NHTSA recall 16V694000
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 | 16V694000 |
| Manufacturer's number | WTK-71 |
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Reported | 2016-09-27 |
| Owners notified | 2016-10-25 |
| Component | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR |
| Units potentially affected | 592647 |
| Report | Quarterly report 6, for 2018 quarter 1 |
|---|---|
| Filed with NHTSA | 2018-04-20 |
| Vehicles in the campaign | 592647 |
| Reported remedied | 434845 (73%) |
| Reported unreachable | 9689 |
| Reported removed | 0 |
These are the manufacturer's totals for the whole campaign at the end of 2018 quarter 1, as filed with NHTSA. They do not say whether one vehicle has been remedied: check the VIN with the official lookups. The reports are from data as of 2026-10-19.
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Legacy vehicles manufactured November 26, 2008, to June 7, 2013, and 2010-2014 Outback vehicles manufactured January 9, 2009 to June 7, 2013. Due to contamination, components within the windshield wiper motor bottom cover may interfere with each other. If an obstruction, such as a buildup of snow or ice prevents the wiper arms from being able to stop in the parked position, the wiper motor may overheat and the bottom cover may melt.
What can happen
If the windshield wiper motor overheats, the wipers may fail, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the wiper motor cover may melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor bottom cover assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTK-71. Note: This recall supersedes recall 11V-469. All vehicles that were remedied under that campaign are affected by this campaign, and need to have their wiper motor bottom cover replaced again.
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.
| 2010 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 2008-11-26 to 2013-06-07. |
|---|---|
| 2011 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 2008-11-26 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2012 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 2008-11-26 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2013 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 2008-11-26 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2014 SUBARU LEGACY | Built 2008-11-26 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2010 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 2009-01-09 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 2009-01-09 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2012 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 2009-01-09 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 2009-01-09 to 2013-06-07. |
| 2014 SUBARU OUTBACK | Built 2009-01-09 to 2013-06-07. |
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
| 07-91-15 | 2018-06-11. Service bulletin. This bulletin announces a replacement wiper switch assembly to address customer concerns of the wipers not parking correctly or moving intermittently, even when the control switch is off. Testing revealed moisture being retained in a composition of soldering flux and grease used during switch manufacturing may be forced out under extreme high-temperature conditions. If this moisture causes intermittent continuity between terminals, a circuit may close and power the wiper motor. A special sealer has been applied to the soldered terminals of the switch?s printed circuit board during production to prevent this condition from occurring. |
|---|---|
| SB-07-91-15 | 2016-02-13. Service bulletin. SUBARU: MOISTURE IS RETAINED IN COMPOSITION OF SOLDERING FLUX AND GREASE, IN SOME VEHICLES, CAUSING WIPERS TO MOVE INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT PARKING CORRECTLY AND WIPER SWITCH ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MODEL 2010-12 LEGACY, OUTBACK. *PE |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.