The defect
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Legacy and Outback vehicles equipped with an automatic or CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, certain model year 2012-2013 Impreza vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory, and certain model year 2013 XV Crosstrek vehicles equipped with a CVT transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter (RES) accessory. Additionally included are certain model year 2013 Legacy and Outback vehicles that may have received replacement RES fobs. If the RES fob is dropped, the fob may malfunction and randomly transmit an engine start request without pressing the button.
The risk
The engine may inadvertently start and run for up to fifteen minutes. The engine may continue to start and stop until the fob battery is depleted, or until the vehicle runs out of fuel. If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area, there is a risk of carbon monoxide build-up which may cause headaches, dizziness or, in extreme cases, unconsciousness and/or asphyxiation.
The remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RES key fobs, free of charge. The recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Impreza | 2012, 2013 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Subaru Outback | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Subaru XV Crosstrek | 2013 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | EQUIPMENT
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 Impreza | 2012 | 243 | 6 |
| Subaru Impreza | 2013 | 251 | 4 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2010 | 150 | 18 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2011 | 167 | 16 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2012 | 90 | 16 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2013 | 66 | 12 |
| Subaru Outback | 2010 | 360 | 18 |
| Subaru Outback | 2011 | 653 | 16 |
| Subaru Outback | 2012 | 294 | 16 |
| Subaru Outback | 2013 | 297 | 12 |
| Subaru XV Crosstrek | 2013 | 98 | 2 |
Other equipment recalls in 2013
135 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the equipment; Subaru of America, Inc. filed 101 campaigns in all.
| 13V645000 24 Dec 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 13V654000 20 Dec 2013 | Starcraft RV, Inc. |
| 13V638000 19 Dec 2013 | Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. |
| 13V636000 18 Dec 2013 | Altec Industries Inc. |
| 13V623000 16 Dec 2013 | Hino Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc. |
| 13V609000 3 Dec 2013 | Starcraft RV, Inc. |
| 13V593000 25 Nov 2013 | PACCAR Incorporated |
| 13V565000 13 Nov 2013 | Sutphen Corporation |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013