VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT COIL SPRINGS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE SALT, CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE SPRING.
Safety risk
DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE. SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL NOTIFIY CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A SPRING GUARD INSTALLED ON BOTH FRONT STRUTS TO PREVENT TIRE PUNCTURE AND REPLACE ANY BROKEN SPRINGS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
221,987
Reported to NHTSA
1999-03-03
Owners notified
1999-06-07
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). (THE 1999 2.2 LITER LEGACY VEHICLES ARE EXCLUDED). IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, ALSO SERVICE PARTS SUPPLIED TO SUBARU DEALERS ARE INVOLVED (LOT NUMBERS F01 J21D2, F01 J30D2, F02 J09D1, F02 J09D2, AND F02 J20D1). THE PUROLATOR OIL FILTER CANS USED ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE CAUSING A VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENT OIL LEAK.
Safety risk
THIS VAPORIZED OIL SPRAY CAN RESULT IN OIL VAPOR IGNITION BY THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THESE ENGINE OIL FILTERS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Vehicle speed control
12
91,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
11
83,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
10
—
Air bags: frontal
7
—
Suspension
6
140,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
5
40,000 mi
Air bags
4
155,134 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
4
66,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
4
128,782 mi
Power train
4
101,000 mi
Unknown or other
4
58,500 mi
Child seat
3
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
3
—
Steering
3
—
Tires
3
—
Engine
2
141,000 mi
Equipment
2
—
Seat belts
2
—
Tires: tread/belt
2
75,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
2
—
Electrical system
1
—
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
1
109,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
1
66,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
—
Exterior lighting
1
—
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
1
66,800 mi
Fuel system, other: storage
1
—
Fuel/propulsion system
1
101,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
1
107,385 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
1
66,644 mi
Power train: axle assembly
1
—
Power train: clutch assembly
1
37,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission
1
77,000 mi
Seats
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
1
—
Structure: body: bumpers
1
—
Structure: body: hood
1
107,385 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars
1
66,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
1
—
Suspension: front
1
—
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
1
160,000 mi
Visibility: windshield
1
—
The 1998 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.