- Vehicles
- 36,791
- Built between
- Sep 2000 – Sep 2002
- Models
- 1
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- Manufacturer
- Owners notified
- 2 June 2008
- Repaired
- Not reported
- Unrepaired
- Not reported
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between September 2000 and September 2002. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 2002-2003 Subaru ImprezaBuilt September 2000 to September 2002
What the defect is
Subaru is recalling 36,791 my 2002-2003 impreza wagons. The stud bolt(s) of rear gate stay may have been tightened with insufficient tightening torque and a gap may have resulted between the rear gate panel and stud bolt base. After repeated rear gate operations (opening and closing), the rear gate inner panel at the welding nut may break, which will lead to detachment of the rear gate stay, and the rear gate dropping down.
What could happen
In case someone is underneath or near the rear gate, there is a possibility that a dropping rear gate panel may hit them increasing the risk of injuries.
What gets fixed
DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY GAP AT THE STUD BOLT OF THE REAR GATE STAY INSTALLATION. IF A GAP IS FOUND, THE STUD BOLT WILL BE REMOVED TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE TO THE WELDING NUT. IF THE WELD NUT IS CRACKED, THE REAR GATE STAY WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2008.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtSeptember 2000 to September 2002
- Recall reported to NHTSA24 March 2008
- Owners notified2 June 2008
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 24 March 2008.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Manufacturer contact
Owners may contact subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Official source
- Manufacturer's recall number
- WVD-14
- Recalling manufacturer
- SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- Recall initiated by
- MFR
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional notes
Subaru recall no. WVD-14.CUSTOMERS may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.