I'll Never Buy Another Subaru

[Dena Leiter]

Not that this will make any difference but I needed to vent.

My 2002 Impreza Outback Sport has cold start shudder/judder. Despite
knowledge of the TBB the dealer will not replace parts until he can
personally reproduce the problem (liked I'd make it up). Regional
Subaru HQ was no more helpful. They acknowledge the problem but will
not encourage the dealer to fix it without confirmation. WHY would I
make this up?

Anyway, I'm going back to Hondas, 220K+ each without a problem. Even
my Miata has 180K troublefree miles.

Subaru clearly doesn't feel the need to stand behind their product or
show any good will toward their customers. Never again.

DL

 

[Jose Rodrigues Ibn Chen]

Not that this will make any difference but I needed to vent.

My 2002 Impreza Outback Sport has cold start shudder/judder. Despite
knowledge of the TBB the dealer will not replace parts until he can
personally reproduce the problem (liked I'd make it up). Regional
Subaru HQ was no more helpful. They acknowledge the problem but will
not encourage the dealer to fix it without confirmation. WHY would I
make this up?

To get a free new clutch? (I don't believe you're making this up btw).

Anyway, I'm going back to Hondas, 220K+ each without a problem. Even
my Miata has 180K troublefree miles.

Let us know what AWD system you'd bolt onto your Hondas. Thanks.

 

[Edward Hayes]

Why can't the dealer reproduce it and you can? I would be suspicious too.
The dealer has to be able to honestly determine it's bad or the shop must
eat the cost.

 

[Gerard]

I know the pain of the clutch shudder. When it happened mine was bad enough
to cause my girlfriend to stall the car. It took 8 attempts to get the
dealership to produce it (finally left it parked outside the service centre
overnight so they could try it nice and cold in the morning). After having
it demonstrated, they agreed to replace it. They have replaced it 3 times
now. The clutch I have now still shudders mildly on cold wet mornings but
nothing like the original one - it is now perfectly drivable at least.

I almost got rid of the car at one stage because the problem was so bad so I
know how Dana is feeling. Love the car in every other respect but was not
impressed at all with the clutch.

Only other issue to date is I now have a noisy hole in the exhaust right up
the front. I am 6 months out of warranty and Subaru won't cover it. They
want AU$1000 to fix it. I am getting MRT Racing to fit a full performance
exhaust tomorrow for the same price rather than letting the Subaru dealer
replace the one bit of pipe with the hole.

Regards,

Gerard...
2000 OBLW

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
Write to SOA and address it to prez. personally.
Tony

 

[Dena Leiter]

Gerard,

Glad to hear your story. I must say you are extremely patient, there
is no way I could go thru 3 clutches, still have a problem and still
own the car. I do appreciate your understanding my situation.

I just spoke to a service manager who treated me with some respect and
understanding and was very open about this common problem. So I will
be taking the car to that dealership and hope they can reproduce the
problem in less than 8 tries. (My problem with the other dealers in
that they didn't even suggest this judder problem when I brought the
car in the first time and grudingly admited to it when I told them
about the TSB. )

I wish you good luck with your car in the future.

Dena

 

[Dena Leiter]

Thanks, Tony, I will.

It's not that the problem exists or even that they need to reproduce
it that bothers me. It's the way we were treated. Most of the service
managers wouldn't admit to the existence of this common complain until
faced with the TSB. And after reading Gerard's saga I'm not holding
out much hope even if they do fix it.

 

[Tony Hwang]

Hi,
I am in Canada and my two kids(boy and girl) drive Impreza.
Fortunately I have not experienced any problem with either vehicle.
Lately I received a customer survey material in the mail. That was a
place to raise an issue if there was one but in my case I had to praise
my dealer for their excellent service. I always try to develop long
term friendly relationship with service/parts guys. Some times I take
them out for lunch or some times I bring a box of candy, etc. This kind
of little gesture goes a long way. I am a retired EE and some times I
even fix their home stereo, PC or even TV set. Kinda I scratch your
back, you scratch my back thingy. Our other vehicles are Honda and
Mitsu. And a Ford Pick up truck. All are well. Also I am lucky having
a good friend who is master mechanic.
Tony

 

[null_pointer]

Hi,
I am in Canada and my two kids(boy and girl) drive Impreza.
Fortunately I have not experienced any problem with either vehicle.
Lately I received a customer survey material in the mail. That was a
place to raise an issue if there was one but in my case I had to praise
my dealer for their excellent service. I always try to develop long
term friendly relationship with service/parts guys. Some times I take
them out for lunch or some times I bring a box of candy, etc. This kind
of little gesture goes a long way. I am a retired EE and some times I
even fix their home stereo, PC or even TV set. Kinda I scratch your
back, you scratch my back thingy. Our other vehicles are Honda and
Mitsu. And a Ford Pick up truck. All are well. Also I am lucky having
a good friend who is master mechanic.
Tony

If for no other reason, your vehicles probably all work so well
because of all the good kharma you generate.....

 

[David W]

I have a 2000 Legacy GT with the same prob. I didn't know there was a TSB on
it. Can someone give me a link to it?

 

[dn]

You'll have to look for it, but it's in this thread:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=311146

dn.

 

[Gerard]

No worries Dena,

When the problem first happened, I thought it was just me. It wasn't until I
saw other people complaining on alt.autos.subaru that I actually did
anything about it. Very glad I did.

Good luck with yours,

Gerard...