Subaru Recall: 2013 Problems Create A Rough Year For Automaker

Subaru has been plagued with recalls in recent months, the most recent affecting 2013 Outback and Legacy vehicles being troubled with a variety of issues.

In May, the two cars were recalled for steering problems that the National Highway Traffic Administration described as caused by the inner and outer shafts of the steering column becoming separate, causing the driver to lose steering control, Autoblog reported.

Luckily, no known accidents have been reported from this issue, but any owners of the 2013 cars, made between February and June 2013, can get a free tow to the dealership and free replacement of the parts.

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The Inquisitr reported another recall affected 200,000 of the Japanese car manufacturer’s all-wheel drive vehicles, which had an issue that could lead to brake line corrosion.

One of the more unusual recalls, issued in March this year, found an issue with about 50,000 vehicles starting themselves, creating an online joke about "zombie cars," according to CNN.

Despite the creepy feeling engendered by the concept of a car, sitting by its lonesome in the garage, starting up with no human help, the defect apparently was caused by plain old real-world problems. The affected cars contain an automatic transmission and an Audiovox remote engine starter. If the fob for the remote engine starter is dropped, it could accidentally and randomly send a start engine command to the car.

The company’s challenges came early in the new year, with almost 634,000 sedans, wagons and crossovers recalled because of an electrical problem that could start a fire.

Subaru is not alone in facing recall troubles.

Other auto manufacturers – including Ford, Toyota and General Motors – have had numerous recalls in the last year or more. In 2012, Forbes magazine said that U.S. car dealers seemed to recall nearly as many cars back to the dealership for inspections and repairs as it sold.

The auto industry sold around 14.5 million units in 2012, and recalled 14.3 current and past models during the year, the magazine reported.

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