Lights, Camera, Recall: Subaru Calls Back 95,000 Vehicles

Subaru is recalling more than 95,000 cars over defects that increase the risk of accidents, the carmaker recently told federal regulators.

Rearview lights and cameras on the vehicles could fail, Subaru said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That creates hazards for anyone in the cars or on the road with them.

The problem is that water could eventually get to an inhibitor switch, causing it to malfunction, according to Subaru. That, in turn, could stop reverse lights from illuminating and the rearview camera image from displaying.

“An insufficient weld between the switch stator and cover of the inhibitor switch may allow water intrusion and, over time, the switch may become inoperative,” Subaru said in the defect notice. “An inoperative inhibitor switch may result in the backup lamps not illuminating when in reverse gear, the rear-view monitor not displaying, each of which increases the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain 2021 Crosstreks and 2022 Foresters, as well as 2021-2023 Legacys, and Outbacks.

Subaru said it plans to notify owners of recalled cars via mail by June 8, 2023. It will ask owners to bring their vehicles to local dealers for inspection and repair, free of charge.

“For all the potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will replace the inhibitor switch with a new one at no cost to the customer.”

Legal Rights for California Subaru Owners

This is not Subaru’s first rodeo when it comes to safety recalls.

In August, Subaru announced it was calling back more than 4,000 Imprezas whose brake lights could fail. The company acknowledged at the time that the defect increased the risk of accidents.

Subaru said earlier in the year that it was recalling some 1,200 Solterra electric vehicles because their wheels could come off unexpectedly. It is also told owners not to drive the cars again until the problem is fixed.

Subaru is not alone: Major car manufacturers call back millions of vehicles combined around the world every year, citing a wide range of defects.

Fortunately, Subaru and other car owners in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. 

The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. That means you do not need to wait around for a recall to get a malfunctioning car fixed.

The law also forces manufacturers to buy back vehicles that they are unable or flat-out refuse to fix. That means compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing charges, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.