2002 Subaru Impreza suspension problems

“The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle felt as if there was a flat tire on the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's side tire was about to detach. Additionally, the driver’s side front lower control arm was fractured. Prior to the failure, the contact had driven over a railroad track and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V464000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”

“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…”

“HELLO, I HOPE THIS MESSAGE FINDS YOU SAFE AND WELL. MY PROBLEM IS AS FOLLOWS: CONTROL ARM FAILURE EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS RECALL FROM 2011 (LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AT HANGAR BRACKET; SAFETY RECALL: WVX34|NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 11V464000). I WAS NEVER PERSONALLY NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL, THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE LEADING TO A NEAR ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS WHAT ALERTED ME TO THE PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 50MPH, WHEN THE HANGAR BROKE COMPROMISING THE STEERING AND CAUSING ME TO NEARLY CRASH. ACCORDING TO SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY 'FIXED' THE PROBLEM WITH A RUST-PROOFING SPRAY, AND ARE DENYING ME ANY GOOD FAITH REPAIRS CITING THAT IT WAS ADDRESSED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT FAILED ANYWAYS AND SUBJECTED MYSELF AND OTHERS TO POTENTIAL SEVERE PERSONAL INJURY. AFTER MANY (NOT RETURNED) PHONE CALLS, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT (INCURRING 'ASSESSMENT FEES') AND THE WOMAN I SPOKE WITH TODAY FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA TOLD ME THEY WOULD OFFER MINIMAL IF ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ISSUE. ALL I WANT IS MY VEHICLE TO FUNCTION AS THE MANUFACTURER INTENDED, NOT FOR SOMEONE TO SLAP A BANDAID ON THE ISSUE, CALL IT 'FIXED' AND BASICALLY GIVE ME - A…”

“SAFETY RECALL: WVX34 I HAD THIS WORK DONE AT A DEALERSHIP. THEY DID A PUNCH TEST.THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS PASSED ON JULY 9, 2019 AND WERE UNDERCOATED AT 192630 MILES. TODAY AUGUST 10, 2019 THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET THE VEHICLE HOME AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE UNABLE TO TELL ME IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED OR I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED SUBARU'S ACTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE ARE INADEQUATE.”

“SUBARU IMPREZA OUTBACK SPORT 2002, PASSENGER LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD CORROSION BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE COMPLETE SEPARATION AND FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. CONTACTED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND SUBARU DEALERSHIP, SUBARU WAS NOT WITHIN THE VIN NUMBERS SPECIFIED UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL TO REPAIR THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE OF CORROSION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. ALSO THE U FRAME BRACE WAS SO EXTREMELY CORRODED THAT IT CRUMBLED AND FELL APART SIMILAR TO THE CONTROL ARM CORROSION. OTHER DAMAGE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CONTROL ARM FAILURE INCLUDE, DAMAGE TO BODY AND FENDER WHEN TIRE WAS STUFFED BACKWARD INTO THE FENDER DURING THE FAILURE AT SPEED. DAMAGE TO TIRE, DAMAGE TO ANTI ROLL BAR END LINK, DAMAGE TO DRIVE AXLE AND DRIVE AXLE BOOTS AND DAMAGE TO SEAL AND HOUSING AT TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL, DAMAGE TO LOWER BALL JOINT.”

“THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM BROKE INTO TWO PIECES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE RIGHT FROM TOF THE VEHICLE TO DROP DOWN, IT CAUSED THE TIRE TO CONTACT THE FENDER AT REAR OF WHEEL OPENING AND CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO POINT IN TWO DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. THE OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET (LUCKILY) WHILE BACKING AND TURNING AFTER EXITING A DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT IT ALLOWED SUBARU TO "INSPECT" THE CONTROL ARM BACK IN 2011 AND NOT REPLACE IT, WHICH ALLOWED IT'S FAILURE ANYWAY AND SO WAS INEFFECTIVE.”