New Subaru Lawsuit Claims Vehicles Have Thermal Control Valve Failure Defect
I cover all Subaru of America (SOA) lawsuits, and here is another that customers need to know about. Subaru is facing a new class action lawsuit claiming there is an issue with the thermal control valve on several of its 2019-2021 vehicles that the company refuses to recall or fix for vehicle owners, according to a report from Top Class Actions.
Which Subaru model years are affected?
The report says Subaru is accused of knowing about the defect in its 2019 to 2021 Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Legacy models since 2021. Despite this knowledge, the lawsuit alleges that Subaru failed to correct the issue or cover repairs under warranty.
The class action claims the defect poses a safety hazard.
“The defect renders the class vehicles inoperable, impairing their core functionality, and poses a safety hazard for drivers and their passengers who may be left stranded,” the Subaru class action says. “The Thermo Control Valve Defect manifests unexpectedly, requiring drivers to incur unforeseen expenses such as thermo control valve replacements, diagnostics, roadside services, and costs associated with securing alternative means of transportation.”
Plaintiffs Scott Austermann, Mackenzie Beuttel, Jennifer, and John Werthmann are Subaru vehicle owners who claim they experienced the thermal control valve issue, leading to repairs and additional expenses that Subaru did not fully cover. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC.
Subaru made changes to the design.
The lawsuit says Subaru changed the thermal control valve design in June 2021 but did not issue a recall or offer a free replacement. According to court records, Subaru changed the design of its thermal control valves on June 7, 2021, to prevent sensor corrosion.
What are the plaintiffs asking for?
The plaintiffs ask for a recall or free replacement program, a buyback of class vehicles, class certification, restitution, damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees.
Do you own one of the impacted 2019-2022 Subaru Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, or Legacy models? Let us know in the comments if you have experienced similar problems.
I reported on another class action lawsuit against Subaru of America, claiming the automaker manufactured and sold certain vehicles equipped with Starlink infotainment systems containing a defect that has rendered them partially or wholly inoperable.
New Subaru Recall Alert - 96,000 Models Have Defective Backup Lights And Rearview Camera @SubaruReport @torquenewsauto#subaru #outback #forester #crosstrek #legacy #subarurecallhttps://t.co/UKjcI99P9U
— Denis Flierl (@DenisFlierl) December 7, 2023
Thanks for reading, everyone. I hope you enjoyed this Subaru class-action lawsuit story. See you tomorrow for my latest Subaru Report.
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I am Denis Flierl, a 12-year Torque News senior writer with 20+ years of Subaru and automotive journalism experience. I enjoy bringing you, the Subaru fans and customers, the most up-to-date Subaru news, reviews, and new model information. You'll find the latest Subaru stories on the Subaru page. Follow me on my The Dirty Subaru website, Dirty Subaru blog, SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.
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photo credit: Subaru USA