I purchased a vehicle here in mid-June. Right away we noticed the a/c wasn't adjusting properly…read more Level 3 out of 6 fan speeds was the highest it went. The lever to drop the 3rd row seat was also broken. Alignment was pulling to the right HARD. I took it to be serviced and they fixed the 3rd row seat lever, but said there was nothing wrong with the A/C or anything else on the 20-something point inspection. I took their word for it, trusting the professionals and hoping they were being straightforward, honest and servicing with integrity.
2 weeks later, I got an alert to service the batteries in the vehicle. I also tried the 3rd row seat lever for the first time since it was replaced, and it very easily snapped off again. I could not get it back in for a service appt right away as I work long hours, beyond their business hours, and work 2 jobs to keep food on the table in this trying economy. I made an appointment for Friday, 8/21, at a closer Autonation (Subaru Scottsdale is nearly an hour away from me), but was told they did not have loaner vehicles and I have to other means of transportation for myself and my 4 kids while my car is being serviced. I had to take my daughter to college at NAU that weekend, came back and made an appt for first thing Monday, 8/24. At that appointment, I was told my warranty expired ~300 miles ago (the distance to and from Flagstaff, ironically). I told them that the battery should not have died that quickly if it was truly "good" when I purchased it. I also advised them that the lever they just repaired broke again, and that the mechanism inside the handle is catching, and causing the plastic handle to snap every time you use it.
I had to speak with the GM about it, because the invoice for the AUX and main battery, and the 3rd row seat repair, was over $1000! I'm sorry, but a single mom simply does not have to spend on a car she's had less than 90 days. I said, "You sold me a car with a battery on the end of its life, 2 months in it needs to be replaced, it feels wrong to make ME pay for this when i've only used the vehicle to commute to and from work and get my kids to and from school (all within a 5 mile radius), so I know it wasn't something I did. The battery was bad when I bought it. I also don't feel like I should have to pay for the seat repair when it was broken when I purchased the car, repaired and then broke again." The GM was rude, argued with me over the phone about it, and then hesitantly agreed to replace the batteries, "but YOU will have to pay for the 3rd row seat repair'. $140 for a $5 part and 1 screw to replace it (looked up after, I could've done this myself ), but whatever, I agreed to pay it.
Overall, I feel like I was scammed. My A/C still maxes out at 3/6 fan speed, the alignment is still pulling to the right. And I'm afraid to put the 3rd row seat down in fear that they didn't fix the mechanism that is catching and breaking the handle, and it'll probably break again next time I try.
This vehicle may not be a "lemon" in the sense that it is non-drivable. But as soon as my warranty expired, it feels like every little thing is falling apart. It is extremely discouraging as a consumer. A little empathy would've gone a long way. If the GM was kinder in our interaction, if he tried to relate on a basic human level and understand why I was so upset, I might feel differently about this interaction. I was told they "could not replicate" the A/C issue, but if you turn the vehicle on and try each fan speed, you can VERY CLEARLY see that it maxes out at 3. Level 4, 5 and "MAX a/c" are all the same as the 3rd fan speed. Sure, this doesn't affect the drivability of the car, but in AZ, when it's over 110, and my kids are sweating in the back seat of a car I purchased less than 90 days ago, it puts a bad taste in your mouth for sure. I thought this dealership was less "sharky" than others, but they sure fooled me. I will not be returning for services here, and frankly, I have buyers remorse now when I was SO EXCITED and happy with my purchase initially.
Would not recommend this dealership to anyone who does NOT want to find a 10-point list of things wrong with your vehicle as soon as the warranty expires. Do better, Subaru Scottsdale.