2009 Subaru Impreza Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the transmission failed to properly shift. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and shut off the vehicle. Once the contact restarted the vehicle, the vehicle started operating normally; however, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the clutch pedal bracket had fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was under recall however, the recall had expired. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.

THE FIREWALL PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM ENGAGING IN GEARS WHILE DRIVING

MY CAR JUST BROKE ON ME. THE SHOP SHOWED ME HOW THE FIREWALL WAS BUILT ON THESE MODELS AND HOW IT WAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS MODELS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRRY ABOUT THE FIREWALL BREAKING ON ME WITH ONLY 100K MILES ON MY CAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS THE FIREWALL BROKE ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND RENDERED THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD BEFORE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS IS A HAZARD FOR ANYONE WHO BUYS THESE CARS BECAUSE THE FIREWALL CAN BREAK ANYTIME REALLY DEPENDING ON HOW HARD THE CAR IS DRIVEN ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD REALISTICALLY NEVER BREAK.

HAD A CLUTCH REPAIR DONE ON CAR AFTER THE REPAIR WAS FINISHED THE MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE FIREWALL ON CAR WAS CRACKED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET AND NOTED THAT THE SUBARU WRX IMPRIZA FROM 2009-214 HAD A PROBLEM WITH FIRE WALL FATIGUE WHEN THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE WERE BEING USED UNDER NORMAL OPERATION CONDITION.

The head gaskets have failed multiple times with this vehicle within a 6 month timeframe. The head gaskets have been a reported recall issue for other models of Subaru Impreza's except the non-turbo ones which this one is. The shop where is has been repaired at repairs several Subaru's that are non-turbo models monthly due to blown head gaskets. The head gasket failure in my vehicle has caused other components to fail, i.e. the radiator, power steering rack and 2 catalytic converters. I have all of my receipts for the repairs that where a direct result of the head gaskets being blown twice within 6 months and the total spent was $4,558.53 the car cost $5750.00 to buy.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES. LEAKED OUT 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL ON ROAD TRIP

SUBARU OF AMERICA INC. SHOULD RECALL 2008-2014 IMPREZA, IMPREZA WRX, AND IMPREZA WRX STI. THESE VEHICLES JUST ABOVE THE DRIVERS FEET, USE 6 SPOTS WELDS TO HOLD A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE INSIDE OF THE FIREWALL.THIS DESIGN FLAW, WHERE THE PEDAL MOUNTING BOX IS SPOT-WELDED TO THE FIREWALL USING ONLY A HANDFUL OF TINY SPOT WELDS IS DANGEROUS. THE FIREWALL ITSELF IS OF A WEAK DESIGN AND INHERENTLY HAS QUITE A BIT OF FLEX AND OVER TIME AND NORMAL USE THESE SPOT WELDS FAIL FROM TOO MUCH STRESS AND THE PEDALS WILL BEGIN TO SQUEAK, CREAK, POP AND EVENTUALLY THE PEDALS WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL WHEN DEPRESSED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PEDALS WILL NO LONGER PROPERLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WILL NO LONGER BE DRIVABLE. IN THE EVENT OF THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC. SAFETY RISK FIREWALL FAILURE POTENTIAL RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF FUNCTION OF PEDAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING CLUTCH, BRAKE, AND ACCELERATION PEDALS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL MAY LEAD TO OCCUPANTS HAVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. REMEDY SUBARU WILL NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS. DEALERS WILL FACILITATE THE, PERMANENT SOLUTION WHICH INVOLVES PROPERLY WELDING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BOX TO THE FIREWALL WITH A CONTINUOUS SEAM WELD ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE MOUNTING TAB, FREE OF CHARGE. SOURCES: HTTP://WWW.CIRCUITMOTORSPORTS-BLOG.COM/2015/04/THE-2008-2014-SUBARU-IMPREZA-CLUTCH.HTML HTTPS://WWW.5250PERFORMANCE.COM/BLOG/SUBARU-FIREWALL-REPAIRS-LESS-MONEY-BETTER-REPAIR HTTPS://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=745C2FF65D52924B49418232894051CD&T=2700583 HTTPS://BIT.LY/2SSK3IJ HTTPS://BIT.LY/37FLMP4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/RESULTS?SEARCH_QUERY=2008+SUBARU+WRX+FIREWALL *TR

I CALLED SUBARU ALMOST 5 MONTHS AGO WHEN I CAME ACROSS THERE WAS A RECALL ON BRAKES SINCE WE WERE HAVING THE ISSUE OF THE BRAKES FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING. MANUFACTURER RECALL #: WUE90 ON 2-28-19. NHTSA RECALL #: 19V149000. WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS YET TO FIX. ON 8-29-19 THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND BRAKES LIGHT WAS CHIMING AND FLASHING EARLIER AND MAY BE RELATED TO WHY IT DID NOT STOP IN TIME AND WAS INVOLCED IN A REAR END CRASH WHEN DRIVER IN FRONT SLAMMED ON BRAKES. A AUTO SHOP THEN TELLS ME AFTER THE CAR WAS REPORTED IN THE ACCIDENT SOMMERS SUBARU CALLED THEM ON 9-4-19 TO TELL THE CAR HAD A BRAKE SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE MADE A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS VEHICLE ON 4-19-19. COMPLAINT # 11197303

The problem: like over 50% of adult Americans, I am female. I am 5' 3.5" tall (average for N. America, folks!) and weigh 109 lbs. I am also 66 years old and it's likely that despite my very active lifestyle (I'm a backpacker etc.), my bones are more brittle than a 25-y.o. man's. Your agency has failed in its duty to ensure the safety of ALL Americans. not just men and fat women. In order to reach the accelerator and see over the dashboard, i.e. in order to drive these vehicles which have passed your safety requirements, I sit in the death zone of the driver airbags and steering wheel column in all three vehicles I own: this 2009 Impreza, my 2000 Outback station wagon, and my 2012 Ford F350 Winnebago RV. Please don't tell me that I should buy one of the very few vehicles that might fit me better. I live on a mountainside in Alaska and need winter traction and handling. Why should my vehicle choices be narrowed because you have failed to recognizew that I exist? As a retired federal scientist and policy wonk with a law degree, I am appalled at your agency's callousness towards me and other average height drivers. How long will it take my government, staffed by people whose salaries I pay, to recognize that the male body is not the default for all humans? I am letting my Senator, Lisa Murkowshi, know that it's well past time for the NHTSA to protect me as well as it protects my husband.

COMPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL CLICKS 3 TIMES LOUDLY WHEN CAR IS ON OR OFF. SOUNDS LIKE UNDER DRIVERS DASHBOARD. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG LIGHT ON, HORN ISNT WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. *TR

09 WRX HATCH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND HILL ASSIST LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON , EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY VARIABLES THAT ARE CONSISTENT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S RAIN OR SHINE, HOT OR COLD, BOTH LIGHTS WILL JUST RANDOMLY COME ON.

SUBARU OF AMERICA INC. SHOULD RECALL 2008-2014 IMPREZA, IMPREZA WRX, AND IMPREZA WRX STI. THESE VEHICLES JUST ABOVE THE DRIVERS FEET, USE 6 SPOTS WELDS TO HOLD A MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY TO THE INSIDE OF THE FIREWALL.THIS DESIGN FLAW, WHERE THE PEDAL MOUNTING BOX IS SPOT-WELDED TO THE FIREWALL USING ONLY A HANDFUL OF TINY SPOT WELDS IS DANGEROUS. THE FIREWALL ITSELF IS OF A WEAK DESIGN AND INHERENTLY HAS QUITE A BIT OF FLEX AND OVER TIME AND NORMAL USE THESE SPOT WELDS FAIL FROM TOO MUCH STRESS AND THE PEDALS WILL BEGIN TO SQUEAK, CREAK, POP AND EVENTUALLY THE PEDALS WILL MOVE AWAY FROM THE FIREWALL WHEN DEPRESSED. ONCE THIS HAPPENS THE CLUTCH AND OTHER PEDALS WILL NO LONGER PROPERLY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WILL NO LONGER BE DRIVABLE. IN THE EVENT OF THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF LIFE AND ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC. SAFETY RISK FIREWALL FAILURE POTENTIAL RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF FUNCTION OF PEDAL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING CLUTCH, BRAKE, AND ACCELERATION PEDALS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL MAY LEAD TO OCCUPANTS HAVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. REMEDY SUBARU WILL NOTIFY THEIR OWNERS. DEALERS WILL FACILITATE THE, PERMANENT SOLUTION WHICH INVOLVES PROPERLY WELDING THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY BOX TO THE FIREWALL WITH A CONTINUOUS SEAM WELD ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE MOUNTING TAB, FREE OF CHARGE. SOURCES: HTTP://WWW.CIRCUITMOTORSPORTS-BLOG.COM/2015/04/THE-2008-2014-SUBARU-IMPREZA-CLUTCH.HTML HTTPS://WWW.5250PERFORMANCE.COM/BLOG/SUBARU-FIREWALL-REPAIRS-LESS-MONEY-BETTER-REPAIR HTTPS://FORUMS.NASIOC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=745C2FF65D52924B49418232894051CD&T=2700583 HTTPS://BIT.LY/2SSK3IJ HTTPS://BIT.LY/37FLMP4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/RESULTS?SEARCH_QUERY=2008+SUBARU+WRX+FIREWALL *TR

Odometer Fraud. The contact recently purchased a 2009 Subaru Impreza. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 189,822. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced failures and was taken to AutoZone, where it was discovered that the mileage on the title of the vehicle was 202,000.

There was a brake light switch failure which was under recall. The failure caused a short in my electrical system and wires in my bulk head wiring harness melted and fused together causing a ultimate failure of the vehicle being able to start. The vehicle was towed to subaru, the brake light switch was fixed per the recall but the wiring harness is no longer made by subaru so my vehicle could not be repaired. Ultimately my vehicle was ruined. The brake switch failure is the cause of the short that ruined this vehicle valued at 4800$ and subaru wont fix it because they cant find the parts needed

WHEN TRYING TO PUT FUEL IN MY CAR AT THE PUMP, THE FUEL INSTANTLY STARTING SPEWING OUT EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I HAVE AN EMPTY TANK. BASED ON RESEARCH, SUBARU HAS A VALVE IN THE TANK THAT IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THIS. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN FILL MY TANK UP AND I AM COVERED IN FUEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA. AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES TO HIS HOME AND THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FUEL TANK WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR IS FAULTY. WE REPLACED IT 12 MONTHS AGO AND IT IS BROKEN AGAIN. THE INTERNAL SPRING/CLIP FAILS, SO THE SUN VISOR HANGS DOWN, AND IMPAIRS VISION WHEN DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND WE HAVE NEARLY CRASHED TWICE DUE TO THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED SUBARU TO INFORM THEM OF THIS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH PROVES IT'S A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE, AND HAS BEEN SINCE 2000. PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS A PRODUCT RECALL AND REPLACE ALL OF THE CHEAP VISORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLED BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY. *TR

DRIVER SIDE VISOR SPRING MECHANISM BROKEN. *TR

1. The weakness (dimness) of the low beams is a DANGEROUS situation. The assemblies are not dirty or oxidized; the low beam height was properly adjusted; Tested the power going to each light and it showed 14 volts; Bought some high power LED bulbs which didn't help. I am very hesitant to spend up to $400 for new assemblies hoping that maybe it will fix the problem. I have adjusted the high beam level to the height of what the low beams were and now have to use the high beams as low beams to sufficiently see the road and now have no high beams if I need them. Subaru should be recalling and replacing these faulty assemblies immediately. 2. Wheel lugs shear off when being removed. When the lug nuts were put on, they were tightened with a torque wrench to manufacturer specifications. This is the only vehicle (out of the 13 I have owned) I have ever had this problem with. Subaru should be recalling and replacing lugs immediately with lugs of proper materials immediately.

WIRING IN FUSE BOX UNDER HIGH BEAM RELAY CORRODES CREATING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZARD AND STOP HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS FROM FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THIS IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN DUE TO EXPOSED WIRES IN FUSE BOX AND LIGHTING ISSUES AT NIGHT. AFTER SPEAKING TO SEVERAL OTHER 2008 TO 2010 SUBARU IMPREZA OWNERS I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT. *TR

1. The weakness (dimness) of the low beams is a DANGEROUS situation. The assemblies are not dirty or oxidized; the low beam height was properly adjusted; Tested the power going to each light and it showed 14 volts; Bought some high power LED bulbs which didn't help. I am very hesitant to spend up to $400 for new assemblies hoping that maybe it will fix the problem. I have adjusted the high beam level to the height of what the low beams were and now have to use the high beams as low beams to sufficiently see the road and now have no high beams if I need them. Subaru should be recalling and replacing these faulty assemblies immediately. 2. Wheel lugs shear off when being removed. When the lug nuts were put on, they were tightened with a torque wrench to manufacturer specifications. This is the only vehicle (out of the 13 I have owned) I have ever had this problem with. Subaru should be recalling and replacing lugs immediately with lugs of proper materials immediately.

TAKATA RECALL AND SAFETY RECALL WUE90 NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 19V149000 BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. ON APRIL 4TH, 2019 I CALLED MULTIPLE DEALERS FOR THIS RECALL AND THE TAKATA RECALL AND THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN UNTIL MAY 11TH FOR AIRBAG AND THE BRAKE RECALL THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS YET FOR IT AND THE CARS BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN GOOFY AND LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH IS PART OF THE RECALL. MONDAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED BECAUSE IT APPEARS PART OF THE ABS SYSTEM HAS BROKE AND PIERCED THE BRAND NEW TIRE!

The problem: like over 50% of adult Americans, I am female. I am 5' 3.5" tall (average for N. America, folks!) and weigh 109 lbs. I am also 66 years old and it's likely that despite my very active lifestyle (I'm a backpacker etc.), my bones are more brittle than a 25-y.o. man's. Your agency has failed in its duty to ensure the safety of ALL Americans. not just men and fat women. In order to reach the accelerator and see over the dashboard, i.e. in order to drive these vehicles which have passed your safety requirements, I sit in the death zone of the driver airbags and steering wheel column in all three vehicles I own: this 2009 Impreza, my 2000 Outback station wagon, and my 2012 Ford F350 Winnebago RV. Please don't tell me that I should buy one of the very few vehicles that might fit me better. I live on a mountainside in Alaska and need winter traction and handling. Why should my vehicle choices be narrowed because you have failed to recognizew that I exist? As a retired federal scientist and policy wonk with a law degree, I am appalled at your agency's callousness towards me and other average height drivers. How long will it take my government, staffed by people whose salaries I pay, to recognize that the male body is not the default for all humans? I am letting my Senator, Lisa Murkowshi, know that it's well past time for the NHTSA to protect me as well as it protects my husband.

FRONT END COLLISION, VEHICLE TOTALED. SEAT BELT FAILURE. BRAKE FAILURE. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MULTIPLE INJURIES SUSTAINED. *TR

ORIGINAL TIRE DEFECT DISCOVERED AT 16K MILES ON ONE TIRE (BULGE IN SIDEWALL) WITH NO KNOWN REASON (NO IMPACTS OR POTHOLES). NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL 4 SINCE IT IS AN AWD. EXTREME COST OF $500 AND PUT ME IN DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. DEFECTIVE TIRE: FIRESTONE/ BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE92A (DOT EM8KJLL0309) ONLY 16K MILES ON CAR AND TIRES. DID PREVENT ACCIDENT BUT FLAWED TIRES SHOULD BE MONITORED FOR FUTURE RECALL OF DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE PRODUCTS. *KB

THE TPMS SYSTEM IN THE 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA IS FLAWED. WHEN I SEASONALLY CHANGE MY TIRES TO THE SPARE SET, I MUST GO TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE TPMS SENSORS RESET. THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE MORE THAN 4 TIRES; 8 WOULD BE A MINIMUM AND 9 WOULD BE PREFERRED FOR THE SPARE TIRE. THE IMPACT OF THIS FAULTY SYSTEM IS THAT IF I WANT MY TPMS SYSTEM TO WORK AS FEDERALLY MANDATED, I MUST PAY $50 TWICE PER YEAR TO THE DEALER OR TIRE SHOP TO RESET THE SYSTEM. BY LAW, THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE SYSTEM I.E. FOR WINTER RIMS AND TIRES. THE CONSUMER, ONCE AGAIN, IS GETTING PRICE GOUGED FOR A "SAFETY FEATURE" THAT HAS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE REMEDY THIS PROBLEM SOON AS ALL NEW CARS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS FEATURE AND CONSUMERS IN MANY STATES FREQUENTLY CHANGE THEIR TIRES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION. AFTER THE FIRST TIME WE HAD REPORTED TO GALLES & DAVIES SUBARU IN ABQ, NM ON 9.17.09. THEY DID THE INSPECTION AND WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND THE REASON. ALSO WE HAVE STILL RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH NOISES FROM AIR INTAKE, WHICH HAS BEEN REPAIRED 4 TIMES(!). *TR

IN MARCH OF 2009 I PURCHASED A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM THE DEALER. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD 580 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER TAKING THE CAR HOME I BEGAN IMMEDIATELY HAVING PROBLEMS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE AND ALSO NOTICED A FOUL ODOR WHEN TAKING OFF AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN SWITCHING GEARS. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THESE ISSUES WERE NORMAL FOR THE WRX AND THAT THE "CLUTCH SMELL" WAS COMMON AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. AT THE FIRST OIL CHANGE I EXPRESSED CONCERNS AGAIN AND WAS TOLD A SIMILAR STORY. I ASKED ABOUT THE ISSUE AGAIN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A DIFFERENT SUBARU DEALERSHIP AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2009 FOR EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT THE CLUTCH FOR ME BECAUSE I WAS NOTICING THE "CLUTCH SMELL" A LOT AND WAS NOW HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND FIRST GEAR AND THE TACHOMETER WOULD JUMP AROUND OCCASIONALLY WITH NO IDENTIFIABLE CAUSE. I PICKED MY CAR UP ON JANUARY 2, 2010 AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CLUTCH AND THAT MY CAR WAS FINE. ON JANUARY 31, 2010 MY CLUTCH FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY LEAVING MY VEHICLE DISABLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE. THERE ARE ONLY 22,000 MILES ON MY CAR. IT WAS TOWED TO YET A THIRD SUBARU DEALERSHIP AND INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF SUBARU OF AMERICA AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CLUTCH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN "MISUSED" AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY FELT I HAD BEEN "LAUNCHING" THE CAR. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INACCURATE AND A DIRECT DEFAMATION OF MY CHARACTER AS I HAVE NEVER DONE ANY SUCH THING IN MY VEHICLE. MY CAR IS USED FOR MY NORMAL DAILY COMMUTE TO WORK AND LONG DISTANCE ROAD TRIPS. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH ALSO FOUND MULTIPLE CASE REPORTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS WITH VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS (CLUTCHES FAILING AT VERY LOW MILEAGE WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA BLAMING THE CONSUMER FOR THE FAILURE). *TR

MOTOR WENT OUT WITH 72000 MILES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING. TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS SHOT. POWER STEERING RACK DONE AND FIREWALL HAS CRACKED FOR A 2ND TIME. SUBARU ARE PROBABLY THE MOST UNSAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

The problem: like over 50% of adult Americans, I am female. I am 5' 3.5" tall (average for N. America, folks!) and weigh 109 lbs. I am also 66 years old and it's likely that despite my very active lifestyle (I'm a backpacker etc.), my bones are more brittle than a 25-y.o. man's. Your agency has failed in its duty to ensure the safety of ALL Americans. not just men and fat women. In order to reach the accelerator and see over the dashboard, i.e. in order to drive these vehicles which have passed your safety requirements, I sit in the death zone of the driver airbags and steering wheel column in all three vehicles I own: this 2009 Impreza, my 2000 Outback station wagon, and my 2012 Ford F350 Winnebago RV. Please don't tell me that I should buy one of the very few vehicles that might fit me better. I live on a mountainside in Alaska and need winter traction and handling. Why should my vehicle choices be narrowed because you have failed to recognizew that I exist? As a retired federal scientist and policy wonk with a law degree, I am appalled at your agency's callousness towards me and other average height drivers. How long will it take my government, staffed by people whose salaries I pay, to recognize that the male body is not the default for all humans? I am letting my Senator, Lisa Murkowshi, know that it's well past time for the NHTSA to protect me as well as it protects my husband.