NHTSA Complaint #10371732 — 2004 SUBARU FORESTER

CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER DESIGN FLAW EXCLUSIVE DEALERSHIPS REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH HIS ENGINE DUE TO A BLOWN TURBO. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SELL THE REPLACEMENT PART TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC DUE TO THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE INSTALLATION PROCESS. SUBARU LATER RESPONDED IN WRITING DENYING ALL CLAIMS EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMER SUPPLIED THEM WITH VALID REASONS. THE CONSUMER LEARNED SUBARU WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM DATING BACK TO 2005 AND A TSB WAS ISSUED. THE TSB STATED THAT OIL STARVATION TO THE TURBO WAS THE MAIN CAUSE FOR THE TURBO FAILURE. THE OIL STARVATION HAPPENED WHEN THE OIL FEED FILTER BANGO BECAME CLOGGED. SUBARU REALIZED THE DESIGN FLAW IN THE TURBO SYSTEM AND LATER REDESIGNED THE TURBO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *JB