Electric power steering Failure ....... Help !!

Hey guys,

Ive perhaps a word of warning and a cry for help.

I have a 2009 Subaru Impreza diesel with 101000 Km (62000 miles) which was my pride and joy. When I bought her I ignored the claims of weak engines that resulted in crankshaft snapping and took the plunge and borrowed the money for the car.

I have been driving the car hassle free not much more than 18 months when last week 22/01/2014 my power steering light came on and I had no power steering what so ever. For those unfamiliar the car uses a completely electric power steering system.

I brought my car to a local mechanic (non subaru) where on checking the rack found it was full of water ! I am going to state that I live in Ireland where we get alot of rain however I have never driven in any water deep enough to damage the car.

On collecting the car today 2.2.15 the steering worked twice but is now back to not working.

I have contacted Subaru where I was quoted €3000 inc vat to for the replacement rack as the rack and motor are 1 unit. This is a bit of a bargain because the forrester rack is €3000 without vat and is more prone to failing from what they told me !!

My options now are ....

Try to have the rack repaired

While VW and Opel use an electric system in there cars, it is easily repaired but within Ireland and the UK I have yet to find anyone who can repair a subaru rack.

Find a second hand rack

Thus far I have been unable to locate a breakers yard that has a second hand rack in Ireland or the UK so I have had to extend my search to Australia

Fork out the €3000 + fitting

I have to say that this is not my first Subaru but it most definatly my last !

I have to ask..... does anyone know of a company that repairs subaru steering racks or where I can get a second hand one ?

To add insult to injury...

Last friday (30/01/2014) subaru posted up on facebook a picture of a new forrester and the caption of "enjoy the weekend" I replied with a comment that I couldnt and a short note as to why...... It was deleted !!

Hi that's shitty and shocking how about getting a replacement item from one in a breakers?

I'd suggest getting on to DaveLegacy on here and asking for his help. He specialises in maintaining and modifying Subaru's and also breaks some so even if he can't fix it he might have the parts needed to replace it.

Sent from my Note 3 using Tapatalk so please excuse typos

Ask Subaru how many times they've had to do this repair/replacement. If it's a common fault and they're replacing with the exact same part as being aware of it and sorting the problem that's very poor. Fork out €3000 every 63000 miles for a steering rack? No thanks.

Thanks guys....

Ciaran ....Ive rang breakers in both Ireland and the uk.... no avail so far. Ive even emailed Australia but from what i understand the impreza was never sold there so I think thats a no go

Wagon...... yep Ive rang him and hes a WRX that hes breaking so im waiting on a call back....... to my knowledge an electric system was only used on the dlesel cars.

Bonito.... Ryans in cork (subaru dealer) have only diagnosed the problem on 1 Forrester (if memory serves me correct) but they did not fix the car. Carroll and Roche had a similar answer in that its a problem on other cars but they had never seen it in the Impreza.

That's a pain in the arse man keep us posted

Sorry to hear, I seen an estimate last week for 2k to fit a rack in a 07 golf, we found a second hand one for €140, I hope u get sorted without too much hassle

Its it a 4th gen or 5th gen diesel ?

There is a 2008 diesel for breaking on eBay in UK that I ordered a headlight from and it should arrive this week.

Maybe worth a try


Edit sorry, I see its an impress not a legacy.... Ignore me so

wow 3k for a rack ,

if it were a different kinda rack you might not mind spending it on em :lol2

for a manufacturer that were known for reliability not so long ago theyve really gotten bad , weak diesels , head gasket issues etc etc ,

Steering rack went in my van after 2 years. Was 1k plus vat plus fitting. It was 2 months out of warranty and Citroen wouldn't cover it but after a lot of shouting and a big help from my local dealer I got it replaced and only paid for the labour. The only thing that saved me was a full citoen service history on time. That's very bad of Subaru in fairness. 3k for a rack then fit it . I'd start kicking doors and banging tables if I were you

[quote author=gerry link=topic=43857.msg505750#msg505750 date=1423032800]
Steering rack went in my van after 2 years. Was 1k plus vat plus fitting. It was 2 months out of warranty and Citroen wouldn't cover it but after a lot of shouting and a big help from my local dealer I got it replaced and only paid for the labour. The only thing that saved me was a full citoen service history on time. That's very bad of Subaru in fairness. 3k for a rack then fit it . I'd start kicking doors and banging tables if I were you
[/quote]

Tommy.... ya, for that money I can get the wife a new rack and have more fun than any car haha !

Cheers gerry, Actually carroll and roche said that I might have had some comeback if I had a subaru service history but I dont (I used another reputable garage after buying the car with only 50000 Km)

At the min im only lining my ducks up so ill see where it goes from here..

Ill keep ye informed.

Right..... that update.

After waiting almost 3 weeks (and not able to drive the car) I finally got my car into a Subaru main dealer for diagnostic check here in Cork.

I have to say the service and attitude was appalling and it is somewhere that I will never go again.

On handing in my car I was offered a replacement loaner. I was walked to a Citroen C5 that was filthy both inside and out. Banana skins, cigarette boxes, clothes, firelogs thrown around the car so I declined as I had someone who was collecting me so I could go back to work. I was told that if i waited a few minutes I would be given an impreza so I cancelled my lift. After my wait I was again given the C5 that had the interior cleaned out. Now Stuck without a lift I had to take the car to get back to work but instead I found:

1. The car stank
2. The fuel light was on so I had to put petrol in it.
3. The car ran to badly I thought it was a diesel until I asked at subaru.
6. The tires was under inflated so I had to put air in them.
7. The rev counter didnt work, nor did the passenger side electric window.
8. I got 9km down the road and the engine management light started flashing along with a buzzer. and when I rang subaru I had to bring the car back !

On returning I waited for the mechanic to check my car where I saw him reverse my car, get out and then put on a seat cover...... :wtf:

The car was diagnosed with a faulty electric motor (cant remember the fault code off the top of my head) and the repair is in excess of €3000, when I questioned this I was fobbed off.

When I mentioned about the car I was looked at as if I had 2 heads although I did get the money back that I put in the C5 for fuel.

I have sourced a second hand rack (which wasnt easy) and am going to have that fitted if the motor cannot be repaired with a local garage.

Long over due update....

Having contacted Subaru Ireland, they told me that I could apply for a good will contribution but could not say If or how much they could offer until a full technical report was provided. By the time it though having waited over a month I had the car fixed locally for €150 (Subaru garage wanted €3150). !!

good man what was the fix in the end

Great result and well deserved