Seat subframe

Seat adjustment, fore and aft, on drivers seat failed yesterday.

Had moved it up and back to clean / WD40 the frame to get rid of a squeek and then when pulling it forward all the way it clunked and stuck.
So far forward couldn't get into the seat!

Took the seat off the frame and seemed that one rail had jumped a couple of notches further forward than the other.
Manually pressing the release on each side in turn managed to get them aligned and back a few notches, but still wouldn't move when reasembled.
Looked like the bar you pull to slide seat was not secured, and even popped out of the side mounting holes? There were a couple of long tie wraps around this bar and the underside of the seat which had snapped .... wonder if this was a bodge to "fix" the previous problem and now they snapped it has gotten worse?

This IS the updated subframe changed under warranty 6 months ago.


Have to get onto the dealers for a fix this week!

Back to dealers, this time got "another" subframe fitted.

Better than before of course. Feels more solid and firm in the bends and NO squeeks or creaks.

The old seat seemed to have been de-squeeked by use of a couple of tie wraps to tie the seat adjustment bar to the solid subframe... the problem this time was due to the tie wraps snapping! So I suspect the subframe wasn't changed under warranty last time just a frig to "sort out the squeek" until after warranty? Yet they assured me I had a new subframe under warranty in Sept 2011.

Dealer said now that the new in sept 2011 subframe had "shot bushes" which is a bit bad after less than 3 months when squeek came back / 6 months until changed ... and the original sept 2009 subframe lasted best part of 2 years .. so I think my belief I didn't get a new subframe in Sept 2011 holds up!


Apparently these are all Recaro subframes and vauxhalls etc also have this problem?

Ohh yeah, this dealer now no longer sells Subaru's but still services / does warranty work etc.

pm me your chassis number I'll find out what they said they had fitted if you want

Rob wrote:pm me your chassis number I'll find out what they said they had fitted if you want

PM with chassis no. sent.

Lets see what warranty goodies I have had!

17/09/08 6 miles on the clock New 18" alloys, scuffed due to protective covers
14/09/09 10 miles on the clock New front brake discs, Due to brake judder
14/09/09 10 miles on the clock New battery, Car wont start
22/04/10 5005 miles on the clock New front wheel hubs, Whiring noise at 35 mph
20/09/11 18694 miles on the clock New 18" alloys, Corrosion on faces
20/09/11 18694 miles on the clock New seat base, Creaking noise
20/04/12 25331 miles on the clock New seat base, Seat failed to adjust

Cheers Rob, that's interesting, the first 3 were before I even picked the car up!

The Wheel bearings turned out to be the OEM Tyres ( Dunlops on 18" 330S? ) and it does look like there were 2 replacement seat subframes after all, so the structural tie wrap was a red herring ....


Thanks muchly