2002 Subaru Impreza Steering Problems

The passenger side lower control arm was rusting out without my knowledge and while driving, a part of it broke in half which caused my front passenger side while to turn the wrong way and ripped apart the CV Axle causing me to swerve to the left and promptly stopping the vehicle causing cars behind me to swerve out of the way. Thankfully, I was in the far left lane which avoided me smashing into another car. After research, I found a recall that included my car's make, model, year, and VIN range but was not applied to my car due to it not being registered in a "salt state". Had this car been treated in the first place like other same model cars were, it would not have had this issue. The car was purchased and has been in the Northern Virginia area for its whole life. Virginia is not a salt state, however, this car has been in and out of WV, MD, PA & DC which are all salt states. This car was originally purchased in Alexandria, VA which borders Washington DC. The NHTSA Campaign Number is: 11V464000 (SUBARU’S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER WVX-34). I reached out to Subaru Dealerships in my area which helped me open a case with Subaru of America. My case representative said that Subaru of America is not authorized to add vehicles to a recall and that only the NHTSA can do that. I emailed the NHTSA who then recommended that I submit a formal complaint with the NHTSA.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 11V464000 (SUBARU SAFETY RECALL WVX-34) COVERS 2002-2007 IMPREZAS, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. THE SAFETY RECALL COVERS CARS REGISTERED IN 20 RUST BELT STATES. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED IN THOSE STATES, SO IT IS TECHNICALLY NOT COVERED, BUT IT IS DRIVEN THERE REGULARLY SINCE WE LIVE ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA DID NOT TREAT OR REPLACE MY LOWER CONTROL ARM SINCE IT TECHNICALLY DIDN'T MEET THE RECALL CRITERIA. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE DUE TO RUST WHILE DRIVING - CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LUCKILY MAINTAINED AT TIME OF FAILURE. THE SAFETY RECALL STATES "THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION", WHICH IT DID. THE SAFETY COMPLAINT HERE IS THAT SURROUNDING STATES FOR SAFETY RECALLS THAT COVER SPECIFIC STATES. VEHICLES, WEATHER AND ROAD TREATMENTS DO NOT STOP AT STATES BORDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPOSED TO THE SAME ROAD TREATMENTS AS VEHICLES IN THE NEIGHBORING STATES AND FAILED, AS PREDICTED BY SUBARU.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, A POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,466.

VEHICLE HAD RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR RUST ON FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS PERFORMED (AMONG THE FIRST CARS FIXED IN THE CAMPAIGN), AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND LOWER SUBFRAME ARE BADLY RUSTED, RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE. SUBARU DEALER RECOMMENDED CONTACTING SUBARU OF AMERICA (SOA) AND SOA DECLINED TO HELP AT ALL. THIS IS A FAILED RECALL REPAIR, SINCE THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS RECALLED FOR.

TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TIRES AND ALONG WITH BAD WHEEL BEARING, I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT SUBFRAME WAS ALMOST ROTTED OUT. AS I LIVE IN A COLD SNOWY AREA AND I OFTEN DRIVE MY GRANDCHILDREN AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? I SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL, YEAR, MAKE THAT HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINT. I AM ALSO VERY UPSET THAT I WAS SOLD THIS CAR IN 01/12 AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FRONT CONTROL ARM RECALL. 5 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, I HAD TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 2 DAYS, THE PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM A SUBARU DEALER, WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM AT THAT TIME EITHER? *TR

SEE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT W/SAME VEHICLE----FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON 1-14-2011 AT ODO 49093. THIS CURRENT COMPLAINT IS FAILURE OF LEFT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON 8-28-11. 2002 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5TS WAGON WITH 51764 MILES. ALWAYS BEST OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. DRIVING SLOWLY ON CITY STREET. CLUNKING SOUND FROM LEFT FRONT, DIFFICULTY STEERING. RECOGNIZED PROBLEM FROM PREVIOUS FAILURE OF RIGHT SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. RETURNED TO MY DRIVEWAY (LESS THAN A MILE) AND CALLED WRECKER. REPAIR COST: $458.95. CONTACTED SUBARU CUSTOMER/DEALER SERVICES----NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OR PREVIOUS FAILURE. "OUT OF WARRANTY, YOU LIVE IN A SNOW/SALT AREA, ETC". *TR

2.5 TS WITH 49,093 MILES. WAGON WAS ALWAYS GIVEN BEST OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. DRIVING SLOWLY ON CITY STREET. CLUNKING SOUND FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AREA. SOME DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKING AND STEERING. ASSUMED IT WAS ICE BUILDUP ON BRAKES/SUSPENSION. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES INCREASED SPEED ON COUNTRY ROAD AND BECAME MUCH WORSE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF STEERING BUT GOT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED RUST-RIDDLED FRONT SUBFRAME TO COLLAPSE. REPLACED LOWER CONTROL ARM, FRONT STABILIZER LINK AND FRONT SUBFRAME. $1218.02. *TR

STEERING ROLL CONNECTOR FAILED. CAUSES HORN, CRUISE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG TO STOP FUNCTIONING. PART IS POORLY DESIGNED, WIRES ARE HELD IN PLACE BY PAPER. THIS SUBSYSTEM IS UNSAFE. *NM