NHTSA Complaint #11019179 — 2012 SUBARU FORESTER

SINCE MARCH, 2017 MY FORESTER BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH IN TO REVERSE OUT OF THE GARAGE. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS TOO EARLY FOR THE CLUTCH TO FAIL AT ONLY 74,000 MILES AND LUBRICATED IT-- TWICE OVER THE INSURING MONTHS AS THE NOISE NOT ONLY PERSISTED BUT GOT LOUDER AND MORE PERSISTENT. IN AUGUST, I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT SHOP OUT OF TOWN AND THEY CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS THAT THE THROW OUT BEARING WAS FAILING. TO REPAIR IT INVOLVED A NEW CLUTCH KIT AND A DAY OF LABOR FOR A $1300 BILL. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FIVE DAYS NOW SINCE IT WAS FIXED AND THE CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE WORKING FINE AGAIN. I AM FILING THIS REPORT SO OTHERS WILL BE AWARE OF A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAY TOO EARLY IN MILEAGE AND NOT ASSUME IT'S A SQUEAK THAT LUBRICANT CAN FIX. FOR TEN YEARS, I HAD A 2002 MANUAL FORESTER THAT I DROVE FOR OVER 200,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM. A CLUTCH REBUILD AT 75,649 MILES IS RIDICULOUS AND SUBARU SHOULD WARN OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM.