Subaru Announce Recall of Impreza (02-07) Forrester (03-08) & Saab 9-x

williaty · 09-10-2011, 10:04 PM

Due to the growing epidemic of front lower control arm failures, Subaru announced a recall of 300,000 Impreza 2.5RS, 2.5TS, 2.5i, and WRX from model years 2002-2007 with steel front control arms. The STi is not affected by this recall. This includes the Saab 9-X wagons with steel front control arms. Additionally, Forresters with steel front control arms from 2003-2008 are part of this recall. Basically, if the vehicle was registered in or sold into one of 20 "rust belt" states, the dealer wants to see your car to look at the front control arms. Depending on the severity of the damage, the arms will either be coated with some sort of rust proofing or be replaced. The letters should be going out to owners in early November. As far as I've heard, you will have to wait until that time before being able to book cars in for repair.

Guys, if you get the letter or have one of the affected vehicles and live or have lived in a rust-belt state, take this one seriously and get the recall service performed. When it goes, you lose the ability to steer the car and, in some cases, the ability to brake (if the line is severed, which is likely). Think what'll happen if it lets lose while you're doing 75 on the freeway and happen to be pointed straight at bridge supports in an interchange.

williaty · 09-10-2011, 10:11 PM

Found the list of "affected states":

Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia and the District of Columbia

bone_1113 · 09-10-2011, 10:38 PM

wow South Dakota isnt one of those states?...weird...

williaty · 09-10-2011, 10:40 PM

It's primarily based on the kind of salts used by the state's DOT. The states in that list have begun using a particularly violent version of salt and using A LOT of it. If South Dakota gets a lot of snow but uses mainly sand, beet juice, or sodium chloride salt on the roads, the recall wouldn't have been issued because the problem is not severe enough.

bone_1113 · 09-10-2011, 10:43 PM

Hmm...they must have change the type of salt then...cuz i know rust is a HUGE problem back home...

409industries · 09-11-2011, 01:07 PM

This is good information williaty, thanks for alerting us!

RS MN · 09-11-2011, 02:12 PM

Good to know! Thanks a ton!

HeathyVT · 09-11-2011, 02:53 PM

So if they are coating the control arms, does that mean they will be removing them? Will there be a fee for the alignment required afterwards in the are removed? That would probably be a good time for new bushings to be installed....

Moby45 · 09-11-2011, 02:57 PM

Thats good news. Although here in okla we arent affected by it lol. That and my wrx is an 06 so it didnt have steel ones.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

geekmonster · 09-11-2011, 03:32 PM

hmmmm, i'll have to look into this. i think the vehicle history the dealer printed up for me with the key code said my car was originally purchased at a dealer on the east coast.

lorenkb · 09-11-2011, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeathyVT

So if they are coating the control arms, does that mean they will be removing them? Will there be a fee for the alignment required afterwards in the are removed? That would probably be a good time for new bushings to be installed....

No alignment required after pulling the control arms (rear bracket stays bolted to the car and the knuckle/strut is left bolted together). It would be a good time to go with stiffer bushings though.

williaty · 09-11-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenkb

No alignment required after pulling the control arms (rear bracket stays bolted to the car and the knuckle/strut is left bolted together). It would be a good time to go with stiffer bushings though.

What are you smoking?

Of course it's necessary to re-align the car after this! First, the slop in the mounting bolts is more than enough to through the alignment off enough to be concerned about. Second, I'm fairly confident that the dealership techs will be pulling the rear bushing off the chassis as it's much quicker to do that and then remove the bushing, discs, and washer that hold the bushing to the control arm on the bench than it is to do that mess with the bushing bolted to the chassis.

2.5i guy · 09-12-2011, 09:36 AM

Thanks for posting this! I've actually noticed that my lower control arms are quite rusty for being an '07... expecially by the ball joint. But then again where I'm at, they salt even for a 1/4" dusting of snow.

Kerplunk105 · 09-12-2011, 10:15 AM

Ugggh.

Skemcin · 09-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the heads up - this one would apply to me. I've got to say, on a positive note, I just logged in to my Subaru account to double check this, but I've been fortunate to only have the following three recalls posted:

Left Front Seat Slide Rail Bolt
Completed - 06/06/2005

Automatic Transmission Parking Rod
Completed - 04/15/2003

Impreza Wagon Rear Gate Stay Stud Bolt
Completed - 12/08/2008

As an original owner I can't be more satisfied. I just hope this recall is handled by the dealer much better than the last couple I had.

[errr, that means I'm going to be approached to trade this car in . . . ]

09-10-2011, 10:04 PM	#1
williaty Senior Dirty Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Thanks: 9 Thanked 255 Times in 166 Posts	Subaru Announce Recall of Impreza (02-07) Forrester (03-08) & Saab 9-x Due to the growing epidemic of front lower control arm failures, Subaru announced a recall of 300,000 Impreza 2.5RS, 2.5TS, 2.5i, and WRX from model years 2002-2007 with steel front control arms. The STi is not affected by this recall. This includes the Saab 9-X wagons with steel front control arms. Additionally, Forresters with steel front control arms from 2003-2008 are part of this recall. Basically, if the vehicle was registered in or sold into one of 20 "rust belt" states, the dealer wants to see your car to look at the front control arms. Depending on the severity of the damage, the arms will either be coated with some sort of rust proofing or be replaced. The letters should be going out to owners in early November. As far as I've heard, you will have to wait until that time before being able to book cars in for repair. Guys, if you get the letter or have one of the affected vehicles and live or have lived in a rust-belt state, take this one seriously and get the recall service performed. When it goes, you lose the ability to steer the car and, in some cases, the ability to brake (if the line is severed, which is likely). Think what'll happen if it lets lose while you're doing 75 on the freeway and happen to be pointed straight at bridge supports in an interchange. Last edited by rollo; 09-10-2011 at 10:23 PM. Reason: Shortening title and stickying, thanks Ty

09-10-2011, 10:38 PM	#3
bone_1113 SoundEffexSutter Car: WRB '04 WRX Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Thanks: 39 Thanked 25 Times in 25 Posts View Photos By: bone_1113	wow South Dakota isnt one of those states?...weird... __________________ ~Anthony Sutter~ AKA BONE! wifey- "Babe you would be so proud! I just ripped up a mud puddle and the turned around and did it again!" -awesome

09-10-2011, 10:43 PM	#5
bone_1113 SoundEffexSutter Car: WRB '04 WRX Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Thanks: 39 Thanked 25 Times in 25 Posts View Photos By: bone_1113	Hmm...they must have change the type of salt then...cuz i know rust is a HUGE problem back home... __________________ ~Anthony Sutter~ AKA BONE! wifey- "Babe you would be so proud! I just ripped up a mud puddle and the turned around and did it again!" -awesome

09-11-2011, 01:07 PM	#6
409industries DIRTFTMFW Car: White 2001 2.5RS Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Don't call it the OC Thanks: 191 Thanked 770 Times in 471 Posts View Photos By: 409industries	This is good information williaty, thanks for alerting us! __________________ \m/ Aaron "Like" us on Facebook! \| Follow us on Twitter! \| Subscribe on YouTube! America's / Discount Tire Company\|Rally Armor Mudflaps\|Soltek Light Systems\|Team Illuminata\|All Wheels Driven\|RalliTEK\|GrimmSpeed\|Braille Auto Development\|Jackson Rally\|Millennium Motorsports\|Team O'Neil Rally School\|Safe Drives

09-11-2011, 02:12 PM	#7
RS MN DirtyImpreza Badass Car: 02 White WRX Wagon. Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: land of the cold air... Thanks: 191 Thanked 100 Times in 95 Posts	Good to know! Thanks a ton! __________________ -Joey a passion for rally makes a heroin addiction look like a craving for a salty snack.

09-10-2011, 10:11 PM	#2
williaty Senior Dirty Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Thanks: 9 Thanked 255 Times in 166 Posts	Found the list of "affected states": Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia and the District of Columbia

09-10-2011, 10:40 PM	#4
williaty Senior Dirty Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Columbus, OH Thanks: 9 Thanked 255 Times in 166 Posts	It's primarily based on the kind of salts used by the state's DOT. The states in that list have begun using a particularly violent version of salt and using A LOT of it. If South Dakota gets a lot of snow but uses mainly sand, beet juice, or sodium chloride salt on the roads, the recall wouldn't have been issued because the problem is not severe enough.

09-11-2011, 02:53 PM	#8
HeathyVT Regular Contributor 2003 Outback wagon! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bristol, VT Thanks: 9 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts View Photos By: HeathyVT	So if they are coating the control arms, does that mean they will be removing them? Will there be a fee for the alignment required afterwards in the are removed? That would probably be a good time for new bushings to be installed.... __________________ 2003 Outback, Grabber AT2's(summer) Winter forces(winter), skid plate...

09-11-2011, 02:57 PM	#9
Moby45 Senior Dirty Member '06 Bloo WRX-TR Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oklahoma Thanks: 84 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Thats good news. Although here in okla we arent affected by it lol. That and my wrx is an 06 so it didnt have steel ones. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk __________________ "You're here for a good time.. Not a long time." -Colin Mcrae

09-11-2011, 03:32 PM	#10
geekmonster Ultimate DI Postwhore Dented 02 WRX Wagon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoCal Thanks: 64 Thanked 181 Times in 158 Posts	hmmmm, i'll have to look into this. i think the vehicle history the dealer printed up for me with the key code said my car was originally purchased at a dealer on the east coast.

09-12-2011, 09:36 AM	#13
2.5i guy Registered Member Black 2007 2.5i SE Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: cincinnati Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for posting this! I've actually noticed that my lower control arms are quite rusty for being an '07... expecially by the ball joint. But then again where I'm at, they salt even for a 1/4" dusting of snow. __________________

09-12-2011, 10:15 AM	#14
Kerplunk105 Regular Contributor OBP 2007 Impreza Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bucks County, PA Thanks: 18 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Ugggh. __________________ ~Elizabeth~

09-12-2011, 11:14 AM	#15
Skemcin Authorized Vendor Car: 02 Midnight Blue OBS Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plainfield, IL Thanks: 200 Thanked 114 Times in 109 Posts View Photos By: Skemcin	Thanks for the heads up - this one would apply to me. I've got to say, on a positive note, I just logged in to my Subaru account to double check this, but I've been fortunate to only have the following three recalls posted: Left Front Seat Slide Rail Bolt Completed - 06/06/2005 Automatic Transmission Parking Rod Completed - 04/15/2003 Impreza Wagon Rear Gate Stay Stud Bolt Completed - 12/08/2008 As an original owner I can't be more satisfied. I just hope this recall is handled by the dealer much better than the last couple I had. [errr, that means I'm going to be approached to trade this car in . . . ]