Subaru recall targets faulty fuel pumps due to crash risk

Subaru recall targets faulty fuel pumps due to crash risk

April 30, 2020 Joe Glaser

Laguna Hills, CA – April 30, 2020 – An issue with a low-pressure fuel pump is causing some Subaru Outback, Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy models to stall and not restart or run roughly. That might lead to an accident, Subaru recalls say.

Deformed Impeller Prompts Recall

  • 2019 Subaru Ascent, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback cars and SUVs
  • Low pressure fuel pump might stop working.
  • 188,207 vehicles in the U.S. are recalled

A bad impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump could become deformed over time, the NHTSA recall notice says. The deformation could cause the impeller to jam inside the low-pressure fuel pump and disable it. If that happens, the “check engine” warning light or the “malfunction indicator” light on the dash might signal a problem. The Subaru also might run roughly if it does not stall. Restarts might become impossible, which increases the risk of a crash, Subaru of America says.

Subaru Specifies Recalled Models

The fuel pump recall does not apply to every car listed above. Subaru says it only applies to the following models when respective owners confirm it in advance. Doing so requires using the “Vehicle Coverage Inquiry” link at Subarunet.com. The number of Subaru recalls in the U.S. and their respective build dates are:

  • 40,950 Ascent SUVs built from June 26, 2018, through Jan. 18, 2019
  • 40,797 Impreza cars built from June 18, 2018, through Feb. 25, 2019
  • 20,198 Subaru Legacy cars built from June 29, 2018, through Feb. 19, 2019
  • 86,278 Subaru Outback cars built from June 29, 2018, through Feb. 19, 2019

Subaru says a limited supply of replacement fuel pumps will arrive soon to support the recall. Additional models are recalled in Canada, which pushes the total number recalled to more than 200,000 in North America.

New Fuel Pump Fixes the Problem

Subaru says the replacement fuel pumps will arrive soon in limited quantities. Once the replacement parts start arriving, Subaru will replace the faulty fuel pump with a new one after respective owners confirm the service online. It expects to start replacing the faulty Subaru fuel pumps on June 5. The matter has not caused any reported accidents or injuries, Subaru says.

More Stalling Problems for Subaru

Subaru fuel pump problem is the latest to cause stalling problems in recently built Subaru vehicles. Recent Subaru safety issues due to stalling include an October 2019 recall that addressed faulty engine control modules in up to 500,000 Impreza and Crosstrek made from 2017 to 2019. The carmaker also recently recalled certain 2019 Crosstrek, Ascent, and Forester SUVs due to a stalling problem. A faulty PCV valve could separate and cause motor oil and valve pieces to enter the engine.

Does This Recall Affect You?

To determine whether the Subaru fuel pump problem affects your vehicle, it is not enough to just know the make, model and year. The way to be completely sure is to look up your vehicle ID number (VIN) on our free lookup tool, and if there are any open recalls on your vehicle you will be able to connect with dealers who can repair the problem at no cost to you.

Joe GlaserSubaru recall targets faulty fuel pumps due to crash risk
Crash Risk Prompts Hyundai to Recall Nexo and Sonata Vehicles

Crash Risk Prompts Hyundai to Recall Nexo and Sonata Vehicles

April 9, 2020 Joe Glaser


Laguna Hills, CA – April 9, 2020 – Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) announced a recall of 2020 Nexo and Sonata vehicles. 11,870 vehicles are included in the recall. The issue is with self-parking system recently popularized by a Youtube video featuring A-list celebrities. The remote control of these vehicles may allow the vehicle to move without control and cause a crash, exposing owners and others to injury.

Parking System Malfunction

The “Smart Park” remote parking control problem of Hyundai’s Sonata and Nexo 2020 vehicles was seen in February 2020 when the company was testing these vehicles. It then did a software update to correct the problem on vehicles it built after but did not update vehicles already built. The issue was seen as rare and not likely to happen again. A Hyundai spokesman told Consumer Report that more investigation had to be done to see if a recall is needed.

Hyundai later got a report that a vehicle continued to move without control while parking remotely. That vehicle was one built before the software update. The company said no one was injured in that incident and it is not aware of any similar incident in the USA.

The problem only affects 2020 Sonata vehicles made between Oct. 22, 2019, and March 20 and Nexo vehicles rolled out between Aug. 16, 2019, and Feb. 18, 2020. The company says there has been no report of accident, injury, or death due to the problem.

Hyundai did have some recalls over the years involving some of its vehicles. The problems were with Sonata, Genesis, Santa Fe and Tucson. Issues included hood latch not securing properly, brake light indicator not coming on, transmission problem causing vehicle to stall, and sunroof deflector detaching while driving. None of the issues present a lethal risk. Recall completion rate for these issues is at 86.5%.

This latest remote-control problem is not widespread, confined only to the 2020 Sonata and Nexo vehicles made before the problem was seen. There is no other open recall for this vehicle part, as the system was only installed on early output of these two models.

Does This Hyundai Recall Affect You?

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the software free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 4, 2020.

Use motorsafety.org lookup tool to find out if your vehicle is affected, book an appointment for a free repair, and sign up for notifications.

Joe GlaserCrash Risk Prompts Hyundai to Recall Nexo and Sonata Vehicles
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