Subaru announced a safety recall on certain 2019-2022 Ascent vehicles.
According to the manufacturer, the ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater may have been improperly fastened during vehicle production, which may result in the melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components, increasing the risk of fire when the PTC heater is in operation.
Notifications will be mailed within 60 days.
Subaru is encouraging owners of affected vehicles to contact an authorized Subaru retailer as soon as they receive the recall notification.
Subaru retailers will replace the PTC heater ground bolts and replace the ground wire and connector holder, if necessary. Some vehicles may require ground and connector replacement.
The inspection and repair will be completed at no cost to the customer.
"Until the inspection and repair is completed by an authorized Subaru dealer, customers are being 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," Subaru said in its announcement. "If an owner notices or smells smoke coming 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 nearest Subaru retailer for assistance."
