Subaru Recalls 2019 Impreza, Outback, Legacy, and Ascent Vehicles Over Risk of Sudden Stalls

Fuel pump problems with nearly 200,000 Subaru Impreza, Outback, Legacy and Ascent vehicles from the 2019 model year may cause unexpected stalls, increasing the risk of an accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the Subaru recalls on April 16, after an investigation determined the impellers of the low pressure fuel pump were not manufactured to specification, and may be prone to failure.

Subaru first became aware of the issue in July 2019, following at least 32 field reports, of which 24 indicated an engine no-start condition, with the remaining eight indicating engine loss immediately after starting the vehicle or while driving.

The auto maker launched an investigation into the reports with its fuel pump supplier, Denso International America, Inc., and collected parts for analysis. Each of the warranty claims were evaluated, and the manufacturer noted that the impeller was deformed and was likely the cause of the loss of power.

The investigation determined the affected fuel pumps produced during a specific time frame may have impellers that were manufactured with a lower density than specified. As a result, the impellers may develop fine cracks which can result in excessive fuel absorption and impeller deformation.

If this defect occurs, the impeller may become inoperable, which could result in an unexpected stall hazard, and increase the risk of a crash, according to the NHTSA.

As of April 9, Subaru is aware of 33 unique dealer and non-dealer field reports, and 245 warranty claims indicating fuel pump replacements were performed due to abnormal noise. To date, Subaru is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the recall and indicates most reports appear to result in the inability to start the engine.

The recall affects 188,207 model year 2019 Ascent, Impreza, Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured by Subaru of America, Inc. of Camden, New Jersey. They were distributed for sale throughout the United States to licensed dealers.

Subaru announced it will soon begin notifying customers of the recall and will provide instructions on how to schedule a free repair at their local dealer, who will be instructed to replace the low pressure fuel pump.

The recall is expected to begin on June 5, 2020 when replacement parts become available. Customers with additional questions or concerns regarding the recall are encouraged to contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 and reference the recall campaign number WRD-20.