Subaru Is Involved In A New 1.5M Car Recall Over Possible Fuel Pump Failure

Subaru announced a defective fuel pump recall for 2019 Subaru Outback, 2019 Ascent, 2019 Impreza, and 2019 Legacy models in April. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced an additional 1.5 million cars affected, and more Subaru vehicles are involved.

In addition to Subaru, the new recall by Denso Corp., the fuel pump supplier, also added Honda, Ford, Toyota, and Mitsubishi models to bring the total to 3.53 million vehicles. A report from Automotive News (by subscription) says Denso amended its statement filed with NHTSA and added more cars last week.

Denso used the defective "low pressure" fuel pump before July 2019 and began using the fuel pump with a higher density impeller filter after that date. Before this latest announcement, Subaru estimated about 4 percent of the models are affected.

What is the safety risk?

The four Subaru vehicles equipped with a low-pressure fuel pump, including an impeller manufactured with a lower density, could fail. Subaru says, "If the surface of the lower density impeller is exposed to solvent drying for longer periods, it may develop fine cracks. Those cracks may lead to excessive fuel absorption, resulting in impeller deformation."

Denso told AN, "In certain instances, and under certain conditions, the fuel pump impellers may absorb fuel, which could lead to reduced operability of the fuel pump." Subaru has not recalled the additional cars added last week but should issue another recall campaign.

The NHTSA says if the fuel pump fails, the engine may stall without the ability to restart the engine, increasing the risk of a crash. The total number of Subaru vehicles affected with the first recall in the U.S. is 188,207.

Torque News reported a class action lawsuit was filed against Subaru in June, adding more models than the initial recall. It included 2017-2019 Subaru Outback, Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy models. Other Subaru vehicles and additional model years (2013-2019) may also be affected. These models could be part of the new recall.

What should owners do?

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the shipment of replacement parts is slow. Subaru should have notified owners of 2019 Subaru Outback, 2019 Ascent, 2019 Impreza sedan and 5-Door, and 2019 Legacy. Subaru will replace the fuel pump free of charge, and the first recall began on June 5, 2020.

Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for the first recall is WRD-20. Torque News will keep you informed as soon as Subaru announces the new defective fuel pump recall, and any new models beyond the 2019 Subaru Outback, 2019 Ascent, 2019 Impreza sedan and 5-Door, and 2019 Legacy that are involved.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru