The defect
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
The risk
SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
| Subaru XT-6 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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 | 1990 | 81 | 4 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1991 | 78 | 3 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1992 | 55 | 2 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1993 | 77 | 1 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1990 | 13 | 4 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1991 | 13 | 2 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1992 | 23 | 1 |
| Subaru Loyale | 1993 | 13 | 1 |
| Subaru XT-6 | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Subaru XT-6 | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| Subaru XT-6 | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| Subaru XT-6 | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
Other power train recalls in 1994
9 of the 244 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1994 concerned the power train; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 94V217000 8 Nov 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 94V216000 1 Nov 1994 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 94V199000 13 Oct 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 94V165000 2 Sept 1994 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 94V134000 25 Jul 1994 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 94V093000 16 May 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 94V063000 10 Apr 1994 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 94V033000 23 Feb 1994 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1994