[NiceMarmot]

Has anyone with a late-model Subie exchanged their new car with a dealer or SOA because of extraordinary problems with the vehicle? You can read about the details of my issue in the 2019 Forester Issues forum, but my car has been sitting at the dealer’s service department for longer than I actually drove it before needing a tow. They haven’t been able to even diagnose the problem, never mind fix it. I love the 2019 Forester but have no confidence in taking my vehicle down the street (which it already failed to do) or into the mountains this winter. I’d be content with just swapping my car for another Forester Premium on the lot.

The refund time window under my state’s lemon law is ticking, but I’d like to avoid that route if possible. Even if I get a refund I still need a car.

 

[rccrfan]

This is a late reply, hopefully you resolved this in your favor but....I live in New England also, CT. I just did the lemon law on my previous new 2018 car before I got my new forester. The engine blew with only 5000 miles.

Look in your owners manual in the rear it will have information about the laws for your state. Use the BBB auto line as an arbitrator. Here is their link. https://www.bbb.org/autoline. You will need a copy of your sales invoice, the registration, and the service writeup you should have gotten when you dropped it off from the dealer.

MAKE SURE you are documenting all the contact you are making with the dealer including dates, phone calls, names of people with whom you are speaking etc.

Once the BBB accepts your case you are provided with a case ID and a link to their portal in which you can upload forms and send notes to your case manager. The guy I had was very helpful and nice.

The whole process for my case took about 60 days. In the end, a third party met me at the dealer where the car has been since the engine blew. They gave me the check from the manufacturer and I gave them the title and keys.

I would imagine if you are financing you will be released from the loan and will receive your down payment/trade in value. I am not sure about any monthly payments. I bought the defective vehicle outright so I got a check.

The dealer should have put you in a loaner vehicle which they did for me. They paid for the loaner for the entire time. Whatever you do don't take the car back then see it or trade it in. You will take it on the chin with a loss if you do this.

I got the entire purchase price refunded including my trade in value. All it cost me was a "usage fee" which varies state by state but mine was around $1200. I had the vehicle 7 months which isn't bad. Go the lemon law route, thats why it's there. Good luck.

 

[NiceMarmot]

Hey @rccrfan- thanks for the info! I didn't know about the BBB's auto line. Fortunately, I worked things out with Subaru since I posted in November.