Subaru Power Train: Manual Transmission

Subaru is recalling about 15,000 vehicles over a problem with the power train. This could cause bearing seizure and possible rear wheellockup, which could result in an accident.

Campaign
89V028000
Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Reported
28 February 1989
Vehicles
15,000
Built between
Aug 1987 – Mar 1989
Models
1
Recall type
Vehicle
Initiated by
Manufacturer
Owners notified
31 March 1989
Repaired
Not reported
Unrepaired
Not reported

Does this affect my vehicle?

This recall covers vehicles built between August 1987 and March 1989. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.

  • 1988-1989 Subaru JustyBuilt August 1987 to March 1989

What the defect is

Due to the design of the transmission case dipstick and the fluid level checking method, there may be insufficient lubrication of the 4 wheel drive extension housing bearing.

What could happen

This could cause bearing seizure and possible rear wheellockup, which could result in an accident.

What gets fixed

INSTALL MODIFIED DIPSTICK AND INSERT INFORMATION IN OWNERS MANUAL ON THE CORRECT FLUID LEVEL CHECKING PROCEDURES.

Timeline

  1. Vehicles builtAugust 1987 to March 1989
  2. Recall reported to NHTSA28 February 1989
  3. Owners notified31 March 1989

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 28 February 1989.

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.

Official source

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

System: transmission fluid.vehicle description: five speed manual transmission, four wheel drive vehicles.

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.

Same component

Same brand