NHTSA Complaint #10426229 — 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA

AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AFTER WORK, EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. THE CAR HAD DRIVEN FINE ALL THE WAY HOME, INCLUDING ON THE HIGHWAY. A FEW HOURS LATER WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE CAR TO LEAVE, IS WHEN I FOUND THE PROBLEM. AS I BEGAN TO BACK UP THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A SHUDDERING SOUND, AND BACKED UP CROOKED. IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING IN THE DRIVETRAIN WAS BINDING SEVERELY. I GOT OUT TO CHECK UNDERNEATH WITH A FLASHLIGHT, AND I NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES. THIS OCCURRED WHERE THE FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHING IS ATTACHED TO THE REST OF THE CONTROL ARM. COMPARING SIDE TO SIDE, THE FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO PARALLEL NOW. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, AS ONLY A FEW MILES PRIOR I WAS CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH! I'M ASSUMING THE SMALL BUMP AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY IS WHAT FINALLY CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT IT JUST AS EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN A BUMP OR POTHOLE ON THE HIGHWAY.