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| - On 4-13-17, I dropped off my 2008 Outback to Subaru Superstore of Chandler to have the passenger side airbag replaced as necessitated by a manufacturer's recall notice I received.
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Quotes from the recall notice:
SAFETY HAZARD
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front passenger air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking vehicle occupants and potentially causing serious injury or death.
Until this repair is performed, do not allow passengers to ride in the front passenger seat.
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Later in the day I was contacted by Dana in their service department telling me they discovered the CV sleeves were ruptured on the vehicle so both Axle CV Shaft Assemblies needed to be replaced. I was told if I drove without this repair it could damage the drive shaft as well as other parts resulting in significantly more expense. What alternative did I have but to authorize the repair?
That night, on the internet I researched CV sleeve repair of Subarus. I could find no instance where this needed to be done this early in the car's life.
The following morning, when I arrived to pick up the vehicle I questioned Dana, my service advisor, and was told that because of Arizona's heat and lack of humidity this was a common repair on a car as old as mine. The bill was presented and I paid, but because of my doubts, I made a notation on the receipt and stated orally that I was paying "under duress".
Subsequently, on the internet I researched the symptoms of a bad or failing Axle CV Shaft Assembly. Those were:
1) Loud clicking noises when turning
2) Grease on edge of tire
3) Excessive vibration while driving.
Prior to taking my vehicle to Subaru Superstore of Chandler, I observed none of those symptoms. I purchased the car new in 2008. I have only driven it 28,736 miles. It has never been off road. I am 16 years retired and almost all the car has been used for is trips to the grocery store. At home it is always garaged. The car looks brand new. The wax applied by the dealership at time of purchase is still slick. Before I took it in for the replacement of the death threatening air bag the car seemed to be driving beautifully. I smelled no strange odors. Today I crawled beneath the car to verify there is no observable sign of residual fluid or grease on the inside of the front tires. Taking these facts into consideration, it seems to me it is very doubtful the CV sleeves and their related assemblies were actually damaged prior to the time when I dropped off the car.
Alas, I have no way of proving my suspicions are correct. What I think I can prove is that I was grossly overcharged. Subaru Superstore charged me $383.90 for the two remanufactured axle assemblies (after credit for the core returns). Autozone's charge for two items of the same description (after core returns) is $129.98! Other suppliers are a fraction of that. I have no idea how good of a "deal" they gave me for the replacement labor but the charge was $270.00. Additionally, I was charged $44.86 for unspecified "shop supplies" (beer money?).
I would caution all, particularly seniors like me, to take my experience under consideration before entrusting your vehicles to this company.
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