The defect
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
The risk
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. 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 Legacy | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Subaru Outback | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR
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 Legacy | 2000 | 94 | 3 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2001 | 77 | 7 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2002 | 54 | 4 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2003 | 60 | 14 |
| Subaru Outback | 2000 | 207 | 1 |
| Subaru Outback | 2001 | 171 | 3 |
| Subaru Outback | 2002 | 143 | 4 |
| Subaru Outback | 2003 | 93 | 14 |
Other suspension recalls in 2003
25 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the suspension; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 03V460000 10 Nov 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V436000 4 Nov 2003 | RHODES TRAILERS |
| 03V411000 22 Oct 2003 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 03V371000 6 Oct 2003 | FINN CORPORATION |
| 03V369000 3 Oct 2003 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 03V341000 15 Sept 2003 | TRAVEL SUPREME, INC. |
| 03V328000 12 Sept 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V342000 12 Sept 2003 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003