NHTSA Complaint #11243536 — 2015 SUBARU FORESTER

2015 SUBARU FORSTER WITH 50,098 MILES. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN IT AND THERE WAS NO BAGGAGE OR LOAD. AS I SAT DOWN ONTO THE SEAT, READY TO TURN IGNITION ON, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD POP AND I FELT THE REAR END OF THE CAR DROP. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN TURNED ON. ALL TIRES WERE FINE BUT TWO PIECES OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING LAY ON THE FLOOR. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED (I HOPE). ONE BREAK HAD CLEARLY HAPPENED LONG AGO SINCE BOTH BROKEN EDGES WERE VERY RUSTED. AT THE OTHER BREAK, THE PART WHICH HAD JUST SNAPPED WAS FRESH BUT HALF OF THAT BREAK WAS ALSO VERY RUSTED. I COULD NOT SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR SINCE THE WHEEL WAS NEARLY TOUCHING THE TOP OF THE WHEEL WELL. ON THE REPAIR SHOP LIFT, WE FOUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPRING WAS ALSO BROKEN. THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP DID NOT ANSWER MY PHONE CALL. SUBARU NATIONALLY CLAIMS THEY HAVEN'T ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS POOR QUALITY STEEL IN THIS SPRING. SO, I GOOGLED IT AND FOUND AN AMAZING NUMBER OF SIMILAR CLAIMS WITH 2014 1ND 2015 FORESTERS AND MANY WITH NEARLY THE SAME MILEAGE AND ALSO PHOTOS SHOWING THE BREAKS IN NEARLY THE SAME LOCATIONS. I BELIEVE THERE IS BAD STEEL IN THESE SPRINGS. JUST 50 MILES EARLIER ON THE PREVIOUS DAY I HAD BEEN TRANSPORTING A MOBILITY LIMITED HANDICAPPED PERSON IN VERY RURAL AREAS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE SCENE IF THE FINAL BREAK HAD HAPPENED THEN. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES - NO UNDO STRESS.