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2008 SUBARU Legacy

9 recalls Risk Grade: A Most severe issue: Critical

All recalls are free to repair at your local dealership. Contact your dealer to schedule service.

Known Safety Recalls

Critical #14V311000 Plain English
Component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The brake lines in your vehicle are like the veins that carry brake fluid to the brakes. In some 2005-2014 Subaru models, salt water can seep into these lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, causing them to corrode.
Risk if Unfixed
If the brake lines corrode, brake fluid could leak, making it harder to slow down or stop your vehicle. This could lead to a longer stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will inspect your brake system, check for leaks, and either apply anti-corrosion wax to the affected areas or replace the brake lines and apply anti-corrosion wax. This service is free of charge to you.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines. Note that affected vehicles not currently, or formerly registered, in the salt belt states identified above are eligible for repair, at no cost to the customer, upon request.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and inspecting for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 2014 and second notifications will run through November 2014. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110 which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas rust-proofed.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
Critical #13V110000 Plain English
Component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The brake lines in your Outback or Legacy are the tubes that carry brake fluid to your brake pads. A gap in the fuel tank protector can let salt water in, causing the brake lines to corrode.
Risk if Unfixed
If the brake lines corrode, brake fluid could leak out, making it harder to slow down or stop your vehicle, especially on wet or slippery roads. This could increase the risk of a crash.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will inspect your vehicle's brake lines, and if there's no leak, they'll apply a protective coating to prevent corrosion. If a leak is found, they'll replace the brake lines and apply the coating. Both services will be done at no cost to you.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured from December 2003, through April 2009 and currently, or formerly, registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
Brake line corrosion may result in brake fluid leakage. Fluid leakage may result in longer distances being required to slow or stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles. If no brake fluid seepage is observed, the affected area will be rustproofed with anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is observed, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with anti-corrosion wax. These services will be performed free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's recall campaign number is WQG-43.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
Critical #08V460000 Plain English
Component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
What Happened
The oil supply pipe in your vehicle connects the oil to the engine. In some 2007-2009 Subaru models, this pipe might not be assembled correctly, which could cause problems.
Risk if Unfixed
If the pipe is misassembled, it could crack and start leaking oil. Leaking oil could catch fire in the engine compartment, especially if it comes into contact with hot components.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will inspect the pipe for any damage or leaks, then install a reinforced bracket and replace the pipe with a stronger one – all free of charge.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
SUBARU IS RECALLING 16,715 MY 2007-2008 LEGACY SEDANS AND WAGONS, MY 2008 IMPREZA SEDANS AND WAGONS, AND MY 2009 FORESTER VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AND TURBOCHARGER-SIDE PIPE IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
VIBRATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE DRIVING AND, OVER TIME, COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN CRACKING THE PIPE WHICH WOULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK. IF LEAKING OIL CONTACTS COMPONENTS OPERATING AT HIGH TEMPERATURES, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Original — Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKING OR AN OIL LEAK AT THE OIL SUPPLY PIPE AT THE CYLINDER HEAD-SIDE. AN ADDITIONAL BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED TO INCREASE RIGIDITY OF THE PIPE AND THE PIPE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #20V001000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger side airbag inflator in your vehicle is a critical safety device that helps protect you in a crash. In some 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX, 2003-2014 Legacy, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X models, this inflator may have been replaced under a previous recall, but it could still fail.
Risk if Unfixed
If the airbag inflator explodes, it could send sharp metal fragments hurtling towards you and others in the vehicle, causing serious injury or even death.
Free Fix
Your dealer will replace the faulty airbag inflator with a new one, free of charge. You'll be notified about the recall, and you should schedule the repair as soon as possible.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #20V002000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger side air bag in your vehicle is a vital safety feature that deploys to protect you in the event of a crash. In certain Subaru and Saab models from 2003-2014, this air bag's inflator could explode due to long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments could shoot towards you, causing serious injury or even death. This is a critical safety issue that demands immediate attention.
Free Fix
Your dealer will replace the faulty passenger air bag inflator with a new one, absolutely free. You should schedule the repair as soon as possible to ensure your safety on the road.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #20V003000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger airbag inflator in your vehicle is a critical safety device that deploys in the event of a crash. In older models, this inflator may have been replaced once before, but it could still fail due to long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator fails, it could explode and send sharp metal fragments flying into the vehicle, causing serious injury or even death to the driver or passengers.
Free Fix
Your dealer will replace the passenger airbag inflator with a safe, redesigned one at no cost to you. This repair is free, and you should schedule it as soon as possible to ensure your safety on the road.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #15V323000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
Your vehicle's passenger airbag is a critical safety feature that deploys in a crash to protect you. The airbag inflator in your 2003-2008 Subaru or 2005 Saab 9-2x might be vulnerable to moisture, which could cause it to burst when deployed, sending sharp metal fragments towards you.
Risk if Unfixed
In a severe crash, the airbag might not work correctly, and if it does deploy, it could burst and send sharp metal pieces towards you, leading to serious injury or even death.
Free Fix
Subaru and General Motors will replace the defective airbag inflator for free. Your dealer will perform the repair at no cost to you, so schedule it as soon as you receive the recall notice to ensure your safety.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
Moderate #19V297000 Plain English
Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The ignition switch in your vehicle is what turns the engine on and off. In some older Subaru models, the internal parts of the ignition switch can break over time, making it prone to moving out of the 'run' position.
Risk if Unfixed
If this happens, your engine could shut off unexpectedly while you're driving, making it harder to control the vehicle. If you crash, the airbag might not deploy, which could increase your risk of injury.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will inspect the ignition switch and replace it with a new one, free of charge. This repair is free, and you should schedule it as soon as you get the recall notice.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Impreza vehicles, 2008-2014 WRX vehicles, 2005-2014 Legacy vehicles, 2005-2014 Outback vehicles and 2006-2008 Tribeca vehicles equipped with a mechanical key ignition switch installed as a replacement part. The ball spring inside the switch may break, reducing the strength of the ignition switch. If this occurs, the weight on the key ring and certain road conditions could cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position to the accessory position, turning off the engine.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
The engine turning off unexpectedly can increase the risk of a crash. If a crash occurs under this condition, the air bag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ignition switch, replacing the ignition switch, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 10, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUF-91.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
Moderate #16V738000 Plain English
Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The secondary air injection pump in your vehicle is a device that helps clean the air going into your engine. In some 2007-2014 Subaru models with turbo-charged engines, this pump's control relay can fail, causing it to run constantly and overheat.
Risk if Unfixed
If the pump overheats, it could melt and increase the risk of a fire in your vehicle.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty relay controlling the air injection pump - free of charge. You'll receive a notification when the repair is ready, and you should schedule it as soon as possible.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2008-2014 Impreza vehicles and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles, all equipped with turbo-charged engines. The relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to continuously operate and overheat.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
If the air injection pump overheats, it may melt and increase the risk of a fire.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the secondary air injection pump relay, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTM-73.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →

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