Yahoo Autos Subaru Recalls 394,000 Cars for Engine Defects and Faulty Low-Fuel Warnings
Subaru is recalling 394,182 cars in the United States to replace engine valve springs and fix incorrect fuel-range estimates, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The recall for fuel-range reporting problems involves all 2018 Legacy and Outback models, which could give incorrect low-fuel warnings and range estimates. A software error on 228,648 cars could make the gauges show mileage remaining when there isn’t any “usable” fuel in the tank, and the warning light may not illuminate in time, Subaru said. The company first discovered the problem in December 2017; Continental, the supplier, finished its investigation in July and determined by October that a software update is necessary. Subaru has applied this fix to the 2019 models. At a later date, dealers will provide owners of 2018 models with this update.
The second recall, over engine valve springs, affects 165,534 cars, including the 2012–2014 Impreza and the 2013 BRZ and XV Crosstrek. The 2013 Scion FR-S (pictured above), which is mechanically identical to the BRZ, represents 25,285 cars of that total. Faulty engine valve springs can crack, fall off, and allow the valve to contact the piston. Aside from rattles and excess vibration, the engine can stall without warning and become severely damaged. Subaru attributed the failure to springs that were too thin.
Starting in May 2013, after receiving a report from Japan in May 2012, Subaru increased the spring wire’s thickness by requiring the supplier to set tighter tolerances on the diameter during production. Still, despite receiving at least 15 reports of stalling cars in the U.S., Subaru was unconvinced of a defect based on the low failure rate, according to the filing. The company said it started new investigations in November 2016 but took until September 2018 to initiate a recall. Dealers will replace the valve springs, and potentially any other damaged engine parts, at an undetermined date. Toyota will contact Scion owners separately.
('You Might Also Like',)
