Dec. 21, 2022—Subaru has announced a recall for 271,000 Ascent vehicles, according to Reuters.
The recall impacts some Ascent vehicles from the model years of 2019 to 2022. Reportedly, Subaru said a "wiring connection may have a production-related defect that can cause a fire while the heater is in operation because excessive heat could result in melting the ground terminal and surrounding components," according to Reuters.
Owners are being urged to park their Ascent vehicle away from buildings and structures, and Subaru said drivers should avoid letting the engine run when their vehicle is unattended. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said drivers should park their vehicles outside. NHTSA also said that drivers should stop their vehicle and turn the ignition off if they smell smoke or see it emerging from the dash or driver's footwell.
Two fires have been reported, but the automaker is not aware of any injury or crash reports. In order to fix the issue, Subaru dealers will need to replace heater ground bolts. It may also be necessary to replace the ground wire and connector holder.
