Campaign Information
NUMBER: WZU-41DATE: September 21, 1990
APPLICABILITY:
1980 Through 1984MY "Front Wheel Drive" Sedan and Hardtop Models and
1980 through 1986MY "Front Wheel Drive" Hatchback Models.
SUBJECT:
Rear Suspension Corrosion
Subaru of America has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1980 through 1984 "front-wheel drive" Sedan, and Hardtop models as well as 1980 through 1986 "front-wheel drive" Hatchback models.
The rear suspension of the vehicle is subject to corrosion if operated in areas where a large amount of road salt is used to aid in snow and ice removal.
The areas of heavy salt use are in the following states:
Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois. Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Virginia.
Continuous exposure to road salt may cause corrosion of the rear suspension components. especially inner arms, which could affect the operation and control of the vehicle.
To prevent this condition from occurring. it is necessary to inspect the rear suspension of the vehicle and rustproof or replace components as needed.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
NOTE:
The VINs include a check digit in the 4th position for 1980MY and in the 9th position for all other model years. The check digit can be "O" through "9" and "X".
The VIN ranges for the affected models and model years are presented in the illustration.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the dealers with this bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
These listings may contain owner names and addresses from State Motor Vehicle Registrations Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
SOA will prepare and mail an Owner Notification Letter and a two-part Recall Certification/Repair Order Form to the owners of all potentially affected vehicles, including owners outside of the previously identified salt use areas. The Owner Notification mailing is scheduled for early October 1990. A copy of the Owner Notification Letter and a sample two-part Recall Certification/Repair Order Form are included in this bulletin.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to promptly service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward in accordance with the instructions and the service procedure section of this bulletin when presented a two-part Recall Certification/Repair Order Form by a Subaru owner.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign or any open campaign is taken into new or used vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory with the VIN range listed are to be contacted by the dealer and arrangements should be made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
For owners that contact dealers for towing in regard to this recall, arrangements should be made by dealer to have vehicle moved to dealership.
PARTS INFORMATION
PARTS AVAILABILITY:
Each Subaru Dealer will receive one each of the special tools under separate cover.
Replacement parts and quantities of rustproof materials, listed will be available through your normal parts supply after October 1, 1990.
PARTS PRICING:
SERVICE PROCEDURE
The service instructions are applicable to the rear suspension recall campaign (WZU-41). For your reference, listed is an index of the various procedures for this campaign. In most cases, not all equipment or procedures will be utilized on a particular vehicle. It is therefore important to familiarize yourself with all procedures, especially Section B. and use the procedure(s) which best fits the particular vehicle on which you are working.
INDEX