The defect
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2007 IMPREZA, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 FORESTER, AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 SAAB 9-2X VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 26, 2007 ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW JERSEY, OHIO, RHODE ISLAND, WEST VIRGINIA AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY BREAK AT THE HANGER BRACKETS DUE TO CORROSION IF THE HANGER BRACKET IS EXPOSED TO SALTY AND HUMID ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS ROADS CONTAINING SNOW MELTING AGENT.
The risk
A BROKEN CONTROL ARM CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
SUBARU WILL HANDLE THEIR VEHICLES AND SAAB WILL HANDLE THEIRS. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DEGREE OF CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND WILL EITHER RUSTPROOF OR REPLACE THEM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SAAB AT 1-800-955-9007.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Saab 9-2X | 2005, 2006 |
| Subaru Forester | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saab 9-2X | 2005 | 111 | 4 |
| Saab 9-2X | 2006 | 10 | 7 |
| Subaru Forester | 2003 | 189 | 3 |
| Subaru Forester | 2004 | 219 | 2 |
| Subaru Forester | 2005 | 93 | 1 |
| Subaru Forester | 2006 | 88 | 2 |
| Subaru Forester | 2007 | 74 | 1 |
| Subaru Forester | 2008 | 50 | 1 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2002 | 292 | 6 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2003 | 62 | 6 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2004 | 96 | 8 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2005 | 75 | 6 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2006 | 56 | 10 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2007 | 68 | 9 |
Other suspension recalls in 2011
15 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the suspension; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 11V602000 22 Dec 2011 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 11V553000 10 Nov 2011 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 11V387000 1 Aug 2011 | ALTEC INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 11V371000 19 Jul 2011 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 11V360000 19 Jul 2011 | GREAT DANE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP |
| 11V323000 13 Jun 2011 | SPRINTER ENGINEERING & COMPLIANCE SUPPOR |
| 11V320000 10 Jun 2011 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 11V244000 20 Apr 2011 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011