‘Who’s Gonna Tell Him?’: Man Tows Subaru. Then He Realizes The Tow Truck Method Might Have Just Totaled His Car

Before you try to tow a car yourself you want to check that your car can even be towed safely with a DIY approach or if it needs a professional.

One guy’s TikTok comment section is currently lit up with people claiming that the driver he filmed on the highway was doing it all wrong and there could be serious consequences for his Subaru. Others say that as long as he did this one thing, the Subaru will be totally fine. 

What’s Wrong With The Subaru Owner’s Towing Method?

In a video that's racked up a whopping 19.4 million views, content creator John (@babyblue_e92) films a white pickup truck with a motorcycle in the bed, hauling a Subaru behind it, rear wheels on the ground. 

"Who's gonna tell him he just totaled his car?" John asks in the text overlay.

The video doesn't include any explanation from John, just the footage, so plenty of people were confused about what was so bad about the setup. 

But the comment section filled in the blanks fast.

"For anyone that doesn’t understand: Subarus must be towed on a flatbed to prevent severe damage to their Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system. Because all four wheels are connected to the transmission, leaving any wheels on the ground while towing can cause the center differential, transmission, or AWD components to overheat and break," a commenter explained.

How Do You Properly Tow A Subaru?

Subaru's have Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and, while it’s one of the brand's most defining features, it’s also confusing to some. According to Sport Subaru, the entire drivetrain—from the engine to the rear differential—is mounted in a straight, symmetrical line, with power sent to all four wheels simultaneously. It's what gives Subarus their reputation for traction and stability.

But that same interconnected system is exactly what makes improper towing so risky.

Because all four wheels are linked, if any of them are spinning while others aren't (like the rear wheels are rolling on the ground while the front are lifted) the AWD components can experience binding or damage, VEHQ notes. Subaru's guidance for most of its cars is to use a flatbed only for towing since it keeps all four wheels off the ground.

A tow dolly is specifically advised against for AWD models.

That said, it's not a guaranteed write-off for every Subaru in every situation. Certain models do have more flexibility. According to VEHQ, Subaru has approved a number of its manual transmission AWD models, including the Impreza with manual, for flat towing with all four wheels on the ground, as long as the transmission is in neutral and the ignition is in the correct position.

The comment section was full of sarcasm interspersed with some solid points.

“If only they made transmission to where the wheels could freespin without resistance from the transmission we could call it like neutral or something,” a top comment read.

“For anyone who doesn't understand, it makes the car uncomfortable when you pull it by its front feet,” a person joked.

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“No guarantee, but I feel like the dude who has a tow dolly & is comfortably towing a car and hauling a bike probably knows to remove the four or so bolts it takes to disconnect the drive shaft to the differential before towing,” another pointed out.

Motor1 reached out to John via Instagram and TikTok direct message for comment and to Subaru via email. We'll be sure to update this if either responds.

 

 

 

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