NHTSA Complaint #10151066 — 2000 SUBARU FORESTER

LETTER RECEIVED FROM SUBARU MARCH 2004 STATING THAT A COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE COOLING SYSTEM TO PREVENT AN EXTERNAL COOLANT LEAK AT THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. WENT TO SUBARU AS REQUIRED BY LETTER MARCH 9, 2004, THEY ADD COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER AND I AM TOLD THIS WILL PREVENT LEAKS AT THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS AND THIS IS STATED IN THE LETTER TOO. NOTE THAT THE FIRST TIME, I RECEIVE THIS NOTICE IS 4 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. THE MOST RECENT SERVICE, I HAD DONE BY ANNAPOLIS SUBARU WAS THE COOLANT SYSTEM SERVICE IN NOVEMBER 2005. IT IS FEBRUARY 2006 AND MY CAR NEEDS A CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HERB GORDON SUBARU, THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE FAILURE IS A SAFETY RISK. AT NO POINT ARE YOU WARNED THAT YOUR ENGINE MAY STOP OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR. I AM TOLD THAT SUBARU WILL PAY FOR THIS REPAIR IF YOUR CAR HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. MY CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 132,297 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE PERSON THEN TELLS ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS REDESIGNED BY SUBARU TO PREVENT THIS ISSUE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. SUBARU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING A FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILES, WHERE IS THE MANDATORY RECALL? *NM