The defect
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 FORESTER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 26, 2007, THROUGH MARCH 13, 2012. THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR in the SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES LOCATED IN THE REAR CENTER SEATING OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DO NOT MEET LOCKABILITY REQUIREMENTS AND FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION. SPECIFICALLY, THE ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT PERMIT PROPER INSTALLATION AND SECURE ATTACHMENT OF A CHILD RESTRAINT IN THAT SEATING POSITION.
The risk
AN INSECURE INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO A CHILD DURING A CRASH.
The remedy
SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A NEWLY MODIFIED AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED ON MARCH 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Forester | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
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 Forester | 2009 | 178 | 17 |
| Subaru Forester | 2010 | 262 | 17 |
| Subaru Forester | 2011 | 147 | 16 |
| Subaru Forester | 2012 | 105 | 15 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2012
9 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the seat belts; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 12V510000 18 Oct 2012 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 12V394000 13 Aug 2012 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 12V359000 25 Jul 2012 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 12V360000 25 Jul 2012 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 12V322000 26 Jun 2012 | CAMPAGNA MOTORS |
| 12V100000 13 Mar 2012 | TRANS TECH BUS |
| 12V090000 6 Mar 2012 | TRANS TECH BUS |
| 12V058000 16 Feb 2012 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012