Latest Subaru Recall is Related to Adhesive Application Issue, According to Company Officials
September 22, 2011

2010 Subaru Legacy

Subaru has issued a recall for approximately 69,000 vehicles related to possible moonroof issue, according a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to Subaru officials, the moonroofs in certain models of the 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, manufactured between August 3, 2010, and July 1, 2011, may come loose or fall off, due to a problem with the way the adhesive was applied during the vehicle assembly process.

Fuji Heavy Industries USA Inc. (FHI), which is part of Subaru's parent company, notified NHTSA of the recall on September 6, and in the letter to NHTSA points out that the "adhesion area between [the] glass and retainer is small" on the vehicles' moonroofs.

"[The] width of [the] primer application was found less than the amount specified in the design drawing in certain areas," writes John Frooshani, safety activities manager, government relations, for Fuji. "[The] amount and positions of [the] seal application was inappropriate at both of outer and inner circumferences of certain areas."

Frooshani attributes the cause of the problem to the fact that the assembly process of the glass and retainer was moved from another vendor during a 2010 summer shutdown. "Application management of primer and seal was inappropriate," he adds.

FHI says company officials first received a technical report of a moonroof coming off a vehicle from Subaru itself on June 20. The company investigated and determined that "poor adhesion" was the cause of the release.

To remedy the problem for those with affected vehicles, dealers will inspect the moonroof adhesion in the vehicles and "will either apply additional seal or replace the moonroof glass with a new one."

Subaru of America officials expected to begin notifying dealers around September 7 and is in the process of preparing modified parts, with hopes of notifying owners within 60 days.

This is the second glass-related recall Subaru has issued this month. Previously, the company recalled its 2010 and 2011 Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured between January 7, 2010, and May 20, 2011, due to faulty windshield wipers.

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