BRZ replacement hood with "rdot" sticker
 

Bought my BRZ used with a clean car fax but it wasn't until recently did I notice that something wasn't quite right with my hood. When closed, the driver side sits a little higher than the passenger side. When the hood is opened there are no visible stickers on the underside like with most cars. Upon closer inspection there is 1 sticker that has been painted over. So today I peeled off the paint to reveal a "r dot" sticker. Does anyone know anything about this?

At this point I'm positive the hood was damaged at some point and was replaced. (No mention of this on CarFax) :(

Concerning the hood and how it sits when closed. I tried to fix it by loosening the 4 bolts attaching the hood and making adjustments but I can't get it to sit any better it already is. Is this something any Subaru dealership would do for me since the car is still under warranty?

You probably already checked it but what about the rubber bumpers above the headlights that the hood sits on. Are they adjusted too high on the right side by chance?

Yup, checked those rubber bumpers too and they looked good. Also checked the hood latch adjustment too and made it worse before I undid my adjustment.

Well I learned something today. Apparently the R Dot sticker means it is a Department of Transport certified replacement part.

I would think they should fix it under warranty since that is an obvious difference in gap.

http://www.acronymfinder.com/Replace...)-(R_DOT).html

http://www.team-integra.net/forum/11...ot-what-2.html

Ahh, so it's a genuine Subaru part but instead of putting the VIN there, they put the "r dot" sticker in it's place. So maybe the hood was damaged during transport or possibly while in the dealer's possession? I feel a little better about that. Will have to call my local Subaru dealership to see what they say.

This may seem crazy but what about bending it back? Maybe that's how it happened in the first place...leaving a tool or something on the right side and closing the hood on it.

Damaged in transport happens way more than many realize so I would not be at all surprised that it is something along that line. It really does validate that the dealer should fix it under warranty.

The car purchased out of state from a non Subaru dealership.

I've not investigated the front quarter panels or the front bumper so I have no idea if they were replaced as well. It's possible that they, along with the hood, was damaged and replaced as well. That would explain why adjusting the hood doesn't make it fit any better.

With the front quarter panels and front bumper on the car, is there a visible VIN on those parts?

Fender should have a vin by the shock tower.
Hoods rarely get damaged by themselves, so I wouldn't doubt the front left(driver side) was repaired also. Bumper cover could have been replaced as that side sits low.