NHTSA Complaint #10122159 — 1999 SUBARU FORESTER

LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS A CRACKED CYLINDER OR PISTON. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO REPIAR - HOPING THAT SUBARU WOULD COVER PART OF THE COST (NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTEE.) HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP AFTER A REP. FROM SUBARU LOOKED AT THE CAR - THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PISTONS IN THIS CAR DO NOT HAVE A SKIRTING. THERFORE WHEN THEY GO UP AND DOWN IN THE CYLINDER THEY HAVE MORE ROOM THAN NORMAL AND CAN MOVE AROUND MORE. (SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING FLAW TO ME.) SUBARU SAYS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO COVER 40% OF THE COST TO REPAIR. I FEEL THAT I BOUGHT A CAR THAT WASN'T DESIGNED VERY WELL - AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU'S COSTUMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND AM WAITING FOR THEM TO REPLY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE I WAS THE 2ND OWNER OF THE CAR - I WAS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET ANY MORE HELP. REALLY MAKES YOU WANT TO BUY A USED SUBARU!