I purchased a 2011 Subaru outback 2.5i limited on nov 30 2010. On the drive home from the new car dealership the steering wheel had a shimmy and the entire car was vibrating. The vibration began 45mph and had gotten worse at 65/70mph. I contacted the dealer the next day and they determined by test driving the car that the four continental pro contact tires were defective. Eventually they…
2011 Subaru Outback steering problems
severe 36 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1fire
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 18 model years of Subaru Outback in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
2011 Subaru outback 3.6r - car has vibration that can be mostly felt in the steering wheel at highway speeds. Vibration can also be felt in the seats and floor. Vibration comes and goes at various speeds. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Subaru Outback?
It's a meaningful issue. 36 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 6,000 and 94,467 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 94,467. 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/2011/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.