NHTSA Complaint #701048 — 1997 SUBARU LEGACY

CONTROL ARM CREASED AT CENTER DURING TURN AT LOW SPEED. DAMAGE APPEARS SIMILAR TO PLASTIC STRAW PLACED UNDER PRESSURE AT BOTH ENDS UNTIL STRESS CAUSES TO CREASE. TOW OPERATOR, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, STATED HE SAW NO SCRATCH OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CREASE TO OCCUR, STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE PRODUCT OF LONG TERM STRESS RELATED FAILURE. DEALER, HOWEVER, DISAGREES WITH THIS ANALYSIS, AND STATES IMPACT MUST HAVE OCCURRED TO CAUSE DAMAGE. IN ANY EVENT, SUCH A CONDITION COULD EASILY BE LIFE THREATENING UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE ARM EITHER BE STRENGTHEND OR PROTECTED TO MITIGATE SUCH A POSSIBILITY.