NHTSA Complaint #11192459 — 2011 SUBARU IMPREZA

3 TIMES MY ENGINE HAS NEEDED A SHORT BLOCK REPLACEMENT. I HAVE BROUGHT CAR IN FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500-4000 MILES. THE FIRST ENGINE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT 26,250 MI. I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND AND BROUGHT TO SUBARU DEALER. DIAGNOSIS: "BEARING DAMAGE TO CONNECTING ROD BEARING FOR CYLINDER 2." SHORT BLOCK REPLACED, UNDER WARRANTY. (SEE DOCS) 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 51,232 MILES. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING AND I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. NO DIAGNOSIS WAS GIVEN AT THAT TIME BUT SHORT BLOCK WAS AGAIN REPLACED. THIS TIME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TEARDOWN ($222) BUT SUBARU, AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AGREED TO DO THE WORK AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." (SEE DOCS) THE 3RD & LAST MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AT 58,700 MILES, A MERE 7,000 MILES SINCE THE LAST ENGINE WAS REPLACED. AGAIN, I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND WITH A MOMENTS NOTICE (REDUCTION IN POWER) THE ENGINE SEIZED. IT WAS SHEER LUCK THAT I WAS NOT KILLED TRYING TO MOVE OVER 6 LANES WITH NO POWER OR STEERING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY. TOWED TO A SUBARU DEALER. I DO NOT HAVE ANY PAPERWORK FROM THIS LAST INCIDENT. SUBARU SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR ENTIRE REPAIR. BUT BEFORE I COULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION, I ASKED FOR WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROBLEM, CAUSE AND A DETAILED REPAIR DESCRIPTION. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION & DID NOT GIVE CONSENT TO REPAIR CAR. JUST GOT A CALL FROM THE DEALER SAYING CAR WAS REPAIRED AND READY FOR PICKUP. THE ONLY INFORMATION I HAVE REGARDING THIS LAST SEIZURE WAS FROM A SUBARU OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICES REP WHO VERBALLY TOLD ME THAT "THE CYLINDER 4 ROD WAS THROWN." THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WHEN A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 58000 MILES NEEDS 3 ENGINES. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN. I WILL NOT JEOPARDIZE MY LIFE AND OF THOSE AROUND ME.