Manufacturer: FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES U.S.A., INC. (C/O SUBARU OF AMERICA)
Manufacturer Id: 1075
Model: Impreza
Model Year: 2004
Plant Company Name: Fuji Heavy Industries
Seat Belts All: Manual
Series: STi
Transmission Speeds: 6
Transmission Style: Manual/Standard
Vehicle Type: PASSENGER CAR
Model year
COMPONENT
Complaint
2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 SUBARU IMPREZA, 56,000K WITH LEAKING HEAD GASKET (BOTH SIDES) AND ROD KNOCK. WELL MAINTAINED CAR WITH WELL-DOCUMENTED SERVICE HISTORY. RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT OF SHORT BLOCK/HEAD GASKETS. SAME ISSUE AND SAME ENGINE AS ADDRESSED IN PHASE II EJ25 HEAD GASKET LEAK / WWP-99 SERVICE CAMPAIGN - COOLING SYSTEM CONDITIONER. EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH 2003 2.5L ENGINES (EXAMPLE: HTTP://ALLWHEELDRIVEAUTO.COM/SUBARU-HEAD-GASKET-PROBLEMS-EXPLAINED/). CLAIM FILED WITH SUBARU OF AMERICA (FILE # [XXX]) WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2004
SUSPENSION
THERE WAS OBSERVED RUST ON A SMALL SECTION OF THE REAR QUARTER UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR. WORK WAS BEGUN ON JULY, 4 2013 TO TREAT WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE SURFACE RUST WITH POR-15 RUST INHIBITOR. WHEN THE CAR WAS ON THE LIFT AND WORK BEGAN, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THIS SMALL SECTION ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR WAS INADEQUACY PROTECTED BY FACTORY UNDERCOATING. THIS SECTION WAS WHERE SUPPORT ARMS FOR BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR WHEELS ATTACH TO THE CHASSIS. THIS SECTION IS RUSTED THROUGH AND IS SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE AND CRACKING. THE CHASSIS ATTACHMENT POINT FRONT BRACES FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS FULLY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS AREA OF THE CHASSIS SHOWS NO SIGN OF DAMAGE, OR ABUSE WHICH WOULD LEAD TO RUSTING. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS EITHER RUST FREE, OR SHOWS LIMITED SURFACE RUST. THE BODY PANELS OF THE CAR ARE RUST FREE. IN SHORT, LACK OF PROPER RUST TREATMENT OF KEY STRUCTURAL AREAS OF THE CAR, HAVE RESULTED IN SEVERE CORROSION, WHICH HAS RENDERED THE CAR UNSAFE IN MY (THE OWNER'S) OPINION, AS WELL AS THE OPINION OF THE MECHANIC ASSISTING IN THE INSPECTION. I WELCOME ANY INSPECTIONS BY SUBARU OF AMERICA OR THE NHTSA. *TR