The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new york, new jersey, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring.
The risk
Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
The fix
Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge. Owner notification began September 18, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 01V-216 (01V216000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Subaru of America, Inc. |
| Component | Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs |
| Report date | June 25, 2001 |
| Owners notified | September 18, 2001 |
| Vehicles affected | 180,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
- 1995 Subaru Legacy
- 1996 Subaru Legacy
- 1997 Subaru Legacy
- 1998 Subaru Legacy
- 1999 Subaru Legacy
- 1996 Subaru Outback
- 1997 Subaru Outback
- 1998 Subaru Outback
- 1999 Subaru Outback
Plus 1 other model/year combinations not covered on this site.
Owner complaints about the suspension
- 1995 Subaru Legacy suspension problems 14
- 1996 Subaru Legacy suspension problems 8
- 1997 Subaru Legacy suspension problems 9
- 1998 Subaru Legacy suspension problems 7
- 1999 Subaru Legacy suspension problems 8
- 1996 Subaru Outback suspension problems 4
- 1997 Subaru Outback suspension problems 4
- 1998 Subaru Outback suspension problems 3
- 1999 Subaru Outback suspension problems 13
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 01V-216 repair free?
Yes. Subaru dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge. Owner notification began September 18, 2001.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 180,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.