Questions and Answers

It's A Lemon!!

Q. Hello: I am desperate for some help and would much appreciate any you could give me.

I have a 1998 Subaru Forester "S" model, AWD 4 cyl., ABS, Automatic, 32K miles.

One year ago exactly the left rear axle wheel bearing went bad (at 17k miles) and was replaced by the dealership. Then 6 months later that same exact wheel bearing went bad again (26K miles) and was replaced by the dealer.

Well, guess what... It is now six months later again and I think it may be going again. It starts with a high humming noise at high speeds, and in the past the dealership could not find it until the noise in the cabin was almost unbearable.

Anyway, I am just about out of warranty and want to know what would cause the same exact wheel bearing to keep failing? I want to be armed with information at the dealership so they don't just keep giving me a new bearing every 6 months. And I fear something is terribly wrong with this car.

Thank you in advance for any help or information you can provide.

Happy Holidays,
Christina

A. Okay, let's play a little game. I'll describe an object and you have to guess what it is. Ready? Here goes... what is round, yellow, can be added to tea or made into a summertime drink and will make your mouth pucker when you eat it? Give up? It's a lemon!!

Under The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, you have a lemon. This gives you specific legal rights under Federal law and your State may give you other rights as well. I would go to Lemon Law America For information about the Federal Lemon Law and any State laws which may apply.

There is no reason why the wheel bearings should go bad three times in such a short period of time. There is obviously a manufacturing defect in your vehicle that the dealer can not correct.