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Manufacturer recall number

Subaru recall WTL-72

Subaru calls it WTL-72. NHTSA filed it as campaign 16V716000 on Oct 6, 2016: steering on the 2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 54 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings
NHTSA campaignVehiclesComponentFiledAffectedSeverity
16V7160002017 Subaru Legacy/OutbackSteeringOct 6, 201654high
Problem Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly. Risk If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 16V716000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. WTL-72 is the number Subaru assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 16V716000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is WTL-72 the same recall as 16V716000?

Yes. WTL-72 is Subaru’s own number for it; 16V716000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does WTL-72 cover?

2017 Subaru Legacy/Outback, 54 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the WTL-72 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.