Camden, NJ – December 23, 2022 – Subaru (OTCMKTS:FUJHY) is recalling 271,694 of their 2019 – 2022 Subaru Ascent SUVs because their electrical components may overheat and melt. This may lead to a vehicle fire, increasing the risk of property damage, crash, and injury.
The fire may occur even while the vehicle is turned off and parked. Owners are advised to park away from structures until the issue is addressed. The recall comes on the back of 11 fire-related complaints.
Recall summary
All listed vehicles are equipped with several heaters, including one inside the dashboard. The dashboard heater helps the engine warm up faster when it is cold out. Its grounding wire is bolted to the chassis with a screw.
On affected SUVs, these screws might not have been tightened up sufficiently during assembly. This may generate excessive heat which may lead to the grounding wire’s terminal and surrounding components melting if the temperature is high enough. It may also lead to a fire.
The component causing this recall is the tapping screw, with part number 904580002
Recall risks
You can find out all about the risks caused by overheating electrics in this recent Hyundai recall.
Warning signs
The driver or passengers may notice a burning smell if the grounding wire starts to melt. In addition, there might be smoke coming from underneath the dashboard on the driver’s side.
Safety tips
If you notice these warning signs, pull over at the first safe spot, turn off the ignition and leave the vehicle with all your passengers.
Keep in mind that your car may still catch fire even when it is not running. This is why you should park it away from structures and other vehicles until the repair is done.
Other Subaru recalls
Apart from these Subaru electrical issues, the manufacturer recalled nearly 200,000 of their popular Impreza cars because of defective headlights in August 2022.
Among previous Subaru Ascent recalls, the one caused by malfunctioning transmission, which took place in January 2022, is the latest.
The repair
Dealers will fix the issue by installing a new grounding-wire screw. In addition, as a precaution, they will inspect the grounding wire and replace it if needed. The repair is free of charge.
Vehicle owners will be notified on February 6, 2023.
Is your vehicle part of this recall?
This Subaru ground terminal recall affects almost a quarter of a million SUVs. To do a Subaru recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
