2014 Subaru Outback Tires & Wheels Problems

INSPECTION NOTED BELT SEPERATION ON GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TIRES, VEHICLE STATIONARY

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE WHEN DRIVING IN SNOW ON INTERSTATE THE SNOW GETS PACKED IN THE WHEELS IT CAUSES SEVERE PROBLEMS STEERING. ON MORE THAN ONE INSTANCE I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND FIND A CAR WASH TO CLEAN THE SNOW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY. FRONT END VIBRATES SO MUCH I HAD TO REDUCE SPEED TO BELOW 45 MPH AND TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE ASKED SUBARU THROUGH THEIR NATIONAL SUPPORT HOTLINE HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD THIS COMPLAINT AND DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. I ASKED THAT THEY EMAIL THEIR RESPONSE SO I WOULD HAVE IT IN WRITING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO THAT BUT NO RESPONSE WAS EVER RECEIVED. I DID CONFIRM THEY HAD MY CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS AND HAVE RECEIVED SURVEY FOLLOWUPS USING MY EMAIL ADDRESS BUT NOTHING FROM THE SUPPORT CENTER. PURCHASING REPLACEMENT STEEL WHEELS CAN RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE EXPENSIVE ( $400 TO $1000) DEPENDING ON WHEEL TYPE. THE LOCAL DEALER OFFERED THE SOLUTIONS OF SPRAYING PAM INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL, BUYING AFTER MARKET WHEEL COVERS ( NONE EXIST PER MY RESEARCH), OR DEALER REPLACING THE WHEELS AT COST OF $1200 WHICH MAY INCLUDE TIRES, NOT SURE. LOCAL DEALER ALSO OFFERED TO HOSE OUT MY WHEELS IF I BROUGHT IT IN WHICH WOULD REQUIRE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE PROBLEM WHICH IS UNSAFE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT TOWING THEY POINTED OUT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, 39,000 MILES. I POINTED OUT THAT IT HAD HAPPENED PRIOR TO WARRANTY RUNNING OUT AND HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WITH NO SOLUTION PROVIDED. I LIVE IN A SNOWY AREA AND HAVING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD EACH TIME THIS ISSUE OCCURS IS UNSAFE. MY CONCERN IS THAT SUBARU DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM FORMALLY AND THAT THE SAFETY OF THE OWNERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. *TR

MY 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6R CAME WITH CONTINENTAL PRO CONTACT GX P225/60 R17 TIRES. NOTICE ONE OF THE TIRES WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DEFLATED. TOOK TO DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A SMALL HOLE BUT NO NAIL AS THE CAUSE. NOW MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE HAS DEVELOPED SIDE WALL BUBBLE. I TOOK TO SUBARU DEALER WHO DID NOTHING AND TOLD ME TO CALL CONTINENTAL TIRES ABOUT WARRANTY (DIDN'T EVEN WARN ME OF THE DANGER NOR DID THEY PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON) CONTINENTAL SAID PASSED RESPONSIBILITY BACK TO DEALER. I THEN WENT TO DISCOUNT TIRES THEN AMERICAS TIRES. ALL SAID (BEFORE EVEN LOOKING AT THE TIRE) THAT IMPACT DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED. FIRST 95% OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAYS AND I HAVE HIT NO POT HOLES OR HAD ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 35 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH TIRES. THERE IS 350 COMPLAINTS IN DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ABOUT SIDEWALL PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR CONTINENTAL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY?