NHTSA Complaint #10078474 — 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA

I BOUGHT A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI IN JULY 2003 FROM BOB BAKER SUBARU IN EL CAJON, CALIFORNIA AND EVER SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE NEXT. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL SERVICING IS COMPLETED AT THE LANCASTER MAZDA-SUBARU LOCATION WHERE I LIVE. SEVERAL COSMETIC PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED SUCH AS: THE TRUNK LATCH DID NOT FUNCTION, THE BACK SEAT WAS UNHOOKED, THE SEAT LEVER THAT MOVES THE SEAT IN HALF, THE CUP HOLDER DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THE HEAD LIGHTS FOGGED UP. MECHANICAL FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED. IT HAS HAD AN ODD NOISE IN THE ENGINE SINCE THE BEGINNING WHICH SUBARU CLAIMS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR BECAUSE IT IS A "RACECAR". THE STARTER SOMETIMES GRINDS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR, SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. THE LEFT REAR CHASSIS MAKES AN ODD NOISE WHEN ROLLING THAT SUBARU COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE IT MAKES A LOUD METAL AGAINST METAL SCREECH. AS OF 6/18/2004 THE ENGINE HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. WHEN THE RPMS REACH BETWEEN 4000-5000 THE CAR CUTS OUT PRIOR TO ACCELERATING AND A BURNING SMELL IS DETECTED. I SPOKE WITH THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT WHEN THIS CAR IS DRIVEN A LITTLE BIT HARDER THAN NORMAL THEY ARE NOTICING THAT SEVERAL OF THE IMPREZA WRX STI'S ARE BEING BROUGHT BACK IN WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THEY HAVE NOTED SEVERAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS TURBO BOG, OVERHEATING, POOR PERFORMANCE, AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS BURNING UP. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DISTINCT PROBLEM WITH THIS OVER $30,000 AND I THINK A COMPLAINT SHOULD BE FILED AGAINST SUBARU. WHEN IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT BREAKS, AS IT WILL, IT WILL JUST SIT IN A GARAGE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX A CAR THAT IS MANUFACTURED POORLY. SUBARU HAS ADVISED THAT THIS CAR IS A RACE CAR AND IT IS FAR FROM THAT. THEY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THIS CAR SINCE THEY OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED A POORLY MADE VEHICLE.*AK