The defect
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION, THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM, THAT IS INTENDED TO HOLD YOUR VEHICLE, MAY NOT ENGAGE.
The risk
THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE/ROLL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING ROD ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION JANUARY 8, 2003. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE SENT DURING NOVEMBER 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Baja | 2003 |
| Subaru Forester | 2002, 2003 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2002, 2003 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Subaru Outback | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Baja | 2003 | 38 | 10 |
| Subaru Forester | 2002 | 88 | 1 |
| Subaru Forester | 2003 | 189 | 3 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2002 | 292 | 6 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2003 | 62 | 6 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2001 | 77 | 7 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2002 | 54 | 4 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2003 | 60 | 14 |
| Subaru Outback | 2001 | 171 | 3 |
| Subaru Outback | 2002 | 143 | 4 |
| Subaru Outback | 2003 | 93 | 14 |
Other power train recalls in 2002
23 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the power train; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 02V336000 13 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V319000 27 Nov 2002 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 02V313000 21 Nov 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V272000 3 Oct 2002 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V261000 23 Sept 2002 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V201000 25 Jul 2002 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 02V192000 23 Jul 2002 | CHANCE COACH, INC. |
| 02V174000 12 Jul 2002 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002