1.5

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
116,633 miles

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problem #3

Apr 182011

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 145,900 miles
The passenger side lower control arm broke while leaving the driveway. It was about midnight. Attempts were made to drive the car. However once I checked the steering and noticed that the two front wheels were not tracking together, I left the car where it was since it was dark and I could not see what the issue was. Next morning a tow truck was called and he showed me where the lower control arm had sheared off. At the lower section of the control arm. The rest of it was completely corroded. Once the car was delivered to the repair garage, it was put on the hoist and the driver's side lower control arm was checked. Using a hammer the mechanic was able to put a large hole in the control arm section above the base of the control arm. The control arm in profile section looks like a triangle. He put a hole in the upper front leg of the triangle. I have contacted Transport Canada as well to alert them of the issue and file a complaint. I have the old parts. I have installed two new control arms and the sway bar link kit for a total cost of $ 1,384 cdn. Just last week the car had been on a road trip at night I was extremely fortunate that the lower control arm did not fail then. I am shocked that both arms were so badly corroded and one completely failed. The car was made in April 2001. I am also concerned because I own a 2005 Subaru forester and I do not know if this may be a similar issue for the forester's lower control arms with respect to corrosion at the same place and whether this will happen to the forester in 3 years time.

- Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 00, USA

problem #2

Jul 262010

Impreza

  • 125,000 miles
In the day or two prior to the event, the car felt out of alignment. In order to get the car to drive straight I had to keep the wheel turned ~15%. when I was driving on the highway at ~65mph, I hit an undulation in the road. This must have put increased load on the suspension component. All of a sudden the I heard a pop and the car started to go out of control. There was screeching from the tires and I struggled with the wheel to keep the car going straight as traffic was all around me. I managed to keep the car somewhat in control and merged to the shoulder where I came to a stop. It turned out the front passenger lower control arm had broken. The weld on it had corroded and it separated. This is vital to keeping the cars ability to steer. I got the part replaced, along with a new axle and sway bar end-link that were damaged in the incident. The total repair was over $1000.

- Somerville, MA, USA

problem #1

Oct 012010

Impreza

  • 79,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX. While driving less than 5 mph in the driveway, the front end of the vehicle collapsed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they stated that the front passenger side lower control arm was cracked. In addition, the front driver side lower control arm exhibited a stress hairline crack. The front passenger and driver side lower control arms were replaced on the vehicle. The failure mileage was 79,000.

- Dalton, PA, USA