NHTSA Complaint #11092313 — 2007 SUBARU FORESTER

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED FROM NJ, AND RECENTLY RELOCATED TO WA. APPROX. 126K MILES, THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER SIDE RUSTED THROUGH, DROPPING THE CAR ONTO THE WHEEL, AND PULLING THE DRIVEAXLE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT APPEARS THAT THE CONTROL ARM RUSTED FROM THE TOP SIDE, WHICH WOULD LIKELY BE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW TO LOOK FOR IT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN FIRST BACKING UP FROM THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING, LESS THAN 1 FOOT OF TRAVEL BEFORE I STOPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. I SPOKE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA, WHO TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL ON THE CONTROL ARM WAS "CLOSED" AND THAT THE REPAIR COSTS WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND WOULD NEVER ACCEPT THAT CATASTROPHIC CORROSION IN A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE SUSPENSION COULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE DEFECT FOR WHICH THE END USER SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY. IF THE CAR WAS INDEED "TREATED" FOR THIS CONDITION BY THE OWNER AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL, THEN CLEARLY THE TREATMENT IS UNSATISFACTORY AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. MY ONLY BLESSING IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT IT DID NOT FAIL THE PREVIOUS EVENING WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, OR LATER THAT MORNING HAD I BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.