NHTSA Complaint #10070659 — 1999 SUBARU FORESTER

3 RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. AT 16000 MILES THE RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (9-11-01). AT 22000 MILES (4-23-03), RIGHT REAR BEARING NOISE RETURNED AND DEALER 'ADJUSTED' THE BEARING. WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, BUT DEALER DID NOT CHARGE FOR 'ADJUSTMENT'. AT 24100 MILES, BEARING FAILED WITH GRINDING AND SMOKE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. A 100 MILE TOW WAS NECESSARY. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. MY POSITION IS THAT IT WAS NEVER FIXED THE FIRST TIME. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS OTHERS WITH SIMILAR TALES. ONE TOLD OF HAVING BEARINGS REPLACED 6 TIMES. SUBARU ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN (#035002, DEC. 23, 2002) ADVISING OF A NEW WAY TO INSTALL THE REPLACEMENT BEARINGS. A TECH AT MY DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE TOLD TO START MAKING REPLACEMENTS USING A ROLLER BEARING INSTEAD OF THE OEM BEARING. ONE OTHER PROBLEM - AT ABOUT 20000 MILES AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, REQUIRING TOWING TO THE DEALER.