NHTSA Complaint #740448 — 1998 SUBARU IMPREZA

REPEATED FAILURES OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY BEGINNING AT 29, 033 MILES. MOST RECENT REPAIR AT 58, 637 MILES REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, AXLE SHAFT ASSEMBLY , RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY, AND SEALS. RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH; SOME HANDLING PROBLEMS DURING FAILURE AT THIS SPEED. MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE STATES THAT SUBARU CORPORATE POLICY DOES NOT REIMBURSE CONSUMER/OPERATOR FOR INCIDENTAL EXPENSES -- RENTAL TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, TAXIS, AND SO FORTH -- AS A CONSEQUENCE OF BREAKDOWN. MY CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IS LOW; I BELIEVE THAT THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED THROUGH EITHER MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND/OR WORKMANSHIP. WILL FORWARD FULL DOCUMENTATION OF INCIDENTS AND REPAIR HISTORY TO NHTSA VIA U.S. MAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *AK