1998 Subaru Outback

THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN BACKING FROM A PARKING SPACE, HIT A POLE, I THEN PUT IT ON DRIVE AND IT ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH SPEED, I WENT TO BRAKE, IT HAD ALREADY HIT A PARKED DODGE CARAVAN IN THE PARKING SPOT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON BRAKE, CAR STILL CONTINUED TO MOVE. I MANAGED TO PUT IT ON NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. MY CAR HAD PUSHED THE PARKED DODGE 1.5 CAR LENGTHS. VAN TIRE SKID MARKS MEASURED BY HIGHWAY PATROL. NO INJURIES EXCEPT TO MYSELF, HIT MY KNEE AND MY HEAD. INDICENT REPORTED TO CA HWY PATROL, GEICO INSURANCE COMPANY, AND 49R SUBARU DEALERSHIP. CURRENTLY CAR IS AT THE DEARLERSHIP BEING EVALUATED FOR A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 60K MILES FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISISION PROBLEM, IT SEEMED TO DOWNSHIFT AT LOWSPEEDS INAPPROPIATELY. NO PROBLEM FOUND. I TOOK IT IN 90K BECAUSE OF BURNING OIL SMELL AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SEVERAL SEALS, ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE TIMING BELT. I DISCOVERED THE TIMING BELT AND OIL SEALS WERE REPLACED BY PREVIOUS OWNER PRIOR TO 50K MILES. I'VE HAD THE TIRES BALANCED AND ALIGNED TWICE BECAUSE OF SEVERE TIRE WEAR AND SHAKING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. CAR CURRENTLY HAS 101K MILES.

ON 1/15/01 BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED MY ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK. I PAID $654.50 FOR THEM TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND RESEAL BAFFLE PLATE AS WELL AS RESEAL OIL PUMP, QUESTIONABLE CAM SEALS (REFERRING TO PAPERWORK FROM DEALER). ON 3/23/01 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CAR COMPLETELY DIED. BEARD SUBARU DIAGNOSED ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO DROP IN PRESSURE W/IN ENGINE. UPON SEVERAL CONTACTS W/ SUBARU OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO PAY 50% TO REBUILD ENGINE, WHICH HAS BEEN VERBALLY ESTIMATED AT $2,500. BEARD SUBARU UNABLE TO EXPLAIN CAUSE OF ENGINE SEIZE, BUT DENIES IT IS RELATED TO RECENT REPAIR OF ENGINE LEAK. SUBARU OF AMERICA REQUIRES ME TO ACCEPT OR DENY OFFER TO OF "COURTESY FOR MY PATRONAGE" 50% BY WED. 4/4/01. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW AT BEARD SUBARU AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY. I QUESTION A DEFECT WITHIN MY VEHICLE, OR A DIRECT CORRELATION TO THE RECENT WORK CONDUCTED BY BEARD SUBARU. I REQUESTED WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION. THEY DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE ON 3/27/01. ON 3/30/01 I RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM BEARD SUBARU THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME "NEXT WEEK". THEY ARE AWARE I BEGIN A NEW JOB ON 4/2/01 REQUIRING ME TO RENT A VEHICLE UNTIL MY SITUATION IS RESOLVED. SUBARU OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED TO PAY 50% CAR RENTAL FEE FOR 5 DAYS. IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION BEFORE I AM REQUIRED TO RESPOND TO SUBARU OF AMERICA'S DEADLINE BY 4/4/01? I AM WEARY TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT NO ONE HAS PROVIDED A SECOND OPINION, THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF WHAT I WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY "AFTER JUST PAYING $654.50 FOR AN ENGINE LEAK" AND I AM BEING TOLD I MUST RESPOND TO THE OFFER BY 4/4/01 OR I WILL NOT BE ASSISTED.*AK