Washington, D.C. — August 26, 2015 — More than 2,890 vehicles may be affected by a seal cap issue that would leave occupants at risk of fire. As such, Subaru of America, Inc., has issued a recall beginning this month that includes the propeller shaft replacement measures that dealers can take to target this defect.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall acknowledgment document, two different Subaru models are involved in this action: the Subaru Legacy 4-Door and Subaru Outback. Both of these have the model years of 2015 and 2016, and both started production on the same date, July 3, 2015. The Legacy vehicles ended production on July 25, while production on the Outback ended two days later on the 27th.

The NHTSA also features a six-page instruction document for dealers on how to conduct the proper repairs in affected vehicles. This requires several parts, the source states, including a gasket filler plug and self-locking nut. 

“During assembly of the front slip yoke component of the propeller shaft, the sealing cap may have become deformed resulting in the possibility of a transmission fluid leak,” it reads. “Fluid leaking from the deformed sealing cap may leak onto the exhaust system. Because none of the propeller shaft components are serviceable, the assembly must be replaced.” The document goes on to advise inspection of the new propeller shaft for cracks or other defaults before repairs commence.

In addition, retailers have also been informed of the “STOP SALE” order now in place intended to prevent vehicles from being delivered without being properly identified, marked and repaired.

Detroit, MI — July 27, 2015 — Although there have been many reports of issues with airbag deployment systems themselves, several thousand Subaru Imprezas have suffered from a defect outside the airbag itself that makes it difficult to activate the airbags when they are needed. Sensors in these vehicles are overly sensitive and liable to be shut off during unexpected and seemingly benign situations.

Fortunately, the defect doesn’t come completely without warning signs. Top Speed’s Jonathan Lopez reports that an airbag warning light will appear on the dashboard if the sensor has been compromised. Affected Imprezas were built between 2011 and 2012, and featured poor calibration, making the vehicle sensors unable to respond in different conditions.

The manufacturer has, at the urging of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) begun contacting owners. While no injuries have been connected to this issue, the company has received 26 different complaints related to it.

Lopez describes some of the ways that the sensor might be accidentally deactivated during the drive.

“These conditions include a passenger touching an electrically grounded part of the car (like the metal seat adjuster), using an electronic device (like a phone) plugged into the accessory power outlet, or sitting with damp clothes,” he said. “It’s also reported that a cell phone left on the seat or a splash of water on the seat could trigger the failure.” He notes that this is a comparatively minor recall, especially considering the much-publicized Takata efforts.

Coupled with other measures for addressing recalls, the right marketing systems will generate a high level of engagement through accurate and comprehensive statements.

Tokyo, Japan — June 29, 2015 — According to a document from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Subaru of America is recalling 72,000 vehicles as part of campaign to correct an automatic braking system failure that could leave drivers at greater risk of damage during a sudden stop. Though affected cars will still have a functioning warning indicator to signal to drivers, they could still be vulnerable to a crash due to a failure of the pre-collision brakes.

As the NHTSA letter describes, the recall pertains to four specific brands from model year 2015 and one for 2016: the Impreza, Legacy, Outback, WRX and XV Crosstrek. The flaw can be corrected through a software update: according to USA Today, manufacturer representative Dominick Infante called the solution “really an easy fix.”

The Eyesight Driver Assist System is the official name of the unit that this recall concerns. The letter elaborates on some of the conditions that will trigger the dangerous action.
“If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function,” the source states. “If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Even though a major recall-worthy action may be traced back to a simple software repair, the necessary actions for fixing the problem need to be corrected and taken as seriously as any other possible fault. Conducting a professional-level recall will take the proper message to the dealers and owners alike, making it less likely that the necessary actions will be confused.