NHTSA Complaint #10621919 — 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA

IN A CRIME RIDDEN NEIGHBORHOOD I HAD A FLAT TIRE WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE. THIS WAS DUE TO MY SUBARU LABELED AND PACKAGED "MCGARD" WHEEL KEY WHICH CRACKED AND BECAME UNUSABLE. TIRE SALES AND REPAIR FACILITY SUMMONED FOR ASSISTANCE REPORTS THEY HAVE A "BUCKET" FULL OF THIS BRAND OF WHEEL LOCK "KEYS" WHICH CRACKED AND BECAME UNUSABLE. AFTER MY FIRST MCGARD WHEEL LOCK KEY CRACKED, MCGARD SENT ME A FREE WHEEL LOCK "KEY" AND SAID THE ORIGINAL CRACKED, BECAUSE SOMEONE USED EXCESSIVE AIR-WRENCH TORQUE TO REMOVE LUG NUTS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE UNTRUE, BECAUSE TO ELIMINATE THIS POSSIBILITY, I PERSONALLY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE FOUR KEYED WHEEL LOCKS (WITH MY BRAND NEW WHEEL LOCK KEY) PRIOR TO A TIRE ROTATION AT A TIRE SALES FACILITY. THE BRAND NEW WHEEL LOCK KEY CRACKED AGAIN (AFTER THE THIRD MCGARD LUG), SIMPLY BY ME TRYING TO REMOVE THE KEYED LUGS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED SUBARU LUG NUT TORQUE HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 62' LBS., AND IT IS NOW APPROXIMATELY 85' LBS. PLEASE ALSO SEE MY OTHER NHTSA COMPLAINT REGARDING THE UNUSABLE SUBARU SUPPLIED LUG WRENCH. I BELIEVE THIS AFFECTS 2013 MODELS, AND VERY POSSIBLY MODEL YEARS PRIOR TO 2012. *TR