Safety Recall: WUW-08 – PCV Valve- Design Change – 2019 Subaru

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Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 1 of 6 PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN Continued… NUMBER: WUW-08R NHTSA ID: 19V-856 DATE: 12/04/19 REVISED: 10/13/21 APPLICABILITY: 2019MY Ascent 2019MY Crosstrek Hybrid (PHEV) 2019MY Forester SUBJECT: PCV Valve- Design Change CAUTION: VEHICLE SERVICING PERFORMED BY UNTRAINED PERSONS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THOSE PERSONS OR TO OTHERS. Subaru Service Bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do the job correctly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that this Service Bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. Subaru of America, Inc. is ISO 14001 Compliant ISO 14001 is the international standard for excellence in Environmental Management Systems. Please recycle or dispose of automotive products in a manner that is friendly to our environment and in accordance with all local, state and federal laws and regulations. INTRODUCTION: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2019 model year Ascent, Forester, and Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles in which the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve may be defective. DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT AND SAFETY RISK: The PCV valve may separate and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber, resulting in a visible change in appearance and/or the amount of tailpipe exhaust. If driving under this condition continues, separated components from the PCV valve may enter the engine. If this occurs, the vehicle may experience a loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. AFFECTED VEHICLES: A total of 51,613 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below: Model Year Carline Production Date Range Affected Vehicle Count 2019 Ascent February 22, 2018 – August 31, 2018 18,193 2019 Forester July 4, 2018 – March 21, 2019 33,383 2019 Crosstrek PHEV September 11, 2018 – October 8, 2018 37 Not all vehicles in the production ranges listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. The status of this recall will display as “Open- Limited Parts Yet Available” until sufficient parts supply is available to support this recall. PARTS: Sufficient remedy parts supply is expected to be available within this month. Once available, parts must be ordered through PRIME. Please refer to ‘Recalls & Campaigns/PRIME Max Quantities’ on Subarunet for the orderable quantities. ATTENTION: GENERAL MANAGER q PARTS MANAGER q CLAIMS PERSONNEL q SERVICE MANAGER q IMPORTANT – All Service Personnel Should Read and Initial in the boxes provided, right. ©2019 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 2 of 6 Continued… RETAILER RESPONSIBILITY: Any vehicles listed in any recall/campaign that are in retailer stock must be: • Immediately identified • Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to repair • Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Product Campaign Bulletin Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures, to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (used, demo & SSLP). In-stock, unsold vehicles may be repaired with existing replacement parts inventory (see PARTS INFORMATION below). Those parts should be ordered through normal parts ordering channels. Please refer to the service procedure and claim submission information within this bulletin. Additionally, once the PCV valve kits are available, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into retailer inventory necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle. Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $21,000 per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also be in breach of the Subaru Dealer Agreement. OWNER NOTIFICATION: Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail within 60 days. Owners with a valid email address on file will also be notified by email. Retailers will be advised when the notification is scheduled. PARTS INFORMATION: ASCENT: A Service Parts Kit, p.n. X1181AA010 for use on ASCENT models only is now available. The kit will consist of a new PCV valve and the 2- one-time use o-rings required to be replaced when removing the intercooler assembly. Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 3 of 6 Continued… FORESTER and CROSSTREK PHEV: Replace the PCV Valve using p.n. 11810AA230. Reinstall the original PCV hose. IMPORTANT NOTE: p.n. 11810AA230 is currently on hold status. Retailers MUST contact the Parts PIC team and provide a valid VIN. The part can then be released once the impacted VIN is verified. SERVICE PROCEDURE: REMINDER: Customer satisfaction and retention starts with performing quality repairs. The PCV Valve on the affected models listed above may have been produced improperly. If the PCV Valve is broken, its internal components may have fallen into the engine. This may result in a large amount of white smoke from the tail pipe. Flow Chart: Step 1: Remove the PCV Valve following the procedure in the applicable Service Manual. • If the PCV valve is BROKEN (NG), proceed to Step 2 and remove the engine following the procedure in the applicable Service Manual. • If the PCV valve is OK (NOT broken), replace it with a new PCV valve to complete the procedure following the applicable Service Manual. Proceed to the Claim Reimbursement and Entry Procedures section. Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 4 of 6 Continued… Step 2: Following the applicable Service Manual procedures, remove the oil separator cover and collect the PCV valve components (4 small parts) as shown in the photos below. If all four (4) of the PCV valve components cannot be collected after removing the oil separator cover, proceed with removing the oil pan to collect any remaining components. TIP: If any PCV valve components remain in the oil pan-side passage, apply compressed air to the oil pan side passage as shown below. IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • Always wear safety glasses. • Never reuse the oil separator cover as it is a one-time use item. Replace it with p.n. 11831AA260. Step 3: • If all the broken PCV valve components cannot be collected, replace the short block assembly along with a new PCV valve following the applicable Service Manual procedures. • If all the broken PCV valve components are collected, install a new separator cover and PCV valve. Reassemble the vehicle in reverse order following the applicable Service Manual procedures to complete the procedure. Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 5 of 6 Continued… CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES: Credit to perform this recall will be based on properly completed repair order information. Retailers may submit claims through Subarunet.com. Labor Description Labor Operation # Labor Time / Model Applicability Fail Code Claim Type Ascent Crosstrek PHEV Forester PCV VALVE INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT A145-641 0.4 0.3 0.2 WUW-08 RC PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R, SEPARATOR COVER REMOVAL TO COLLECT PCV PARTS, REPLACE PCV VALVE A145-642 5.1 3.4 4.6 PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R, SEPARATOR COVER & OIL PAN REMOVAL TO COLLECT PCV PARTS, REPLACE PCV VALVE A145-643 6.1 4.2 5.4 PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R, SEPARATOR COVER & OIL PAN REMOVAL, COLLECT PCV PARTS, REPLACE SHORT BLOCK & PCV VALVE A145-644 13.4 12.2 13.3 NOTE: When claiming for the ThreeBond 1217H sealer: • If the repair is replacing the PCV ONLY, use p.n. SOA635322 for sealing the PCV valve threads. • If the repair required involves resealing the separator cover and oil pan, use p.n. SOA635068. • If the repair required involves Shortblock assembly replacement, use p.n. SOA635305. CALIFORNIA “VEHICLE EMISSION RECALL – PROOF OF CORRECTION” CERTIFICATE The California Air Resources Board and the Department of Motor Vehicles Registration/Recall Program requires that all emission related Recall/Campaign or Service Program repairs be completed before a vehicle registration is renewed. Please provide owners of vehicles registered in the state of California a completed “Vehicle Emission Recall – Proof of Correction” certificate. Vehicle owners should be advised to retain this certificate because the California Department of Motor Vehicles may require they provide proof this service program repair has been completed. Additional certificates are available through normal parts ordering channels using part number MSA6P1301. Quantity 1 = 1 booklet of 50 certificates. Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 10/13/21 Page 6 of 6 SERVICE PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION LABEL: Type or print the necessary information on a Campaign Identification Label. The completed label should be attached to the vehicle’s upper radiator support. Additional labels are available through normal parts ordering channels. The part number is MSA6P1302, which comes as one sheet of 20 labels. Part Number Applicability Description Order Quantity MSA6P1302 All Models Campaign Completion Labels (contains one sheet of 20 labels) 1 IMPORTANT REMINDERS: • SOA strongly discourages the printing and/or local storage of service information as previously released information and electronic publications may be updated at any time. • Always check for any open recalls or campaigns anytime a vehicle is in for servicing. • Always refer to STIS for the latest service information before performing any repairs. WUW-08

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Dear Subaru Owner: This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2019 model year Ascent, 2019 model year Forester and 2019 model year Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles. You received this notice because our records indicate that you currently own one of these vehicles. REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL The PCV valve may separate and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber, resulting in a visible change in appearance and/or the amount of tailpipe exhaust. If driving under this condition continues, separated components from the PCV valve may enter the engine. SAFETY RISK If separated components from the PCV valve enter the engine, the vehicle may experience a sudden loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. WHAT SUBARU WILL DO Subaru will inspect and, if necessary, replace the PCV valve at no cost to you. What You Should Do You should contact any authorized Subaru retailer (dealer) for an appointment to have this safety recall repair performed, at no cost to you. HOW LONG WILL THE REPAIR TAKE? The time required for the PCV valve inspection and replacement is approximately 25 minutes. However, if it is determined that the PCV valve has already separated and components have entered the engine, the time required to complete these repairs could be up to 14 hours. Your retailer can provide you with a better estimate of the overall time for this service visit, as it may be necessary to make your vehicle available for a longer period of time. For your convenience, your retailer may provide you with a loaner or rental vehicle, at no cost to you, until the repair is complete. CALIFORNIA REGISTERED OWNERS The California Air Resources Board requires that emission related campaigns be completed prior to California’s vehicle registration renewal process; without this repair, you will not be able to register your vehicle during your next annual registration. Upon completion of this campaign, your California dealer will complete and provide you a “Proof of Correction Certificate.” If required, present the certificate to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (the “DMV”) when renewing your California registration as proof of campaign completion. If the DMV does not request the certificate, we recommend that you keep it for your records. In addition, the State of California requires that every vehicle must pass an emission test (SMOG Check) every two years and before it is sold. Without the repair we are providing at no charge, your vehicle may not pass this test. OWNER INFORMATION Government regulations require that recall notifications be sent to the last known owner of record. That information is based primarily on state registration and title data. If you are a lessor of this vehicle, federal regulations require you to forward this notice to your lessee within ten days. URGENT IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL This notice applies to the VIN below Subaru Safety Recall WUW-08 NHTSA Recall ID 19V-856 January 2020 a subsidiary of Subaru Corporation If you have moved or sold your vehicle, please update this information online at www.subaru.com, select ‘Customer Support,’ then select ‘Address Update’ or ‘Ownership Update’ from the “Quick Links” menu. IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR A REPAIR If you have already paid for repairs associated with this condition, you may be eligible for reimbursement. Reimbursement consideration will be based on the amount an authorized Subaru retailer in your area would charge for the same repair. Please send the original service repair order, which has the name of the repair facility, date of repair, mileage at the time of repair, complete 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN), and your name, with correct mailing address and telephone number to the address listed below. Subaru of America, Inc. Customer-Retailer Services Department, Attention: WUW-08 Recall P.O. Box 9103, Camden, NJ 08101-9877 Please send original receipts only and retain a photocopy for your records. Please be assured that we will attempt to process your reimbursement request as quickly as possible, but it may take up to 60 days for this process to be completed. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE: To locate the nearest Subaru retailer, you can access our website at www.subaru.com and select ‘Find a Retailer.’ For additional information, please go to: http://www.wuw08.service-campaign.com. If you need additional assistance, please contact us directly: • By e-mail: Go to www.subaru.com and select “Customer Support” • By telephone: 1-844-373-6614 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET • By U.S. Postal mail: Write us at Subaru of America, Inc. Attn: Customer-Retailer Services Department P.O. Box 9103, Camden, NJ 08101-9877 To subscribe to the NHTSA Recall Notification email System, please go to: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ nhtsa/subscriptions. Please contact us immediately if the Subaru retailer fails or is unable to make the necessary repairs free of charge. You may also contact the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov if you believe the Subaru retailer has failed or is unable to remedy your vehicle without charge within a reasonable amount of time. Your continued satisfaction with your Subaru is important to us. Please understand that we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and your vehicle’s proper operation. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this matter may cause and urge you to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Sincerely, Subaru of America, Inc. Notice to Lessors The lessor of a vehicle who receives this letter must provide a copy of it to the vehicle lessee(s) within 10 business days from receipt. The lessor must also keep a record of the lessee(s) to whom this letter is sent, the date sent, and the applicable vehicle identification number (VIN). (For the purposes of this section, a lessor means a person or entity that in the last twelve months prior to the date of this notification has been the owner, as referenced on the vehicle’s title, of any five or more leased vehicles. A leased vehicle is a vehicle leased to another person for a term of at least four months.)

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Retailers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: January 31, 2020 Owner Notification Schedule: Recalls WUV07 & WUW08 and Service Campaign WUU06 Owner notification letters for Safety Recalls WUV-07 (Ascent CVT Chain Slip) and WUW-08 (Ascent, Forester and Crosstrek PHEV PCV Valve Cracking) will be mailing today, Friday, January 31. In addition, given that a large number of these VINs are also affected by Service Campaign WUU-06 (Ascent, Legacy & Outback ECU Reprogramming for DTC C1424) owner notifications for this campaign will also be mailing today. In addition to these notifications, please be advised the following will occur: • January 31 – MySubaru alerts customers of these recalls & campaigns • February 3 – Recalls & campaigns appear in Care Connect communications and both SOA-approved online schedulers – Schedule Connect and the Subaru-approved version of Xtime. If you need assistance with configuration, please contact your CCAM (CareConnect Account Manager) or DPC (Xtime Dealer Performance Consultant).

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Retailers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: December 4, 2019 New STOP SALE/Safety Recall: WUW-08– Ascent, Forester, and Crosstrek Hybrid PCV Valve Recall Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2019 model year Ascent, Forester, and Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles in which the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve may be defective. Description of the Defect and Safety Risk The PCV valve may separate and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber, resulting in a visible change in appearance and/or the amount of tailpipe exhaust. If driving under this condition continues, separated components from the PCV valve may enter the engine. If this occurs, the vehicle may experience a loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Affected Vehicles A total of 51,613 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below: Model Year Carlines Production Date Range Affected vehicle count 2019 Ascent February 22, 2018 – August 31, 2018 18,193 2019 Forester July 4, 2018 – March 21, 2019 33,383 2019 Crosstrek PHEV September 11, 2018 – October 8, 2018 37 Not all vehicles in the production ranges listed above are affected by these recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. The status of this recall will display as “Open – Remedy Not Yet Available” until sufficient parts supply is available to support this recall. Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions Sufficient remedy parts supply is expected to be available within this month. Once available, parts must be ordered through PRIME. Please refer to ‘Recalls & Campaigns/PRIME Max Quantities’ on subarunet for the orderable quantities. For detailed service, parts, and claim information, please refer to the WUW-08 Product Campaign Bulletin on STIS. Once available, remedy parts must be ordered through PRIME. Please refer to ‘Recalls & Campaigns/PRIME Max Quantities’ on subarunet for the orderable quantities. Retailer Responsibility Any vehicles listed in any recall/campaign that are in retailer stock must be: ▪ Immediately identified ▪ Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to repair ▪ Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Product Campaign Bulletin Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures, to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (used, demo & SSLP). In-stock, unsold vehicles may be repaired with existing replacement parts inventory. Those parts should be ordered through normal parts ordering channels. Please refer to the service procedure and claim submission information within the WUW-08 Product Campaign Bulletin. Additionally, once the PCV valve kits are available, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into retailer inventory necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle. Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $21,000 per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also be in breach of the Subaru Dealer Agreement. Owner Notification Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail within 60 days. Owners with a valid email address on file will also be notified by email. Retailers will be advised when the notification is scheduled.

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To: Parts Managers/Service Managers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: February 21, 2020 Re: WUW-08 PCV There has been an interruption in the supply of part numbers 11810AA230 and X1181AA010 from Japan. We expect ample additional supply of 11810AA230 to arrive at the RDCs by mid next week. X1181AA010 is being reviewed by SBR and should be resolved quickly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

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