2014 Subaru Impreza

Cabin blower fan stopped working. Faint burned plastic smell. Starting with the blower motor, I worked backwards. The Blower Motor Resistor showed significant wear, which I replaced. After checking or replacing all other components, I realized that it was likely the AC Control Unit. I took it out and the electrical issue is so bad that the plug has melted to the harness. I found plenty of online videos and forums which helped me diagnose the problem in my own car. This is a fire hazard, and considering how many other people have experienced this, I'm surprised there is no warning or a recall. There is already one other complaint in your database, [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

One day my blower motor wouldn't turn on and my switch was actually stuck, unable to adjust at all. After checking all fuses and relays I pulled out the control panel and noticed significant electrical damage to both the switch itself and the wiring harness. This is a very dangerous fire hazard to myself and my family. I've done research and this IS NOT an isolated issue. There have actually been very many cases of the exact nature. There is even a service bulletin out for "HVAC blower fan inoperative" which includes my year make and model of vehicle. I feel if this isn't resolved on a large scale lives could be affected greatly or even lost. It is my recommendation this issue be moved to a national recall. I have included pictures of my own and also pictures from others with same issue as proof.

The Blower assembly in my car stopped working suddenly- When i looked into it, a short/electrical failure had happened that caused the wire harness and other components to melt inside the system. This appears to be a common failure similar Subaru cars, but the fact that the system can fail so significantly to burn/melt the connectors seems like a dangerous failure mode

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in the driveway, the vehicle failed to restart after thirty minutes. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was due to the pump assembly and noticed that the connector was difficult to remove and had melted. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed there was an open circuit in the assembly. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified and offered a discount on the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000. RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. FOUND OPEN CIRCUIT INTERNAL TO THE FUEL PUMP CAUSING OVERHEAT MELTING THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL ASSEMBLY TOP HAT WHICH CAUSED LOSE PRESSURE IN FUEL SYSTEM. PART NUMBER 42021AG010, Case # [XXX]-[XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”

Not quite sure what specific part or wiring location but it’s somewhere in the electrical system. The car is available for inspection upon request. Started out with electrical system on not allowing the windows to roll down and the Bluetooth connection malfunctioning to cause a high pitched screech. It is ear piercing and scared me half to death driving down the street with rush hour traffic and almost caused me to crash into someone. It does it at unprompted times and would be afraid to swerve into somebody and cause an accident. Trying to turn it off or turning the volume down makes it louder and the only way I’ve gotten it to stop is to turn off the car. A couple of days later, the power wouldn’t turn off on the media center or cycling through modes (FM/AM radio, Bluetooth, USB, CD) and caused the same high pitched screech. Now the drivers window does not roll all the way down and slams the window down the door at random times. Followed by the airbag sensor not enabling when an adult is sitting in the passenger seat. This can put passengers at risk if involved in an accident and can’t climb out the windows or the airbags from being deployed. The car is serviced at the dealership every time maintenance is needed. Dealership maintenance appoint is on Monday September 21st 2021 at the McCurley Dealership in Pasco Washington for other wear and tear maintenance but will ask them to inspect this as well. There has been no prior messages, symptoms, warning or maintenance lamps before this issue occurred. It started to do this back in the beginning of August 2021

The engine cooling system failed and put myself and my step-daughter at risk while driving on the freeway. When I got off the freeway, the vehicle stalled and I was unable to move the car. I got a tow to move the car. The electrical system was messing up for the windows and the radio, I was unaware of the other parts of the vehicle it was affecting. I just tolerated it for the time being. When my car overheated, The red warning temperature lights came on, the blue warning lamp that tells the temperature, and the tract warning lamp, as well as the check engine lamp. They did not turn on prior to this. I took the vehicle to John Hine Subaru. The car went from being my most reliable, to this unpredictable incident.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS CEASED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO EXCESSIVELY TURN THE KEY WHEN IN THE IGNITION FOR THE KEY TO BE RELEASED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER (ANCHOR SUBARU - ADDRESS: 949 EDDIE DOWLING HWY, NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI 02896, PHONE: (401) 769-1199) WHO SCHEDULED AN UPCOMING APPOINTMENT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.