Ownership Cost for 2006 Subaru Forester 2.5 X
Estimated: $39473 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $2106 | $1011 | $884 | $800 | $716 | $5517 |
| Insurance | $1584 | $1639 | $1697 | $1756 | $1818 | $8494 |
| Fuel | $1696 | $1747 | $1808 | $1880 | $1965 | $9096 |
| Maintenance | $2763 | $1955 | $1067 | $934 | $2291 | $9010 |
| Repairs | $977 | $1138 | $1298 | $1417 | $1627 | $6457 |
| Taxes & Fees | $608 | $608 | $608 | $608 | $608 | $901 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $9734 | $7559 | $6842 | $6843 | $8495 | $39473 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 2003 | AIR BAGS | MARCH 16TH 2006. 5:00 PM. IT HAD SNOWED EARLIER THAT DAY. WITNESS CLAIMS THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SLID IN A CURVE INTO AN ON COMING LANE. UNIT SPUN AROUND AND WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER(TAIL LIGHT SECTION) SHOVING THE REAR BODY PANEL AND QUARTER PANEL INSIDE THE UNIT BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. LEFT REAR TIRE WAS TORN FROM THE UNIT. THE REAR SHADE COVER (CARGO AREA) FLEW OUT OF IT'S HOLDERS NOW BENT IS A (V-SHAPE) AND HIT MY WIFE IN HER RIGHT TEMPLE, ADDING TO THE HEAD TRAUMA SHE RECEIVED WHEN THE SEAT BELTS FAILED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED. HER FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT BACK PART OF THE HEAD WAS CRUSHED HITTING THE HINGE PILLAR AND RIGHT TEMPLE WAS BRUISED FROM THE REAR CARGO COVER. IN SECONDS, LEFT HER BLEEDING TO DEATH IN THIS UNIT. I CALLED SUBARU CORP. IN MARCH TO INFORM THEM OF THE ACCIDENT (JUST) IN CASE THEY WANTED TO INVESTIGATE. (NOT INTERESTED) (VERY RUDE) I STILL HAVE THE UNIT HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT. IT'S (SUPPOSE) TO BE THE SAFEST UNIT ON THE ROAD? *JB |
| 2006 | SUSPENSION | I PURCHASED MY 2006 SUBARU FORESTER BRAND NEW FROM THE SUBARU DEALER IN CATONSVILLE, MD; RUSSELL SUBARU. THERE WERE NO MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT. BOTH REAR BEARINGS WORE OUT ON MY CAR AT ALMOST THE SAME EXACT TIME. EVERY MECHANIC WITH WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN SAYS THIS IS COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. MY BEARINGS WORE OUT AT ABOUT 70K MILES. THE SUBARU DEALER CHARGED ME APPROXIMATELY $800 TO REPLACE ONE OF THEM. THE OTHER COST ABOUT $600 AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANICS WON'T REPLACE THE BEARINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T WARRANTY THE WORK SO YOU END UP REPLACING THE HUB ASSEMBLY. THAT IS WHY IT COST SO MUCH. WHEN IT WEARS OUT IT FIRST STARTS TO SQUEAL AND MAKE A NOISE THAT GETS PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AS YOU ACCELERATE TO MODERATE SPEED. MY CAR NOW HAS 140K MILES AND MY WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEGUN MAKING NOISE AGAIN. AT A COST OF ($600 - $800) X 2, THIS CLEARLY SEEMS LIKE A POOR DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE SAME PART IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. THE PART WORE OUT ALMOST PRECISELY AFTER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. EVERY PERSON I KNOW WITH A SUBARU FORESTER HAS THE SAME COMPLAINT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORUMS ON THE WEB FROM OWNERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. SUBARU SHOULD PAY THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS NOT TYPICAL OF WHAT A BUYER WOULD EXPECT WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE FOR A NEARLY $30K VEHICLE. ASIDE FROM THE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR WHEEL/HUB ASSEMBLY, I HAVE BASICALLY BEEN PLEASED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF MY SUBARU. *TR |
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