Photo: Subaru / edited
The boxer-engined Toyobaru siblings have been recalled to the tune of 8,915 vehicles produced for the 2022 model year, split between 3,214 examples of the BRZ and 5,701 examples of the GR 86. Said vehicles feature undervalued capacitors in the rear combination lamps, with said parts causing the rear turn signals to become temporarily inoperable.
Subaru, which manufactures both the BRZ and GR 86 in Japan, became aware of this problem in December 2021 by means of a technical report alleging rapid blinking of the turn signal indicator. The automaker promptly started investigating this condition with the supplier of the rear combination lamps.
The automaker's engineering department singled out the capacitors back in April 2022, yet didn't issue a recall because – according to documents filed with the federal watchdog – Subaru hadn't identified the failure mechanism. Come February 2023, the safety boffins at Transport Canada inquired Subaru about a complaint alleging inoperable rear turn signals while exposed to intense sunlight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration followed suit with a similar owner-submitted report back in March 2023.
Not even a month later, Subaru told the agency that back electromotive force is generated in bright sunlight, which leads to a voltage drop. If the voltage drops below a certain threshold, the controller detects a failure, disabling the turn signal lamps until the voltage returns within tolerance.
From the driver's point of view, the dashboard turn signal indicator lamp will rapidly flash because of the voltage drop. Subaru is currently aware of two field reports and two warranty claims related to the condition described above. Dealers have already been instructed to replace both rear combination lamps with new assemblies containing larger value capacitors in their circuits, therefore eliminating the effect of back electromotive force. Owners will be informed via first-class mail on or about October 29.
What's particularly dubious about recall number 23V-609 is that Subaru already had a remedy on hand in April 2022. As per the document attached below, BRZ and GR 86 vehicles assembled from April 19, 2022 feature the improved assemblies. Why did the Japanese automaker change the design of the rear combination lamps? Subaru was fully aware of the root cause and how to fix it more than a year ago, yet Subaru most likely tried to weasel its way out of a recall in order to save money.
Production dates for the affected BRZs range from June 30, 2021 through April 19, 2022. As for the GR 86, make that November 4, 2021 to April 20, 2022. Priced at $28,595 and $28,400 (excluding the destination charge), the Toyobaru siblings differ in a few subtle ways. For example, the rear sway bar is mounted to the subframe of the Toyota, whereas Subaru mounts it directly to the chassis. Another difference comes in the form of aluminum uprights for the BRZ as opposed to iron for the Toyota.
The GR 86 also boasts a softer front spring rate and a stiffer rear spring rate. Both of them are available with a six-speed automatic that defeats the purpose of a lightweight sports car. As for the 2.4-liter boxer hiding underhood, it belts out a respectable 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm).
The automaker's engineering department singled out the capacitors back in April 2022, yet didn't issue a recall because – according to documents filed with the federal watchdog – Subaru hadn't identified the failure mechanism. Come February 2023, the safety boffins at Transport Canada inquired Subaru about a complaint alleging inoperable rear turn signals while exposed to intense sunlight. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration followed suit with a similar owner-submitted report back in March 2023.
Not even a month later, Subaru told the agency that back electromotive force is generated in bright sunlight, which leads to a voltage drop. If the voltage drops below a certain threshold, the controller detects a failure, disabling the turn signal lamps until the voltage returns within tolerance.
From the driver's point of view, the dashboard turn signal indicator lamp will rapidly flash because of the voltage drop. Subaru is currently aware of two field reports and two warranty claims related to the condition described above. Dealers have already been instructed to replace both rear combination lamps with new assemblies containing larger value capacitors in their circuits, therefore eliminating the effect of back electromotive force. Owners will be informed via first-class mail on or about October 29.
What's particularly dubious about recall number 23V-609 is that Subaru already had a remedy on hand in April 2022. As per the document attached below, BRZ and GR 86 vehicles assembled from April 19, 2022 feature the improved assemblies. Why did the Japanese automaker change the design of the rear combination lamps? Subaru was fully aware of the root cause and how to fix it more than a year ago, yet Subaru most likely tried to weasel its way out of a recall in order to save money.
Production dates for the affected BRZs range from June 30, 2021 through April 19, 2022. As for the GR 86, make that November 4, 2021 to April 20, 2022. Priced at $28,595 and $28,400 (excluding the destination charge), the Toyobaru siblings differ in a few subtle ways. For example, the rear sway bar is mounted to the subframe of the Toyota, whereas Subaru mounts it directly to the chassis. Another difference comes in the form of aluminum uprights for the BRZ as opposed to iron for the Toyota.
The GR 86 also boasts a softer front spring rate and a stiffer rear spring rate. Both of them are available with a six-speed automatic that defeats the purpose of a lightweight sports car. As for the 2.4-liter boxer hiding underhood, it belts out a respectable 228 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm).
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