2005 Subaru Forester/Seat

[nrs2001]

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester, with around 32,000 miles on it. I live
in a temerate part of the country and always keep my car clean. The
drivers seat, as you all know, is made mostly of cloth, but has leater,
or what appears to be leather, that is used as trim for the seat. Well
my problem is that this leather like material is cracking. I have used
a leather cleaner on this and always use a sunshade and crack my
windows in hot weather. Give me some tips about how I can get Subaru
to fix this, or am I even right to think that they will fix this? Has
anyone else had this problem? I think that it should be covered under
the workmanship section of the warrenty. I have had some bad
expereince in the past, Subaru has told me several times that my
problem is not covered under the warrenty, or that they will not fix
the problem, and even they could not do anything until the Subary rep.
comes into town, which usually takes 3-6 months. I don't have that
sort of time, my car runs out of warrenty soon. I want to be positive
about Subaru, but if they drop the ball on this one I will loose all
faith in them.
Please advise.
Thanks

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester, with around 32,000 miles on it. I live
in a temerate part of the country and always keep my car clean. The
drivers seat, as you all know, is made mostly of cloth, but has leater,
or what appears to be leather, that is used as trim for the seat. Well
my problem is that this leather like material is cracking. I have used
a leather cleaner on this and always use a sunshade and crack my
windows in hot weather. Give me some tips about how I can get Subaru
to fix this, or am I even right to think that they will fix this? Has
anyone else had this problem? I think that it should be covered under
the workmanship section of the warrenty. I have had some bad
expereince in the past, Subaru has told me several times that my
problem is not covered under the warrenty, or that they will not fix
the problem, and even they could not do anything until the Subary rep.
comes into town, which usually takes 3-6 months. I don't have that
sort of time, my car runs out of warrenty soon. I want to be positive
about Subaru, but if they drop the ball on this one I will loose all
faith in them.
Please advise.
Thanks

First, if you have the dealership document the complaint in writing -
then they drag their feet having the rep look into the issue, you should
have noting to fear if the warranty runs out before he shows up. Also,
you understand Subaru's position is they can never be certain what kind
of abuse a vehicle may have suffered. Sometimes a 'deal' can be struck,
even after warranty has run out, whereby subaru will pay for the labor
if you pay for the parts or some type of 50% discount is offered. maybe
one of the Foreter sites or the Forester section over at www.nasioc.com
will indicate if this is a common problem and how Subaru has been
dealing with it.

Carl

 

[nrs2001]

Carl
Thanks for your reply. That information is very helpful. It seems that
you have alot of experience dealing with this sort of thing. The line
about, and I am not quoting, about Subaru not knowing the type of abuse
a vehicle has gone through. Does this mean that my warrenty, and the
extended warrenty I purchased (my mistake) are no good. I mean will
they pull that card each time. Thanks again, I appreciate all the
information you and everyone else can give.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Carl
Thanks for your reply. That information is very helpful. It seems that
you have alot of experience dealing with this sort of thing. The line
about, and I am not quoting, about Subaru not knowing the type of abuse
a vehicle has gone through. Does this mean that my warrenty, and the
extended warrenty I purchased (my mistake) are no good. I mean will
they pull that card each time. Thanks again, I appreciate all the
information you and everyone else can give.

I dunno. There have been instances whereby someone may(for example) have
modified the car with lowered springs and a 'loud' exhaust. Then the
owner tries to make a claim for a ruined transmission. The dealership
says, basically, "Well, look, you obviously were racing and we won't
cover the damage" maybe they were or maybe they got a bum transmission.
Tricky decision.
I'd say just go ahead and make arrangements to document the damage,
maybe take a coupla photos with the dealership's repair
estimate/whatever next to the cracked leather, and have an appointment
made with the regional manager - and be sure to tell him the suggestion
came from a group on the internet.Use phrases like, "How would you feel
if this were your car?" and "If they all do this then they are all bad
and need repairing - you can start with mine." Then we'll see what happens.
Have you discovered if other Forester owners have encountered this
issue? another place to ask would be www.ultimatesubaru.org

Carl

 

[nrs2001]

Thanks Carl, great advice. I will do that very soon and let you know
what I found out. Anyone else with some advice out there?

 

[Blair Baucom]

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester XS with 31,000+ miles & the grey interior. I
assumed it is vinyl around the cloth, but may be leather. Mine shows no sign
of cracks, and I have not put anything on it. I do have cracks in my
computer desk chair which is leather. My car spends 90% of its time out in
the sun at Lambert airport parking in St. Louis for two years.

I think the cracks on my chair come from the flexing of the material. In my
Forester I am only as wide as the fabric so I don't contact the trim much at
all except getting in & out. I have a 125 mile commute twice a week, so most
of my time is spent just sitting.

Only thing is to try the dealer or two dealers and see what they say. With
the airbag in the seat, it may be costly to have the trim replaced and
restitched, or have the seat cover replaced.

Let us know how this comes out.

Blair

 

[Edward Hayes]

Subaru does have a 3Y/36000 mile bumper to bumper and should include
seats coverings. The only thing I can think of that may cause a
problem is what others have said i.e. knife cuts or poked holes etc.
Do get the complant in writing that includes a date and mileage.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Carl
Thanks for your reply. That information is very helpful. It seems that
you have alot of experience dealing with this sort of thing. The line
about, and I am not quoting, about Subaru not knowing the type of abuse
a vehicle has gone through. Does this mean that my warrenty, and the
extended warrenty I purchased (my mistake) are no good. I mean will
they pull that card each time. Thanks again, I appreciate all the
information you and everyone else can give.

also dig around/post at;
http://www.subaruforester.org/vbulletin/forums/

Carl

 

[David]

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester, with around 32,000 miles on it. I live
in a temerate part of the country and always keep my car clean. The
drivers seat, as you all know, is made mostly of cloth, but has leater,
or what appears to be leather, that is used as trim for the seat. Well
my problem is that this leather like material is cracking. I have used
a leather cleaner on this

I've had the local Subaru dealer many issues under warranty, including
replacing a sun visor, and the glove-box, so no problem with them
fixing interior items that failed during the 36k mile bumper-to-bumper
warranty period.

As far as the seat cracking, I wonder if the leather treatment harmed
the vinyl trim. Otherwise Subaru should fix it.

Good luck!

 

[QX]

I have a 2005 Subaru Forester XS with 31,000+ miles & the grey interior. I
assumed it is vinyl around the cloth, but may be leather. Mine shows no sign
of cracks, and I have not put anything on it. I do have cracks in my
computer desk chair which is leather. My car spends 90% of its time out in
the sun at Lambert airport parking in St. Louis for two years.

I think the cracks on my chair come from the flexing of the material. In my
Forester I am only as wide as the fabric so I don't contact the trim much at
all except getting in & out. I have a 125 mile commute twice a week, so most
of my time is spent just sitting.

2005 Forester XT with all leather here.
No cracking problems at all. I use Meguars Leather treatment every
other month.
The car is night garaged, but outside all day. This is in the desert
southwest USA where daytime summer temps reach 115°F outside, and as
low as 0F° at the nearby ski resort in winter (BTW, it's currently
31°F at the airport @ 6 AM).