2000 Subaru Impreza

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A SERVICE BAY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS GOING A LITTLE TO FAST SO I HIT THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, I LET UP OFF THE PEDAL AND BRAKED AGAIN AND IT ACCELERATED AGAIN. I BUMPED THE ATTENDANT IN FRONT OF ME AND KNOCKED HIM DOWN. HE SAID HE WAS OK. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR RATHER THAN THE BRAKE BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT FURTHER DOWN THAN NORMAL AND WHEN I BRAKED MY FOOT CAME DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. AS PART OF THE SERVICE THEY CHECKED MY BRAKE FLUID AND SAID IT LOOKED GOOD. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I DROVE THE VEHICLE QUITE A BIT TO CHECK IT OUT. IT SEEMED TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY. NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I'VE BEEN INTO 100S OF SERVICE BAYS AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY MANY MILES. I HAVE ALWAYS CONSIDERED MYSELF AN EXCELLENT DRIVER. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I'M NOT SO SURE ANYMORE. IN ADDITION, THIS IS MY HIGH SCHOOL DAUGHTER'S CAR AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE FOR HER TO DRIVE.

RE: GENERAL ALTIMAX RT 205/60R15 DOT 65TM3T3 (PER CONTINENTAL). TREAD SEPARATION/BUBBLED SIDEWALLS WHEN VEHICLE TRAVELING 50-55MPH. DRIVER FELT TIRE GOING FLAT & PULLED OVER TO FIND SIDEWALL BUBBLED & DISTORTED AROUND ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE. SENT TO CONTINENTAL TIRE (ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GENERAL TIRE WARRANTY) WHO DENIED THE CLAIM BLAMING "UNDERINFLATION/OVERLOADING". THE OWNER/DRIVER OF THE CAR IS A FORMER DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN WHO MAINTAINS THE TIRES AND KNOWS SYMPTOMS OF TIRE PROBLEMS. (TWO AIR COMPRESSORS IN HOME GARAGE). THE CAR WAS NOT OVERLOADED. WHEN THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY SUBMISSION, A NUMBER OF TECH'S GATHERED AROUND AS NONE HAD EVER SEEN THIS PROFOUND LEVEL OF SEPARATION/BUBBLING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUBARU IMPERZA. THE REAR CONTINENTAL TIRES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED ABNORMAL TREAD WEAR INSIDE OF THE SIDE-WALL. THE TIRES ARE CUPPED AT THIS POINT. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE SUSPENSION AND THE ALIGNMENT, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED 63948, 67346, 84427 MILES. HAD TO GO ON THE INTERNET TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR (NEW) THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING RATTLING INSIDE OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART, AND SINCE THE PROBLEM WASN'T DANGEROUS, THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT. VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED IN SUBARU CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

I HAVE A 2000 SUBARU IMPREZA WAGON....I BOUGHT IT NOV 2004 TO USE IN MY BUSINESS. I BOUGHT IT MAINLY BECAUSE SUBARUS ARE RELIABLE, ECONOMICAL CARS...IT HAD 55,000 MILES ON IT...NOW IT HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH IS REALLY SLIPPING BADLY; NOT GOOD WHEN YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY INTO TRAFFIC. I KNOW PEOPLE WITH SUBARUS THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH UNTIL ALMOST 200,000 MILES. I REALLY FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH MY PARTICULAR CAR FOR IT TO BE SLIPPING SO BADLY AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE...IM THE SOLE DRIVER OF THE CAR AND I DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH....IT IS NOW DEC 14, 05 AND IT HAS BEEN SLIPPING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS NOW. IS THERE ANYTHING THE MANUFACTURER CAN DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM? I LOVE THE CAR BUT AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

1. NOT AWARE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THIS DEFECT. DESIGN IS SENSITIVE TO SMALL ADJUSTMENTS AND NOT ROBUST. 2. THROTTLE CABLE DISLODGES FROM GROOVE ON THROTTLE BODY LEVER WHEN ACCELERATOR IS FULLY DEPRESSED, PREVENTING THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION. THIS CONDITION CAUSES MOTOR TO ACCELERATE AT APROXIMATELY 1/3 TO 1/2 FULL THROTTLE. THIS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO SURGEN OF POWER DURING BRAKING. . CABLE END WAS REPOSITIONED AND CABLE SLACK ADJUSTED FROM 10 MILIMETERS TO 2 MILIMETERS. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE PREVENTED RECURANCE. 4.SUGGESTED DESIGN MODIFICATIONS INCLUDE: A. INCREASE GOOVE DEPTH ON THROTTLE LEVER AN ADDITIONAL 6 MI;IMETERS TO LESSEN TENDANCY OF CABLE TO DISLODGE. B. CHANGE SHAPE OF CABLE END TO PREVENT SEVERE TWISTING OF CABLE. CYLINDRICAL END COULD BE CHANGED TO SPHERICAL SHAPE, ALLOWING CABLE TO RELAX AND FIND NATURAL POSITION. THROTTLE LEVER WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE RE-DESIGNE TO ACCEPT THIS NEW CABLE END. A SIMPLE DEALER KIT WITH NEW LEVER COULD BE COULD BE INSTALLED QUICKLY DUE TO EASY ACCESSABILITY. THIS WOULD BE BETTER THAN NOTHING AND PREVENT A DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK