A service program is a distinct source type
Subaru calls WUT-05R, revised May 13, 2020, a customer-satisfaction service program for certain US Forester MY2014–2016. Its presence in NHTSA technical communications does not make it a Part 573 safety-recall report.
The article’s body family is broader: IIHS identifies a MY2014 redesign and MY2014–2018 driver-test applicability. This does not extend WUT-05R to MY2017–2018. Check year, version and program eligibility separately.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: IIHS: 2015 Subaru ForesterSubaru of America / NHTSA technical-communications repository: Subaru WUT-05R: Forester Rear Coil Springs, revised May 13 2020
Coating damage, corrosion, then a broken coil section
Subaru describes stones and road debris damaging the spring’s outer coating, followed over time by possible pitting and separation of a small section. A fragment beside a parked car or a lower body corner may be noticed. These are possible signs, not a diagnosis from one symptom.
Inspect whether all coils remain, where the fragment lies and whether coating damage or corrosion is visible. A photograph of only the spring’s top can omit its end. Unseen sections cannot be declared intact because the assembly appears installed.
Spring and damper require separate evidence
Strut repair does not identify the component worked on. Record spring, damper, mounts and fasteners separately. A fractured spring does not prove damper failure; an invoiced damper replacement does not prove crash-caused spring breakage.
After wheel or body impact, suspension and mounting points need separate findings. Measure the low corner under recorded conditions and inspect mechanically. Corner height is not a numerical body-deformation measurement and cannot distinguish corrosion, fracture or another cause without inspection.
What the document says about replacement parts
The program specifies springs with improved corrosion resistance, with kits differentiated by engine and transmission. Forester alone cannot identify a kit. The document also warns against assuming every vehicle of this model has the described condition.
Work confirmation needs exact installed-part identification, recorded defects of removed parts and prescribed test results. A program name without VIN confirmation proves neither kit applicability nor completed repair.
A crash test does not determine why a spring broke
IIHS publishes driver test CEN1303 for a MY2014 Forester 2.5i Premium 4wd. Driver- and passenger-side small-overlap results are separately Good and Marginal. Neither establishes the corrosion mechanism on an individual spring.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: IIHS: 2015 Subaru Forester
Applicability to the individual vehicle
- WUT-05R remains a customer-satisfaction program, not relabeled a safety recall.
- MY2014–2018 test scope does not extend program eligibility beyond certain MY2014–2016 vehicles.
- Spring fracture does not prove damper failure, impact causation or body deformation.
Primary sources
Sources checked on . Model or recall information does not establish the condition of an individual VIN.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: IIHS: 2015 Subaru Forester
Applicability and source location
US MY2014 redesign; driver-side CEN1303 applies MY2014–2018. Other test branches are distinct.
2014 2.5i Premium 4wd CEN1303; separate driver G and passenger M ratings.
Document date: not specified in the source. Checked: .
Subaru of America / NHTSA technical-communications repository: Subaru WUT-05R: Forester Rear Coil Springs, revised May 13 2020
Applicability and source location
Certain US Forester MY2014–2016, exact eligibility required. Customer-satisfaction program, not asserted as Part 573 safety recall.
Page 1: coating/debris/corrosion/fracture and scope; pages 2–3: configuration-specific kits and improved material/coating.
Document date: 2020-05-13. Checked: .