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Subaru suing CA dealership for alleged false customer surveys

Whenever you buy a new car from a dealer these days or sometimes even go in for service, you can expect to fill out a customer satisfaction survey at some point down the road. The responses are actually quite important to showrooms because automakers require the businesses to keep things at a certain level or face penalties. However, a Subaru dealer allegedly found a way to game that system, at least briefly, and now the Subaru of America has filed a lawsuit in US District Court for breach of contract. South Coast Subaru in Costa Mesa, CA, reportedly falsified 224 customer satisfaction questionnaires in 2014, according to Automotive News. The scheme wasn't that hard to figure out, though. All of the faked surveys were allegedly submitted through the IP address of an Acura showroom managed by the same dealer. Under normal circumstances when someone buys a Subaru, the dealer is supposed to collect the customer's email address and submit it to the automaker. However, South Coast allegedly presented false addresses, and then managers had employees fill the forms out during lunch. Subaru claimed in the suit that by doing this the dealer harmed the company's product reputation and its goodwill among customers. "Defendants prevented Subaru from discovering the actual customer satisfaction level of Subaru retail customers at South Coast Subaru by providing sham customer surveys to [Subaru]," the complaint said, according to Automotive News. Related Video:

NHTSA investigating 33k Subaru Imprezas for airbag sensor flaw

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is beginning an investigation into an estimated 33,500 units of the 2012 Subaru Impreza because of a potential flaw with the sensor for the airbag system. The government agency has 26 complaints about possible faults with the Occupant Detection System for the front passenger seat, and this is the sensor that decides whether a person is an adult, petite, child seat or some other object and adjusts the deployment of the airbag accordingly. However, these reports allege that it was incorrectly turned off when someone was in the vehicle, which caused the airbag not to activate. Subaru put out a Technical Service Bulletin in May 2012 that attempted to address a similar problem. For now, this investigation is classified as a preliminary evaluation and is gathering more data about the potential problem to "assess the scope, frequency, and consequence," according to NHTSA. Related Video: INVESTIGATION Subject : Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression Date Investigation Opened: APR 10, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: PE15012 Component(s): AIR BAGS All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) SUBARU IMPREZA 2012 Details Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc. SUMMARY: The Office of Defects Investigation has received 26 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports involving the passenger frontal air bag in MY 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type Occupant Detection System, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The reports allege that the Occupant Detection System, failed to operate properly and incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied. In a frontal crash sufficient to warranty deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat. Additionally, ODI notes that Subaru published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) No. 17-16-12 on May 29, 2012 to address conditions with the Occupant Detection System that can lead to suppression of the passenger air bag when the passenger seat is occupied. ODI is opening this this investigation to assess the scope, frequency, and consequence of incorrect air bag suppression and any connection that may exists to the TSB.

Spy photos show 2017 Subaru BRZ facelift

As it transitions to the Toyota 86, the Scion FR-S isn't the only version of the joint Toyota/Subaru sports car that's getting a facelift. The BRZ is getting a nip and tuck, and here's our first look. Posted on the FT86Club forum are pictures of what appears to be the 2017 Subaru BRZ, hot on the heels of the recently-revised Toyota 86. The changes look rather subtle, but stand at least to keep the Subaru model up to pace with its Toyota counterpart. And for those less than enamored of the new curves applied to the 86, these updates may just be enough to tip the balance in Fuji Heavy's favor. The front end appears to keep the same grille shape as the existing model, but the vents on either side of it have changed, with little winglets bisecting. Gone are the auxiliary lights, apparently integrated into the new headlights that pack fresh elements. The taillights appear to be updated in similar fashion as well. Inside more auxiliary controls are now integrated into the steering wheel in front of the instrument binnacle with a new set of gauges. There's seems to be a new infotainment head unit in the dashboard and some updated interior trim as well. Of course the big question will be whether the refreshed BRZ will get any boost in power or other mechanical upgrades like Toyota's given the new 86, but for that we'll just have to stay patient for the time being as look forward to seeing the Toyota version in the metal at the New York Auto Show this week. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Subaru BRZ facelift View 9 Photos News Source: FT86Club Spy Photos Subaru Coupe Performance facelift