This Bulletin provides the diagnostic procedures to be followed when addressing customer concerns of steering wheel/vehicle body vibration when driving at highway speeds when tire/wheel balance is suspected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Subaru Outback steering problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This post was revised in error. It has been corrected back and removed from the posting list. The message was corrected on 04-13-14R posting dated 11/14/2018.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗IF YOU ENCOUNTER A VEHICLE THAT HAS A GROANING TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE FULL RIGHT OR LEFT POSITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, IT MAY BE CAUSED BY THE RELIEF VALVE VIBRATING WITHIN THE PUMP. IN LIEU OF REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, THE RELIEF VALVE IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A REPLACEMENT PART.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If you encounter a vehicle that has a groaning type noise coming from the power steering pump when the wheel is turned to the full right or left position when the vehicle is parked, it may be caused by the relief valve vibrating within the pump. In lieu of replacing the power steering pump, the relief valve is now available as a replacement part.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REVISION TO TROUBLESHOOTING INFORMATION FOR VDC DTC C0071
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Multiple owners of the 2006 Subaru Outback describe uncontrolled rear-end swaying or fishtailing on wet, snowy, and icy roads—phenomena they call "ghost walking." The vehicle pulls and oscillates side to side at highway speeds on straight roads without driver input, forcing owners to brake to dangerously low speeds while other vehicles safely pass. One owner replaced tires and suspension components (ball joints, sway bar links, control arm bushings) and had a full dealer alignment with no improvement. Dealerships and Subaru performed inspections and reported no defects.
Separate serious failures include a wiring harness melting against a hot coolant pipe, causing sudden complete engine shutdown and loss of power steering. Two owners report tie rod failures: one where the inner rod separated from its threaded sleeve at 44,000 miles, the other a defective OEM tie rod causing steering shimmy. One incident describes a sudden fishtail at 69 mph on dry highway pavement leading to multiple 360-degree spins and guardrail collision, with airbags that did not deploy. A drive shaft boot cracked at 100,000 miles; the same boot failed on the replacement shaft. Another owner reported accelerator pedal and sensor failure causing sudden engine shutdown while driving.
Owners express frustration that the Outback, purchased specifically for winter handling, exhibits worse stability than conventional two-wheel-drive vehicles in snow and ice.
Same Subaru Outback steering reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Rear-end instability / ghost walking
Uncontrolled side-to-side rear-end sway, fishtailing, or oscillation on slippery roads (wet, snowy, icy) and occasionally dry pavement. Occurs at highway speeds on straight roads without driver input. Owners describe the AWD system overcompensating or sending excessive power to the rear. Extremely difficult to maintain vehicle control; requires unsafe speed reductions. Multiple owners reference this as 'ghost walking.'
When: Primarily on slippery (wet, snow, ice) roads; some report on dry pavement. Occurs over 25-40 mph. Intermittent, tied to precise road surface conditions. Early incidents reported as early as 17,000 miles on newer vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear end wandering or swaying side to side on straight roads; Fishtailing or oscillation at highway speeds; Loss of vehicle control requiring unsafe speed reduction; Side-to-side motion across lane without driver input; Sensation that AWD system is overcompensating
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report tire replacement, wheel alignment (including 4-wheel alignment), suspension inspection and repair (ball joints, sway bar links, control arm bushings) with minimal or temporary improvement. Subaru dealership inspections and full safety checks found no defects.
Loss of engine and power steering due to wiring harness contact with coolant pipe
Complete engine shutdown with simultaneous loss of all electrical systems and power steering while vehicle was decelerating on a highway exit ramp. Investigation revealed the wiring harness housing had melted against the coolant crossover pipe, exposing and shorting wiring. No explanation provided for improper harness installation against hot engine component.
When: Incident occurred during low-speed deceleration; no mileage stated
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine shutdown without warning; Loss of all electrical systems; Loss of power steering; Wiring harness housing melted
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru initially misdiagnosed as ECM failure and replaced it. Actual cause was melted wiring harness against coolant crossover pipe requiring repair of exposed wiring.
Right front tie rod separation
Inner portion of right front steering tie rod pulled out of threaded sleeve on outer portion, resulting in complete loss of steering control on the right front wheel. Owner reports threads on inner tie rod were defective, possibly at manufacturing.
When: At 44,000 miles, 4 years old; incident occurred when driving into driveway
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of steering control on right front wheel; Tie rod separated into two pieces; No prior warning signs; normal tire wear observed
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of tie rod assembly required
Drive shaft boot cracking and heat exposure
Boot on left front drive shaft cracked, requiring replacement of entire drive shaft. Same boot cracking occurred on opposite side after replacement. Owner suspects design flaw: drive shaft sits directly over catalytic converter with no heat shield.
When: At 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Drive shaft boot cracking
Repairs/costs cited: Left front drive shaft replaced at 100,000 miles due to cracked boot. Boot on opposite side also cracked.
Accelerator pedal assembly and sensor failure causing engine shutdown
Accelerator pedal assembly and sensors stopped working, causing vehicle to stop accelerating and shut down while driving. Owner notes this malfunction poses serious safety risk and cites other owners with same issue at low mileage.
When: Low mileage (specific mileage not stated)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stopped accelerating; Vehicle shutdown while driving; Pedal assembly malfunction; Sensor failure
Front tie rod defect with steering shimmy
OEM front tie rod was defective, causing chronic front-end alignment issues and steering shimmy. Mechanic flagged as dangerous condition. Separate from the rear-end instability complaints.
When: Detected during alignment work; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Front end shimmying; Chronic alignment issues
Repairs/costs cited: Defective tie rod replaced at owner expense
Sudden fishtail and loss of stability control at highway speed
While accelerating from 65 to 69 mph to pass another vehicle on a highway, the rear end suddenly fishtailed and vehicle entered multiple 360-degree spins causing guardrail collision. Occurred on dry pavement without snow or ice contact. Owner suspects mechanical or electrical failure of stability control system. No airbags deployed.
When: At highway speed; mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden fishtailing at highway speed; Multiple 360-degree spins; Loss of vehicle control; Airbags did not deploy
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving vehicle in snow covered, slush covered roads conditions varied during day. The vehicle kept feeling like it was washing out side to side. I had 5 passengers in vehicle and they all could feel it and it scared them and I had to slow down to a dangerously slow speed on interstate, that was causing disruption to traffic flow. On way home took secondary roads so as to not disrupt…
I have a 2006 Subaru outback limited wagon. Driving on wet roads, not even icy, the most minor bump in the road, or frost heave, will send the vehicle's rear end swaying, almost out of control. This is supposedly known as ghost walking. This is extremely dangerous, as it happens at highway speeds, on straight roads, and causes the vehicle to sway back and forth across the lane. Tires have been…
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 59,500 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 69,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 59,500; a quarter make it past 140,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.