having it professionally restored.

Your Subaru Outback's subframe is rusting and failing, even though a recall was performed that only painted over the problem without fixing the underlying corrosion. You may notice structural weakness in the suspension area, and the dealer has confirmed this is a common failure. Repairing the subframe typically involves removing and replacing the corroded component, which can cost around $1,400.

During a routine inspection, your mechanic discovered severe corrosion and cracks in your rear suspension and sub-frame. The dealer noted that a previous recall (NHTSA campaign 03V153000) had been performed on your vehicle and refused to provide additional repair assistance. This issue remains unfixed on your vehicle with 184,000 miles.

Your 2001 Outback's rear subframe is rusted and the rear trailing arm bushings need replacement — a known issue covered under Subaru recall WWM-96. Despite regular maintenance on your part, Subaru refused to help with the recall repair when you called, leaving you unable to safely drive the vehicle. You'll need to have a mechanic replace the corroded subframe and worn bushings to restore safe operation.

MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 03V153000, WHICH RESULTED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL WWM96-REAR. THIS RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ON 4/13/2004 AT 36,339 MILES WITH THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF HALTING PREMATURE RUST-OUT OF THE REAR SUB-FRAME COMPONENT. IN THE PROCESS OF RECENTLY REPLACING EXHAUST COMPONENTS AT APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES IT WAS NOTED THAT THE REAR SUB-FRAME COMPONENT IS NOW PERFORATED BY RUST EVEN THOUGH SIMILAR COMPONENTS ARE NOT, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE THAT THE ORIGINAL REPAIR WAS NOT ADEQUATE. AN EXCHANGE OF EMAILS AND TELEPHONE CALLS WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS RESULTED IN A DECISION BY THEM TO DECLINE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPONENT AT THEIR EXPENSE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY REMEDY OFFERED WAS A $500 CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW SUBARU. SINCE REPLACEMENT IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE TO WHAT I CONSIDER A REASONABLE POINT (200,000 MILES), THE CONSEQUENCE NOTED IN CAMPAIGN 03V153000 MAY OCCUR. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE SUB-FRAME COMPONENT AND COPIES OF THE EMAIL EXCHANGE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU IF YOU SO DESIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION:REAR) IN WHICH AN ANTI- RUST COATING WAS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE RECENT RUST FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD PERFORMED THE RECALL IN 2003 AND COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE RECENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 08/31/2011 *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2003 FOR DEFECTIVE PAINT ON THE FRAME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN FRAME RUST. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED SUBARU BY PHONE AND LETTER AND THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY CLAIMED THE WERE NOT LIABLE REGARDING OF CRASH DANGER. UPDATED 09/01/11 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V153000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2004. THE RECALL REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURER TO SPRAY AN ANTI RUST AND WAX ONTO THE SUB FRAME AND AXLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING AND THE SUB FRAME AND REAR AXLE WERE BOTH FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT SINCE JULY 2003 TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THE RECALL IS FOR REAR SUSPENSION SUB FRAME CORROSION (3V153000) . *NLM

RECALL 03V153000 CONCERNING REAR SUSPENSION SUB FRAME ASSEMBLY: VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE NO SPRAY BOOTH WAS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HELP THE CONSUMER FIND A DEALER WITH A SPRAY BOOTH.*AK *JB *NLM

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF MALFUNCTION ON STEERING COLUMN; HOWEVER, HAVE NOT FOUND OUT WHAT THE CAUSE WAS.*AK

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED (50-70 MPH) (TIRESIZE: 225/60/R16)

THERE IS VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP STEERING WHEEL ALMOST JERKED OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE GOES TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER, BUT NO NOTATION HAS BEEN MADE CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS EMPLOYEE'S TEST DROVE VEHICLE WITH CONSUMER, AND DID NOT NOTICE WHEEL TURNING. DEALER HAS SHOWEN NO CONCERN TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ADD THE VIN# AND MILEAGE TO FORM.*AK