Subaru Recalls Brand New Vehicles for Faulty Welds

Subaru has issued an auto defect recall for about 2,107 brand new vehicles because of faulty welds located on the duct below the cowl panel that could compromise the vehicle’s body strength, thereby increasing the risk of injury in a crash. According to a report on Autoblog.com, the 2019 Outback and 2019 Legacy are the two models involved in the recall, a majority involving Outback models. If you own one of these affected vehicles, you will be able to exchange the vehicle and let Subaru buy it back, or return the car for some intensive repairs.

Details of the Recall

This recall is reminiscent of the situation with the Subaru Ascent SUVs last year. Those vehicles were called because they were missing a series of spot welds on the B-pillar, weakening the structure. Subaru said it planned to destroy all 293 Ascent vehicles that were thought to be affected at the time. Here is what Subaru said went wrong with the most recent recall. The automaker says during the manufacturing process at the supplier’s factory, the spot-welder tip is cleaned and re-shaped by a grinding machine.

During the production of the affected parts, the grinding machine may have been blocked by excess metal chips and powder reducing the effectiveness of the welder. The affected vehicles were manufactured between May 31 and June 6, 2019. Subaru said a body shop employee initially noticed the defect on June 6, which prompted an internal investigation, leading to the recall. If you have a 2019 Outback or Legacy affected by this issue, you can expect to receive a letter in the mail soon.

The Issue of Crashworthiness

Crashworthiness refers to the ability of a vehicle to prevent occupant injuries in the event of a collision. During a crash, a vehicle’s occupants are subject to a number of forces that can result in injury depending on the nature of the impact. A crashworthy vehicle design will distribute the forces triggered by a crash over as great a period of time and distance as possible. Examples of crashworthiness features that are designed to minimize occupant injuries include seatbelts, crumple zones and airbags, including side-impact airbags. These features are supposed to protect occupants from traumatic injuries that can be caused by ejection from the vehicle, a vehicle fire and so on.

If you have been injured as a result of a defectively designed vehicle that lacked crashworthiness, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages and losses. An experienced product liability attorney will be able to evaluate the legal options and enlist the expertise of safety consultants to help strengthen your case against the auto manufacturer.

Source: https://www.autoblog.com/2019/07/15/2019-subaru-outback-legacy-recalled-bad-welds/