The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·22V907000·Announced 2022-12-08

Subaru Ascent 2019–2022 Recall for Electrical Fire Risk

Subaru is recalling 2019–2022 Ascent vehicles due to an improperly fastened ground bolt on the PTC heater that could melt and cause an electrical fire.

NHTSA safety advisory

Park this vehicle outside

NHTSA advises parking it away from buildings and other vehicles until the repair is done — the risk exists even when the vehicle is switched off.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This NHTSA vehicle electrical system defect presents a fire risk through potentially melting components, meeting the criterion for High severity as a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported. No deaths, hospitalizations, or property damage are mentioned in the source.

Plain-English summary

Subaru of America is recalling certain 2019–2022 Ascent vehicles due to a defect in the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater ground connection. The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the PTC heater may have been improperly fastened. This can cause the ground terminal and surrounding components to melt, increasing the risk of an electrical fire.

Approximately 271,694 vehicles are potentially affected. The electrical system defect is located in the wiring beneath the dashboard. To reduce fire risk, owners should park their vehicles away from structures and should not leave the engine running unattended while awaiting repair.

If smoke or burning odors are noticed coming from the dashboard or driver's footwell area, owners should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn off the ignition. Subaru dealers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts free of charge, and will replace the ground wire and connector holder if necessary. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed on February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
SUBARU ASCENT
Brand
SUBARU
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Electrical System
Hazard
Affected units
271,694

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • ASCENT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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