Subaru Impreza Lemon Law

Yes, if the CVT whining noise indicates a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety. Under the Song-Beverly Act, a transmission bearing or chain defect that could lead to transmission failure constitutes a substantial impairment. Document each dealer visit and request that the technician note the abnormal noise on every repair order.

Yes. The Song-Beverly Act protects California residents regardless of where the vehicle was originally purchased. As long as you are a California resident and the vehicle is primarily used in California, the Act applies. The warranty obligations follow the consumer, not the point of sale, so Subaru must honor its warranty through any authorized California dealer.

You should keep all repair orders, service invoices, and written communications with the dealership. Each repair order should describe the symptoms you reported and the work performed. Under the Song-Beverly Act, the repair order is the primary evidence of a repair attempt. Also maintain a personal log of every occurrence of the defect, including dates, mileage, and driving conditions.

Premature failure of a ball joint during the warranty period is not normal wear and tear. Under the Song-Beverly Act, a component that fails well before its expected service life due to a manufacturing or design defect is covered by the warranty. Subaru cannot classify a safety-critical suspension component as a wear item when it fails at abnormally low mileage during the warranty period.