2001 LL Bean Driver's Side Door Electrical Fire :(

[Guest Skip]

heated mirror?

 

The heating element is in the mirror not the door?

 

hot weather be damned, the mirror may go up but why the wiring?

 

I think Subaru is blowing smoke, may be time for a change. "has seen it before"???????

 

Here's good on ya, my newest Sube has heated mirrors - thanks for the warning.

Has a heated windscreen to - where will that fire start?

[Guest Legacy25GT]

i will agree with you that Subaru of America is being a bit shady. but if your dealer is going to bat for you, as well as offering you a car at cost, well to me that sound like a perfect opportunity to get a WRX or LL Bean cheap. Go for every option possible. Get the leather, all the power, sunroof, skid plates, you name it. Then watch the dealer choke when you show then your proposal. Remember that you have all the power in this situation. You do not have to sell them your car back, you could instead sell it to the NBC Today show, or Consumer Reports. They would love to hear about an incident like this.

 

life has presented you with a dilema, but there is no reason that you should come out of it feeling like you lost. Go out there and win one for the consumer.

[Guest msmalka]

Well, Subaru faxed me the "release". For those of you that have previously read this post, I am editing it.....for now..... Stay tuned....Thnaks for all your support!

[Guest SmashPDX]

Heck with Allstate, get a lawyer and make some phone calls to the state AG, maybe Dateline as noted, and ABSOLUTELY report this to the NHTSA.

 

You couldn't pay me to take that car back after all that brouhaha

[Guest wrxsubaru]

report it, subaru has cheap on warenty repairs, they deserve it.

[Guest msmalka]

Finally reached Subaru of America today ( have been leaving messages since Friday). I told her why I was upset by the request to sign release and especially the language ("smoldering concern"). She basically had no interest in what I was saying. I put in a call to Dealership and asked how repair was proceeding, was told parts are on order. Left message for Dealer headman. He called me after 5 PM at work and told me it would be best if I had my car taken elsewhere. So...over 2 week after the incident, I have gotten NOTHING accomplished by Subaru. All because I thought they should take reponsibility and have SOMEONE from the company take a look. So, I will have to arrange to have the car moved and repaired elsewhere. Stay tuned. :evil:

[Guest SoCAL AWD]

If other people are having this problem it sounds like there should be some recall. The wires should be able to take the current regardless of outside temperature. It sound like your dealer wants nothing to do with it because they don't want the liability. This could be a major safety issue. You can let the NHTSA now about this problem.www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm

[Guest msmalka]

Oh yes, I did that on day one of this misadventure.Also, sent an email to Attorney General's office. My car has been moved today and I have also spoken to Allstate and they will subrogate against Subaru. They have been very supportive and responsive. Am hoping that they will be able to have a specialist look at the car as well. Of course, the dealer is making like he nver told me about the cause or any prior incidents. Whether there has or hasn't been other incidents, my treatment over the course of this episode has been awful.

[Guest msmalka]

Just thought I would update y'all. The Bean is in MA and parts have been ordered. The shop decided it needs a new door as well because when he got in there is was too charred inside to be cleaned. He will also be checking the entire wiring harness. AND he is saving the parts for me to keep as "souvenirs. It might be weeks before I ride in the Bean again.

[Guest subyguy]

well im glad your car will be fixed. i cant belive that the best cars on the planet have the chevy like customer service.(before anyone jumps on me i worked in a chevy dealership while in high school.)

 

anyway glad to see the car will be back on the road. btw

will this go on a car fax report if you sell your car. if so someone should pay. you shouldnt take the hit.

[Guest msmalka]

Thanks so much for the thoughts about my prospects for the future. I may get my car back this weekend, depends on whether all the parts come in. I hope so. The shop is being very thorough (it seems). New door as well as new guts and a thorough check of the wiring harness. It is at another subaru dealer...one that seems to have more integrity than the one that sold the $31,000 car to me. I sure don't know if any will "pay". Seems like you can get hot coffee spilled on you at MacDonald's and get a few million. You get nothing if you don't get hurt! Still I am glad we weren't. We'll see ....may be a class action suit outta this IF other VICTIMS come forward and are not "silenced" as my dealer and Subaru would have had it. PLEASE anyone coming across another incident like this, put them in touch with the NATIONAL AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE. That is the only way to make sure that a recall happens if that is what is needed and the possibility of a class action suit. Also, we'll see what the state attorney general's office has to say about the shabby treatment...........

[Guest msmalka]

Well folks, I have talked to the dealer where the car is now (still not fixed) and have played withe numbers on a 2002 VDC. I test drove it and it was NICE. Numbers are a bit steep and I am not sure what to do. They are saying they will trade my Bean and give me $24,000 and give me a VDC for the List. With better finance rate than when I purchased, it is TEMPTING. Regular trad in would be about $17,500 and with the fire damage............? What do y'all think. Would cost me about $100 more than I now pay for a 60 mo.

[Guest msmalka]

Went to pick up my car. I was to pick it up at the dealership and also continue negtiations on a new car. Got a call on my cell that when they went to bring ot to me, the radio would not work. It is now 6 WEEKS with no solution in sight. PS: I haven't swung a deal on a new Sube yet.

[Guest Dennis]

what if you had heated seats?

 

"seen it before"? what kind of response is that?

 

i used to carry fire extinguishers in my cars but it never failed-id be out with my friends and somehow or another we would end up shooting them off at eachother

[Guest msmalka]

Thanks Dennis, YES! I guess I would have been in the "hot seat" if my TUSH flamed! Well, part one of the saga is over. Got my new Sube today, 2002 Limited. Decided to get 4 cylinder for $ factors and better to have lower gas costs ( I do 100 mi a day). It smowed here a bit in honor of the Subie's maiden voyage. She is pretty, white frost. Still have many features of the Bean. I will picking up my Bean's "parts" on Friday and storing them in my garage. Have to get a bunch of info to an attorney who might take the case.

[Guest Legacy25GT]

I am glad to hear that this has finally worked out for you. As well I am glad to see that you have decided to retain some counsel, may turn out that next year you could buy and STi.

[awol]

Happened to me yesterday in a 2003 Outback Ltd Sta Wa. Yours is the only post on the web that I found with a similar condition. Can't understand how it happened.

[decades]

The door to our 2004 Outback went up in flames yesterday (October 30, 2010). Fire department put out the fire and our son escaped injury. Fire seems to have started just above electric window switches (heated mirrors perhaps) and fire spread to front dash. Have contacted NHSTA, our insurance company, and will start work with SOA tomorrow. Any ideas on how we can get Subaru to make this right. The car has 119,000 miles on it and was great until yesterday.

[Steves72]

Considering the age and mileage of the car I would not expect SOA to do very much for you. Report the incident to the NHTSA - http://www.nhtsa.com. If enough reports are filed an investigation will be opened up on the issue.

 

Good Luck

 

Steve