RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 08V645000: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. · Reported to NHTSA Dec 9, 2008

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
5,130
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
2
Models covered
1
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Dec 9, 2008
Production Feb 18, 2008 – Dec 1, 2008

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

SUBARU IS RECALLING 5,130 MY 2008-2009 TRIBECA PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) G-SENSOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THIS SENSOR IS DESIGNED TO BE MOUNTED IN A FORWARD FACING DIRECTION BUT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS DURING PRODUCTION.

The risk

IF THE SENSOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, VEHICLE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS DURING HARD BRAKING, SUDDEN TURNS OR OTHER QUICK MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO REACT IN AN UNEXPECTED MANNER OR RESULT IN UNSTABLE HANDLING. UNDER EXTREME CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE VDC G-SENSOR. IF THE SENSOR IS FOUND TO BE INSTALLED CORRECTLY, NO FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED. IF THE SENSOR IS FOUND TO BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY (BACKWARDS), THE SENSOR WILL BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED IN THE CORRECT POSITION. THE VDC SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE REPROGRAMMED TO ENSURE PROPER OPERATION. THE RECALLBEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.

Notes

SUBARU RECALL NO. WVG-17.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Manufacturer's campaign number
WVG-17
NHTSA campaign number
08V645000
Units potentially affected
5,130
Report received
Dec 9, 2008
Production range
Feb 18, 2008 – Dec 1, 2008
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

2 model years across 1 model

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.