NHTSA Complaint #11243254 — 2019 SUBARU IMPREZA

AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR A MONTH, I NOTICED THE HOOD HAD BECOME UNEVEN WHERE IT MEETS THE FRONT END. I ALSO BEGAN TO NOTICE A WIDER GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE RIGHT FENDER THAN ON THE LEFT SIDE. THIS GAP HAS WIDENED. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ALBANY SUBARU, THE SERVICE MANAGER MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT MADE MINIMAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOOD WHERE IT MEETS THE FRONT END, THOUGH IT IS STILL UNEVEN. THE RUBBER GASKET STILL DOESN'T FILL THE GAP. THIS MADE THE GAP BETWEEN THE RIGHT FENDER AND HOOD EVEN WIDER. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO ALBANY SUBARU. THE SERVICE MANAGER RAISED THE HOOD PAD ON ONE SIDE AND LOWERED IT ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE AND DOCUMENTED THE CAR IS WITHIN SUBARU SPECS. I CONTACTED SUBARU. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. I AM WAITING FOR THE SECOND DEALER TO CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I HAVE ALREADY SENT SUBARU PHOTOS OF THE PROBLEMS AND MY CONCERN THAT THE GAP IS CONTINUING TO GET WIDER AS I DRIVE. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE STEERING. THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR TIMES WHERE THE STEERING SEEMS TO MOMENTARILY DISAPPEAR. BY THIS I MEAN I GET THE FEELING THE STEERING WHEEL IS COMPLETELY LOOSE, NO NORMAL TENSION WHILE HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT. BY THE TIME I CAN REACT, THE NORMAL TENSION RETURNS TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THIS IS THE LANE DRIFT MONITORING OF THE CAR. I TOLD HIM I EXPERIENCE A QUICK VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIFTING LANES, NOT A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. HE IGNORED ME AND SAID THE STEERING IS FINE. NHTSA WEB SITE ONLY LET ME UPLOAD ONE PHOTO. I HAVE FIVE PHOTOS TO SHOW MEASUREMENTS ON ALL SIDES OF THE HOOD GAPS