NHTSA Complaint #10078712 — 2000 SUBARU FORESTER

RUMBLING UNDER CAR WAS INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED. 1ST INCIDENT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND 2003. FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS FALIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR IN IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING AND NOBODY WAS OPEN. I FINALLY GOT CAR TO HUNTER IN NC FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. PARTS PERSON TOLD ME THEY NEVER REPLACE FORESTER BEARINGS WITH ORIGINAL PARTS. THEY USE OUTBACK OR SOME OTHER MODEL INSTEAD. THEY DID NOT REPLACE AXLE BUT I THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO NORMAL FIX. SOME COMPONENTS HAD FROZE AND THEY HAD TO GO IN BACKWARDS TO FIX. I THINK THE BEARINGS ARE VERY HEAVY DUTY AND WILL DRIVE FOR A LONG TIME DAMAGED AND SO CRASH IS UNLIKELY. I DROVE 800 MILES WITH RUMBLING. 2ND INCIDENT JUN 21 2004 - BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND REAR RIGHT AXLE WAS FROZE AND ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME I BROUGHT CAR IN TO SUBARU OF BEECHMONT VERY NEAR TO START OF RUMBLING. SUBARU OF AMERICA IS TRYING TO SAY THAT MY VEHICLE SHOWS SIGNS OF HEAVY TRAILERING AS EXCUSE TO NOT REIMBURSE ME. I USE MY HITCH SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND MY REAR BRAKES ARE BEING REPLACED AT 82,000 MILES WHICH WOULD NOT BE TRUE IF I TRAILERED AS THEY CLAIM. THEY SAID THAT MY HITCH BALL SHOWED HEAVY WEAR AND IT HAS PROBABLY ONLY BEEN USED LESS THAN 2 DOZEN TIMES IN IT'S ENTIRE LIFE. IT LOOKS NEW. THEY ARE TRYING TO DIVERT ATTENTION AND I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE THEY ARE DOING THIS WITH. WHEN I TALK PRIVATELY WITH DEALERSHIP PERSONELL THEY AGREE THAT FORESTERS AROUND 2000 HAVE REAL ISSUES WITH WHEEL BEARINGS. PERSONELL AGREE THAT BEARINGS AND AXLES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR 3 BEARINGS TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. I THINK IT IS AN UNDER-REPORTED DESIGN FLAW. ACCIDENTS DON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THEY ARE SO HEAVY DUTY THAT THEY GRIND DOWN LONG ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE USUALLY GET THEM IN FOR REPAIR BEFORE THE WHEEL FALLS OFF. THERE IS POTENTIAL HERE FOR DISASTER. *AK