2019 Subaru Crosstrek Steering

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while taking the vehicle for a routine oil change. There were no warning lights illuminated. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the control arm was cracked. The contact stated had not experienced the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,500.

Intermittent Power Steering Malfunction while driving causing car to violently "self-steer". Vehicle is NOT equipped with adaptive cruise control or lane assist features. Loss of control while driving become intermittently high risk having to clutch the steering wheel and counteract undesired vehicle self-steering forces to avoid hitting other cars on the road. No other vehicles or other property were damaged during discovery of EPS malfunction. Malfunction occurs at highway speeds and also local town speeds. There are no check engine lights present on vehicles OBD system. Vehicle is only ever serviced at the same dealership where originally purchased. Upon occurrences of malfunction, vehicle was taken to dealership for diagnostic testing. The dealership's determination is that there is an electrical fault inside the Electronic Power Steering Gearbox. The dealer was able to duplicate the electrical malfunction while test driving. Vehicle currently remains at dealership indefinitely until operating hazard remedied. Original OEM malfunctioning EPS gear box still installed on vehicle as of 12/16/2024 and is available for requested inspection. Since current existing recalls for the EPS gearbox were not applied to this vehicle, Customer is forced to pay out of pocket ($1400 part plus $600 labor) to fix. Requesting NHTSA to confiscate malfunctioning part for examination and comparison to known OEM defects involved with other safety recalls. Replacement parts currently on order by dealer as of 12/16/2024. Reference existing Subaru recall # (WUC-88). Reference existing NHTSA # (19V065000). Replacement OEM part # (34110FL133 2019 Subaru Crosstrek Steering Gear). Existing OEM part number currently on vehicle is unknown. Subaru Dealer: Minooka Subaru 4141 Birney Ave, Moosic, PA 18507 (570) 346-4641

The contact owns a 2019 Subaru Crosstrek. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the power steering assist failed to operate as the steering wheel seized with the power steering warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle swerved to the left before the contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the highway. The contact restarted the vehicle and the power steering assist returned before the failure recurred upon exiting the highway. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the power steering had failed and needed to be repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V065000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the dealer possession. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 SUBARU CROSSTREK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE STRAIGHTENED BY FORCE BY THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ALL THE TIME EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH WILKINS SUBARU (6917 RICHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

WHEN LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED,STEERING GETS LOOSE.WHEELS MAY NOT RESPOND TO STEERING WHEEL FOR 1 SECOND.SUBARU SAYS THIS IS NORMAL.I STOPPED USING THE SYSTEM AFTER DRIFTING OFF A 2 LANE COUNTRY ROAD AT 50 M.P.H. I HAVE THIS SYSTEM IN MY TOYOTA,IT DOES NOT NEGATIVELY EFFECT STEERING WHEEL CONTROL.

WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WILL UNEXPECTEDLY PUSH THE CAR ACROSS THE LANE, SOMETIMES HARSHLY, ESPECIALLY AROUND CURVES. THIS IS MORE THAN A SIMPLE NUDGE FOR LANE ASSIST, IT SCARES THE HECK OUT OF YOU AS YOU FIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AT LEAST ON OUR CAR IT'S ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT! THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TO SUBARU THREE TIMES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, WITHOUT SUCCESS. AFTER INFORMING SUBARU OF AMERICA AND OPENING A FORMAL COMPLAINT (CASE #148267253025) THEY DISMISS THIS AS THE EYE SIGHT/LANE ASSIST WORKING, AND SAY THE REMEDY IS TO TURN THIS SAFETY FEATURE OFF...WHICH TO US IS RIDICULOUS AND NOT WHY WE PURCHASED THIS CAR. AS WE HAVE INFORMED SUBARU THE CAR SITS IN OUR GARAGE AS WE ARE SIMPLY TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. OUR INITIAL COMPLAINT WAS IN JULY, AFTER OUR FIRST ROAD TRIP,AND THE PROBLEM RECURS IRREGULARLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR NOW HAS 5725 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

DRIVING 70 MPH, CRUISE ON BUT NOT SET, LANE KEEP ASSIST WAS ON. DRIVING DOWN MIDDLE OF MY LANE ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR ABRUPTLY TURNS TO THE RIGHT. I COULD NOT RECOVER FAST ENOUGH TO AVOID GOING INTO THE NEXT LANE. BECAUSE I WAS OVER THE LINE, THE LANE DEPARTURE GAVE ME AN ALERT. A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED FOR THE 2ND TIME. SAME SPEED, SAME ABRUPT FORCE TURNING THE CAR, THIS TIME TO THE LEFT. I MAY HAVE BEEN CLOSE THE THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY LANE BUT NONETHELESS, IT SUPPOSE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK INTO MY LANE. NOT AN ABRUPT TURN. IT CERTAINLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

THE LANE ASSIST IS SOMETIMES OVERLY AGGRESSIVE, WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN TAKING AN EXIT RAMP TO THE RIGHT IT ONCE VIOLENTLY TRIED TO CORRECT TO THE LEFT. IN CROSSWINDS IT'S LIKE TRYING TO STEER A MARIO CART GAME AND WILL JERK YOU BACK AND FORTH IN THE LANE.

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DURING A MILD TURN, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE TURN. FIRST OCCURRED 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY. MAY BE RELATED TO EXISTING STEERING RECALL. DEALER COOPERATIVE SO FAR. CHECKED VIN AGAINST EXISTING RECALL, BUT IT WAS NOT ASSOCIATED ON THE NTSB WEB SITE.