In 16 months since I purchased new 2000 2.5 RS Coupe, car has been back to dealer 12+ times. Love the car, and no major mechanical problems, but really annoying things like:

Drivers/passengers window glass that rattles badly in down position

Failed fuel guage

ABS stopped working, but otherwise brakes still are fine (though have always been spongey)

Rattles from rear side windows

Dealer seems unable to do elementary trouble-shooting, i.e. unless there's a rod sticking through the block and oil gushing out. His solution to any problem is to begin replacing parts, without trying to determine why parts are failing.

Anyone else have these kinds of problems?

One last thing - why the hell didn't Subaru make the sunshade in the sunroof independent of the sunroof?

I feel better now.

Because it's a sunroof and not a moonroof. What's the point in having a sunshade when you can't see through the metal anyway?

Chad

ha the biggest gripe i have about my impreza is the freekin trunk lite!!!!! :D

Sounds like you got a lemon, happens from time to time with every vehicle make and model. You roll one off the lot that just never seems to "work" right.

Friend of mine had a car he bought used that consistently needed new brakes. I used to tease him about braking too hard. Then he showed me the service records (previous owner had them all), it had been in for brakes at least once a year for the 7 years that owner had it, and it had gone in twice a couple of times. You name it, calipers, pads, etc.. all had been replaced at least twice when he bought it and he replaced them twice as well.

Your state probably has a lemon law, try and read up on it and see if it applies. I believe you can take the car back and trade it for a new one in most lemon laws provided you meet the definition of what a "lemon" is. Which varies state to state.

Unfortunately, the Lemon Laws are next to impossible to enforce. Take it from a guy who knows. The Lemon Law only works if the problems with your car significantly affect its value or safety. The things you listed, while they are definately are big hassle, really don't affect the overall value or safety. Plus, they get 4 attempts to fix the problems. I was lucky enough to get Subaru to give me a new car when my 98 OBS had been in the shop 48 days. Plus, they finally admitted they could NOT fix the transmission problem. So rather than declare it a lemon, they gave me a 99 RS. I got lucky. :)

I also had the driver's side window rattling an awful lot when down, but my dealer was able to fix this by retightening the brackets that hold the window.

If your dealership can't even make a repair that simple, perhaps it's time to think about starting to take your car to some other dealership?

Heard it through the grape-vine that a simple fix for the trunk light issue is to buy something called a "Taplight" and place it in your trunk. I think I've seen them advertised before, a three inch wide or so circular light that turns on and off when the light itself is depressed. Probably battery powered. Easy fix for a major oversight on Subaru's behalf.

yeah trunk light defitenitely takes the cake for me in terms of annoyance with my car. :(

Stop whining about the trunk light and just spend the $25 for one. Geez!

My RS didn't come with a driver's vanity mirror!

WWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH HHHH!!!!!!!!

My 2000 RS has 22,000 miles. I've had the O2 sensor malfunction twice (within the first 5,000 miles). My rear passenger wheel bearing went out at 8,000 miles. No problems since. I was pissed off after 8,000 but haven't had any problems since.

Yeah my air/fuel sensor has gone twice, too.
First time within a few thousand miles, the second time at like 15k I think. *shrug*

My windows rattle like all hell with the doors open too, and my left rear door squeaks or rattles or somethin' ... Not sure what it is. Not to mention the sunroof, that's rattling like a mofo these days. I had the rails replaced (under warrantee) b/c the lock-down clips were busted.

None of these things really bug me, though.
I put the trunk light in. Very good idea. :D
My install was tougher than most because I have Super Dynamat on the roof of the trunk and I had to dig through it to find the mounting hole. No fun.

One thing that DID bug me was the driver's door controls. Subaru didn't even bother to fasten the control console thingy into the door. It'd pull out of the door panel every time I went to pull the windows up. So... I wrapped the peg with more tape (yes, all they used was TAPE to "pressure-fit" the thing in there... but only on that door..???). It's now pretty dang stable.

No car will be perfect. Generally, the more you pay, the better the "quality." Depending on your views. :D I think the car's awesome.

-S2-