-
Steering, suspension
02/07/2019
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 11V464000 (SUBARU SAFETY RECALL WVX-34) COVERS 2002-2007 IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. THE SAFETY RECALL COVERS CARS REGISTERED IN 20 RUST BELT STATES. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED IN THOSE STATES, SO IT IS TECHNICALLY NOT COVERED, BUT IT IS DRIVEN THERE REGULARLY SINCE WE LIVE ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA DID NOT TREAT OR REPLACE MY LOWER CONTROL ARM SINCE IT TECHNICALLY DIDN'T MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO RUST WHILE DRIVING - CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LUCKILY MAINTAINED AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE SAFETY RECALL STATES "THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION", WHICH IT DID. THE SAFETY COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT SURROUNDING STATES FOR SAFETY RECALLS THAT COVER SPECIFIC STATES. VEHICLES, WEATHER AND ROAD TREATMENTS DO NOT STOP AT STATES BORDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROAD TREATMENTS AS VEHICLES IN THE NEIGHBORING STATES AND FAILED, AS PREDICTED BY SUBARU.
-
Fuel/propulsion System
12/15/2018
IN COLD TEMPERATURES THE FUEL LEAKS FROM RUBBER FUEL LINES ONTO THE FUEL RAIL AND MANIFOLD RESULTING IN A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING INTO THE VEHICLES CABIN. WHEN AT A STOP WITH THE VEHICLE IDILING THE SMELL IS OVERWHELMING. NOT NEARLY AS BAD WHILE DRIVING.
-
Fuel/propulsion System
10/30/2013
VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CABIN THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH SPILLED FUEL BUT THERE WASN'T ANY SPILLED IN EITHER LOCATION. THE SMELL IS STRONGEST WHILE DRIVING WITH HEAT OR A/C ON TO THE POINT THAT WINDOWS HAD TO BE OPENED BECAUSE THE FUMES WERE IRRITATING THE EYES. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A MECHANIC, WAS TOLD THAT A COMMON PROBLEM IS THE RUBBER FUEL LINES THAT RUN ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DRY ROT AND BREAK CAUSING RAW GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE.
-
Fuel/propulsion System
01/02/2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WITHOUT WARNING. SUBARU OF WINCHESTER (3019 VALLEY AVE, WINCHESTER, VA) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A MANAGER WOULD CALL THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000.
-
Suspension
05/06/2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FACTURED AND SEPERATED. BOTH FRONT WHEELS TURNED OUTWARD AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION FAILED, WHICH LOWERED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION) AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11011 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (AUTOBARN SUBARU OF COUNTRYSIDE, 6191 JOLIET RD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525, (708) 497-3999) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED OTHER THAN SUGGESTING THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.