The defect
ON SOME PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY 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 LEFT-HAND FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED FORM AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD IN A SALT-BELT AREA, CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO SALT COULD CAUSE THE LEFT FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK TO RUST AND EVENTUALLY BREAK.
The risk
IF THE TRANSVERSE LINK WERE TO BREAK DUE TO RUSTING, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL APPLY ANTI-RUST MATERIAL TO THE LEFT FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 1, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 2003 |
| Subaru Outback | 2003 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT
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 | 2003 | 60 | 14 |
| 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