NHTSA Complaint #10407038 — 2004 SUBARU LEGACY

WHILE OPERATING THE 2004 SUBARU LEGACY LT AT A SPEED OF 30 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST, CAUSING SEVER LACK OF CONTROL, THE BATTERY TROUBLE LIGHT AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY OCCURRED. UPON INSPECTION (UNDER THE HOOD), IT WAS NOTED THAT ONE OF THE TWO DRIVE BELTS HAD BEEN RIPPED APART AND THE SECOND BELT HAD BEEN DISLODGED FROM IT'S PULLEYS , LEAVING THE POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONER ETC WITHOUT DRIVE BELTS. IT WAS FURTHER FOUND AND NOTED THAT THE PULLEY MOUNTED ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT HAD IN FACT SEPARATED FROM ITS MOUNTING HUB AND WAS EASILY REMOVED BY HAND WITHOUT EFFORT. THE SLIPPING LOOSE AND WANDERING PULLEY RESULTED IN THROWING AND DAMAGING THE POWER DRIVE BELTS AND COULD HAVE COME OFF COMPLETELY AND BE PROPELLED INTO THE RADIATOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS. BEING ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE PREVENTED FURTHER DANGER AND DAMAGE. *TR