Subaru of America will recall more than 150,000 vehicles containing faulty valve springs that can fail and cause dangerous engine failures.
The Camden, New Jersey-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they will recall 165,534 2012-2014 Subaru Impreza, 2012-2013 Subaru Impreza station wagon, 2013 Subaru BRZ, 2013 Toyota Scion FR-S and 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek vehicles built between Dec. 9, 2011 and Oct. 3, 2013.
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The affected vehicles contain valve springs inside their engines that can fracture, causing abnormal noises, engine malfunctions and in some cases, engine stalls. Unforeseen engine stalling can increase crash risk.
Subaru first received rough idling reports in April 2012. The manufacturer examined the engine and found a broken valve spring contacted the piston, causing rough idling and abnormal noise. Engineers could not find a spring material flaw but as a precaution raised the spring wire diameter’s lower tolerance limit.
Subaru continued its investigation and determined in 2015 an impurity within the spring’s material can affect spring fracturing rates. Further observations found improper valve train design caused excess strain on the spring, which combined with spring material problems caused the spring fractures.
The company decided on Oct. 25, 2018 to conduct a safety recall.
Subaru and Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace the valve springs for free. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614, Toyota owners may contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-888-270-9371. Subaru’s number for this recall is WTY-84. Concerned consumers can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to help you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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