The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER STATION WAGON, SEDAN AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER WELDING, FRACTURES CAN OCCUR ON THE SUPPORT BRACKET OF THE FRONT TRANSVERSE LINK.
The risk
SUCH FRACTURES CAN RESULT IN PARTIAL OR COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE BRACKET CAUSING A FAILURE OF THE LOWER SUSPENSION MOUNTING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY THE FRONT SUSPENSION SUPPORT BRACKETS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Subaru Legacy | 1996, 1997 |
| Subaru Outback | 1996, 1997 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET
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 | 1996 | 123 | 3 |
| Subaru Legacy | 1997 | 139 | 5 |
| Subaru Outback | 1996 | 46 | 2 |
| Subaru Outback | 1997 | 79 | 4 |
Other suspension recalls in 1998
20 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the suspension; SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. filed 75 campaigns in all.
| 98V322000 16 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V319000 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V314000 11 Dec 1998 | NEWELL COACH CORP. |
| 98V286000 6 Nov 1998 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 98V255000 14 Oct 1998 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 98V245000 6 Oct 1998 | HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA |
| 98V239000 6 Oct 1998 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 98V247000 5 Oct 1998 | WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998