Name: Don
Make: 2009 STI
Mileage: 13k
Time Out Of Use: None
Problem And Likely Cause: Radio paint is fading, peeling, scratching off. My finger?
Modifications: CB Exhaust
Submitted For Warranty Work (Yes/No): Yes (told to hold until Feb to see Subaru rep)
Reason Given For Denial: Subaru Rep needs to see it, come back when subaru rep is in town, until then, deal with it. Dealer wont replace without Subaru rep seeing it.
Your Story: This is my 3rd in a row subaru (03WRX, 06STI, 09STI) and recently noticed a silver spot on my radio dash trim. As I looked closer, I noticed that it was a chip in the black paint and the silver paint below it was showing! Then I took a closer look at my radio and noticed that the paint is fading off around my volume knob too. And the black rubber like paint above the volume knob is peeling off too.
Not sure what the chip in the trim is from. But the fade/scratches around the volume knob clearly seem to be from my fingers. It would make sense the scratches are from my finger nails I guess. I mean, only my fingers have touched them. And I dont have long finger nails. In fact, my nails dont pass my finger, as they are very short.
The problem is... I hardly use the stereo volume knob at all. 99% of the time, I touch my steering wheel controls. And the paint/finish on those is mint? Plus non of my other subaru's had this problem and I had those for a much, much loger time.
I showed this to my dealership months ago and they told me a subaru rep would have to come see it, because its a 2k stereo (yea right) and if they replace it, and Subaru denies it, then they loose money. I understand. But the subaru rep never came to the dealership and the dealership never called me to tell me when he was coming like they said they would. Last month I brought it to my dealerships attention again, asking them why they never called me like they said they would. They had no excuse other than sorry and took some photos to send to the rep. 2 weeks pass and I call to see if they got any word from the Subaru rep since they didnt call me back again and they said now subaru is changing all there sales reps and in the mean time, Im just going to have to wait until Feb for a rep to see it.
To me, its clearly wear, but it shouldnt be happening to a 8month old car. Especially since the past two Subaru's Ive had never had this problem. And Like I said, I hardly even use the volume knob as I have grown to love the streering wheel controls.
Here is what it looks like:
What do you guys think? Anyone else have this issue? Just seems odd that the one year they start using this non industry standard sized raido that now I have paint coming off. Where as the past two Subaru's I had that were industry standard double din size, never showed a single scratch in the 3yrs I owned each one of those.
Bummed out!