('09-'13) WQE-41 - Puddle Lamp Recall (merged thread)

[GMRO]

Sorry but where are these puddle lights?

Under the lower black molding? Not on the door panel inside the cabin?

I have 2 2010 fozs one PRM and a LTD. I don't remember a puddle light option on my cars.

Thanks for any info.

[TSi+WRX]

For the SH-Forester, it'll look like this, at night:

http://subarupartspeople.com/images/...1SSC000_lg.jpg

For the BM-Legacy and BR-Outback:

http://www.subarugenuineparts.com/im...egacy-2010.jpg

https://s3.amazonaws.com/3genagement...ddleLights.jpg

For the Tribeca:

http://drive2.subaru.com/Sum05/Quick...dle-Lights.jpg

In all cases, it's located on the OUTSIDE (exterior) of the car, inside the trim panel along the exterior of the car so as to illuminate the area immediately "under" the door (most easily seen in the Tribeca photo above). It's designed to illuminate the area where your feet would be as you enter/exit the vehicle, so that you can "avoid puddles."

[2010subieforester]

Lol,

My mom read about this recall in the local paper and was worried about it. I let her know she could rest easy that the puddle lights were an add on feature and not one that was added on to mine so no cause to worry. Don't ya just love moms?

Sent from my mind using ninja telepathy.

[infinitempg]

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

For the SH-Forester, it'll look like this, at night:
http://subarupartspeople.com/images/...1SSC000_lg.jpg
In all cases, it's located on the OUTSIDE (exterior) of the car, inside the trim panel along the exterior of the car so as to illuminate the area immediately "under" the door (most easily seen in the Tribeca photo above). It's designed to illuminate the area where your feet would be as you enter/exit the vehicle, so that you can "avoid puddles."

YA-HOO!!! I *DON'T* have puddle lights!!!

Hey, wait!!! I don't have puddle lights!!! Hehehe.

Guess sometimes it pays to not have all the bells and whistles... thanks for posting that and clearing up what we're talking about.

[TSi+WRX]

^ My Tribeca is pretty basic, so I don't have puddle lights, either - the wife's FXT Touring is loaded, though.

[Sackett]

i wouldn't panic over this; I haven't seen any issues with them at all at this time; we are still waiting for some to show up at the shop; will report back when I see what is up

[jkoppee]

wonder what they're going to do with those of us that have added aftermarket puddle lights?

[TSi+WRX]

Originally Posted by jkoppee

wonder what they're going to do with those of us that have added aftermarket puddle lights?

If you've gone off-brand non-Subaru-OEM aftermarket (which I thought you did? ref:'09 Forester Puddle Lights - Which Relay?), you're on your own as that's your own modification.

This recall is for a defect in the Subaru-brand/installed product that was manufactured prior to the noted manufacturing date.

Many aftermarket products, as *external* vehicle modifications, will require more effort to reinforce their weatherproofing. My last paragraph below details some of the measures you can do to better weatherproof an aftermarket product. However, if you've *already* having problems, unless your problem is with a connector, my guess is that water has made its way into the light housing: that you'd be better off buying new and re-doing your project completely, ground-up.

That said, I'd still make your first check the wiring, to see that it's not something simple.

---

Originally Posted by Sackett

i wouldn't panic over this; I haven't seen any issues with them at all at this time; we are still waiting for some to show up at the shop; will report back when I see what is up

As I said on another Subaru Forum, while it may not have been reported much here on, it has certainly been reported in several other Subaru communities.

In addition to the few cases here, SB9T, SubaruOutback.org and even NASIOC have had posts from members with puddle light problems.

SB9T actually had one member who had a similar problem, albeit on the more serious end of the scale: puddle lights may cause fire!!!! - SB9T.com - in this same thread, you will see a post from another member who works at a Subaru dealership in Canada, where one of his co-workers reported a vehicle-fire due to how badly that particular affected vehicle was visibly "smoking."

I agree, there's a very, very small percentage of vehicles that's affected, but the problem is obvious serious enough that the manufacturer is waging a recall campaign that will cost them big dollars: they don't do this just for the heck of it.

Such a decision is not made lightly.

You're right, Sackett - there's no need to make a mountain out of an ant-hill. In all reality, it's only going to be a very small fraction of the potentially problematic vehicles/kits sold that will actually have a problem: it's not like, all of a sudden, my local news channels are reporting a dozen or two Subarus spontaneously exploding at our local big-box outlets or grocery stores. And believe me, here in NE-Ohio, we've got *A LOT* of Subarus.

But the truth of the matter is that there is a serious enough problem that Subaru has elected to actually initiate a recall, rather than to address via other means such as TSBs (remember, if you will, the OCI amendments back in 06/07 for all turbo-H4 models, the turbo oil supply line filter screen for BL/BP Legacys, rear passenger compartment/hatch noises on the '06-'08 Tribecas, etc.) or even a courtesy extension of a specific part of the vehicle warranty (MY05 BL/BP rear wheel bearings), and that, in and of itself, says something.

As for the discussion of further improving the current "remedy" of the additional 250 mA in-line fuse [i.e. by relocating the fuse(s) to more accessible areas, to splice in better weatherproof connectors [or to simply better waterproof those areas] at the critical junctions, to pot the vulnerable circuit-boards or to simply better weatherseal the vulnerable light assemblies [such measures have long been used by those in the speed-detection countermeasures hobby community, with laser jammer heads, as well as with vehicle exterior lighting enthusiasts who've had to, in the older days, take it upon themselves to weatherseal decorative lighting])? It's more that as fellow enthusiasts, we don't want to see our friends' vehicles suffer any down-time or them to get a headache after they've installed the component (i.e. having to waste time and pull body panels in order to replace a simple fuse). And yes, a lot of what's suggested is overkill - but then again, when have we, as enthusiasts, *not* overkilled what we love.

[DMan II-40]

Just a heads up to people:

Subaru Recalls More Than 600,000 Vehicles For Lighting Defect

[jkoppee]

Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

If you've gone off-brand non-Subaru-OEM aftermarket (which I thought you did? ref:'09 Forester Puddle Lights - Which Relay?), you're on your own as that's your own modification.

This recall is for a defect in the Subaru-brand/installed product that was manufactured prior to the noted manufacturing date.

Many aftermarket products, as *external* vehicle modifications, will require more effort to reinforce their weatherproofing. My last paragraph below details some of the measures you can do to better weatherproof an aftermarket product. However, if you've *already* having problems, unless your problem is with a connector, my guess is that water has made its way into the light housing: that you'd be better off buying new and re-doing your project completely, ground-up.

That said, I'd still make your first check the wiring, to see that it's not something simple.

well they have a fix and from what I read above part of that might be to install a fuze? If so because it's a recall I'm going to assume they will try to safeguard all the vehicles that come in as well as a possible redesign or discontinuation of the puddle lights. I just wonder if they will still try to do something to those with aftermarket parts.

[TSi+WRX]

^ Wait, I'm not understanding - so you have a Subaru OEM puddle light kit (Forester Puddle Light Kit 2009-2012, SubaruGenuineParts.com I thought you said you installed something that's aftermarket - something that is, by definition, not Subaru brand?

The recall isn't for an aftermarket item, it's for the Subaru product.

Or do you mean that you've added the actual Subaru-produced kit, by yourself, after you took delivery of the vehicle?

In this second case, which is distinctly different from the first, yes, you're covered - because you're actually using the Subaru-OEM product.

[intake83]

I have had my MY09 since June of 08. I got the puddle lights as an option and in Jan 09 they all went out. Warranty replaced by dealer due to bad wiring (corroded). Chicago's winters call for lots of salt. In any case, those new light went out again in Nov 09, dealer claimed they were out of warranty, but after looking at paperwork realized that they had their own 12 month warranty on the lights. January 2011 the lights went out again, and this time even though it was out of warranty dealer replaced them since this was 3rd time. I am waiting for the lights to go out again. I wish I took the picture of the wiring, it was corroded by the LED lights. Poor design because water can literally just sit in the area where the lights and wires are connected.

[TSi+WRX]

Given the risk of fire, I'd pull the dome light fuse and disable the circuit until it can be properly addressed by the dealer.

[Philistine]

Any idea when this recall will be official? I just had a puddle light go out.

[good dog]

Originally Posted by Philistine

Any idea when this recall will be official? I just had a puddle light go out.

There is a link above to The Car Connection that says what owners can do. The difficulty is also in owners who have installed them their-selves and even at dealers who would have to supply Subaru with their records if they installed them, I don't think they readily send in warranty registration for OEM accessory installations.

The message is if you have any concerns or questions, to contact Subaru's Customer Service at 1-800-782-2783 regarding recall WQE-41