Subaru Recalls Vehicles for Fire Hazards

When you are driving, one of the last things you might expect is for your car to catch fire. But, according to a report on Consumerist.com, that is a major concern for more than 100,000 Subaru vehicles that are being recalled by the manufacturer. The automaker will recall 100,127 mode year 2007 to 2009 Legacy, 2008 to 2014 Impreza and 2009 to 2013 Forester vehicles equipped with turbo-charged engines.

Recall Details

According to a notice posted with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a manufacturing issue might cause the vehicle’s relay system, which controls the secondary air injection pump, to fail. If this occurs, the “check engine” sign will light up and the pump could continuously operate, overheat and melt causing smoke or even fire. Subaru tells NHTSA that it first became aware of the issue back in 2011 when its supplier got an initial technical report of “check engine” warning light as the result of secondary air injection pump failure.

The supplier investigated and determined the root cause for this problem between April 2011 and September 2013. In October 2013, the automaker received the first report from a consumer with regard to an air injection pump emitting smoke and catching fire. A second report followed in May 2015. Between then and now, the company has looked at similar incidents before ultimately determining that a product safety recall was warranted. Subaru will begin notifying owners. Dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay at no cost to consumers.

Auto Product Liability Issues

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and U.S. fire departments responded to about 152,300 automobile fires per year in 2006-2010. These fires caused an average of 209 civilian deaths, 764 civilian injuries and $536 million in direct property damage. Car fires were involved in 10 percent of reported U.S. fires and in 6 percent of U.S. fire deaths. Mechanical or electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in about two-thirds of the automobile fires. Only 2 percent of car fires began in fuel tanks or fuel lines, but these incidents caused 15 percent of the automobile fire deaths.

If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one as the result of a defective auto, it is important that you preserve the vehicle in its current condition, unaltered, so an expert can thoroughly analyze it for evidence of defects or malfunction. It would also be in your best interest to contact a renowned auto defect law firm, one that has access to resources and experts who can help prove your case and assist you with securing maximum compensation for your significant losses.