NHTSA Complaint #704176 — 1997 SUBARU IMPREZA

THE ORIGINAL HUBCAPS ARE A SAFETY VIOLATION. SUBARU MADE A VERY BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN. THEY FASTENED A PLASTIC RING WITH HOLES TO EACH RIM THAT THE HUBCAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO FIT IN WITH A TWIST. THE PROBLEM IS THE AMOUNT OF FORCE OR POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH THAT'S REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE HUBCAP SO ONE CAN CHANGE A TIRE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. A SPECIAL TOOL TO DO THIS IS PROVIDED (AN AFTERTHOUGHT BY THE COMPANY -OOPS). PUTTING THE HUBCAPS ON IS MORE DIFFICULT AND EITHER WAY THE TOOL HAS TO BE RESTRAIGHTENED AT LEAST ONCE PER TIRE. I'VE RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY AND I'M IN GOOD SHAPE. I'M (6'& 188 LBS) AND I HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO REMOVE THE HUBCAPS. MY DAUGHTER COULD NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO REMOVING THE HUBCAP. SHE CAN WORK A JACK AND THE LUGNUTS BUT CANNOT TAKE THE HUBCAP OFF. WOMEN, SENIOR CITIZENS, AND MANY MEN CAN NOT PROVIDE THE LPS PER INCH TO REMOVE THE WHEELCOVER WHICH IS NECESSARY TO GET TO THE LUGNUTS. I WAS TOLD THAT SUBARU ONLY HAD THIS TYPE OF WHEELCOVER FOR 1996 & 1997. DO I HAVE TO REMOVE THESE RINGS AND PURCHASE NEW WHEELCOVERS SO I KNOW MY DAUGHTER WILL NOT GET STRANDED FROM A FLAT TIRE? I THINK SUBARU MISSED A VERY BASIC SAFETY MARK HERE AND SHOULD RECTIFY THE SITUATION.