A RECALL SO SERIOUS AUTOMAKER WARNS: STOP DRIVING THESE CARS NOW

[cali]

If you have a newer model Subaru Legacy or Outback, stop right now.

The automaker is recalling more than 48,500 vehicles over a potential steering column defect so serious, they shouldn't even be driven to a mechanic.

The recall, which began Friday, affects 2016-17 Legacies and 2015-17 Outbacks, according to announcements from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and on Subaru's website.

"The steering column in your vehicle may not have been manufactured to specification," Subaru says in a customer service message online. "If this condition exists, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels, increasing the risk of a crash."

<snip>

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/a_recall_so_serious_automaker_warns_stop_driving_t.html

[apcalc]

1. Right. They don't even want you to drive the car to the dealer.

" park it now."

[a kennedy]

2. A woman in my poker group just got her loaner car last Thursday.....

She's a teacher and the dealership called her and told her NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR......they came picked up her's and gave her a loaner car......she doesn't know how long she's going to have it.

[appalachiablue]

3. Serious sh*t. The 2000 Forester we had was great, was thinking about another Subaru.

Many top rated auto mfgers. are having major recalls in the last few years- Toyota, Ford etc.

DEREGULATION NATION at Work.

[1939]

9. And what particular activity got deregulated

that caused this problem? US government regulators were never in the design studios (especially for Japanese manufacturers).

This is a serious problem. Is it a design problem? Is it a manufacturing QC problem? Is this a Subaru sourced part? Is this an out sourced part?

None of the causes of this can be traced back to the defunding of any US regulatory body.

[LeftyMom]

14. Those things were great.

I had a 2000 Forester S with a manual and I put 200K on it and then I gave it to my mother so she'd have a safe sturdy car. She lived in the Napa Valley, and it's all two lane country roads, low hills and fog. She put another 40K miles on it before the engine gave out, and I seriously considered an engine swap then.

Great car. Uglier than sin, but a great car.

[Lodestar]

17. Don't forget Volkswagon...n/t

[Chan790]

18. Most of those recalls...

(although not this recall)...are because of defective third-party airbags. There are only a few manufacturers of airbags and they sell to all the auto manufacturers. When one company (Takata) has 70% of the market and discovers that they've been manufacturing defective product for almost a decade, it tends to cause widespread recalls.

It has nothing to do with deregulation.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. The notice at NHTSA is dated May 11, 2016.

Report Receipt Date: MAY 11, 2016

NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V292000

Component(s): STEERING

All Products Associated with this Recall

SUBARU LEGACY 2016-2017
SUBARU OUTBACK 2015-2017

Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.

CONSEQUENCE:
The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults;jsessionid=VBnjX3dFhZGGfQTtClDzYQpzxlnyTpKt0jT8w2YhF75DCfGTd2SZ!1742494021?prodType=V&searchType=PROD&targetCategory=A&searchCriteria.model=OUTBACK&stats=1991787%2C3%2C0%2C31%2C0%2COUTBACK&makeStats=&jsonBaseURL=%2Fdownloads%2Ffolders%2F&searchCriteria.model_yr=2016&searchCriteria.make=SUBARU&searchCriteria.prod_ids=1991787

[Plucketeer]

5. This IS serious, but this statement is laughable too....

"If this condition exists, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels, increasing the risk of a crash."

I'd hafta say that if turning the steering wheel afforded you no directional control, there's a tad more than a "risk of a crash"!!!

[Chemisse]

28. It's funny they even felt the need to explain what would happen

if turning the steering wheel had no effect on the wheels.

[ladjf]

31. That's ludicrous. nt

[PatrynXX]

6. and this is why I keep coming back to DU

because not everything is pure politics. wish there was some checkmark that wouldn't list whatever it is on the main page...

That one had to share because I know some with Sub's bit close to Hyundai's and parents have 2 of those and got my brother to buy one smh

[Plucketeer]

30. A friend's son was driving a '55 Studebaker a few years ago

when it was driven off the road and smashed into some parked cars. There were two occupants in the back seat who came forward against the back of the front seat and added their weight to the crush of the driver. The drivers face duelled with that hard plastic and steel steering wheel and chromed metal horn ring. He survived, but it took a long time to really recover - and his face looked horrible right after the accident. He now drives a motorcycle everyday.
Any vintage cars I've owned in recent years have had 3-point seat belts installed. I have no interest in having an intimate encounter with a non-bagged steering wheel!

[Duval]

7. cali, I love your posts.

I always learn something. Thanks.

[mnhtnbb]

8. OMG. I have a friend with a Subaru who just drove it from Chapel Hill to Jersey for the summer.

I think her model is a 2015 Outback and she bought it in Chapel Hill.


Sent her an e-mail.

[Barack_America]

10. Crap. I have 2 friends, both with kids, who this applies to.

Off to email now.

[stage left]

11. Thanks, Cali.

My sister has a 2015 Outback. I just let her know about this.

[padfun]

12. Maybe this helps explain all the bad Subaru drivers out there.

nt

[jmowreader]

15. I like your humor, but no

[burrowowl]

13. It is for cars made

from 02-29-16 to 05-11-16

[jmowreader]

16. Takata makes steering wheels too

[Chan790]

19. Indeed, they do.

http://www.takata.com/en/products/steeringwheel.html

The steering wheel is the "key" to the look and feel of a car's interior. In addition, it must perform as expected. The advanced technology in Takata steering wheels combines functionality, ease of operation and a design that conceals an airbag, achieving all its goals in a single, elegant solution.

Takata has a fully integrated steering wheel production system. We are able build up the steering wheel from the die-cast magnesium inner frame to urethane foaming, leather wrapping, and final assembly. In recent years, Takata has also offered aluminum and carbon fiber decorated steering wheels, installed warmers on the wheel grip and other features to meet other needs and requirements of our customers.

Our high-quality steering wheels are produced to the same, strict global standards in Japan, Thailand, Germany, Romania, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and China.

[jmowreader]

20. Just wait...

Steering columns are something an automaker would purchase rather than produce themselves. If ONE company's steering columns are bad, other companies' steering columns may also be bad.

[CanonRay]

21. I have a 2015 Legacy

best car I have ever owned.

[jtuck004]

22. 80's era dodge vans - had a defect wherein the steering gear box would rip lose from where it

attaches to the frame. You could be in one lane one minute, and another a few seconds later without even touching the wheel. It was invigorating...

Talked to place that welded a bunch of those back. Wouldn't surprise me if there were some corpses attached that defect which were never publicized.

[lonestarnot]

23. So why is tekata still in business?

[GoneOffShore]

24. Wow. Just sent the link to a friend who has a Subaru.

[TeamPooka]

25. K & R nt

[KansDem]

26. Is it just me, or have there been a spike of recalls of late?

Growing up, I rarely heard about automobile recalls. Now it seems to happen on a regular basis!

[svpadgham]

27. In the past people had to die or be seriously injured for a recall to make the news.

Now, auto companies still routinely test their vehicles and if something shows up during testing they will play it safe and recall vehicles for certain minor things. Toyota issued a recall because a certain part of the interior might catch your foot while trying to move to the brake causing an accident. There wasn't even a reported incident of that happening to a consumer. You also have the internet and more news available. You also might be more concerned now than you were in the past so you are aware of these things.

[LuckyLib]

29. My neighbor has a Honda Fit that had an airbag recall. Airbags are on backorder, she

refused to drive the car, and they gave her a brand new loaner. For at least 3 months. This is what consumers have to do. Demand loaners, flood the dealers with cars sitting around waiting to be repaired, so they put pressure on the manufacturers to get their act together. Every brand new loaner is a loss for them bigtime, as it shifts to "used" once it's returned.

[Warren DeMontague]

32. Oy vey.

Very popular car out here. Yikes.

[catchnrelease]

33. Yeowza!!

I don't even have two weeks on my new Forester yet! When I saw the headline I almost choked. I hope the problem doesn't show up in any of their other models (like mine!). So far I love my green Sub, and got it because when researching cars Subaru had excellent safety and environmental ratings.

Thanks for the heads up Cali, I'll be keeping my ears open for any more developments on this.