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.
