I bought my first Subaru from this dealer and only needed - Outback Driver
I bought my first Subaru from this dealer and only needed routine maintenance the whole time I had the car. Not one problem, the several years I drove it.
I traded it in for a 2020 Outback and have had frequent problems with the new computer system, including failure of the tailgate lift system, beginning with my early ownership of the car. It had been fixed and working for some time when I brought the car in for a scheduled update of the computer system. When it was returned to me, first thing I discovered the tailgate was malfunctioning again.
I returned it, again, for repair under warranty. I was basically put off by the dealership and then - with no valid grounds - was blamed by both the sales manager and the dealer owner for the problem. My impression was that they didn't know what to do to fix it - so, blame the customer.
A number of postings on online forums identify this as a known problem, yet I was rudely confronted by both above individuals. This morning, I received a call from the Subaru customer advocacy center that Armstrong Subaru did not wish to resolve the tailgate lift problem; that they want me to find another dealer to do this warranty work. It seems to me to be outside the purview of Subaru ideals to blame and fire the customer!
When it has involved routine maintenance, Armstrong Subaru has delivered consistently in the service department. However, in this case of a warranty issue - particularly involving the computer systems - my impression is that their knowledge and skill is limited. That they would blame the customer for the problem, particularly with such aggression and rudeness in my experience, is unacceptable IMHO.
In my experience, the Subaru Outbacks I have owned are amazing cars. I live on a hill, on the edge of the NC South Mountains. In bad rains, I have to drive uphill in mud, on a switchback, to get to my carport. There has never been a problem negotiating this course that would be impossible for many 4-wheelers. I now just need to find a reliable Subaru dealer.
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