NHTSA Complaint #11174991 — 2011 SUBARU FORESTER

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM AN ESTATE AND HAD TO WAIT 3 MONTHS TO GET THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION FOR THE DMV. I PUT IT ON THE ROAD 1/31/19. I WENT THROUGH THE CAR TO VERIFY THE SPARE TIRE AND JACK WERE IN GOOD ORDER. THE SPARE TIRE WELL LOCATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE FLOOR MAT HAD 3 INCHES OF WATER IN IT. I REMOVED THE TIRE AND WET VACUUMED THEN DRIED OUT THE WELL. I NOTICED SOME RUST ON THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL AS WELL AS THE RIM OF THE SPARE LEADING ME TO THE CONCLUSION IT HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM. I GOOGLED IT TO FIND THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH DETAILED NOTES OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE. WITH TODAY'S RAIN AS I DROVE TO WORK, I LOOKED IN THE WELL TO FIND ANOTHER INCH OF WATER IN IT.