Cherry Hill, NJ — December 23, 2015 — A new set of Subaru recalls pertains specifically to vehicles produced this year, as recent as November 16, 2015. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acknowledged an action that targets both Legacy and Outback models, reported as of November 20. According to the official Safety Recall Report, the propeller shaft nuts can come loose, perhaps leading to a sudden risk of fire damage inside the vehicle.
This problem was first discovered on November 17, when Subaru of Indiana Automotive discovered that the torque was improperly fastened. Three days later, an official decision to launch the recall was made. A total of 3,251 vehicles are included in this recall, with the action originally scheduled for December 10, under the number WQV-57. Subaru dealers will tighten the loose nuts if necessary.
“If the propeller shaft detaches from the differential, the shaft could strike the fuel tank resulting in a possible fuel leak,” the report said. “There is a risk of fire if leaking fuel were to come in contact with an ignition source. This could happen without prior warning.”
As the official repair procedure describes, some dealers might not require extra parts at all to repair this condition. Bolts, nuts and washers must be replaced in the defective units, but only if nuts are found to be “finger-tight.”
Dealers are advised to be gentle and avoid damaging the dust cover on the differential seal, since a replacement might be required if the seal is broken. Those doing the installation can make sure the nuts, bolts and washers all line up by checking for telltale flange and yoke paint lines.
