Customers love the puddle lights, but road salt corrodes the electrical connectors.
Subaru is recalling 634,000 Legacy, Outback and Tribeca models because the “puddle lights” in the running boards of the crossover SUVs can short, melt and possibly start a fire. Cars going all the way back to 2006 can be affected by the safety defect, which was first reported in 2007, and now covers vehicles through the 2012 model year. The timing is unfortunate since the Japanese company sold 36,653 vehicles during December 2012 – the best sales month in Subaru history.
The short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connectors are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source such as road spray that has salt in it, and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connectors.
Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat, which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire. Subaru in the required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that at least three fires have been reported. Dealers were notified of the defect over the Christmas holidays, but since Subaru does not have repair parts on hand, customers will not be notified for about two months.
Subaru did not respond to AutoInformed’s requests for comment.
Eventually, dealers will install an additional wiring harness equipped with an inline fuse between the vehicle connector and the puddle light harness on both sides of the vehicle. The inline fuse harness incorporates a 250mA fuse, which protects the puddle light assembly from the effects of a short circuit. Subaru’s recall campaign number is WQE-41. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
