NHTSA Complaint #10267401 — 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX

MY 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX, WHICH I USE AS A DAILY DRIVER, HAD A MAJOR ENGINE BREAKDOWN AT ABOUT 9000 MILES CONSISTING OF A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND EXTREME ENGINE VIBRATION. THE SYMPTOMS WERE CONFIRMED BY MY DEALER AS A SPUN ROD BEARING (#4). MY ENGINE AND TURBOCHARGER WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY (AFTER A 24 DAY WAIT). SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN DONE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE (OIL CHANGES). WHILE THE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY SITUATION, AS I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME AT THE TIME, I FEEL THAT AN ISSUE LIKE THIS COULD PRESENT AN UNSAFE SITUATION WERE IT TO HAPPEN ON THE MANY LONG ROAD TRIPS THAT I TAKE, OFTEN IN UNPOPULATED OR RURAL AREAS. I ALSO DRIVE IN THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS QUITE A BIT IN WINTER TO GO SKIING AND A BREAKDOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE IN FREEZING WEATHER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SAFE. MY RESEARCH (AND DEALER STATEMENTS) INDICATE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF WRX'S BUILT IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF PRODUCTION ARE EXPERIENCING. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED NO EXPLANATION ABOUT WHY THIS HAPPENED OR WHY IT IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHERS WHO OWN THIS CAR. ALTHOUGH I HAVE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, I HAVE RECEIVED ABSOLUTELY NO ASSURANCES THAT IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND (FRANKLY) HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN THE CAR AT THIS TIME, AS I DO NOT WANT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY (INCLUDING 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER) TO BE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE BECAUSE MY ALMOST-NEW CAR ENGINE FAILS AT LOW MILEAGE FOR NO REASON. FOR REASONS OF PRIVACY I AM NOT ATTACHING MY VIN NUMBER, BUT I CAN PROVIDE IT IF REQUIRED FOR FOLLOW-UP. THE BUILD DATE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 7/2008. *TR