NHTSA recall 03V153000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 03V153000 |
| Manufacturer's number | WWM-96 |
| Manufacturer | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. |
| Reported | 2003-04-22 |
| Owners notified | 2003-07-14 |
| Component | SUSPENSION:REAR |
| Units potentially affected | 170000 |
What is wrong
THIS RECALL APPLIES TO CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. CERTAIN REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME COMPONENTS WERE PRODUCED WITH POOR PAINT QUALITY WHICH, AFTER CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE ROAD SALTS FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS, COULD RESULT IN RUST-OUT OF THE COMPONENT AND POSSIBLE BREAKAGE OF THE SUBFRAME.
What can happen
IF SUCH BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN AND RUST-PROOF THE REAR SUSPENSION SUBFRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
Notes
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
| 2000 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
|---|---|
| 2001 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2002 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2003 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2000 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2001 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2002 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
| 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 1999-05-01 to 2002-04-30. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| WWM-96R | 2025-03-04. Service bulletin. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has determined that affected vehicles, listed below, may have been manufactured with improperly applied paint to the rear suspension sub-frame. Affected vehicles which are operated in the "salt-belt" for an extensive period could result in the rear sub-frame rusting out and possibly breaking. There has been a change in the kits for the rust-proofing material along with a part number change. |
|---|---|
| 03-94-24 | 2024-10-02. Service bulletin. This bulletin outlines the judgment criteria to be used when inspecting front transverse link bushings to reduce unnecessary bushing replacement. |
| 05-91-24 | 2024-08-05. Service bulletin. This Bulletin provides guidance for diagnosing a leaking front or rear suspension strut. |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.