A friend of mine thought I might get some help/advice here-

My car is a '98 Subaru Legacy wagon with 58,756 miles currently on it. Mid-September on the way to the airport, approx 77 miles away, my car started overheating and kept feeling like it was going to stall out. I took it to the local dealership and when I went to pick it up, was told there was nothing wrong with it. They put some coolant in it and handed me a bill for $175. The very next time I drove the car more then 100 miles the car overheated and died. I was stranded 40+ miles to the closest town and my local dealership. I had to be towed back to same dealership and was told this time it was a cracked radiator and they then replaced it. I had to hitch a ride to Denver, CO, 7 hours, to make a flight out! Three weeks later I had to drive to another airport. Less then 300 miles out of the shop, the car overheated again. This time I was stranded on a mountain pass, I had the car towed back to same dealership... this time it's the water pump. (The 2nd time the water pump has gone out on same car.) I go to pick up the car last Friday night and "had it out" with the service manager. He agreed to pick up the $51.10 bill for the portion not covered by my extended warranty. No flippin lie.... Saturday, the very next day, I was driving back from where the dealership is ... you guessed it, overheated again and I had to be towed back to dealership. This time I was stranded on another mountain pass, the same pass I was stuck in January when the thermostat went out. When I called the dealership that day I was told the service dept. manager was not in. I asked to speak with the highest manager on the lot at the time. He transfers me to a guy named ABC who could have cared less and told me there was nothing he could do at that point and could he transfer me to his customer service manager there that day. I was on hold for 10 minutes or so when XYZ answers the phone and says "what can I do for you" I asked him if he knew who I was and why he needed to speak with me. His response "no". I figured that the time I was on hold that the first manager was catching this guy up on the story. I then asked the name of the owner of the dealership as I would be calling back on Monday, his response "ma'am that was who you were just talking too, ABC". Too appalled to even comment on this. So, I called Monday morning and told them not to even touch my car until I had talked with Subaru's cooperate customer service dept. on what they suggested. I still have not heard back from Subaru, still not getting any dang customer service. I called the dealership this morning to speak with the other owner, ABC’s father. I told him how disappointed and angry I am. He listened to everything I had to say and even said himself “I would not have brought the car back to us after the 2nd incident” ! I am writing a formal complaint to Subaru about the incident and the poor customer service I have received from this dealership.



To date these are all the problems I have had with the car :
1. water pump replaced first year
2. alternator replaced 3rd year
3. thermostat replaced 4th year
4. air conditioning went out this summer
5. radiator replaced in November
6. water pump replaced again 2 weeks ago
7. Who knows what the problem is this time?

So should I try and trust the local dealership to really get it all right this time?

Do I start over with another dealership?

Do I get rid of the car?

I am so frustrated!

Help!

Thanks

 

Thanks.. The dealership called today to say that they think it is indeed a head gasket problem. Not all of it is covered by my extended warranty but they are willing to just fix it at their expense if I give them another try. I told them go ahead. As soon as it is fixed I am trading it in. I cannot rely on the car any longer.

 

Dump-it. If know now what I did before goin through the same hassle ...I would have. If you want to stay with Subaru, get the Legacy with the proven 2.2 liter EJ22 motor.