---

Subaru Announces Voluntary Recall of 1997 Legacy

28 May 1998

Subaru Announces Voluntary Recall of 1997 Legacy Vehicles; Possible Throttle Body Bearing Problem

    CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 28 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today
announced a voluntary recall campaign on its 1997 model year Legacy vehicles
manufactured between August 9, 1996 and March 21, 1997.  The campaign involves
a parts supplier failing to fit bearings to the throttle shaft of the throttle
body on certain vehicles.  Testing has revealed that operation of a vehicle
with a missing throttle shaft bearing over extended mileage can eventually
lead to an incomplete return of the throttle valve and, consequently, a high
idling condition.
    The number of vehicles potentially affected is 61,115, although it is
estimated that the maximum number of vehicles missing bearings is fewer than
100.  There have been no customer complaints and no reported accidents.  All
known owners of vehicles affected by the safety recall have been notified by
first class mail.  They have been asked to return their vehicles to a Subaru
dealer for inspection of the throttle body and replacement if the bearing is
determined to be missing.
    Subaru of America, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd. of Japan.  Headquartered near Philadelphia, the company
markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a
network of nearly 610 franchised dealers across the United States.  All Legacy
models sold in the U.S., including the Outback and Sport Utility Sedan, are
produced at the company's American manufacturing plant, Subaru-Isuzu
Automotive, Inc., near Lafayette, Ind.  In 1998, Subaru celebrates 30 years in
the U.S. market, having sold over three million vehicles.