NHTSA Complaint #10574491 — 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA

UNABLE TO CHANGE FLAT TIRE. THE WHEEL-NUT OR LUG-NUT TORQUE REQUIRED BY SUBARU IS 89FT LBS. THIS TORQUE WAS THE TORQUE ON MY WHEEL-NUTS, AS VERIFIED TWICE BY A NEW-TIRE SALES FACILITY. WITH SUBARU'S 11 1/2" WRENCH, MOST WOMEN AND MANY MEN (MYSELF INCLUDED) CANNOT LOOSEN THESE NUTS. MY WEIGHTLIFTING NEIGHBOR COULD NOT BELIEVE HE COULD NOT LOOSEN THE LUG-NUTS WITH THE SUPPLIED WRENCH. THEY ARE THAT TIGHT! THE OWNER'S MANUAL CAUTIONS NOT TO STAND ON THE WRENCH. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAVE SOMEONE STRANDED, PERHAPS IN A DANGEROUS AREA, OR UNDER DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. SUBARU SHOULD VERIFY THIS PROBLEM, BY HAVING INDIVIDUALS TRY TO LOOSEN THE NUTS. ANYONE WITH THIS VEHICLE (DO OTHER MODELS ALSO HAVE THIS CONDITION?) IS ADVISED TO FIGURE A WAY TO REMOVE THESE NUTS BEFORE AN EMERGENCY OCCURS. *TR