NHTSA Complaint #11280168 — 2015 SUBARU FORESTER

WE NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR OF THE FORESTER WAS 4-5 INCHES LOWER THAN THE LEFT. ON INSPECTION OF THE SUSPENSION, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SUBARU DEALER. THE BREAK LOOKED RUSTY (IT IS COATED WITH BLACK PLASTIC MATERIAL) BUT NOT COMPLETELY DEGRADED. THIS VEHICLE HAS 43,838 MILES ON IT, IS IN PERFECT SHAPE, AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR IN AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING THAT WE DID JUSTIFIES A BROKEN COIL SPRING, ESPECIALLY ON AN SUV LIKE A SUBARU. THE BEST I CAN THINK OF IS THAT THE SPRING MIGHT HAVE BROKEN A WEEK EARLIER WHEN WE WERE RIDING THOUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SPEED BUMPS, BUT WE WERE GOING LESS THAN 25 MPH. CERTAINLY NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BREAK A COIL SPRING. WHEN I SEARCHED ON-LINE, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR 2014 AND 2015 FORESTERS. THERE IS CLEARLY A FAULT IN THE SPRING MATERIAL OR DESIGN PARAMETERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD SINCE WITH A BROKEN SPRING THE VEHICLE FELT UNSTABLE WHEN TURNING AND THE REAR SWAYED SOMEWHAT AT 50 MPH AND ABOVE. I BELIEVE IT REQUIRES A RECALL. THE SUBARU DEALER REPLACED THE BROKEN SPRING AND THE REAR STRUT FOR $500.