Campaign Information
NUMBER: WZL-49APPLICABILITY:
1985MY, 1986MY and early 1987MY "Front Wheel Drive" 4 Door, 3 Door and XT vehicles.
SUBJECT: Rear Suspension Inner Arm Corrosion
Date: February 21, 1992
Subaru of America, Inc. has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in some 1985MY, 1986MY and early 1987MY "Front Wheel Drive" (FWD) 4 Door, 3 Door XT vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured between the period of August 1984 through November 1986.
The inner arms of the rear suspension of the vehicle are 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 inner arms of the rear suspension which could affect the operation and control of the vehicle.
To prevent this condition from occuring, it is necessary to inspect the inner arms of the rear suspension of the vehicle and rust-proof or replace components as needed.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Affected vehicles involved are 1985MY, 1986MY, and early 1987MY FWD 4 Door, 3 Door and XT vehicles within the VIN range listed.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the VIN, 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 obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration 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 the previously identified salt use area. The Owner Notification mailing is scheduled for early March. 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 it 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 vehicle inventory within 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.
PARTS INFORMATION
PARTS AVAILABILITY:
Replacement parts and limited quantities of rust-proof materials listed will be available through your normal parts supply after March 9, 1992.
PARTS PRICING:
Rustproofing Materials
Special Tools*
*Special tools that were previously provided with the WZU-41 Rear Suspension Corrosion campaign are to be utilized with this campaign. Replacement quantities of the special tools are limited and will be subject to the current cost at time of replacement.