OK. I am PISSED. This is long, but I need your help. First off, I have some mods to my car (intake, exhaust, boost cont, bov).

I have had no trouble with my car whatsoever for two years. Close to 30,000 miles. I haven't even been to the dealership for anything except to buy oil filters and wiper blades. I have never ground a gear, launched my car like an a--hole, and don't pound through the gears. I don't beat on my car like some people do.

After I found out about the TSB, I went to the dealership to have the clutch shudder taken care of. They looked at my car, and had no problems with the mods, or if they did, they didnt say anything. So they replaced it(under the powertrain warranty), did an inspection, and even lent me a loaner for the extra day I had to wait for the brakes they had to replace(also under warranty). I was pretty happy about it.

Then I went to pick up my car. I get in to start it, and the clutch drops to the floor. Something about not bleeding it properly. Ok, so I wait another day. I go back to pick it up, get in, and same thing - clutch on the floor. Now I am mad. I wait an hour for them to bleed it AGAIN. After they finish, they tell me I am ready to go.

I get in, start the car and the clutch works fine.

I go to pull away, and the clutch starts chattering. 1st gear, shifting into 2nd gear, reverse, it's not doing it in just 1st gear anymore. I go back and the tech takes it out for a drive, and agrees with me, the clutch is chattering. They tell me that it may just be a minor flaw in the clutch material, and to take it for a week to see if it gets any better. OK, i did (stupid thing to do in hindsight).

A week goes by and the problem gets worse. Chattering in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and reverse. It is popping out of gear by itself. I would try to start from a stop, let the clutch out, and it wouldn't engage. So I call the dealer again and tell them that it is getting worse, and that they would need to order a new clutch assembly for my car.

That same night, I am leaving my neighborhood, moving along just fine when I go to shift from 1st to 2nd. Push the clutch in, pop the car into 2nd gear, let the clutch out - only the cluch stayed on the floor.....for about two seconds, then BANG!! back into gear again. Crunching along, I make it back to my house about 1/2 mile away. There is no more 2nd gear. (tears)

I have the car towed to the dealership so it soesn't get Fu--ed up worse than it is. That was Monday, I wait till Friday to hear that they will not be covering it under the powertrain warranty. They tell me that the Subaru rep came out and saw the car and that they will not be replacing it. They tell me it shows signs of abuse. NOW I AM F-ING BOILING.

I take the car in for the 1st time EVER. Never had a single problem, until they touched it. They gave me a faulty clutch assembly, and they were aware of it before I left the dealership, but told me to take it anyway. Now they tell me I am on my own to pay for a new trans and basically that my powertrain warranty (that they had not problems with the previous week)is toast.

I have already called SOA, and am awaiting a final decision from them.

Any suggestions would be helpful. I hope this doesnt come to me blowing up in the middle of the showroom on a busy Saturday afternoon, or even worse, calling a lawyer. (anyone know any good ones in the Philadelpia area?) What are my chances?

All I know is that I have had no problems for 2 years, and a week after they put in a faulty clutch assembly, my trans goes. Modifications or not, they are responsible for the problem, and need to replace it, right?

 

I am not going to mention the dealer's name because I do not want to ruin their reputation. YET. That is unless they do indeed screw me. In that case, I have already contaced Fox News, who is very interested in doing a story about how I am being taken advantage of, and how they are trying to play off their mistake as abuse of my car. They said that it seems that the dealer sees the aftermarket parts and is assuming that I race the car. I have also gotten prices on taking out a half-page ad in the automotive section in my local newspaper that will read "The Subaru dealership in ------ PA does not honor the factory warranty."
I hope that it doesn't come to this because I love my car, but will probably not purchase another Subaru, ever.

 

Whats the TSB? im about to take my wrx to the dealers too... i think the input shaft bearing is busted. its got this violent rattling sound when the clutch is engaged but as soon as i hit the clutch to the floor the sound goes away... anyone have the same problem? the clutch also seems to be slipping but engages towards the bottom... it is very strange... well good luck to you man your situation sucks, id get a lawyer.

 

t-wrexxx...good luck man, I am taking my case to small claims. BTW how long has your car been in the shop total? you know if it is less than a year old and has been in the shop for a total of 30 days or more (calender days not just business days) you are eligable to open up a lemon law case. at least thats how it is in California. If I were you I would definately flood them with letters to notify them of how serious this situation is to you. I am in the process of either taking mine the lemon law route or taking SOA to small claims to pay for my new transmission that was put in my 2 month old WRX. You can bet that I have let everyone I can know about how I have been treated. I dont like to be taken advantage of as much as the next guy. you can always seek out a good consumer protection agency or lemon law lawer. good luck! If I could, I would contact the newspaper and local TV news. dont give up and make sure you document every minute detail, because it will come up if you ever have to go to court.

 

Unfortunately, I am going to have to contact my lawyer. I will ruin this dealership. Colonial Volkswagen/Subaru in Feasterville, PA. I have already contacted Fox29 News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. They are screwing themselves. They have taken what could have been a loyal customer for life, and have turned me into a raving madman that will stop at nothing to ruin this dealership. They will receive so much bad press that they will wish they never met me.

 

yup, RECORD EVERYTHING. every little lie they tell you to your face. then use it to embarass them in court. end that dealership and make them wish they never met you. if you take an ad out in the newspaper, be sure to save a couple copies. post it on the boards. in fact, get a mod to sticky this in the dealers forum, this forum, and your regional forum. everyone should know to steer clear of that dealership. out here in cali, everyone who has been on the boards knows not to touch stevens creek subaru with a 5 mile pole. good luck, but as with all court cases, be prepared to wait a LONG time before you get anything (like a WRX to drive) for your efforts.

 

OK, finally got my car fixed, after over a month. I am going to have to sue subaru to get my money back. Turns out that my trans is mint except for second gear. The clutch they put in my car was a piece of junk. Ont of the springs is broken, and the center of the clutch is actually cracked. Of course, I have been told "it wasnt like that when we put it in." F-ing idiots. Total bill for a brand new trans, and clutch assembly? $4818.00 !!

 

Go get them BOY!

I'd start documenting all the events that lead up to this.

Good Luck BRO, and keep us updated.