Every now and then, the defects of a new car are so serious that they cannot be fixed. Subaru knows this all too well as, last year, a bunch of Ascents were recalled and, instead of being repaired, owners were given a brand new one.
That issue was attributed to the welding robots at the plant that makes the SUV, and a similar problem, which affects the 2019 Legacy and Outback, has now been discovered.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explained that “spot welds located on the duct below the cowl panel may have been improperly applied, impacting the vehicle’s body strength.” In the event of an accident, the structure may perform differently than designed, thus increasing the risk of injury and/or possible death.
The campaign includes a total of 2,107 vehicles, out of which 12 percent are estimated to have this defect. The Legacys were assembled between May 31 and June 5 and the Outbacks from May 31 to June 6
Subaru has already bounced the information off dealers, who will inspect each vehicle and decide whether it can be repaired or has to be repurchased. Owners should expect to hear from the company on July 26 and won’t have to pay anything for the fix or for their brand new Legacy or Outback, if technicians decide that their rides must be replaced.
Should you want to reach out to Subaru for more information on the safety campaign, you can do so at 1-844-373-6614, whereas the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline is available at 1-888-327-4236.