Subaru Vehicle Recall

Another mass vehicle recall. This time for Electronic Parking Brake failures in 2010-2014 Subaru Outback and Liberty vehicles.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/subaru-recalls-more-than-40000-cars-over-electronic-park-brakes/news-story/df2e2339401648212decee05f043c28b?utm_source=The%20Courier%20Mail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial

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I wonder if

“If the electronic parking brake cannot be applied or released, it can result in an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants and other road users,” the notice says.

is trying to say the switch becomes inoperative in whatever state it was. eg if you had it on you could not release it, and if it was not on you could not set it. It would be a real downer to have it lock on while in a P, and especially a ticket P area when it happened and the parking warden stopped for a chat whilst writing one up. Or could it mean it randomly engages and disengages, thus potentially causing injury?

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In context further details on the government recall web site:

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recall notice,
“if the electronic parking brake circuit board fractures, the warning light will illuminate and the EPB cannot be applied or released. If this happens, the vehicle may be in breach of the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for motor vehicles”.
“If the electronic parking brake cannot be applied or released, it can result in an increased risk of injury to the vehicle occupants and other road users.”

Should it be left up to our own experience to assess the risk of not being able to use the park brake? It would seem more appropriate for the ACCC and Subaru to also advise what action will be required if the warning light does illuminate.

Perhaps legally you are considered to be in charge of a vehicle that is potentially unsafe to drive and it should be removed from traffic to a safe position until safe to drive (repaired). Has it suffered a major failure and will Subaru come and collect the vehicle, you and your family from the roadside at Wycliffe Well?

It may be that as far as the ACCC and Subaru are concerned it is not a problem until it happens. You could say the same logic applies to airbags.

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