Catalytic converter warranty denial by Subaru. 100% Stock engine!

[CSG Mike]

In addition to denying our warranty claim for our 100% stock engine, Subaru is throwing salt in the wound, and declining to warranty our catalytic converters. To clarify, this is Subaru of America denying the request for warranty coverage, not the dealer. The dealer agrees that we should be covered under warranty, but their request was denied. Subaru again refuses to do any investigation as to the root cause of the failure.

We're attempting to reach an amicable solution with Subaru, but they are standing ground.


At this time, we are attempting to get contacts at the EPA and CARB. Any legal advice by qualified individuals would be appreciated.

Here are some pics of the catalytic converters that came out of our car. Again, the engine was 100% stock. OEM oil filter, OEM air filter, OEM intake, OEM cats, OEM header, OEM midpipe. If our axleback muffler can cause this damage, then everyone with an exhaust on this board is in trouble.

[mav1178]

http://www.bipac.net/page.asp?conten...enied&g=semaga

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=73

Add to that list the EPA and FTC.

-alex

[kster1]

Mike, are they more or less saying that the car's warranty has been voided due to track use?

[Hanakuso]

For awhile I was regretting not ponying up a little more for a BRZ but i'm glad I stuck with Toyota. I've always stuck to Toyota and Honda and it's probably going to stay that way.

[CSG Mike]

They've changed their stance from "racing" to "abuse". Hmmm.

I'm not sure how you abuse catalytic converters, short of lighting em with a blowtorch.

We've asked for a copy of the denial in writing with every intention using it as a legal record. I'm sure they're watching my threads. They certainly did their due diligence on us on the internet.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by mav1178

http://www.bipac.net/page.asp?conten...enied&g=semaga

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=73

Add to that list the EPA and FTC.

-alex

Determine the True Cause of the Problem

If possible, attempt to independently verify the accuracy of the claims made by the dealership. The manufacturer of the aftermarket part may be helpful to you in providing a technical assessment of the problem. If there is a reasonable possibility that the aftermarket product caused the problem, it may be best to try to reach a compromise. If, however, it is clear that the aftermarket product is unrelated to the problem, you should attempt to gather as much information as possible to support your claim. Useful evidence might include photos, copies of relevant service information, records of prior repairs performed under warranty, or the objective written opinion of a qualified third party (with relevant experience, accreditation, etc.).

No aftermarket parts in the engine.

I'd love for Subaru to find the root cause...

[Chimpo]

In my experience in the auto industry I've heard of certain lean conditions hurting cats.

And no, I can't be specific.

[Onealpha]

CSG Mike, that sucks in so many different ways. If I had known that Subaru were such asshats and would regularly deny warranty with only the presumption of guilt by association, I never would have bothered to buy this car. It is really just not worth it. You are not the only one with a story of warranty denial on this forum.

Now I have a car that I feel like I have to baby. I have never babied a car in my entire life. I have worked for Euro car dealers like BMW and Porsche for years and I have never seen any of these dealers deny warranty for anything other than proof of abuse. They have shown absolutely no proof that you did anything wrong. Hell, I dont know if you did or didnt, but don't they have to prove that you did? I know we are only hearing your side of the story, and I would love to hear anything from Subaru in regard to this or the DI issue, but we have nothing but silence. They won't even acknowledge the issue exists, but I think it is obvious that some people are having a problem and existing customers are very concerned that there may be a ticking time bomb in their engine bay. If they dont get out in front of this it could place a stigma on this vehicle that will destroy the momentumn that this platform has enjoyed so far.

When I bought this car it was my first Subaru and I was very jazzed at the idea. I owned Mazda, Honda, Porsche, BMW and honestly thought that the Subaru was a car company that I had not paid enough attention to. I drove their forrester as a loaner for a week and my wife loved it. We saw a WRX wagon drive by the other day and she said that she might like getting one of those. Which really sucks because I want to love my Subaru, but I am starting to think that this company views its customers as a problem rather than an asset. So Subaru, if your reading this, get your shit together. I am not going to tell you who I am, but I know the car business at the management level and your not doing a very good job. I can tell you that if shine on this marble is starting to wear off.

CSG Mike, Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress and I wish you the best of luck.

[ML]

[ayau]

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

No aftermarket parts in the engine.

I'd love for Subaru to find the root cause...

The issue here is not aftermarket parts.

The issue here is to figure out what is the cause of the cat failure, which may include some action on your part via methods stated above.

-alex

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by mav1178

The issue here is not aftermarket parts.

The issue here is to figure out what is the cause of the cat failure, which may include some action on your part via methods stated above.

-alex

We've already asked Subaru to pull the logs out of the ECU. Multiple times. To provide hard evidence that we were abusing the car as they claim.

Is redlining abusing the car? If so, why is it allowed to begin with? What if you only do it once? Twice? 5 times? 10 times? 100 times? 1000 times?

We don't deny the car was driven hard, but it was driven completely within the parameters it was designed around and released to the public with.

If I buy a high-performance computer, and then use it for complex calculations that uses the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM amount of computing power that computer has, does it void my computer's warranty? What if I put an aftermarket cooling system in the computer? Or put in a higher performance aftermarket video card? And larger capacity (wattage) power supply?

[AyJay]

Good luck CSG Mike. Thank you for sharing your experience with Subaru and their faulty warranty coverage. I was considering an Impreza or new WRX to replace my GFs leased car but I'm glad to know now how poorly they treat their customers after they have your money. It disgusts me to see manufactures not standing behind their product or even acknowledging an obviously flawed product.

[JesseE]

Sorry I think I've seen your thread and I don't exactly remember, but did your car ever have a tune or anything done to it at all even way before any of these problems happened?

I run a shop in phoenix, and we installs tons of cats on cars, and I have seen that type of damage to cats really from only one thing. When excess fuel enters the exhaust (for whatever reason) it can explode as it hits the glowing hot substrate of the cat which is what looks like happened to your cat.

It is possible that maybe the cat was bad from the factory and eventually rattled enough that it broke. My guess if you did race the car a lot, its probably what did the cat in.

I don't agree with them not covering the cat because there is no way they can prove it went bad because of racing. But to be honest, that truly is most likely why the cat went bad, but like I said, impossible to verify it.

Good Luck warranty claims are a big hassle through any car company.