Subaru Fuel Pump Settlement: A Complete Guide for Owners and Lessees

If you own or lease a 2017-2020 Subaru vehicle, you may be entitled to significant benefits—including a free fuel pump replacement, reimbursement for past repairs, and a potential cash payment—due to a major class-action settlement. This settlement resolves lawsuits alleging that certain Subaru vehicles contained defective low-pressure fuel pumps that could fail without warning, potentially causing the engine to stall while driving. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of the settlement, the models involved, your legal rights, and exactly what you need to do.

What is the Subaru Fuel Pump Settlement About?

The legal cases consolidated under the title In re: Subaru Fuel Pump Litigation allege that Denso low-pressure fuel pumps installed in numerous Subaru models from the 2017 through 2020 model years were defective. The defect involves the impeller inside the pump, which can absorb fuel and deform. This deformation can cause the pump to fail, leading to a loss of engine power, an inability to start the vehicle, or a complete engine stall while driving, posing a potential safety hazard. Subaru and its supplier, Denso, deny the allegations but have agreed to the settlement to resolve the litigation. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted final approval to the settlement, establishing a nationwide program to compensate eligible vehicle owners and lessees.

Which Subaru Models and Years Are Included?

The settlement covers a wide range of popular Subaru models. It is crucial to check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the official settlement website for definitive eligibility, but the following models and model years are included:

  1. 2017-2020 Subaru Ascent
  2. 2017-2020 Subaru BRZ
  3. 2017-2020 Subaru Crosstrek (also known as Subaru XV)
  4. 2017-2020 Subaru Forester
  5. 2017-2020 Subaru Impreza
  6. 2017-2020 Subaru Legacy
  7. 2017-2020 Subaru Outback
  8. 2012017-2020 Subaru WRX

The specific defect involves Denso fuel pumps with part numbers ending in 092, 291, 292, 294, or 295. Not every vehicle within these model years contains the affected pump, which is why a VIN lookup is the only sure way to confirm your vehicle's status.

What Benefits Does the Settlement Provide?

The settlement establishes several key benefits for current owners, past owners, and lessees of covered vehicles. These benefits are designed to address past expenses and future failures.

1. Free Fuel Pump Replacement (Recall Repair):
This is the core benefit. Subaru has issued a recall (Recall Number WRA-20, which superseded an earlier recall, WQW-53) to replace the defective low-pressure fuel pump with a new, improved part. This repair is performed at no cost to you at any authorized Subaru dealership. The recall repair is available for a period of 10 years from the vehicle's original retail delivery date or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. If your pump has not yet failed, you should contact a dealer to schedule the replacement proactively.

2. Reimbursement for Qualifying Out-of-Pocket Expenses:
If you paid to have your fuel pump repaired or for certain related costs before the recall repair was performed, you can file a claim for reimbursement. Eligible expenses include:

  • The cost of diagnosing and replacing the low-pressure fuel pump.
  • The cost of towing your vehicle to a repair facility due to a fuel pump failure.
  • The cost of a rental car, taxi, or ride-share service used while your vehicle was being repaired for this specific issue.
  • Other incidental expenses directly related to the failure, such as lodging if you were stranded, may be considered with proper documentation.
    You must have paid for these expenses yourself and have valid receipts or repair orders to submit with your claim. Reimbursement claims must be filed by the deadline set by the settlement administrator.

3. A Cash Payment for Past Owners/Lessees Who Sold or Returned Their Vehicle:
If you owned or leased a covered vehicle and experienced a fuel pump failure, but you no longer own the vehicle because you sold it or returned it at the end of a lease, you may be eligible for a cash payment. This payment is for the alleged loss in value or inconvenience associated with the defect. The amount is capped and will depend on the number of valid claims filed. You must provide documentation of ownership/lease and evidence of a qualifying repair or failure.

4. Warranty Extension for Related Component Damage:
In rare cases where a fuel pump failure is alleged to have caused damage to other engine components (like the high-pressure fuel pump or engine itself), Subaru has agreed to a warranty extension. This extension covers these related repairs for 8 years or 100,000 miles from the original delivery date. Claims under this provision are assessed on a case-by-case basis by Subaru.

Important Deadlines You Must Know

Missing the court-mandated deadlines will result in forfeiting your rights. There are two critical dates:

  • Reimbursement and Cash Payment Claim Deadline: The final date to submit a claim form for out-of-pocket expense reimbursement or a cash payment has passed. Claim forms were required to be submitted by January 17, 2025. The settlement website is no longer accepting new claims for reimbursement.
  • Recall Repair Availability: The free recall repair itself does not have a claim form deadline, but it is only available within the 10-year/150,000-mile window from the vehicle's original sale. If your vehicle is within this window, you should act promptly to get the pump replaced.

How to Get Your Free Fuel Pump Replaced

If your vehicle is eligible and within the mileage/time period, follow these steps:

  1. Check Your VIN: Visit the official settlement website or Subaru's own recall lookup page and enter your 17-character VIN. This will confirm if your specific vehicle is part of the recall.
  2. Contact a Subaru Dealer: Call your preferred authorized Subaru dealership's service department. Inform them you are calling about Recall WRA-20 (Fuel Pump Replacement). Schedule an appointment.
  3. Bring Your Vehicle: Take your vehicle to the scheduled appointment. The repair typically takes a few hours. The dealership will replace the low-pressure fuel pump and any associated gaskets or seals at no charge to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the symptoms of a failing fuel pump?
Drivers reported symptoms such as the engine sputtering or losing power at high speeds, difficulty starting, the engine stalling and not restarting, or a noticeable drop in fuel efficiency. If you experience any of these, especially in a covered model, you should have it inspected immediately.

Is the repair safe and reliable?
Yes. The recall repair involves replacing the defective Denso pump with a new, redesigned fuel pump that does not suffer from the same impeller defect. This is considered a permanent fix.

What if I already had the repair done under the earlier recall (WQW-53)?
The newer recall (WRA-20) supersedes the old one. If you had a pump replaced under the earlier recall, it may have been with a part that was still within the suspect range. You should check your VIN again to see if your vehicle requires the latest replacement under WRA-20. Some vehicles required a second replacement to ensure the correct, improved part was installed.

What if I have damage to my high-pressure fuel pump or engine?
You should contact Subaru of America's customer service directly at 1-800-782-2783. Explain the situation and reference the settlement's warranty extension for related component damage. You will need to work with Subaru and a dealership to have your claim evaluated.

Where can I get more official information?
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official sources:

  • The official settlement website: [You would typically insert the settlement administrator's URL here, e.g., www.SubaruFuelPumpSettlement.com]
  • Subaru's own recall website: www.subaru.com/recalls
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall database: www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

Your Legal Rights and Options

As a member of the settlement class, your rights were affected. The option to exclude yourself from the settlement (to pursue your own lawsuit) is now closed. The option to object to the settlement terms is also closed. The court has granted final approval, and the settlement is now active and binding. Your remaining rights are to participate in the benefits described, primarily the free recall repair if your vehicle is still eligible.

This settlement provides a clear and structured path for Subaru owners to resolve a known defect. By taking advantage of the free recall repair, you can ensure your vehicle's reliability and safety. If you believe you are owed reimbursement, you should have already submitted your claim. The most important action for current owners is to check your VIN and schedule the no-cost repair with your local Subaru dealer without delay.


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