General Information
NUMBER: WZX-38DATE: March 23, 1989
APPLICABILITY:
1988MY & 1989MY SUBARU JUSTY 4WD VEHICLES
SUBJECT:
4WD Transmission Gear Oil Level Correction
Subaru has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988MY and 1989MY Subaru Justy 4WD GL vehicles. The defect which is due to the design of the 4WD transmission case dipstick, the oil level and the checking method described in the owner's manual, may result in insufficient lubrication of the 4WD extension housing bearing. This could result in bearing seizure and possible rear wheel lockup.
To prevent this condition from occurring, it is necessary to replace the original (brown cap color) 4WD transmission case dipstick with the replacement (yellow cap color) transmission case dipstick, add transmission oil to the proper level and insert in the owner's manual a revised transmission case oil level checking procedure.
This campaign will be handled in two phases.
Phase I
Action by the dealer will be the addition of transmission oil to the 4WD transmission using a replacement (yellow cap color) 4WD transmission case dipstick for checking the oil level. Each dealer will be provided two (2) replacement 4WD transmission case dipsticks to use as special tools for the Phase I action of the campaign.
Phase II
Action by the dealer will be to provide assistance to any owner that has difficulty replacing the 4WD transmission case dipstick or affixing the insert into the owner's manual both of which SOA will mail directly to each owner of an affected vehicle.
The dealer should remind the owner when an appointment is scheduled to bring the replacement (yellow cap color) 4WD transmission case dipstick to the dealer.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
Involved are 1988MY and 1989MY Subaru Justy 4WD vehicles within:
VIN RANGE
JF2KA83AXJD700001 - JF2KA83AXJD729787 JF2KA83AXKD700001 - JF2KA83AXKD721707
Involved vehicles have been identified by Vehicle Identification Number Computer Listings. Computer listings contain the complete Vehicle Identification Number, owner name and address data, and are furnished to the dealers with this bulletin. Owner name and address data furnished will enable dealers to follow-up with owners involved in this campaign.
The computer listings are as of March 23, 1989. Vehicles allocated after this date that fall within the VIN Range must be corrected by the dealer.
These listings may contain owner names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is a violation of law in several states. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this listing to the follow-up necessary to complete this campaign. Any dealer not receiving a computer listing with the campaign bulletin has no involved vehicles currently assigned.
OWNER NOTIFICATION
PHASE I
SOA will prepare and mail an Owner Notification Letter and a two-part Recall Certification/Repair Order Form to the owners of all potentially affected vehicles. The owner notification mailing is scheduled for April 3, 1989. A copy of the Owner Notification Letter and a sample two-part Recall Certification/Repair Order Form are included in this bulletin.
PHASE II
SOA will prepare and mail to the owners of all affected vehicles an insert to be placed in their owners manual and a replacement (yellow cap color) 4WD transmission case dipstick. This mailing is scheduled for April 24, 1989. A copy of the second notification and a sample insert are included in this bulletin.
DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Dealers are to promptly service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward. When you are presented a two part Recall Certification/Repair Order form by a Subaru owner, follow the instructions presented in the Service Procedure section of this bulletin.
Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.
Owners of vehicles recently sold (since the date of the computer listing) from your new vehicle inventory within the VIN range listed are to be contacted by the dealer, and arrangements should be made to make the required correction according to instructions contained in this bulletin.
Dealers will be compensated for the cost of the replacement (yellow cap color) 4WD transmission case dipstick and the addition of oil up to 20 ozs for instock/demo or recently sold vehicles that fall within the VIN range.