What 403 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Subaru Forester Wilderness

AT 56,000 MILES HIT A MODERATE SIZE POT HOLE RESULTING IN BROKEN REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING REQUIRING NEW SPRING, SHOCK AND ALIGNMENT. AT 67,000 MILES HEARD LOUD BANG COMING FROM CAR WHILE PARKED. FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE PIECE OF BROKEN COIL SPRING UNDER CAR. REQUIRED NEW REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING AND STRUT. APPEARS LARGE NUMBER OF SIMILAR VINTAGE FORESTERS HAVE EXPERIENCED BROKEN COIL SPRINGS WITH SPRINGS FOUND WITH BREAKS IN SIMILAR SPOTS.

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER, I RAN OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND HEARD A LOUD 'BANG'. I STOPPED TO CHECK IF I HAPPENED TO HIT SOMETHING AND THE REAR OF MY FORESTER WAS COMPLETELY BOTTOMED OUT AS IF IT WAS OVERLOADED. WHILE AT THE GARAGE, THE MECHANIC RAISED MY CAR UP ON THE LIFT AND PULLED OUT PIECES OF THE COIL SPRINGS THAT SHEARED OFF COMPLETELY. THE COST OF TWO NEW COIL SPRINGS WAS $160.00 AND IT TOOK THE GARAGE 3 HOURS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. MY CAR DOES HAVE 126K MILES AND THE SPRINGS HAD SLIGHT CORROSION BUT WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY RUSTED. HOWEVER, WHILE LOOKING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR FORESTERS AND A LOT WITH SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MILES THAN MINE. I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS OF THE COIL SPRINGS I WILL ATTACH THE TWO PHOTOS I TOOK BEFORE THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE GARAGE.

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AT APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES, ON MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY SECOND REAR COIL SPRING FAILURE. THE FIRST, ON THE RIGHT REAR, OCCURRED AS I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE A PIECE OF THIS COIL SPRING IN MY POSSESSION AND CLEARLY SHOWS METAL FATIGUE/STRESS FAILURE. THE SECOND, ON THE LEFT REAR, I BELIEVE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. AS I NOTICE THE CAR TILTING AGAIN AS I WENT TO REENTER IT AND LOOKED UNDER AND COULD SEE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SPRING. IT WAS TOWED TO STOHLMAN SUBARU OF TYSONS AT 8435 LEESBURG PIKE, VIENNA, VA AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THE LEFT REAR SPRING IS BROKEN AND THEY ARE REPLACING IT. I HAVE CALLED SUBARU AND UP RECEIVING DOCUMENTATION OF REPAIRS, THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME. HOWEVER, I NOTICE FROM DOING A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND OFTEN LEADS TO FAILED REAR STRUTS. THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT SUBARU SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE FORESTERS TO REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS, REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS, AND PROVIDE US WITH EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR THE FULL REAR SUSPENSION.

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BOTH REAR SPRINGS BROKEN. WENT TO MECHANIC TO FIX BOTH REAR BEARINGS , MECHANIC DISCOVERED BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE CRACKED.

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AT 67000 MILES REAR DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING IS BROKE. THIS IS A GENTLY USED VEHICLE THAT IS GARAGED ALWAYS, DO NOT BELIEVE CORROSION WAS THE ISSUE. HAVING TO REPLACE WITH SUBARU PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO BE MORE ROBUST, MEANING SUBARU RECOGNIZES AN ISSUE WITH POTENTIALLY SAFETY RELATED PART.

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REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND ACTUALLY SNAPPED. SPRING APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY SO THAT STRESS CRACKS ULTIMATELY RESULT IN FAILURE. MINE BROKE AT THE BOTTOM AND THE PIECE FELL OFF. THIS COULD REALLY BE A PROBLEM TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY.

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE DISCOVERED A PIECE OF METAL ON GARAGE FLOOR WHICH LOOKED LIKE A PIECE OF A COIL SPRING. LATER FOUND VEHICLE TO HANDLE POORLY. FELT UNSTABLE AND SLAMMED HARD OVER SMALL BUMPS. LATER FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED - REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPRING FAILED. THAT CORNER NOW SITS 2+ INCHES LOWER THAN OPPOSITE SIDE. NOW SITTING ON STRUT BUMP STOPS WITH NO SUSPENSION. VEHICLE FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CALLED SUBARU OF AMERICA AND THEY OFFERED TO HELP WITH REPAIRS ON A "GOOD WILL" BASIS BUT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS A KNOWN ISSUE. FOUND INTERNET FORUM WITH DOZENS OF REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE: HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T61866_DS789686

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE DETECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRILLIANCE SUBARU (1500 N RANDALL RD, ELGIN, IL 60123, (224) 281-4300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AFTER THE PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRINGS BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PASSENGER REAR COIL SPRING REPAIR, BUT NOT THE DRIVER SIDE. ON 9/15/2019 DRIVER SIDE REAR COIL SPRING FAILED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *DL

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VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE LEAVING SEVERAL PIECES LYING UNDER THE CAR AND LEAVING THE LEFT REAR END SAGGING SO THAT THE WHEEL WELL BARELY CLEARS THE TIRE. THERE WAS SOME VERY MILD SURFACE RUST ONLY. APPEARS TO BE POOR QUALITY METAL THAT SIMPLY FATIGUED AND BROKE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED A TRAILER, CARRIED HEAVY LOADS, DRIVEN OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, ETC. HAS ONLY ABOUT 77K MILES ON IT. QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE SHOWS THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON FAILURE ON 2014 AND 2015 SUBARU FORESTERS. DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. IF HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED COULD HAVE HAD DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. I'VE INCLUDED A PICTURE OF THE PIECES OF THE SPRING THAT WERE LAYING IN MY DRIVEWAY UNDER THE PARKED CAR, AS WELL AS A HORIZONTAL PICK OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEEL DEMONSTRATING THE DIFFERENCE IN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE TIRE AND WHEEL-WELL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 25-30 MPH AND MAKING TURNS, THE VEHICLE SWAYED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP STRAIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUDD BAER SUBARU (71 MURTLAND AVE, WASHINGTON, PA 15301, (724) 914-6670) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS IN SHOP TO REPLALCE BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, AND MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE REAR SPRINGS WAS ALSO BROKEN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2014 FORESTERS, AND A PART THAT SHOULD BREAK THIS EASILY

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BACKING UP IN DRIVE WAY HEARD A CLUNCK NOISE SO BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BOTH COIL SPRINGS ON MY CAR WERE BROKE THE BOTH BROKE IN ABOUT THE SAME SPOT ABOUT3/4 OF A COIL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL THEY BOTH LOOK RUSTED WERE THEY WERE BROKE UNDER THE RUBBER SLEAVE AT THE BOTTOM AND GAVE ME THE 2 PRICES OF COIL SPRING

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SPRING ON MY 2014 FORESTER WITH 39,500 MILES BROKE SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN THE CAR WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND RAISED UP AT THE REPAIR SHOP THE SUSPENSION DROPPED DOWN AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SPRING BROKE AS WELL. I HAVE NEVER GONE OFF ROAD, TOWED, OR CARRIED HEAVY LOADS. LOOKING AROUND ONLINE, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME THING OCCUR. THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE BACK-ORDERED FROM SUBARU FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, INDICATING THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND A NATIONWIDE RECALL SHOULD OCCUR. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN MY SPRING BROKE BUT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY DANGEROUS.

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BROKEN REAR STRUT SPRING WITH ONLY 51K MILES ON CAR. UNKNOWN EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT WAS DISCOVERED ON 8/8. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ROUGH ROAD AREAS.

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VEHICLE WAS IN FOR FRONT AND REAR PADS AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT (AT 30K MILES!) MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A BROKEN REAR COIL SPRING AND SENT ME A PICTURE OF THE BROKEN PIECE. IT WAS HALF OF A COIL THAT HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRING. CAR NOW SITS UNEVENLY AND HAS COMPROMISED SUSPENSION AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. FURTHER RESEARCH FINDS MANY COMPLAINS OF EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2014-2015 FORESTERS. NO ONE MAKES REPLACEMENT SPRINGS AND SUBARU DEALERS ARE BACKORDERED WITH NATIONWIDE REPAIRS, LEAVING US NO RECOURSE

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BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 6" ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE COIL. BOTH FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS UP ON JACKS AND AS I WAS REMOVING THE BRAKE ROTORS TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND PADS I HEARD A LOUD CRACK FOLLOWED BY THE METAL PARTS LANDING ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AT THE BREAK POINTS (SEE PHOTOS). THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR.

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VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY LAST NIGHT, I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC BANG BUT COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE. THIS MORNING I FOUND THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE SAGGING AND A PILE OF PIECES OF MY REAR DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION COIL ON THE GROUND UNDER MY CAR. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN TWO DAYS BEFORE BREAKAGE. THE CRACKED EDGES WHERE THE COIL BROKE ARE QUITE RUSTED, SO THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN DEVELOPING FOR SOME TIME.

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REAR COIL SPRING BROKE UNDER 40MHP OVER SMALL BUMP.

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MY CAR HAS 43K MILES ON IT AND DURING A BRAKES SERVICE AT THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THEY FOUND THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING SEVERELY CRACKED AND ABOUT TO BREAK. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE BOTH COIL SPRINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, THAT THE CRACKED ONE COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME CAUSING THE CAR TO SINK AND POTENTIALLY PUNCTURE THE TIRE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT DRIVE THE CAR HOME WHILE AWAITING THIS PART TO COME IN - IT WAS THAT SERIOUS A RISK. THEY QUOTED ALMOST $900 TO REPLACE BOTH COIL SPRINGS PLUS THE COST OF AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN I LOOKED UP MORE ABOUT THIS, I FOUND DISCUSSION BOARDS WHERE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS AND SAID IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR, AND THAT PEOPLE HAD FOUND THESE SPRINGS TO BE RUSTED AND FAULTY, CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. SOME DEALERSHIPS WERE COVERING THIS REPAIR AS "GOODWILL." I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP BACK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT AS GOODWILL, BUT I COULD ASK SUBARU HEAD OFFICE IF THEY WOULD. I CALLED 1-800-SUBARU-3 AND STARTED A CLAIM. THEY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEN CALLED ME BACK WITHIN 20 MINUTES AND SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR IN FULL, AND GIVE ME A LOANER CAR WHILE AWAITING THE PART. I WONDER IF THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I ALSO WONDER WHY SUBARU IS NOT BEING UP FRONT ABOUT COVERING THIS REPAIR IF IT IS INDEED A FAULTY PART ON THEIR PART. I WAS QUOTED $900+ FOR THE REPAIR, AND IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE OF LOOKING UP THE HISTORY OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND ESCALATING THE ISSUE TO THE HEAD OFFICE WAS THIS REPAIR COVERED. MY DEALERSHIP WAS NOT FORTHCOMING THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 43K MILES AND SEEMED UNUSUAL.

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I HAD MY 2014 SUBARU FORESTER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FOR THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. THEY NOTIFIED ME OF A BROKEN LEFT REAR COIL SPRINGS AND STATED THAT THE "VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE". THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING BOTH. IT HAS ABOUT 31,000 MILES ON IT.

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R REAR COIL SPRING BROKE WHILE TURNING ON A SMOOTH ROAD AT LOW SPEED. SUBARU DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT SEVERAL OTHER FORESTERS WERE AWAITING REPAIR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF THAT PART AND I ENDED UP WAITING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE IT COULD BE FIXED. SUBARU DID END UP PAYING FOR HALF THE COST UPON REQUEST.

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IN LATE MAY 2019, I WENT OUTSIDE TO DRIVE MY FORESTER TO THE STORE. UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR BUMPER, I FOUND PART OF A COIL SPRING, ROUGHLY A 1/2 TURN. I LOOKED AROUND A BIT, AND FOUND THAT IT HAD COME FROM THE DRIVER SIDE, REAR COIL SPRING, BOTTOM. THE SPRING AT THE BREAK WAS VERY RUSTY - BOTH THE FRAGMENT AND FROM THE BROKEN SPRING STILL IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 14 HOURS BEFORE I NOTICED THE SPRING FRAGMENT ON THE GROUND. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ADULT DRIVEN AND NEVER ABUSED.

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THE RIGHT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE AND A PORTION FELL OFF IN OUR GARAGE. MY WIFE LEFT WITH THE VEHICLE AND I FOUND A PORTION OF THE COIL ON OUR GARAGE FLOOR. WHEN SHE RETURNED, I COULD SEE THAT THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS "SAGGING" LOWER THAN THE LEFT SIDE.

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2014 SUBARU FORESTER WAS PARKED WHEN THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING SHATTERED. MADE A LARGE NOISE AND UPON INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED CAR AT AN ANGLE IN WHEEL BED. CAR UNDRIVEABLE. ON VACATION AT THE TIME AND HAD TO DRIVE 5 HOURS (ROUNDTRIP) TO BUY TWO NEW REAR COIL SPRINGS ON ADVISE OF MECHANIC WHO TOWED CAR TO HIS GARAGE. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT COIL SPRING WAS VERY RUSTED AND SHOWING SIGNS OF DISINTEGRATION AS WELL. WAS ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN AS THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT. OUR CAR HAD JUST OVER 41,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVEN PRIMARILY IN THE DC METRO AREA. SINGLE OWNER OF THE CAR. GIVEN THE AMAZED REACTION OF MANY, WE ARE SURPRISED THAT THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I DO NOT HAUL HEAVY LOADS, NOR DO I USE THE CAR TO TOW ANYTHING. THIS IS MY "GRANDMA" MOBILE, CHOSEN BECAUSE OF SUBARU'S SUPPOSED SAFETY AND RELIABILITY RECORD.

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DURING A BRAKE CHECK, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RIGHT PASS SPRING WAS BROKEN ON MY 48K MILE FORESTER. HE FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PART COULD HAVE BROKEN OFF COMPLETELY AND POSSIBLE INJURED SOMEONE ELSE OR CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE PARTS ON OTHERS CARS OF THE SAME MODEL ALL BREAK AT THE SAME POINT, IT SEEMS, AND THE OPINION IS THAT THE SPRINGS ARE RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT (SEE ATTACHED IMAGE OF BROKEN SPRING.) ON ONLINE FORUMS, I SEE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MY MECHANIC HAS SEEN MANY OTHERS WITH THE BROKEN SPRINGS IN FORESTERS OF THE SAME YEAR. I CALLED SUBARU AMERICA, MENTIONED THAT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN SUCH A NEWISH CAR, AND MORE CONCERNING IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART ONLY, NOT THE LABOR SINCE IT WAS NOT DONE AT A DEALER. BECAUSE THEY ARE REIMBURSING OWNERS, THEY SEEM TO REALIZE THIS IS AN ISSUE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, AND DESERVES A LOOK BY THE NHTSA. THANKS FOR YOU CONSIDERATION.

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