[Subionthego]

hey y’all new here and hoping for some help. New 2013 crosstrek to me,111k I’ve but 5k on it, just got new tires, hankook dynaoro at2. First time driving in snow and something bizarre happened once the roads become completely snowpacked and all 4 tires are in snow the car starts to kinda lurch back and forth, almost like it’s going to go into a fishtail but just very subtly. As soon as it’s back to pavement it stops but every bit where it’s snowpacked it doesn’t ride smooth and something feels off…can be a straight, flat section of road and as soon as it goes to snow I start to feel it…any ideas?!

 

[Raleighmclemore]

Not sure what you mean when you say "lurch back and forth." Is the car stalling and then going forward? Or is the motion side to side?

 

[Subionthego]

Not sure what you mean when you say "lurch back and forth." Is the car stalling and then going forward? Or is the motion side to side?

It is almost as if the wheels aren’t spinning the same speed?…there is no change in mph but it feels like I am constantly on the verge of a fishtail, pulls for a slight second one way then the other, nothing major and my car never actually looses control but I can feel it a little one way then the other…this happens when the road is straight and I do not turn the wheel At all… as soon as it hits the snow It’s no longer a smooth straight ride, like all 4 tires are trying to maintain traction and keep up with each other … also I’m not taking a ton of snow, just when it turns to a snow packed road and all 4 tires are no longer on pavement…

I’ve been driving Subarus in snow my whole life with all sorts of tires over the years, good snow tires, bad all season tires, the works and this feels unlike anything I’ve felt before….

 

[Subionthego]

Almost feels like the way a rear wheel drive car acts in the snow but not as extreme as the awd definitely catches it before it fishtails out totally

 

[Raleighmclemore]

I am not well informed on this issue and others here might have much more sound advice and knowledge. My first thought would be something going on with traction control. You actually have more experience with Subarus than I (my '18 is my first) but it definitely was uneven when going up very low traction hills and Xmode is a big help.

 

[AM407]

I took a quick look and found this: Rear-end Pulls Left and Right in Snow

Seems like “ghostwalking” is a thing. Google that and Subaru and you’ll get plenty of hits. Good luck!

 

[77'911]

Things I'd check:
1) check & change the diff oils(especially if it's not been done in the last 30k) as the car is new to you with 111k
2) check the DTC's in the ECU (IE look for DTC's for the sensors)
If the drive train mounts(motor and trans) have never been done, you might consider them. When bad, it feels like the car is all over the place as drive train is slopping around in the chassis. Good luck with the car.

 

[Subionthego]

Oh boy it does sound like it’s this ghost walking problem in the snow…unfortunately it doesn’t seem like there is one thing that will fox it…guess I start with an alignment even tho she tracks very straight on the highway?

 

[Fate]

Just a thought here… but consider the rear tires as the cause? Maybe swap fronts to back and see the difference if any?

 

[serotta]

Have you tried turning off Traction Control or x-mode?

 

[Subionthego]

ok so turns out I'm not crazy!! after a little digging it turns out that many had this issue with the earlier crosstreks...

XV yaw (lateral movement) with wind and ice

I don't see any difference in the body mounts as far as lift spacers between the Legacy and Outback, just seems the Legacy Sedan has a lower spring/strut suspension setup. You are correct. I installed a set of Legacy GT struts and springs on her car with a small rear strut spacer to account for...

www.subaruxvforum.com

looks like an alignment solved the issue some of the times but others continued to have problems....

 

[ecip]

Who did you purchase the car from?

 

[6MTCrosstrekNY]

Turn off traction control.