NHTSA Complaint #11425066 — 2015 SUBARU XV CROSSTREK

At approximately 67,300 miles, while performing routine maintenance, my mechanic discovered that my front wheel bearing set needed replacing. Soon after that, I heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. At first, my mechanic couldn't diagnose the problem. When the noise got louder, I returned to my mechanic, and he discovered that the wheel bearings in both of my rear wheels needed replacing. The vehicle had 81,565 miles at the time he replaced them. With some internet research, I found that many Subaru owners with the same vehicle had experienced the same problem. I also found a bulletin from Subaru describing a faulty rear wheel backing plate (Bulletin # 05-70-19). If Subaru had notified me of the defect, I could have had it promptly replaced. Instead, they risked my safety, as a wheel could have stopped while I was driving. I chose not to take it to the dealer, because it is a 1.5 hour drive from my home, on a remote highway. Diagnosis and repair would have been separate appointments, 2 weeks apart, and the dealer told me the chance of reimbursement was 50%. This vehicle is available for inspection.