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Old 02-22-2013, 12:37 PM   #1
joeyb1028
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Angry Control arm recall. Help!

I have an 2002 Subaru Wrx wagon and ive owned it for about 6-7 months.
I recently experienced a control arm snapping in half on me on the highway and i brought it to Mastria Subaru in raynham, ma. I was under the impression it was under recall but they told me that the recall has been done and i have to pay full amount. I am very aggravated at the fact that something was supposedly done but yet my control arm snapped and it looks like rust had a huge factor in the break. If anyone else has dealt with this i would like to know how to go about it from here i talked to subaru already and they said i had to pay due to the fact it was done but that is outlandish that it would break already if something was done. I do not think that i should have to pay for something that shouldve been replaced instead of coated. Any info is greatly appreciated because i could really use that money back!
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Old 02-22-2013, 12:50 PM   #2
kevin85193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyb1028 View Post
I have an 2002 Subaru Wrx wagon and ive owned it for about 6-7 months.
I recently experienced a control arm snapping in half on me on the highway and i brought it to Mastria Subaru in raynham, ma. I was under the impression it was under recall but they told me that the recall has been done and i have to pay full amount. I am very aggravated at the fact that something was supposedly done but yet my control arm snapped and it looks like rust had a huge factor in the break. If anyone else has dealt with this i would like to know how to go about it from here i talked to subaru already and they said i had to pay due to the fact it was done but that is outlandish that it would break already if something was done. I do not think that i should have to pay for something that shouldve been replaced instead of coated. Any info is greatly appreciated because i could really use that money back!

Just call subaru again & complain your heart out. Say the diagnosed it wrong & you're never going to buy a subaru again.
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Old 02-22-2013, 01:17 PM   #3
oatbran84
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this sucks joe. i hope they can take care of it for you because this is complete bs. if they did something and now it is broken, then obviously they overlooked something. i would just keep complaining and contact SOA (Subaru of America) and address the issue to them. they may have more pull than the dealership does.
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Old 02-22-2013, 01:33 PM   #4
Snowphun
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Just call subaru again & complain your heart out. Say the diagnosed it wrong & you're never going to buy a subaru again.
This will get you nowhere, the customer service people will see the previous records and stand their ground. I am surprised this is SOA's stand on the issue, I agree the coating is a weak solution and too little too late for many cars. However you are talking about a part that lasted ~10 years, I don't really see how this is SOA's problem to fix.

Did you replace both arms? The other won't be far behind. You are fortunate you didn't get hurt. Your best hope for getting SOA to help is to go up the local ladder, get the regional manager involved and stay professional.
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Old 02-22-2013, 02:32 PM   #5
Loyale93
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Originally Posted by Snowphun View Post
This will get you nowhere, the customer service people will see the previous records and stand their ground. I am surprised this is SOA's stand on the issue, I agree the coating is a weak solution and too little too late for many cars. However you are talking about a part that lasted ~10 years, I don't really see how this is SOA's problem to fix.

Did you replace both arms? The other won't be far behind. You are fortunate you didn't get hurt. Your best hope for getting SOA to help is to go up the local ladder, get the regional manager involved and stay professional.
This. If SOA has records that it was done already, either rustproof or replacement, then they are in the clear. It's unfortunate that yours rusted out anyway, but dem's da breaks.

You bought a 10+ year old car from New England. Suck it up and deal.
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Old 02-22-2013, 03:00 PM   #6
iamrazor
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowphun View Post
You are fortunate you didn't get hurt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loyale93 View Post
You bought a 10+ year old car from New England. Suck it up and deal.

I have to agree here. Count your lucky stars you didn't put yourself in the hospital. Even worse, kill someone. Not all failures are someone else's responsibility.

10+ year old cars are just that. 10+ years old.

buyer beware.
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Old 02-22-2013, 07:10 PM   #7
mattminer
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I find it hard to believe the recall was properly performed if the control arm failed shortly after their 'treatment' was applied. Seems to me that if they were that bad, the arms shouldve been replaced during the recall service.
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Old 02-22-2013, 07:13 PM   #8
mattminer
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I also think saying the car is 10 years old and that the control arms rusting and snapping off is ok is kind of messed up. I know its the way Subaru parts and hardware are, but its kind of a shame. My 1989 CRX control arms were still in good condition when I replaced them with over 200k miles and double the years on them. And the hardware was still useable too. Its just sad to see these older subies rot into the ground.
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Old 02-22-2013, 07:57 PM   #9
aerosaaber
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I've had cars more than 15 years old that barely had rust through the body panels.

suspension components should not fail after 10 years in ANY climate.

the recall should have properly dealt with that. Obviously there was more rust on the control arms than should be since they have failed.

If no one had been under the car to specifically inspect the control arms in 10 years maybe it's an "ah shucks" moment, but someone was under there relatively recently and decided they were ok when clearly they were not.
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Old 02-22-2013, 08:36 PM   #10
remotehuman
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This seems very fishy and I don't think we are getting all of the info here.

Did Subaru replace or coat your control arms? If they coated the arms you have every right to have the arms replaced under recall and anything that was damaged due to an accident. If they were replaced I don't see how they would have broken under normal usage. WVX-34 is not an old recall, maybe a year and a half. If your control arms were replaced on the first day Subaru started to cover the work they should still be mint.

What I'm saying is that if the control arms were replaced then there is some other reason why it broke. The new arms are properly coated and won't have the rust issues the old ones did. If your car had the dual spray coating applied then it is still covered. If that's the fact, then yes call Subaru or visit another dealership.
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Old 02-22-2013, 08:38 PM   #11
mattminer
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they were coated max, and they failed from rust
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Old 02-22-2013, 08:38 PM   #12
mattminer
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ps thanks for your input
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Old 02-22-2013, 08:42 PM   #13
remotehuman
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Then there is no reason they shouldn't be covered


1-800-SUBARU3
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Old 02-22-2013, 08:45 PM   #14
Jack
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Complain to NHTSA. They very well may tell you that the recall applies to you.

By the way, price out new ones at subarugenuineparts.com. I just bought one for a bent one on the wife's outback and it was half what the local dealers wanted. Not horribly bad to replace. They take Subaru bucks.
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Old 02-22-2013, 10:12 PM   #15
BlazeRex
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattminer View Post
I also think saying the car is 10 years old and that the control arms rusting and snapping off is ok is kind of messed up. I know its the way Subaru parts and hardware are, but its kind of a shame. My 1989 CRX control arms were still in good condition when I replaced them with over 200k miles and double the years on them. And the hardware was still useable too. Its just sad to see these older subies rot into the ground.
Yes and yes. I agree completely. How bad these cars rust is something many people can't fathom until they've worked on one thats been in salt its entire life.
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Old 02-22-2013, 10:57 PM   #16
uranus
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowphun View Post
This will get you nowhere, the customer service people will see the previous records and stand their ground. I am surprised this is SOA's stand on the issue, I agree the coating is a weak solution and too little too late for many cars. However you are talking about a part that lasted ~10 years, I don't really see how this is SOA's problem to fix.

Did you replace both arms? The other won't be far behind. You are fortunate you didn't get hurt. Your best hope for getting SOA to help is to go up the local ladder, get the regional manager involved and stay professional.
When I have to deal with SOA, and calling Cherry Hill, if I can't get anywhere with the customer service representative, I always to speak with the President. Last time, the representative stated, "He isn't available." I responded, "How do you know, do you sit next to him?" Then, I asked for their legal department, and although the representative refused to transfer me, she acquiesced and did what I asked.

The general counsel can be licensed in any state, but once you obtain the name from their internet-based materials, you can locate the state that he or she is licensed and look him or her up on that state's bar website, where, in every state, TTBOMK, attorneys are required to list their direct line. I did that once for a law clerk who was having difficulties with Capital One, and when I called the General Counsel, he answered the phone and immediately resolved the issue, because, as he stated, "I don't have time for an issue with one customer to become a pain in my ass."

Good luck.
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Old 02-23-2013, 09:34 AM   #17
Dukefrukem
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Same thing happened to me. Only I was luckily pulling into a CVS parking lot and was not on the highway. I had the whole under-body redone and both front control arms replaced. Subaru reimbursed me ~$700 for it AFTER the fact.
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Old 02-23-2013, 09:54 AM   #18
Snowphun
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I also think saying the car is 10 years old and that the control arms rusting and snapping off is ok is kind of messed up. I know its the way Subaru parts and hardware are, but its kind of a shame.
I agree with this 100%. I really like the reliability of my Subarus, but the body rust has been a disappointing. This is something most companies resolved back in the early 90's, the fact that Imprezas keep rotting out on the rear wheel arches is inexcusable. I've been pretty lucky with underbody rust, maybe it the garage and occasional winter rinses I give the cars.
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Old 02-23-2013, 10:27 AM   #19
scoobyDanny
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When they offer you the car they say its great for the winter, it's all wheel drive you will have no problems getting stuck ,it's made for New England . But they forgot to mention that it might only last for about 10-15 years before it rusts out and parts start falling off
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Old 02-23-2013, 11:46 AM   #20
Fish
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattminer
I find it hard to believe the recall was properly performed if the control arm failed shortly after their 'treatment' was applied. Seems to me that if they were that bad, the arms shouldve been replaced during the recall service.
Exactly, the issue was misdiagnosed and treated when the recall was done. Shoulda been replaced then but they took the easier route of spraying some sealant over it.

The fact the recall was done and this happened should only affirm they should be responsible for the repair and they should be happy you're not injured or worse.
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Old 02-25-2013, 10:12 AM   #21
Craig A.
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I just scheduled the appointment for my car at Metrowest Subaru.
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Old 02-25-2013, 03:54 PM   #22
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If you contact Subaru directly they will take care of the situation for you. If you need help please contact us and we can do our best. BTW we will be an official vendor on Friday March 1st.


-Adam
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Old 02-26-2013, 05:27 PM   #23
Subachouli
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Originally Posted by Fish View Post
Exactly, the issue was misdiagnosed and treated when the recall was done. Shoulda been replaced then but they took the easier route of spraying some sealant over it.

The fact the recall was done and this happened should only affirm they should be responsible for the repair and they should be happy you're not injured or worse.

This. What dealer performed the recall the first time? They were the ones who made the call to coat rather than replace.

You'll still need to deal with SNE/SOA about getting your money back or whatever, but it might be good to know who the original dealer was.
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