2017 Subaru Outback Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the front wheel turned at a 45-degree angle. The contact was able to pull over. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact who is an independent mechanic installed Monroe strut and coil system part number 173112 on the driver side front, the top nut fractured after two weeks. The contact repaired the vehicle. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

THIS IS A RE-SUBMISSION OF COMPLAINT NO 11398779. PHOTO FILES FAILED TO UPLOAD. I HAD JUST ENTERED THE GOLF COURSE PARKING LOT AND HAD TURNED RIGHT TO ENTER A PERPENDICULAR PARKING SLOT. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, HIT A CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK (6 IN HIGH) AND THEN OVER A 1 FOOT HIGH WALL WHICH WAS 3 FEET FROM THE BLOCK. THE CAR ENDED UP ON A DOWN SLOPE AND THE REAR WHEEL FORTUNATELY CAUGHT ON A RETAINING WALL. I WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE WITNESS TO THIS TERRIFYING EVENT WHICH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 4, 2010 AT ABOUT 8:10 AM. IT OCCURRED IN A PART OF THE PARKING LOT I HAVE USED AT LEAST 50 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. SEVERAL MEMBERS HAVE SAID THEY ARE AFRAID OF PARKING IN THESE SPOTS AND WILL NEVER USE THEM AGAIN. THE COMPONENT THAT FAILED IS UNKNOWN TO ME, BUT I FEEL IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK. I WAS FULLY INSURED AND THE MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS COVERED BY MY INSURANCE.

I HAD JUST ENTERED THE GOLF COURSE PARKING LOT AND HAD TURNED RIGHT TO ENTER A PARKING SLOT. MY SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MPH. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, HIT THE CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK AND JUMPED OVER A 1 FOOT HIGH WALL WHICH WAS 3 FT. AWAY FROM THE BLOCK. THE CAR ENDED UP ON A DOWNSLOPE AND THE REAR WHEEL FORTUNATELY CAUGHT ON A RETAINING WALL. I WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE WITNESS TO THIS TERRIFYING EVENT WHICH OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 4TH AT ABOUT 8:10 AM IN A PARKING SPOT THAT I HAVE USED AT LEAST 50 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, I BEGAN HEARING A PERIODIC LOUD METALLIC CLACK-CLACK-CLACK WHEN MAKING A LEFT U-TURN, WHICH SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE TIRE ROTATION DEPENDENT. IT SOUNDED AS IF IT CAME FROM THE FRONT END. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS I COULD HEAR IT RANDOMLY WHEN GOING FROM A STAND STILL, AND VERY SELDOM WHEN BRAKING. LAST THURSDAY, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER POSITION HAD MOVED TO THE LEFT, AND I DECIDED TO CHECK THE WHOLE FRONT SUSPENSION. TIGHTENED A BUNCH OF UNDER TORQUED BOLTS, INCLUDING THE 8 THAT HOLD THE ENGINE CRADLE TO THE BODY. LAST NIGHT THE NOISE WAS NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER AND BUMPS, AND THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. A FINAL ROAD BUMP AND THE CAR SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS FALLING APART. WHEN STOPPING AT THE NEXT TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR PULLED MORE NOTICEABLY TO THE LEFT, AND THE REAR END CAME UP. I MADE IT TO A GAS STATION, WHERE I INSPECTED BOTH FRONT AND BACK BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING. TRIED TO ROCK THE TOP OF ALL TIRES IN AND OUT AND THEY ALL SEEMED FIRM. DROVE 18 MILES AT 25-30 MILES PER HOUR, TRYING NOT TO USE THE BRAKES AT ALL. ONCE IN THE GARAGE, I GOT UNDER THE CAR AND VOIL... LEFT REAR TRAILING LINK COMPLETELY BROKEN. AT 74890 MILES. THE PICTURES SHOW ANOTHER CRACK STARTING ON THE UPPER BEND OF THE ARM. BY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CRACK, IT SEEMS AS IF THE PART HAD FATIGUED. THIS MORNING I CRAWLED THE CAR TO THE CLOSEST SUBARU DEALER, AND EVEN OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED THE LINK FOR FREE, OF COURSE AFTER I GOT THE "NEVER SAW THIS KIND OF FAILURE BEFORE" INTERNET FORUMS HAVE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS KIND OF FAILURE. PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURES.

PASSENGER SIDE REAR STRUT COMPLETELY COLLAPSED/FAILED AT 45000 MILES. I REPLACED (NOT AN EASY JOB) WITH SAME KYB OE PART.