NHTSA Complaint #10188927 — 2007 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA

I HAVE A SUBARU TRIBECA 7 PASSENGER. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE TOLLWAY AND A ROCK FLEW UP AND BUSTED A HOLE IN MY RADIATOR. WHEN I TOOK IT TO SUBARU, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. THERE IS AN OPENING IN THE FRONT GRILL WITHOUT ANY SLATS. THE RADIATOR HANGS LOW ENOUGH SO ANYTHING CAN FLY UP, THROUGH THIS OPENING AND PUNCTURE THE RADIATOR. I WAS TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN IN 1 OUT OF 3000 CARS. I CHECKED MOST OF THE OTHER CROSSOVER SUV BY OTHER MANUFACTURES, AND THEY EITHER HAVE SLATS IN THE OPENING OR THE RADIATOR DOES NOT HANG DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO BE EXPOSED TO ANY ROAD DEBRIS. I HAD THE CAR 1 WEEK AFTER BUYING IT NEW AND HAD TO SPEND OVER $600 ON A RADIATOR. BUT, MY BIGGER CONCERN, IS THAT IT CAN HAPPEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THANKFULLY, I DID NOT CRASH THE VEHICLE. SUBARU NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN. *TR