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.ravensblade-impreza.com
http://www.imprezamods.com
http://www.scoobymods.com
http://www.deniedmywarranty.org

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

Name: Lee Kay

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 30.2k

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Hole in carpet round dead pedal (caused by spounge compression under carpet when clutch pressed and causing carpet to pull on corner causing wear (that will teach me for shifting correctly )

Modifications: at the time none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: wear and tear

Your Story: What can i say soa want me to take it to dealers till i find one who will fit it. The also refused me seeing there rep.

Name: Lee Kay

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 30.2K

Time Out Of Use: 18 hours +

Problem And Likely Cause: Front drivers Window clunking when going up or down (Window regulator lose due to movement in interdoor panel)

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: 3 times it came losse on the drivers door. Now I need to have the rear pasanger window looked at as its developing the same problem.

Name: Lee Kay

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 30.2k

Time Out Of Use: Nil

Problem And Likely Cause: Broken dash cup holder (cup holder broken for the second time. First time it broke because the pin holding the spring is hollow and snapped off I glued it in and now I am waiting to take it in to have it repaired).

Modifications:

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Waiting

Reason Given For Denial:

Name: Lee Kay

Make: 2002 Impreza RS, WRX

Mileage: 7,600

Time Out Of Use: Nil

Problem And Likely Cause: Broken glove box relase handel (broke on opening both have snapped in the same place. on both cars)

Modifications: N/A

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

[b]Name: TommyD

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 24K

Time Out Of Use:1.5 hours

Problem And Likely Cause:Fan only works in #4 position

Modifications:None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story:Check the fuse and it was good. They ended replacing the blower motor. Works just fine now. Great service!!

Name: Brian Liu

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 26K

Time Out Of Use: will have been 10 days when i get it back

Problem And Likely Cause: Front drivers Window clunking when going up or down (Window regulator lose due to movement in interdoor panel)

Modifications: BOV, ALK

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: N/A

Your Story: It clunks pretty consistently when going down, but doesn't happen when going up. Car is currently at dealer getting fixed. Edit: dealer says it is now fixed. Other probs (see drivetrain warranty thread) are still in the works.

Name: Jeff Blaine

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 13000

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Hole in driver side carpet. Wear and tear that should not be seen in a car that had 11,000 miles on it when the hole was 1st noticed.

Modifications: N/A

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): No

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story:

Name: Rich Hare

Make: 2002 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 10,000

Time out of use: 3 hours

Problem: Fabric on drivers seat fraying

Mods: None that would cause this

Submitted for warranty work: Yes

Reason for Denial: Normal wear and tear

Story: Noticed fabric coming apart. Took car into dealer, they at first denied service claiming it was normal wear and tear. Explained that car only had 10,000 miles on it and if this was normal than "Pigs could fly". Seat cover was replaced under warranty.

Name: Big Joe

Make: Subaru

Mileage: 30000 something

Time Out Of Use: 3 hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Driver side window stuck open, window regulator loose

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): YES

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story:

My window started with loud screaching noises at the corner near the mirror. After a while it would not close at the top, window was out of alignment and prevented the door closing. The very top of the window was touching the upper part of the door seal, thus the door not closing. I had to leave a 1/2 inch gap of the window open at the top in order to close the door.

Now the funny part. While coming home from work in dowtown L.A., a homeless person in a wheel chair was asking for money at the stop light. The first car gave money, being New Year's eve and in the spirit of giving, I opened my window all the way down and handed him some change. Light turns green, he says "happy new year and thanks!", I lift up on the window button, and it's stuck! What the ?

Props to Renick Subaru for fixing this quickly and according to the service advisor it was the first Subaru they had problems with the window.

joe

Make: 2003 WRX

Mileage: 6000

Problem And Likely Cause: Shift knob rattle due to STi Short shift kit

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Says its normal due to harder bushings in the STi short shifter causing excess vibration

Your Story: Dealership was very nice, took knob off the shifter shaft, inspected the knob, says the knob is not broken and that the rattle (which only rattles when the knob is on -- when I drive with the knob off there is no rattle) is normal sue to STi ssk assembly. But, nobody else I knows has this rattle with the factory knob and the STi ssk. Suggested to try an aftermarket knob, or bring it back if noise got worse. All I was expecting was a new knob...but couldnt convince them to give me one...

]

Name: Jeremiah McDonald

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 17K

Time Out Of Use: N/A

Problem And Likely Cause: Drivers window sceeches when being opened and closed. Window out of alignment? I've already had them replace the window seal for a wind noise. I've asked to have it fixed three times.

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial: not denied, just not fixed yet.

Your Story: screeches almost everytime I roll it up or down.

Name: Terence Reynolds

Make: 02 WRX

Mileage: 6000

Time Out Of Use: 1 day

Problem And Likely Cause: Wind noises rushing by window when closed all the way. Screeching of all windows when going up.

Modifications: Tinted windows

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: They said I had a defective window pannel and they fixed it. They also had to change all of the weather stripping because that too was defective. I still can kind of hear the wind noise. The screeching is gone. They tighted the back window so much that it has now peeled my tint off. Thanks guys! You turn one problem into another!

Name: Terence Reynolds

Make: 02 WRX

Mileage: 200 at the time

Time Out Of Use: 2 hours

Problem And Likely Cause: The front passenger side electric door lock switch jammed into the carbon fiber trim and did not work.

Modifications: None

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial:

Your Story: Got the car. 3 days later I had the problem. They fixed it though

Name: Jake

Make: MY01 Impreza 2.2L

Mileage: 250 at the time

Time Out Of Use: 4 hours

Problem And Likely Cause: The fan does not seem to blow air out of the air vent on the center console closest to the steering wheel.

Modifications: PDM CAI, WRX rims and tires.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Not Denied

Your Story: I have had this problem ever since I got the car, I have taken it in 2 times, both times they haven't fixed the problem. The last time the tech told me that this is normal and that there is nothing to fix. I don't believe this but what can I do. I know I won't be buying a car from Melody's Subaru in Kirkland, WA ever again, and I would highly discourage anyone else from going there.

Name: Chris Holtam

Make: 1999 Impreza 2.5RS

Mileage: 76,400

Time Out Of Use: 0

Problem And Likely Cause: Drivers seat fabric seperating on the door side. Foam padding on right of drivers seat by center console gone and metal seat frame poking me in the side.

Modifications: exhaust and lowering springs

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: SAS extended warranty does not cover interior or exterior pieces

Your Story: went into dealership to have some other work done and asked the service advisor about the seat. he wrote my repair order up and ordered the seat back material since it was SOP. parts dept. called me when it was in and i made another appointment to have it installed. when i got there they told me that it wasnt covered by warranty and that if i wanted it to be fixed i would have to pay for it myself. i think if i pay $2000 for a FACTORY EXTENDED warranty that it should cover everything like the NEW CAR warranty does.

Name: chris ong

Make: 2002 impreza wrx sedan

Mileage: 240 mi

Time Out Of Use: 3 days

Problem And Likely Cause: battery leaked, acid sprayed around a few areas. ate some of the tubing and paint

Modifications: none

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): yes

Reason Given For Denial: no answer yet

Your Story: i recently bought the car but after checkin under the hood, i saw the battery wet. realizing it cant be water i looked closer and it was battery acid. it ate up a lot of stuff. some paint got eaten down to plastic. its at the dealers, a subaru rep was supposed to se how much damage there was and the cause so they can see if warrenty will cover

(sorry i seem to have put this in the wrong section)

Name: mikev123

Make: 2002 WRX

Mileage: 31000

Time Out Of Use: 8 Hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Misaligned window, Broken window regulator

Modifications: TurboXS Stage III

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: None

Your Story: Window was out of alignment for a few weeks, I was planning on getting it looked at next week. Yesterday it went down (fast) and it stayed that way. Subaru of Wilton CT (where I bought it, excellent dealer) was nice enough to repair it under warrantee without an appointment no questions asked. According to the service manager I was the first one to have this problem with a WRX at their dealership.

Name: Andy Drag

Make: 2003 WRX

Mileage: 14000

Time Out Of Use: 2 Hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Window Grinding (up or down) when hitting bump, and horrid squeeking when in motion - no clue on cause

Modifications: none
Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: Subaru Dealership said it was normal and all WRX did it (and my service manager's wrx does it)

Story: I started happening 3 days after i bought the car last august

Name: matt

Make: 02 wrx

Mileage: 18k

Time Out Of Use: n/a

Problem And Likely Cause: trunk clunks arround??

Modifications: removed silencer, tein springs

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): waiting for appointment

Reason Given For Denial: n/a

Your Story: every time i make a turn or stop at a light my trunk makes a weird clunking noise, i checked and nothing seams loose in the trunk itself so i really cant figure it out. the problem started at about 15k and when we changed my springs we checked all the bolts and they were good so im pretty confident its nothing with the suspension. will update when they have a look

Name: Jordan Koch

Make: 2003 WRX

Mileage: 12000

Time Out Of Use: 45 minutes

Problem And Likely Cause: Front left bolt fell out of the seat rail for the driver's seat, making the car rather diffcult to drive.

Modifications: HKS HiPower Cat Back, Injen CAI, other various stereo and minor mods.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: No denial given, they fixed it in 30 minutes.

Your Story: I dropped the car off at Thousand Oaks Subaru and they had it fixed within minutes. I am going to have to bring it in again though, the seat is starting to wobble and I can tell it is loosening up.... Maybe get some lock tight on it this time around.

Name: Steven Waugh

Mileage 69k Miles

Time Out: 24 Hrs

Problem and likely cause: Several miles after complety filling tank, (Needle was bouncing on E) car started missing and running rough. I was thinking crappy fuel and dumped a can of Fuel Injector cleaner in tank. That mostly cleaned up the missing, running rough. 2 days later 1 cylinder isnt working when I started car. Had car towed to dealer. Dealer says coil pack and 1 sparkplug wire failed.

Mods: Funny that was the first thing outta the service writers mouth. WRX front brakes, drilled and slotted roters, Master cylinder support bracket, Under drive pullys, WRX side skirts, WRX steering wheel, Swaybar links.

Submitted for warenty claim: Yes, Paid for the extended waranty

Reason for refusal: Dealer claims Bosh sparkplugs are a "mod" ( same as stock only Bosh brand) and refuses to honor extended waranty.

My story: I almost fell out of my chair when told Bosh sparkplugs were being considered a mod. I said in certain terms to fax me the service bulleten or page of service manual to support their claim (I have service manual and know whats there) Several hours later I was fax'ed a page from a owners manual that has recomended sparkplugs and a handwritten statement that his mechanic was looking for this information. I was charged for a tune-up, fuel filter, aircleaner (the one in car 2-3 months old and not dirty when car left at dealer) 4 spark plugs and 4 wires I asked for 3 more wires when called by service rep thinking my other 3 sparkplug wires were near death

Name: Jordan Koch

Make: 2003 WRX

Mileage: 13000

Time Out Of Use: 1.5 hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Front left bolt fell out of the seat rail for the driver's seat AGAIN one month after getting it fixed.

Modifications: HKS HiPower Cat Back, Freedom Design FSTB, PSI^3 SECS ECU Monitor, Injen CAI, other various stereo and minor mods.

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: No denial given, they fixed it in 1.5 hours. This time they pulled the driver's seat to get at it.

Your Story: Last month, almost to the day, I had this very same problem. I suspect that it wasn't properly addressed the first time around. I am going to be rather PO'd if this happens again.

Name: Joe

Make: 2003 Impreza WRX

Mileage: 18000

Time Out Of Use: 1.5 hours

Problem And Likely Cause: Problem: Scratched driver's side window. (Original thread about it here.) Cause: According to dealer, dirt on window stabilizer pads.

Modifications: Stock

Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes

Reason Given For Denial: N/A

Your Story: Got the car used about three months ago. I didn’t notice it when I got the car. I noticed a few weeks ago that the window had scratches on the outside. See above link to the original thread about it. I had the dealer look at it when I took it in for the cruse control fix. They said it was probably caused by dirt on the stabilizer pads and they could replace it once under warranty. It took about a week for them to get the parts in. I then made an appointment and they replaced it under warranty. They said that the cost of parts and labor for this would be around $400 if I had to pay for it.