The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. DUE TO POOR WELDS, IGNITION KEYS CAN STICK, SHIFT LEVERS/LINKAGES CAN BREAK AND SHIFT LEVERS CAN MOVE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER ASSEMBLIES (EXCEPT THE HANDLE GRIP).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 1997, 1998 |
| Subaru Outback | 1997, 1998 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
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 | 1997 | 139 | 5 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1998 | 114 | 4 |
| Subaru Outback | 1997 | 79 | 4 |
| Subaru Outback | 1998 | 127 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 1998
27 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the power train; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 98V325000 14 Dec 1998 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 98V288000 9 Nov 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V290000 9 Nov 1998 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 98V257000 14 Oct 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V225002 6 Oct 1998 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 98V168003 5 Oct 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 98V119003 1 Oct 1998 | ATHEY PRODUCTS CORP. |
| 98V236000 29 Sept 1998 | YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998