Trouble/Warranty Denial Report Thread: Body/Exterior of Vehicle

[North Ursalia]

I had a discussion with Nick a few weeks back, and in an effort to consolidate the troubles people are having with their cars, which will in turn make the issues more apparent and/or harder to ignore (not to mention making this forum neater ) we decided to make sticky threads where people can report their troubles and/or denied warranty stories by problem area, much akin to my http://www.deniedmywarranty.org website, only with a much larger audience. SOA knows about I-Club.com and Deniedmywarranty.org, but the lack of coordination of trouble reports here on I-club (of course it's going to happen... a 'net forum is a stream-of-consciousness kind of thing) and the lack of the sheer number of them on the Deniedmywarranty.org site makes the actual impact far less than what it could be. We decided to utilize these stickied threads to organize and emphasize what is going wrong. I want to emphasize that these threads are not solely for Impreza WRX owners, nor just Impreza owners. We want to hear from everyone in these threads who is having issues. You can use these stickied threads to report warranty denials or simply to say that something's broken that you didn't submit for warranty repair. To keep these threads neat, there will be a standard format used, as found below (I will place an example reply below this post):



Name:

Make:

Mileage:

Time Out Of Use:

Problem And Likely Cause:

Modifications:

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No):

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story:



Replies deviating from this format will be deleted, no questions asked... sorry, but this has to remain neat and easy to read to be effective. In addition, please do not use this as a chance to bitch about a dealership or SOA- keep it professional and to-the-point, and this will help us all out in the long run .


Brian
http://www.northursalia.com
http://www.imprezamods.com
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http://www.deniedmywarranty.org

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[North Ursalia]

Name: Ramana Lagemann

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 100's of stage miles

Time Out Of Use: 1 week

Problem And Likely Cause: Broke right rear suspension hitting a rock

Modifications: Mods that could have contributed to the issue (ie: my turbo blew and I have aftermarket boost control). Please be honest- it helps nobody to say "it just happened."

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Fill in only if above was "yes" and you were denied warranty coverage

Your Story: I'm a driver for Rally Team USA... it goes without saying

[Wheels]

Name: Lee Kay

Make: 2002 Impreza RS

Mileage: 7,900

Time Out Of Use: None

Problem And Likely Cause: Free swinging door mirror (cheap cast alloy retaining clips sapping casing the spring to give way)

Modifications: NONE

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: Subaru should note its been 2 weeks before the part arrived! And it was the drivers door.

[wknd_warrior]

Name: J. Beauregard

Make: 2002 Impreza OBS

Mileage: 17000 km

Time Out Of Use: none

Problem And Likely Cause: swinging passenger side mirror, defective part

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: It just happened, eh? Really, it did! Had to go to the dealer to have them look at the mirror for exterior damage before they would order the new one.

[CheezeWeezle]

Name: T. Thompson

Make: 2002 Impreza OBS

Mileage: 1717 when first reported; currently 14200

Time out of use: None

Problem and likely cause: Dealer emblem came off revealing a dent and rust above the "Outback" emblem. NO I didn't try to peel it off. Cause; probably was hit in dealer parking lot after it was received from the "boat" and put onto the lot. They had the car since Nov01 and I purchased in Feb 02.

Modifications: Fog light mod.

Submitted for warranty work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason given for denial: They told me it was my word against theirs and that a rock or something could have come up and hit the car...come on...yea right...explain the physics on that one. The car had only 1500 miles on it when I submitted it and weather had not been cold or snowy, and actually had not rained since I had purchased the car. The dent was there and there was actually rust in it....That doesn't happen over a weeks time.

[electro]

Name: Jason Rowe

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 17,000

Time Out Of Use: 7 days

Problem And Likely Cause: Window regulator stopped working. Dealer says the bolts vibrated off probably because they were not tightened properly from the manufacture. They are going to have to weld some washers on the door so the bolts will fit back in.

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: NA

Your Story:

WOW! It takes a long time to fix this issue.

[jtw0128]

Name: John Wilkinson

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 9000

Time Out Of Use: 1 day

Problem And Likely Cause: Free swinging door mirror, cause unknown, no apparent damage on mirror

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: mirror was replaced under warranty, dealer gave me no problems.

[Family Truckster]

Name: T. Bilgin

Make: 2002 WRX Wagon

Mileage: 30,000

Time Out Of Use: one hour

Problem And Likely Cause: Free swinging passenger side mirror, cause unknown, no apparent damage on mirror.

Modifications: None that would affect mirror.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: N/A

Your Story: Mirror was replaced under warranty, dealer said it is very common. SOA says it is not common.

[ITWRX4ME]

Name: Jim Goodwin

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 20,000

Time Out Of Use: None

Problem And Likely Cause: Free swinging door mirror

Modifications: NONE(at the time)

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: Replaced under warranty. Not common, huh?

[Rice-a-roni]

ha ha ha

[Malik]

Name: T Malik

Make: 2002 WRX Wagon

Mileage: 21,000

Time out of use: 2 hours

Problem: Free swinging pass. side mirror

Mods: None related to the problem

Submitted for warranty work: Yes, accepted eventually

I returned from a trip to find the mirror folded against the car and a white paint mark on the housing. Mirror seemed to work fine so I proped it back into place. Several weeks later the mirror began to free wheel while I was driving on the highway. My first attempt to get it fixed was denied as the mark on the mirror was thought to be the cause. I assured them that wasn't the case, removed the paint and the mirror was replaced under warranty.

[tux]

Name : Andy Drag

Make: 2003 WRX Sedan

Mileage: 14,000

Time out of use: 2 hours

Problem: Paint came off w/ insect remains

Mods: None

Submitted for warranty work: Yes, but denied claimed damage from shopping cart on opposite side of bumper was cause... even the mark on hood was caused by shopping cart apparently

[tux]

Name : Andy Drag

Make: 2003 WRX Sedan

Mileage: 14,000

Time out of use: 2 hours

Problem: Inner Fender fell off on pass side

Mods: None

Submitted for warranty work: Yes, but denied claimed damage from shopping cart on opposite side of bumper was cause (same as paint) and there was factory overspray on foglight insert on bumper (which was most likely done at dealership on new car coz i had to wait a week to get it)... even though 2 other people got theirs replaced the same day

[Tamarick]

Name: Lyle Konkiel

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 27k (7k when first reported)

Time Out Of Use: 1 day (for this issue)

Problem And Likely Cause: Paint spots all over vehicle (cracking)

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Chemical Fallout

Your Story: I've had my WRX for about a year and a half now. I love it. I noticed about 3 months after I bought it that I had small spots all over it (including under the spoiler and under where the trunk closes) where the paint was cracking. They are small, round spots... EVERYWHERE! I immediately took it in for service. The service manager @ Matt Slap Subaru, John Pharis, (newark DE) Told me he didn't have authorization for that much $$ and I would have to see the regional manager. Fine, I scheduled an appointment. It was postponed...again..and again...until finally...yesterday...the guy looked at it...A Full year and a half later. Needless to say, he denied me coverage under my warranty citing the elusive "chemical fallout" as the cause of my paint problems. I've already hired an attorney and filed complaints with the Attorney General's office and the BBB.

I want to get more people involved in this. Your paint is covered under the manufacturers warranty! If enough of us make stink about it they will have to listen. If anyone would like to contact me you can do so via my website wrxlinks.com.

[STi*Girl Racer*STi]

The only reason ANYONE would buy an SRT-4 is because they cant handle the AWD POWER OF A SUBARU!!!
LOL

[tekfoc]

and because thay cant afford a real car like rex's. give a year and that chrysler garbage will be falling apart

[Screamingtree]

Name: Matt

Make: 2002 WRX Wagon

Mileage: 11,000

Time Out Of Use: 1 day

Problem And Likely Cause: from 80 mph to 90 mph, a sound just like a french horn in both volume and tone seemed to eminate from the passanger side airvent of my WRX. Passangers claimed it came from the drivers side. Noise decreased as speed rose above 90 and became more of a whistle or whine.

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: The clerk told me that the noise was the turbo spooling up. When I asked to talk to someone who had driven a turbo car before, I was given to a service manager who told me they didn't have track access and could not verify the problem. Given that they could not verify it, they couldn't repair it.

My story : A week later, on a road trip ~70mph with a strong headwind, the noise started, then half of my hoodscoop disengaged from the rest of the hood. I stopped, pulled over and discovered that the PLASTIC pins holding the hoodscoop on had popped free. Drove home slowly, and called a friend. Learned that his WRX had metal screws and bolts holding the hoodscoop on. Re-visited the dealer -- scoop was replaced under warrenty, this time with proper attachments.

[saleen90181]

Name: Romano

Make: 2002 WRB WRX Wagon

Mileage: started at 1000 - now 29,000

Time Out Of Use: 4 days

Problem And Likely Cause: Loud clicking poping noise from rear hatch area of car when body flex's over rough road

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Can not find noise - then after taking tach for a ride in the car (something that they said they did but obviously didnt) noise heard - back 3 times - cant find problem

Your Story: The car started makeing a very lound pop/click from the passanger side rear hatch area about 1000 miles after i purchased it new ( 12 miles on car). Reported it to PINE BELT SUPERSTORE on RT88 in Lakewood. 1st time they could not find the problem, 2nd time they could not find the problem but after I took the tech for a ride they heard the problem, 3rd time they said they could not find the problem.

Problem reported to SOA and case number 530472 and case number 456415 have been assigned. Still not fixed

Many Many Many other problems with car.

[tux]

ah pinebelt on 88 i live right across the street along w/ other wrx owner

[CynicX]

Originally posted by tekfoc
and because thay cant afford a real car like rex's. give a year and that chrysler garbage will be falling apart

I dunno about that....I broke the rear axle tubing on my jeep rubicon i told them i was offroading under extreme conditions but i needed it fixed....they covered it under warrenty...replace rear axle which was a dana44 w/ locker = 3500.00 no questions asked...

[glass_joe]

Name: Jeremy Caton

Make: 2004 WRX

Mileage: ~13,000

Time Out Of Use: 2 days so far

Problem And Likely Cause: lots of chips in the paint; soft paint/poor paint job

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Not a warrantable condition

Your Story:
When I first purchased this WRX (~20 miles) it already had paint missing around inside of the trunk under the lid. Unfortunately I'd ordered the car from a dealership in Penn. to be delivered to Ft. Lauderdale so I didn't see it until it arrived -- stupid to buy a car without seeing it and I won't make that mistake again especially with Subaru service. Anyway it took several conversations with the body shop manager and one with the dealership manager before they would even paint that and properly align the trunk lid, but finally they did. And it was a pretty sad job of painting, but at least it wasn't going to rust. So I thought problem solved..... but sadly no.. I began noticing flecks of white primer mainly on the hood but also distributed over the rest of the painted exterior of the car. Finally I took it to the dealership and requested that they evaluate whether this is normal wear..... they said that it they couldn't say that is was, but that it was an unwarrantable condition.... meaning that they weren't going to risk fixing it since they probably wouldn't be reimbursed by Subaru ... or so I gather. So I called SOA hoping to find someone more reasonable (I've read reports on other websites i.e. epinions.com stating that "soft paint" is a known defect). The woman that I got was supremely unhelpful and pretty much assured me that if the dealership said it was unwarrantable she wasn't going to do anything to help, but that she'd look into it and let me know something in 48 hours.

I'm planning to take my WRX to another dealership and get a second opinion, but it'd be very helpful to know if anyone else here has any information about the "soft paint" problem with 2004 WRX's ... esp. with the San Remo Red color. If so please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] I think this is a big flaw possibly just with the first batch of red 2004 WRX's that Subaru is trying to just sweep under the rug. If I don't do something about it by the time I've paid off this car (4 1/2 more years) the paint job is really going to be in bad condition -- significantly reducing resale value. Not to mention the satisfaction I would derive from having Subaru own up to this after putting me to so much trouble.

[Yuke5]

Name: Dennis Y

Make: 2004 WRX

Mileage: ~10,500

Time Out Of Use: 4 hours so far

Problem And Likely Cause: Broken fasteners on both sides where front clip attaches to fender well

Modifications:Turbo-back, resonatorectomy, K&N

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Claim I am hitting parking blocks.

Your Story: Once about 5 months ago I was turning around on a gravel pullout, hit a dression straight on and front clip made contact with gravel , causing some scratches, but no other apparant damage. As for parking stops, I have brushed before, but never badly, and always immediatly back off.
Is there a chance that since the front was changed for 2004 that they changed the fastners as well?

[Pomorski]

Originally posted by Yuke5
Problem And Likely Cause: Broken fasteners on both sides where front clip attaches to fender well

I had the same problem on the driver side with the very bottom fastener. I never brought it in for warranty as I jumped a curb a few weeks after I noticed it and scuffed the bumper; knew after that they wouldn't warranty it. Stupid sand...

[JackClark]

Name: Jack Clark

Make: 2004 Impreza Sti

Mileage: ~ 5000 (Noticed it around 2000 miles)

Time Out Of Use: 9 Hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Bump forming on front of hood & worn through rubber seal most likely caused by hood contacting a spot near the passenger side headlght. Cause of that, hood not aligned properly.

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: They don't fix dents after they have been driven 5000 miles.

Your Story: If it were a door ding, I'd expect subaru to tell me to take a hike, but since it's a dent in the hood caused by something pushing outward, it's the car causing the problem and it should be fixed, both hood aligned properly and the dent removed.

[subeluvr]

Name: Steve S.

Make: 2002 Outback Sport

Mileage: 34,000

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Impreza bug-eye headlight lenses are hazing over. Poor choice of material for headlight lense.

Modifications: NONE

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): YES

Reason Given For Denial: normal exposure to the environment

Your Story: At around 1500 miles I noticed the headlight lenses showing a light "fog" on the out side. As time went by it became more noticable. Mentioned it to the dealer who said "not under warranty" and told me to buy plastic polish and clean the lenses.

Now, at 34.000 miles it's worse and I made an appointment to have it looked at again before the initial warranty expired. Dealer said "not under warranty".

I'm pissed, I bought the car in good faith, purchased the Gold 7/100k extended warranty and now subaru is telling me that headlight lens maintanance is routine. The regional Subaru rep spews the same drivel. Yesterday I met a guy with a 2002 WRX that has 3100 miles on it and he keeps it in the garage. No "environment" in there except the air and the dark ... his lenses are doing the same thing. Every bug-eye Impreza/WRX I see (and I'm looking for them) has the same problem to some degree.

I'm not looking forward to the outrageous cost of replacement headlights as I planned(?) to keep this sube for a long time and now I have to reconsider that decision.

With the Subaru dealers and regional reps blowing off the customers who ask about this problem do the engineers at the home office ever find out they have a problem?

The headlight lens material is not up to the job for which it was chosen and the car owners should not have to pay the price for Subaru's poor choice of materials. Call 1-800-SUBARU3 and complain ... better yet go to:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ to file a complaint with the NHTSA

Don't roll over ... complain and force Subaru to see the LIGHT!