Subaru question

[Meyer]

I have been a very happy Subaru owner for many years. My most recent ride is a fully loaded 2001 Outback Limited, and it has worked pretty well for me up until recently. I have the dual-sunroofs, leather, heated seats, heated mirrors, heated washer fluid and even the sub-woofer.

But here's the downside: it is starting to nickel and dime me.

There were three recalls on the car, and Subaru did a good job at making it right. It bothered me that one of the recalls had to do with blowing the head-gasket seals - but like I said, they took care of it.

But first of all, the rear compartment cover failed and that cost me $150. The way it was built, I couldn't fix it myself, so I paid it happily. Then it developed a kink in one of the sunroof drains that filled the back end of the car with water and ended up costing me another $300 to fix.

But now, the rear-view mirror failed. It is one of those deals that uses a liquid crystal setup for day/night functionality, and it also has a compass. The LCD has failed, and the mirror is now distorted. I called Chaplins and told them what happened, and they tell me that these things fail all the time, but it is past warranty, and it'll cost me $300 to replace.

I dunno. The mirror on my '63 still works fine, so if I were to have to replace the mirror on my 2001 Soobie - seeing that it isn't my fault that it failed - why should I consider buying another Subaru if this is the way they stand behind their product?

But that's just me complaining. I'll find all this out on my own eventually, but here are the questions I'll be asking, in case any of you already know the answers:

(1) Since the dealership won't cover it, who do I need to contact at Subaru corporate in order to see if they're interested in keeping my business? They must have some sort of ombudsman.

(2) Failing getting satisfaction from Subaru, are there any junkyards in the greater Seattle area that might have this mirror?

Thanks,

Meyer.

 

[Thirstytank]

For a used mirror, check: www.car-part.com
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Ryan

1985 Vanagon Westfalia
https://www.facebook.com/VanagonMorrison

[VDubTech]

Being a dealer service tech I think I can help you a little with this problem. If you've been a "good" customer and done your maintnenance work at the same dealership and spent some money with them in the service department, they may be willing to either split the cost with you or cover the entire repair if you bitch loud enough. They see it as more potential money for the service department to give some things to a repeat customer rather than one who never services their vehicles there and who only shows up at recall time. The "do only what's covered under warranty" folks will never get any freebies from the dealer.
How far out of warranty are you? It makes a big difference wether you're 5K out or if you're 25K out. If you're relatively close to being within the warranty requirements, bitch up a storm. Talk to your service advisor...go over his head to the service manager.....go over his head to the dealership manager, then on to the owner. If you still can't get any satisfaction from dealing with those people, there is always a regional service rep. that you can go over everyone's head and complain to. The service department could care less how many cars you have bought from them, they don't see a dime of that money until it comes in for service, so that arguement won't get you anywhere except with the dealership manager or the owner. Generally by the time a valid complaint gets to the owner, it is remedied very quickly and in your favor. Most people don't take the time to go up the chain of command and give up when they are told something will not be covered by warranty. Comparing it to the mirror in your '63 won't help you either, since your Bus mirror is a piece of glass and nothing more, hardly any parts to fail like there are in your Subaru mirror. I would start making phone calls, look at your service history at money you have spent in their service department and show them that they stand to lose a good SERVICE customer over a $300 item, which in the grand scheme of the service department is nothing.
Otherwise, start making some calls to salvage yards and try to find a used one.

[notchback]

Less than $160 delivered. It's a 10 minute job. Do it yourself. You car is now a used car. You can't expect all the goodies to last forever. This is part of the reason my wife drives a 20 year old car. No little goodies to break.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Subaru-Baja-Outback...enameZWD1V
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[Matt K.]

To me Subaru has always been a very nice car and the majority of Subaru owners would agree and most would buy again. But unfortunately in the world we live in and the cars we drive with all of the fancy little gadgets on them something somewhere is bound to go wrong.

Take our 01 GMC Yukon, it has 40,000 miles on it and suddenly develops a knock in the engine, sounded to me like "piston slap" so i run it down to the dealer to have it investigated.......they inturn hand me a service bulletin that states that my year yukon has a noisy motor and that it is ok just noisy........so after heated debates with service managers that got no where........i wrote to GM and told them of my dilemma and received the same service bulletin as well as a free oil change....WOW, that didnt fix the problem so i have learned to live with it. Now would i buy another GM product....Sure, that has been a great vehicle and i wouldnt let that one incident bother me too much..............its just something that happened.
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This is my 23rd year in the Auto Body/Paint Game!
*Take a look at some of my custom paint: http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n119/mrpaint_2006/ .( NOTE: these are some older jobs but still neat.)

[Towel Rail]

I've been considering a used Outback for winter use, but the stuff above highlights why I haven't done it yet. "New" cars (I use the term a little loosely) are just so complicated and difficult to fix yourself.
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1974 Thing -- under the knife
1967 Beetle -- spring/summer/fall driver
1996 Subaru OBW (EJ22, 5-speed, AWD) -- winter car, 3-seasons "don't feel like biking today" car

049 > 070 > 053 > 009

[coW]

[lonslo]

I just bought a new Outback and cant wait to take it up to mtns. so far the quality and feed back on the car seems good

[Meyer]

[Meyer]

[peterericb]

I have an 04 subie WRX and I love it.

I have gone through 3 clutches and broke a manual transmission.

My next car will likely be another subie.

I dunno, it costs a lot of money to drive a nice car, I have just resigned it.
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I love it when a guy covered in tattoos tells me I should keep my Ghia "All Original"

[Randy in Maine]

[Meyer]

Update:

I called Subaru corporate, Subaru corparate called the dealer, dealer called me, I brought it in, and I got me a new mirror installed free of charge.

I'm feeling really good about Soobies right about now.



 

[my59]

My granddad bitched when the 59 wiring harness shorted out in maybe '78. Swore car had been maintained by the book and there was no reason for the harness to short out- obviously a manufacture defect.

Dealer offered a decent trade in credit toward a new VW. No go- car got a new harness, and its the only reciept I have that is not marked 'paid'

Its all good, except some of the connections are push on spades and others are screw type.....Should I be taking it back now and bitch about the crappy workmanship?
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[KantDriveFast]

[sbomm]

For Subaru junk yard parts in Seattle area try http://www.aaronsauto.com/

Nice to see it was fixed for free!