Dawn Furnas//December 12, 2022
Camden-based Subaru of America Inc. announced a safety recall on certain 2019-2022 model year Subaru Ascent vehicles.
According to Subaru, the ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the positive temperature coefficient heater (PTC) may have been improperly fastened during production, which could possibly lead to the melting of the terminal and surrounding components, increasing the risk of fire when the PTC heater is on.
Subaru said there have been no crashes or injuries because of this issue as of the Dec. 9 announcement.
Vehicle owners will be contacted by mail within 60 days. If drivers know their 17-digit vehicle identification number, they can enter it at www.subaru.com/recalls.html or www.NHTSA.gov/recalls. Consumers may also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET; hearing impaired (TTY): 800-424-9153.
Owners of the affected vehicles are encouraged to contact an authorized Subaru retailer as soon as they receive the recall notice. Retailers will replace the ground bolts and, if necessary, the ground wire and connector holder.
The inspection and repair will be completed at no cost to the customer, the company emphasized.
Until the inspection and repair is completed by an authorized Subaru dealer, consumers are advised to park their vehicle away from garages, car ports or other structures, and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
If a driver notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver’s footwell area, immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition off. Immediately contact Subaru’s Roadside Assistance program or nearest Subaru retailer for assistance.
New Jersey entered into a $1 million settlement with CarMax Auto Superstores Inc. that resolves a 2014 multistate investigation into whether that company violated consumer protection laws by selling used cars with open safety recalls. Click here to read more.
"