1. Inability To Steer
If a tie rod end fails completely, you’ll lose the ability to steer your car. The good news is that this is unlikely to happen without any of the previous symptoms. As long as you listen to what your Subaru is telling you and don’t put off service, this is something that can be avoided. But if your Subaru is giving you any of the above signs and you ignore them, you could be in for trouble.
2. A Squealing Sound When You Turn
Squealing is never a good thing to hear from your car. If you hear a loud, high-pitched squeal that sounds like a shriek whenever you turn your car, it may be a sign that the tie rod ends are worn and need to be replaced. There are other potential causes, including ball joints with bad lubrication or a low level of power steering fluid. Since all of these can be dangerous to you and your vehicle, you should have a squeal looked at immediately.
3. Uneven, Excessive Tire Wear
This one can often be checked on your own with a visual inspection. Compare the inside and outside edges of the tires. If they show excessive wear on one side but little wear on the other, it could be due to tie rod troubles. However, this isn’t the only cause; it could be a problem with other parts of the suspension.
4. Misaligned Front End
A bad tie rod end isn’t the only thing that can cause your vehicle to track poorly. In fact, it’s much more common to see misalignment from bumping into a curb or going over a pothole. However, loose or worn tie rod ends can cause front-end misalignment. This is one of the reasons it’s important to bring your vehicle in for an alignment check about once per year or so.
5. A Steering Wheel that Feels Unusual
A steering wheel in your vehicle that feels different than you’ve become used to is always cause to schedule a service appointment for your Subaru, but there are two particular things that may point to failing tie rod ends. If the wheel shakes or vibrates, and this vibration gets worse when you turn corners, it could be due to a loose tie rod end. A steering wheel that feels like it has a lot of play in it can also be a symptom of a loose tie rod end.
