Toyota Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ recalled for defects ... in owner's manuals?
Toyota, Subaru are recalling an unknown number of Scions and BRZs for incorrect information in their manuals about how the front-seat airbags work. The airbags themselves are not defective.
The Scion drift-racing FR-S unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January in Detroit. The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are being recalled because their manuals contain incorrect information.
Tony Ding/AP/File
If you’re lucky enough to own either a new Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ sport coupe, here’s a heads up - both cars are being recalled, but not for a manufacturing defect or safety defect on the car itself.
Instead, early versions of the printed owners manual contain incorrect information on how the front passenger airbag system operates. While there’s no defect with the system itself, the incorrect information means that the cars fail to meet certain provisions of Federal Safety Standard 208, governing occupant protection.
Subaru has already stated that it will provide updated printed pages with the correct information until it has the opportunity to reprint the owners manual itself. It’s likely that Scion will take the same action with its announced recall.
It isn’t clear how many vehicles are affected in total, since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website only lists the 1,156 Scion FR-S models affected by the voluntary recall.
No date for the recall has been published on the site yet, either, so we’d suggest that owners of Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ models with questions or concerns contact their dealer for additional information. Alternatively, the NHTSA’s Vehicle SafetyHotline can be reached at (888) 327-4236 for updates on recall campaign 12V255000.