Subaru recalls 48,500 Legacy, Outback models that could lose steering

[Donna D.]

The recall is for the 2016 and 2017 Legacy and 2015-2017 Outback models.

Subaru recalls 48,500 Legacy, Outback models that could lose steering | KATU

[Uplander]

Television News report said not to drive the recalled vehicles...too dangerous...have it towed to dealer for repairs...sad news as Subaru just was reported by Consumer Reports as equal to Toyota for overall quality....

[Carol H]

As Subaru says if its a Outback or Legacy - manufacturing dates between 29 February 2016 and 6 May 2016. PARK IT! DO NOT DRIVE IT .... until your dealer makes arrangements to fix it.

The good news is a great many of the recalled vehicles are still on dealers lots and Subaru has said that there has been no one hurt by this defect so far. A voluntary recall on their part. Kudos to Subaru on that front.... unlike some other unnamed auto manufactures who waited way to long to fix a known safety issue.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Uplander

...sad news as Subaru just was reported by Consumer Reports as equal to Toyota for overall quality....

Despite the potential seriousness of the defect, 48.5K is small peanuts in the big picture of overall vehicle quality. Given that it was detected and recalled before any deaths or injuries resulted, I'd say it reflects well on the manufacturer.

The really sad news is that people are still dying due to exploding Takata airbags… in vehicles that have been on the recall list for a year or more. The recall list is still expanding, and waits of months the norm. We waited six weeks, after getting on the waiting list the same day the recall was announced.

The really sad news is that few people can afford to park a car affected by a potentially lethal recall, and there is typically no provision for alternate transportation. Yes, we drove our CR-V during the six weeks we waited for the part to become available.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

The really sad news is that few people can afford to park a car affected by a potentially lethal recall, and there is typically no provision for alternate transportation. Yes, we drove our CR-V during the six weeks we waited for the part to become available.

As all the vehicles impacted by the recall are under warranty the dealers will be providing loaners. Just spoke with a neighbour who indicated the local dealer although low on loaners is scrambling to arrange to rent from a local rental company a large volume of vehicles that will be available for use in the next day or two to address the issue. Again as the number of recalled vehicles is fairly small and many have not been sold yet the hope is people will not have to park their cars for weeks. But as with all things its yet to see how successful they are at obtaining enough loaners for folks.

[Uplander]

One of our vehicles is a Toyota Corola and we just got notified that the passenger side air bag sensor was on recall...I called the dealer and they got the part promptly and set up appointment for fix...in the interim they did say not to carry any passengers until it is replaced.

This entire air bag recall cannot be blamed on the auto manufacturers. They are all at the mercy of the companies (in this case one) that made the air bags.
Same thing goes for computer parts that have triggered many recalls over the years. Every year cars and truck become more and more complex and now are being loaded with new "safety" features designed to make us safer. When it comes to stoping in an emergency I'll trust my reactions before any computer controlled accident avoidance computer controlled device.

Food for thought...what would be the result of a sudden panic stop triggered by such a system if you were towing a trailer....any such system should offer the operator the option to disconnect the systems when towing.

Add these systems to cars and the fools who own them will be talking on their phones and eating meals while rolling down the highway thinking nothing bad will happen to them !!!

Be careful out there !

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Uplander

...This entire air bag recall cannot be blamed on the auto manufacturers. They are all at the mercy of the companies (in this case one) that made the air bags...

True, and I believe that is one of the take-aways from the Takata debacle. Manufacturers had too many eggs in one basket, and Honda the most. Defects and design shortcomings (that sometimes only come to light after years, as in this case) are inevitable. But when one supplier corners such a large share of the market, or when a manufacturer becomes too wedded to single supplier, it becomes a point of vulnerability.

More to the point of this thread, has anyone heard what exactly is wrong with the steering system on the affected Subarus? I'm wondering if it is an electronic or mechanical issue.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

More to the point of this thread, has anyone heard what exactly is wrong with the steering system on the affected Subarus? I'm wondering if it is an electronic or mechanical issue.

Its Mechanical.

Actual Recall details as written:
"
On certain vehicles, steering column components may not have been manufactured to specification and therefore may not engage correctly, which could result in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering column. Note: In the interim, owners are advised to not drive their vehicle until an inspection of the steering column has been completed."

[steve dunham]

At the rate Takata is producing replacement air bags and with the number of vehicles with defective air bags increasing daily , the issue may never be resolved . My vehicle is part of the airbag recall and I have already waited 18 months for replacement parts. The last time I checked , it will be at least another 12 months before parts will be available. As long as they let the vehicle manufacturerers hide behind Takata , there is no urgency to rectify the problem .

[Joe Romas]

Auto manufacturers used Takata air bags because they were cheaper because they used a cheaper propellant, Ammonium nitrate, that other air bag makers passed on because of the danger.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/bu...ag-recall.html