NHTSA Complaint #10536084 — 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT APPROXIMATELY 150K MILES TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS JUST OVER 167K MILES NOW. WHILE BEING LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC IN JUNE 2013, MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME WAS ROTTED AND REAR TRAILING ARM BUSHINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SUBARU ACKNOWLEDGED THIS ISSUE, WITH RECALL NUMBER WWM-96 (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V153). I USE THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS FOR WORK AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE AND CARE, REPLACING ALL WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE HEAD GASKETS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. ON 8/19/2013, I CALLED SUBARU TO SPEAK WITH A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVE THE SUBFRAME RECALL ISSUE, AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED PART OR EVEN WORK WITH ME ON A SOLUTION. I WAS TOLD, "THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR YOU," LEAVING ME WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE OF A POOR QUALITY PART MADE BY SUBARU. I WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN BEING TOLD TO CONTACT MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER FOR REPAIRS. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BATTLE, AND I AM HOPING THAT SUBARU OR NHTSA CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP KEEP ME SAFE WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. *TR