Dealer denied warranty on clutch

[Lobbyist]

Hey guys I seriously need some help and a place to vent. Please bear with me.

I have a bone stock 2006 WRX that I bought last year in July. The car has 22k miles on it. The clutch recently started slipping in 3rd and 4th gear. I took it in to a dealter by my house this morning. I got a call around 10am. Before they did anything they had me authorize a charge over the phone in case the damage was due to abuse. I was hesitant to say yes because I don't like being treated as if I was guilty before the car is even looked at. I'm not some teenage driver (I'm 26) and my wife has put most of the miles on the car. I commute to work via train. Keep in mind I taught my wife to drive stick on our last car and I taught her not to ride the clutch.

I figured I didn't have a choice and authorized the charge and was confident that everything would be fine. They called a few hours later said the pressure plate had heat marks and the clutch disc was blue from overheating. My car is bone stock and I have NEVER raced or abused the car. I went in today and they showed me the clutch. The shop head said that it was most likely due to someone riding the clutch a lot. He also showed me some TSB from 02/28/2007 that instructs a tech where to look for mods and states that damage due to racing is not covered. Initially the guys said this TSB specifically instructed them to auth the tear-down charge before anything is done. It doesn't say anything like that on this document.

I called SOA to open a case. They are supposed to get back to me tomorrow.

So what do I do? I mean, isn't the clutch covered as a wear item? I can't help but feel I am getting majorly shafted here and if SOA does nothing to help I will never buy another Subaru in my life.

Please help!

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[Lobbyist]

If you guys are interested here is the TSB they gave me

http://wjmrallyesport.com/02-101-07174724.pdf

[REX8]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

Hey guys I seriously need some help and a place to vent. Please bear with me.

I have a bone stock 2006 WRX that I bought last year in July. The car has 22k miles on it. The clutch recently started slipping in 3rd and 4th gear. I took it in to a dealter by my house this morning. I got a call around 10am. Before they did anything they had me authorize a charge over the phone in case the damage was due to abuse. I was hesitant to say yes because I don't like being treated as if I was guilty before the car is even looked at. I'm not some teenage driver (I'm 26) and my wife has put most of the miles on the car. I commute to work via train. Keep in mind I taught my wife to drive stick on our last car and I taught her not to ride the clutch.

I figured I didn't have a choice and authorized the charge and was confident that everything would be fine. They called a few hours later said the pressure plate had heat marks and the clutch disc was blue from overheating. My car is bone stock and I have NEVER raced or abused the car. I went in today and they showed me the clutch. The shop head said that it was most likely due to someone riding the clutch a lot. He also showed me some TSB from 02/28/2007 that instructs a tech where to look for mods and states that damage due to racing is not covered. Initially the guys said this TSB specifically instructed them to auth the tear-down charge before anything is done. It doesn't say anything like that on this document.

I called SOA to open a case. They are supposed to get back to me tomorrow.

So what do I do? I mean, isn't the clutch covered as a wear item? I can't help but feel I am getting majorly shafted here and if SOA does nothing to help I will never buy another Subaru in my life.

Please help!

Majorly shafted?

How do you explain a clutch wearing out in 20k miles without someone riding it?

Then they show you evidence of heat and you still don't see it?

Further, you admit your wife drives the car a lot and you recently taught her how to drive stick?

Are you kidding? Clutches don't automatically wear down (there are many of us on here who are HARD on our cars and have clutches lasting well over 100k miles).


Here's a tip:

Someone wore out your clutch. Why should Subaru pay for it???

[Lobbyist]

I know how my wife drives I've seen her do it a million times. She doesn't ride the clutch.

[Mavrik]

Originally Posted by REX8

Majorly shafted?

How do you explain a clutch wearing out in 20k miles without someone riding it?

Then they show you evidence of heat and you still don't see it?

Further, you admit your wife drives the car a lot and you recently taught her how to drive stick?

Are you kidding? Clutches don't automatically wear down (there are many of us on here who are HARD on our cars and have clutches lasting well over 100k miles).


Here's a tip:

Someone wore out your clutch. Why should Subaru pay for it???

+1 on that.

sounds like they had some good reasons for denial on your claim.

btw this should probably be in the warranty section.

[ringe]

Seems like some reasonable stuff. Anyone modding while under warranty should take note of this...


The only evidence they have to work with is the fact that your clutch has been overheated. They can't know what caused it, other than improper driving of some kind, be it intentional abuse or just poor driver judgement. I've toasted my clutch due to my own stupidity, so if it ever starts to slip at a low mileage I will replace it myself and deal with it.

[SgtKarj]

First off, sorry to hear of your situation. I have a couple of questions:
Was the car brand new when you purchased it? Did you get to see the pressure plate?
That TSB is the same one that has been circulated and posted at both dealers I've taken my car to.
A clutch is a wear item that (obviously) varies driver to driver, just as tires & brake pads do. It may actually be that your wife torched your clutch, or if your car was used, the previous owner.

[REX8]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

I know how my wife drives I've seen her do it a million times. She doesn't ride the clutch.

Then you do....or someone's been driving your car you don't know about.

Unless of course you have some other explanation...

...like little elves that threw your clutch on a lathe to get back at you for failing to leave cookies last year...

Seriously though, the clutch has to get worn down, its that simple. Did you notice any slipping during normal driving throughout the first 20k miles? I.E. a sign it wasn't fully locked up while engaged that would lead to the rapid wear.

You have to understand, this forum is full of guys needing clutches after 20k miles who "drive stick perfectly"...let alone there wives...


Speaking of which...

TTIWWOP or no help!

[Lobbyist]

I bought the car with 200 miles on it. It was at a Subaru dealership in Iowa. The previous owner had it for a week and returned it when he found out his GF couldn't drive stick. That was the story from the dealer.

I'll get pics as soon as I can.

[impreza_punk]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

The previous owner had it for a week and returned it when he found out his GF couldn't drive stick.

lol sounds like we have found the culprit!

[BlueF]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

I bought the car with 200 miles on it. It was at a Subaru dealership in Iowa. The previous owner had it for a week and returned it when he found out his GF couldn't drive stick.

Hmm... I would say that is the cause, but why would the clutch survive 22k miles, having been abused for the first 200, and then fail through normal use? *No sarcasm here... I don't have enough clutch/mechanical knowledge to answer my question.

Best of luck (if you/wife honestly haven't abused the clutch).

[Lobbyist]

One thing I did notice was that I went out of the country for almost 2 weeks in March. When I came back the clutch was REALLY REALLY stiff. I thought about taking it in then but I just figured it would loosen up and the problem was due to cold weather.

It took about 2 weeks to loosen up but it still never felt the same after that day. There was no play in the clutch afterwards.

[Hondaslayer]

Do you have any rapport with this dealer?

If so I would talk with them and explain that you had recently taught your wife to drive stick and ask if there is anything they can do to help. They might be able to cover the repairs as a one time goodwill gesture, or maybe a split (50/50 or you buy parts and they pay labor or vice-versa) worse thing they can say is no.....

[AllWheelsDriven]

Originally Posted by impreza_punk

lol sounds like we have found the culprit!

um yeah thats it exactly...

anyway about a month ago i got a warranty clutch here in Seattle on my 2004 STi with 10,500 miles. I had a catback greddy on the car, but i dont think they really cared. It was shuddering bad in the morning and slipping in 3rd and 4th gear. They basically called me the next day and said we have clutch parts on order it will be done tomorrow.

good luck, keep hammering on them.

[REX8]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

I bought the car with 200 miles on it. It was at a Subaru dealership in Iowa. The previous owner had it for a week and returned it when he found out his GF couldn't drive stick. That was the story from the dealer.

I'll get pics as soon as I can.

Well that might be a horse of a different color...

[kpratte]

You never mentioned whether the clutch is actually worn out. You said it was slipping, but no mention of it being worn out.

Just because a clutch is slipping at 20K doesn't necessarily mean anything in regards to abuse. It's entirely possible that the pressure plate gave out, happened to me on a previous car. Also the damage that they are seeing could have been caused by the slipping and then overheating of the clutch while just getting the car to the dealer.

- Ken

[REX8]

Originally Posted by BlueF

Hmm... I would say that is the cause, but why would the clutch survive 22k miles, having been abused for the first 200, and then fail through normal use? *No sarcasm here... I don't have enough clutch/mechanical knowledge to answer my question.

Best of luck (if you/wife honestly haven't abused the clutch).

Ahh...this may explain why you are feeling the way you do.

Think of the clutch as a brake pad, or if that's a little far as well, like a pencil eraser.

It wears out and when all the material is worn away, and there's nothing left to grip with, it slips.

So, to answer your question....the previous owner could have taken a LOT of material off the clutch, say 75%, and you took the last 25% off in your 20k miles with the car (not a crazy amount of wear)

[575rider]

Originally Posted by Lobbyist

I know how my wife drives I've seen her do it a million times. She doesn't ride the clutch.

Well, unfortunately, someone else is driving your car you don't know about!! It sucks they aren't jumping to fix it for you (hope you understand their side), but on the other hand...they can show you what is wrong and what causes it. Someone getting behind the wheel in the last 20k miles is responsible. I hate to place blame...but um,...your wife appears to be the primary driver. Maybe she's more nervous without you in the car and rides it then, does she park on a hill or need to start on a hill during her commute? She may not ride it when you 2 drive around town and it's flat, but what happens on a hill with a car behind her.....or some other similar situation.

I don't think Subaru is at fault, sorry I can't side with you.

[z]

I agree you should just try to be cool...mention that you bought it after some girl returned it because she couldn't drive stick, which means you know she jacked it up some.

Then say that the last few days before you brought it in, the clutch was slipping which is probably the reason for the heat marks ^^like he said.

[munkis]

follow up with SOA be cool, dealer cant deny warranty SOA has to do that. Maybe they will offer to help with part of the repair.

Honestly a clutch should not wear out at 22k, and the cars history is probably part of it, but its not Subaru's fault.

[mugenXP]

so are you stuck with the labor charge?

[NeLo]

Had the same thing happen to me at around the same mileage...dealer claimed abuse. I called SOA and they granted me goodwill and paid for more than half of the work, I just had to pay i think parts or was it labor...i don't remember. But i don't know i'm sure these stock clutches aren't meant to take on abuse and the awd makes it even worse...i was used to driving fwd. But yea everything got fixed and now I baby my clutch on the shifts.

[Nuke209]

My clutch failed at 16k
The dealership replaced it BUT told me to quit riding the clutch...
I told them I don't, and they're like, whatever, it's replaced
My dad and I are the only one who drives the car and my dad's been driving manuals way before I was worn

I don't know, my friends with 06 wrx's, their clutch is also wearing down, they're around 22k-32k miles on them.

we all purchased our cars new.

[ringe]

I don't get why a dealer would be so anal about a car that doesn't have any evidence of modification...I mean, they still get paid for the labor, and the parts are paid for by SOA, so the dealer shouldn't be giving you any trouble like that. Maybe if you were back in another 22k miles, but that's another matter.

[holland_patrick]

Wear Item Limited Warranty
Wear item coverage is 3 year or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Items covered are brake pad/shoe linings, clutch linings, and wiper blades.


they should cover it.. Plenty of dealerships also charge for brake work in that time period.. even though they shouldn't. fight it