NHTSA Complaint #10852172 — 2016 SUBARU FORESTER

THE BASE MODEL STEEL WHEEL HAS A TROUGH RUNNING AROUND THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL, TWO INCHES WIDE AND ONE INCH DEEP. SNOW PACKS INTO THE WHEELS, MELTS, AND OVERNIGHT THE WATER THAT ACCUMULATES IN THE TROUGH AT THE BASE OF THE WHEEL FREEZES SOLIDLY. IT WILL NOT BREAK LOOSE. THIS ICE BLOCK IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A VERY LARGE WHEEL BALANCE WEIGHT. THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 45 MPH. THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT IMMEDIATE SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A LONG TERM SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE LIKELY DAMAGE TO THE ALIGNMENT AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN SIX WEEKS. THE DEALER'S RESPONSE WAS TO TAKE IT TO CAR WASH. I WROTE SUBARU OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THEY WILL PASS MY EXPERIENCE ON TO NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.