2004 Subaru Impreza Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and hard braking, the vehicle started shuddering violently and the steering wheel was not operating as needed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at 20 MPH. The contact then inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the front driver's side control arm had fractured. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 235,000.

The passenger side lower control arm failed due to corrosion. There was a previous recall to address this issue with an anti corrosion coating, but it did not prevent the control arm from corroding and failing. I had this addressed at the dealer, and they mentioned the issue was addressed. Recall NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT END I SAW THAT THE LOWER SUSPENSION ARM HAD CRACKED.

DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE PROPERLY PERFORMED A RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS I OWN A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION FOR A SEVERE CORROSION ISSUE. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO HADDAD SUBARU FOR THE RECALL SERVICE IN 2011 I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC (NOT DEALER MECHANIC) THAT THE SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUSLY CORRODED AND IT "DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THIS CAR." I HAD THIS OPINION CONFIRMED A SECOND MECHANIC. I RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH HADDAD SUBARU. THEY CONFIRM THE SUSPENSION IS DANGEROUSLY CORRODED, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM SUBARU I RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH SUBARU AMERICA AND THEY STATE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY BY HADAD SUBARU AND THEY HAVE NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I AM DUBIOUS THE RECALL REPAIR WAS CORRECTLY PERFORMED BY HADAD SUBARU IN 2011 AND THAT IS WHY THERE IS A PROBLEM NOW. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, SO I HAVE FIXED IT MYSELF FOR NEARLY $1,000

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO RUST.CAR WAS STARTING OUT JUST AFTER TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN SO A VERY SLOW SPEED.THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A FASTER SPEED. CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND THE REPAIR WAS TO INSPECT AND SPRAY RUST PROOFING ON LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THIS WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE REPAIR AS IT FAILED ANYWAY. I HAVE A 2006 SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME RECALL AND IT WAS SPRAYED WITH RUST PROOFING. I EXPECT IT WILL FAIL ALSO IF SOMETHING MORE IS NOT DONE LIKE REPLACING THEM. SO FAR DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE THEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE BRAKING, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V464000 (SUSPENSION), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND WAS BENDING TO THE POINT OF DETACHMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,300.

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A SMOOTH, STRAIGHT STRETCH OF US-12 THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AT THE HANGER BRACKET. SEE HTTP://I62.TINYPIC.COM/2AJQ7EX.JPG. CONTROL ARM HAD BEEN "RUSTPROOFED" AS PART OF THE 2011 RECALL. AT ONE POINT ALONG THE BREAK THE METAL MEASURES LESS THAN 4 HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH (0.0355") - SEE HTTP://I62.TINYPIC.COM/2Q3QA1T.JPG. THE SWAY BAR LINK ALSO BROKE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON I190 IN WORCHESTER MA MERGING INTO I290 WHEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AND THE FRONT END COLLAPSED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AT THE SUBARU DEALER'S THE CONTROL ARM AND SUB FRAME WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED CLEAR THROUGH. THERE WAS A FACTORY RECALL ISSUED IN 2011, WHICH WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY SUBARU ONLY SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. *JS

THERE WAS OBSERVED RUST ON A SMALL SECTION OF THE REAR QUARTER UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR. WORK WAS BEGUN ON JULY, 4 2013 TO TREAT WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE SURFACE RUST WITH POR-15 RUST INHIBITOR. WHEN THE CAR WAS ON THE LIFT AND WORK BEGAN, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS SMALL SECTION ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR WAS INADEQUACY PROTECTED BY FACTORY UNDERCOATING. THIS SECTION WAS WHERE SUPPORT ARMS FOR BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS ATTACH TO THE CHASSIS. THIS SECTION IS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE AND CRACKING. THE CHASSIS ATTACHMENT POINT FRONT BRACES FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS FULLY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS AREA OF THE CHASSIS SHOWS NO SIGN OF DAMAGE, OR ABUSE WHICH WOULD LEAD TO RUSTING. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS EITHER RUST FREE, OR SHOWS LIMITED SURFACE RUST. THE BODY PANELS OF THE CAR ARE RUST FREE. IN SHORT, LACK OF PROPER RUST TREATMENT OF KEY STRUCTURAL AREAS OF THE CAR, HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE CORROSION, WHICH HAS RENDERED THE CAR UNSAFE IN MY (THE OWNER'S) OPINION, AS WELL AS THE OPINION OF THE MECHANIC ASSISTING IN THE INSPECTION. I WELCOME ANY INSPECTIONS BY SUBARU OF AMERICA OR THE NHTSA. *TR

The contact owns a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 15V323000 (Air Bags) and 11V464000 (Suspension) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The dealer informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension) could not be completed due to excessive corrosion. The approximate failure mileage was 191,000. Parts distributions disconnect.

REAR STRUTS (AND POSSIBLY FRONT) ARE MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE NOISE IS QUITE APPARENT AND WOULD NOT BE ITEMS INSIDE THE TRUNK AND/ OR CAR. *JB

1.AT ABOUT 12000 MILES,THE RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS,BRAKING OR ACCELERATING IS MORE EVIDENT AT LOW SPEEDS BUT IS STILL PRESENT AT HIGHER VELOCITIES. 2.THE FAILURE IS CURRENTLY STILL EXISTENT,THE RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 1/4 IN LOOSE PLAY BEFORE THE REAR STRUT BINDS. THIS AFFECTS HANDLING OF VEHICLE DURING TURNS OR EMERGENCY MANEUVERS AS THE SUSPENSION IS NOT WELL CONTROLLED BY STRUT BINDING. WHEN COMING TO A STOP,ONE CAN FEEL THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF VEHICLE SETTLE AND HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND. THIS ISSUE TWICE SENT THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT ON BUMPY ROADS AND FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AT GREAT LENGTH IN VARIOUS SUBARU IMPREZA STI FORUMS AND IS REFERRED TO AS THE"REAR STRUT CLUNK" AND IT CAN AFFECTS BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. MODEL YEAR 2004 AND 2005 SUBARU IMPREZA STI ARE INVOLVED IN THIS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MY 2006 AND 2007 ARE AS WELL BUT I HAVEN'T CHECKED. 3.THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT A FEW TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE STILL ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE REAR STRUT OF MY 2004 WRX STI CLUNKS ALL THE TIME. ANY RANGE OF SPEED ALL THE WAY UP TO 50-60. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE STI'S OVER AS LITTLE AS 5,000 MILES. SUBARU HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS!!!*AK

2004 IMPREZA STI - REAR CLUNKING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION. OCCASIONAL STRUT LOCKUP IN COMPRESSED POSITION. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THREE TIMES BEFORE REALIZING IT WAS A FAULTY REAR STRUT. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE AS MY DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STRUT ISSUE WENT AWAY. SUBARU OF AMERICA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS MODEL TO CHECK FOR THIS STRUT PROBLEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE STRUT MAKE NOISE WHEN COMPRESSING, BUT IT SOMETIMES LOCKS IN THE COMPRESSED POSTION, CHANGING THE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE DYNAMICS OF THE CAR IN AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFETHREATENING WAY. BY REPLACING THE STRUT, THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED. DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF THE SAME STRUT FAILURE ON THESE CARS, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF SAME COMPLAINTS TO NHTSA HERE AT THIS WEBSITE, ONE CAN ONLY ASSUME SUBARU OF AMERICAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

REAR STRUTS STICK AND WILL NOT REBOUND AFTER A COMPRESSION STROKE. CAUSES REAR TO SAG AND HANDLING FEELS VERY LOOSE. VERY NOISY. SUBARU OF AMERICA KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS EITHER A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE FLAW, AND DOES NOTHING TO ISSUE A RECALL. THERE ARE HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSAND OF DOCUMENTED CASED ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THREE REAR STRUTS REPLACED, SO FAR...AND ONCE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, REPAIR COSTS ARE $500 PER STRUT LABOR INCLUDED TO REPLACE.

FOR SOME TIME BOTH REAR STRUTS IN MY CAR HAVE BEEN MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WILL NOW GET STUCK IN A CERTAIN POSITION. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS IT MAKES THE CAR WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA WITH NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THEY HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE THE CAR HAD ABOUT 25,000 MILES ON IT.

SUBARU WRX STI HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THE STRUTS FAILING IN THE 2004 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD MY REAR STRUTS REPLACED A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES AND THEY ARE BROKEN AGAIN AND MY CAR IS NOT EVEN TWO YEARS OLD. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS ON THE INTERNET WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT CAN BE SAFE DRIVING AROUND WITH BROKEN STRUTS. *JB