2012 Subaru Impreza

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and was driven with manual steering. The failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that approximately four days after the first failure, the steering wheel failed to move. Additionally, the vehicle was losing oil and one quart of oil had to be added every month. The contact stated that the power steering, ABS, TPMS, transmission automatic transmission fluid (ATF), and 4-WD failure warning lights were illuminated. The passenger occupant sensor chimed for the passenger to secure the seat belt consistently even though the occupant was seated with the seat belt buckled securely. The contact who is a certified mechanic had replaced the rack and pinion. The contact noticed that the threads on the tie rods were close in proximately risking the chance of damaging the tie rods. The ABS module had been replaced. The contact believed that the engine needed to be replaced but the engine was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer confirmed there was no recall for the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 164,964.

Brake Lamp Switch failed in 2018 - we diagnosed the issue, based partly on information from other Subaru owners who had the same problem, and replaced the switch. Since that time, the brake lights have worked fine. We reported this in a letter to Subaru after their recall for the brake lamp switch replacement in 2019. They refused to pay for the part as we no longer have the receipt (not having a crystal ball, we couldn't see any reason to keep it for more than a year in 2018). We did not contest this - in fact, I had merely asked, in my letter, that they note that the part had already failed and been repaired in their records - however, they continue to flag the car as an open safety recall and insist that we bring the car in to replace a switch that no longer needs replacing. I am filing this complaint in the hope that an official record of the incident will fix the records on our car, as their constant recall notices are becoming increasingly more insistent and annoying, and they have also inaccurately noted it as an open recall at the DMV.

While driving, I suddenly lost braking ability and the brake pedal would go to the floor before slowing the car. I drove slowly approximately 1-2 miles, using the emergency brake and downshifting to control my speed, stopping at a local auto repair garage. On inspection, on the brake lines had rusted through completely and the other was soft, leaking brake fluid.

WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL, THERE IS A SQUEAK COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD WITHIN THE FOOTWELL AREA. SQUEAK IS CONSTANT. FOR SUBARU HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #12-190-15R TO FIX THE CLUTCH & BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY FOR MODEL YEARS 2015-2016 BUT NOT BEFORE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CRACK IN THE ASSEMBLY IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE AND IF LEFT UNATTENDED, ULTIMATELY COULD CAUSE DECREASED OR COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH AND/OR BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. SUBARU HAS REDESIGNED THE ORIGINAL PART (#36004FG050) WITH A NEW ONE (#36004FG051) BUT HAS NOT OFFERED TO FIX UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A LIFETIME PART, WHICH IS CRITICAL TO SAFELY OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AND ANY REPLACEMENT COST TO FIX SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDLESS OF THE VEHICLE'S AGE. THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS NOT FROM MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO FIND MANY OF THESE PHOTOS ON THE INTERNET AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM.

BENT FRAME: 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA SPORT, AWD W/PZEV, ORDERED 03/2012 NEW FROM JOSEPH SUBARU, FLORENCE, KY, W/42228 TO DATE 09/27/19. ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS DESCRIBED TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURE INCLUDE: *WHEN ORDERING THOUGHT THE CAR HAD A HIGHER ROAD CLEARANCE FOR RURAL DRIVING FROM PICTURES ON INTERNET, *DRIVING CAR IT WANDERS OVER THE ROAD, *TIRES DEFLATE (WORE OUT BEFORE 20,000 MI., SAVED TO REPLACE @ SEARS, MI 23850 IN 04/2016), SOME *PAINT CHIPPED OFF, W/*SLUGGISH 'TRANSMISSION' & 'BRAKING SYSTEM,' & BELT OR SCREECH NOISE UPON START-UP (NO ASSISTANCE FROM MANUFACTURER & DEALERS WHO DENIED PROBLEMS). WITH UNRESPONSIVE JOSEPH SUBARU DEALER/SERVICE BEING 75 MILES DRIVE 1-WAY, SO BY 6/12/12 TOOK CAR TO DEALER NEIL HUFFMAN SERVICE (NHS), LOUISVILLE, KY, ~22.4 MI 1-WAY, FOR SERVICE & HOPED FOR HELP W/ORIGINAL COMPLAINTS: NEW COMPLAINTS; *MASTERS CYLINDER & *COOLANT ARE TOPPED-OFF W/MOST OIL CHANGES AS FLUIDS SEEM TO EVAPORATE, *WINDSHIELD FOGS-UP UNLESS A WINDOW IS OPEN, ENGINE OVERHEATED & LOST OIL AFTER 3RD OIL CHANGE (SEEMINGLY DUE TO VALVOLINE OW20 SYNTHETIC OIL OF 08/07/2013, SO REPLACED W/SYNTHETIC OIL STABILIZER), WINDSHIELD WIPER FELL OFF & PIECE OF BODY-PART BUMPER COVER WAS FALLING OFF; PLUS HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY & ALTERNATOR @ 22767 MI. HAD TO TAKE CAR TO A LOCAL/REPUTABLE REPAIR SERVICE (MORTON'S) TO GET REIMBURSED FROM SEARS TIRE/AUTO CENTER FOR NHS, REPORTING, ON 01/2019, THE SEARS TIRES HAD BEEN MOUNTED IMPROPERLY, ALSO SHOWED REAR-BRAKES NEED REPLACED, HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF MAINTENANCE NEEDED DONE & THE CAR HAS 2 RECALLS. HOWEVER, AFTER MORTON'S FIXED THE IMPROPERLY MOUNTED TIRES, ASKED IF I HAD TROUBLE W/THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VEHICLE (Y) OR IF IT HAD BEEN IN A ACCIDENT (N), THEN INFORMED THE CAR HAS A *'BENT FRAME.' MY VERTIGO GOT WORSE, SO I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK TO KY FOR THE RECALLS, & CONFUSED & BUMMED-OUT ABOUT THE BENT-FRAME. WHAT CAN I DO?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V772000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 19V149000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CONTACT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP OR APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. KEARNY MESA SUBARU (4797 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111, (858) 278-7100) WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A METAL POWER BOX AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD AND THEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.