There are 1 stored owner reports matching the steering leading-label group for the 2004 Subaru Baja in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 1 of 1 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)"GHOST WALKING" I PURCHASED THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO FROM MY FATHER WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER FOR THE LARGEST SHIPPING COMPANY IN THE US AND HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR THEM FOR OVER 30 YEARS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR HE CAUTIONED ME THAT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WANDERS WHEN THE ROAD SURFACE DOESN'T PROVIDE CONSISTENT TRACTION TO BOTH REAR TIRES. THIS OCCURS ON ANY SURFACE AT VARYING DEGREES WHILE MOVING STRAIGHT ON A LEVEL ROAD, UP HILL, DOWN HILL, ON CORNERS, WHILE ACCELERATING/BRAKING OR COASTING. EXAMPLES WHICH CAUSE THIS ARE SMALL TO LARGE POTHOLES, CRACKS IN THE ROAD SURFACE, DRIVING WITH ONE TIRE ON THE PAINTED LINE IN THE ROAD (VERY NOTICEABLE SURGING AND CAN BE SCARY WHEN THE ROAD IS WET), SAND OR GRAVEL ON THE SHOULDER OF A PAVED ROAD EFFECTING ONE SIDE OF THE CAR ONLY, PUDDLES, SLIGHT SNOW/SLUSH COVER, ETC. HAVING HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS IT IS SOMETHING I EXPERIENCE DAILY, AND THE CAR IS DOWNRIGHT SCARY, UNSAFE IN SOME CONDITIONS. I CONSIDER MYSELF A VERY GOOD DRIVER, I'M 35 AND HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT DESPITE DRIVING ABOUT 35K MILES A YEAR. THESE CARS ARE DANGEROUS, I HAVE NO DOUBT MANY ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT, I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. I CANNOT SELL THIS CAR WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE UNLESS I CONVEY THIS SAFETY HAZARD TO A POTENTIAL BUYER SO THE VALUE HAS ALSO BEEN DESTROYED BY THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. I WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND CROSS MY FINGERS THAT SUBARU OWNS UP TO IT BEFORE ANY MORE PEOPLE (OR MYSELF) SUFFER THE LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LIFE. I WILL ALSO ADD THAT IT GOES THROUGH REAR TIRES QUICKER THAN I EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE DESPITE BEING IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED, IT SEEMS TO BE EXAGGERATED IF THERE IS ANY AMOUNT OF ADDED CARGO WEIGHT OR ADDITIONAL PASSENGERS. STEP UP SUBARU, PREVIOUS LOYAL OWNERS ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES IN MY AREA.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.