The defect
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
The risk
If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTK-71. Note: This recall supersedes recall 11V-469. All vehicles that were remedied under that campaign are affected by this campaign, and need to have their wiper motor bottom cover replaced again.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Subaru Outback | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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 | 2010 | 150 | 18 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2011 | 167 | 16 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2012 | 90 | 16 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2013 | 66 | 12 |
| Subaru Legacy | 2014 | 53 | 10 |
| Subaru Outback | 2010 | 360 | 18 |
| Subaru Outback | 2011 | 653 | 16 |
| Subaru Outback | 2012 | 294 | 16 |
| Subaru Outback | 2013 | 297 | 12 |
| Subaru Outback | 2014 | 208 | 10 |
Other visibility recalls in 2016
23 of the 919 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2016 concerned the visibility; Subaru of America, Inc. filed 101 campaigns in all.
| 16V844000 21 Nov 2016 | General Motors LLC |
| 16V813000 8 Nov 2016 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 16V792000 31 Oct 2016 | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
| 16V791000 31 Oct 2016 | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
| 16V726000 11 Oct 2016 | Hyundai Motor America |
| 16V700000 29 Sept 2016 | General Motors LLC |
| 16V695000 27 Sept 2016 | Ford Motor Company |
| 16V638000 2 Sept 2016 | Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2016