Recall Alert- Subaru Advises All Ascent Owners To Park Outside Due To Fire Risk

A new Subaru recall advises Ascent 3-Row SUV owners to park outside due to an improperly fastened ground bolt that could cause a fire. Here is what all Ascent owners need to know.

Subaru of America and the NHTSA announced a safety recall on specific 2019-2022 model year Subaru Ascent 3-Row SUV vehicles. Subaru says they are encouraging owners of affected vehicles to contact an authorized Subaru retailer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Subaru of America.

A warning for Subaru Ascent owners

Subaru announced that customers are being advised to park their vehicles away from garages, carports, or other structures and to avoid leaving the car unattended while the engine is running due to a ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater that may have been improperly fastened during vehicle production.

What should owners do if they smell smoke?

If an owner notices or smells smoke from the dash or driver’s footwell area, they should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the “off” position. If this occurs, the owner is advised to immediately contact Subaru’s Roadside Assistance program or the nearest Subaru retailer.

Subaru says, “This potential condition may result in melting the ground terminal and surrounding components, increasing the risk of fire when the PTC heater is in operation. There have been no crashes or injuries due to this issue.”

How will Subaru fix the problem?

Subaru retailers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and the ground wire and connector holder for all the potentially affected vehicles if necessary. A small percentage of vehicles, estimated at 0.6 percent, will require ground and connector replacement. Subaru of America will complete the inspection and repair at no cost to the customer.

When will Subaru notify Ascent owners?

2019-2022 Ascent owners will be contacted by mail within 60 days. To find out if a vehicle is affected, please go here and enter the vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number. Vehicle owners can also visit the NHTSA website here and enter the 17-digit vehicle identification number for more information on this recall. Alternatively, call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.