The Japanese automaker Subaru is recalling nearly 50,000 “zombie vehicles” with remote starters because they run the risk of starting themselves.
(Side note: I’ve always been worried about my car discovering free will and now I’m more than a little concerned this is a harbinger of the Robot Apocalypse.)
The recall applies to 47,419 Legacy, Outback and Impreza models produced from 2010 to 2013, as well as Crosstrek vehicles from 2013.
How do these vehicles start themselves? Subaru insists they have not become sentient. Instead, the manufacturer says that if the key fob is dropped, it can malfunction and start the engine.
The motor will run for up to 15 minutes, but could continue to start and stop until the car runs out of gas or the fob battery dies. And if the cars are parked in a garage, there’s a risk of carbon monoxide buildup.
The cars all have automatic or continuously variable transmissions. Subaru dealers will replace the fobs free of charge.
