WQH-44 – Subaru Carpeted Floor Mats – 2014 Subaru Forester

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Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru Plaza P.O. Box 6000 Important Safety Recall Notice Subaru Recall Campaign WQH-44 NHTSA Recall No. 13V-159 April 2013 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034‐6000 800‐782‐2783 www.subaru.com Dear Subaru Owner: This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of 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 some 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT Subaru has determined that your vehicle is equipped with carpeted floor mats. The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification, which can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY HAZARD Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or accelerator pedal interference may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash. REPAIRS In the interest of safety, Subaru is sending this notice to you before replacement mats are available. A second notification letter will be sent to you when replacement mats become available. At that time, Subaru will replace the carpeted floor mat set at no cost to you. PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE You should immediately remove the driver’s carpeted floor mat from the vehicle and store it for future return. Do not replace it with any of the other mats. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The condition described only poses a safety risk when an affected Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mat is installed in the driver’s floor position. Once the mat is removed from the vehicle, the safety risk no longer exists. continued… If your vehicle was delivered without carpeted floor mats installed, this notice does not apply to you. However, you will be notified when replacement floor mats are available for your vehicle. Genuine Subaru All‐weather floor mats (rubber, non‐carpeted mats) are not affected by this recall. CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR SOLD YOUR SUBARU? If you have moved or sold your vehicle, please complete the enclosed postage prepaid postcard and mail it to us. Or, if you prefer to update this information online, please go to www.subaru.com, select Contact Us and then select Update Address from the drop down menu. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE: To locate the nearest Subaru Dealer you can access our website at www.subaru.com and select “Find a Dealer”. For additional information and for the most Frequently Asked Questions, please go to: • http://www.wqh44.service‐campaign.com If you need additional assistance, please contact us directly: • E‐mail: Go to www.subaru.com and select “Contact Us”. • Telephone: 1‐800‐SUBARU3 (1‐800‐782‐2783) Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. ET • U.S. Postal mail: Write us at Subaru of America, Inc., Attn: CDS Department, P.O. Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034‐6000. After you receive a second notice informing you that replacement mats are available, please contact us immediately if the dealer fails or is unable to make the necessary repairs free of charge. You may also contact the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline at 1‐888‐327‐4236 (TTY: 1‐800‐424‐9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov if you believe the dealer 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 to have this repair performed. Sincerely, Subaru of America, Inc. Notice to Lessors Under Federal law 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.) A subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

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2014 Forester Carpet Floor Mats Procedures for Vehicles Delivered to Dealers Without Mats or Delivered With Faulty Mats, Which Are Not Subject to the WQH44 Recall Campaign June 5, 2013 Please note: Only those vehicles that were retailed at the time of the April 15, 2013 Dealer Notice concerning 2014 MY Forester Carpeted Floor Mats are included in the WQH44 recall campaign. Please refer to the recall campaign bulletin in STIS for detailed information. For the recall claims, an individual Part Return Notice will be sent to your dealership when the recall claim is approved. All other 2014 MY Foresters received with carpeted floor mats that were not retailed at the time of the Dealer Notice, and vehicles sent to the dealers without carpeted floor mats, will be covered under warranty for installing replacement carpeted floor mats. The carpeted floor mats removed from the in‐stock vehicles several weeks ago, and stored at your dealership, must be handled as follows:  These carpeted floor mats must be returned to the following address: SOA Part Collection Center 4105 Haggerty Ln Ste B Lafayettte, IN 47905‐8733 Attn: Field Quality Analysis Manager  See Section 15.3 of the Subaru Claims Policies and Procedures Manual in Subarunet/Service‐ Claim Entry/Info for proper shipping procedures.  Please include dealer identification with your shipment(s), and consolidate your shipment(s) as efficiently as possible.  Save your shipping records, including number of mats returned, to be confirmed by your DPSM during his or her visit to your dealership. Listed below are the warranty claim reimbursement procedures, for vehicles received with or without carpeted floor mats that are NOT included in the WQH44 recall campaign. CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES Dealers may submit a warranty claim through Vehicle Claim Entry on Subarunet.com. Replacement carpeted floor mat sets will be sent to dealers at no charge. However, dealers may claim $32.72 in sublet for reimbursement of the parts handling allowance normally included in the MSRP of the floor mat set. Claim Type Failure Code Labor Part Number Sublet Amount for Parts Handling WC ZFQ‐48 A063‐100 0.2 hrs. J501SSG301 $32.72 If you have any questions, please call the Claims Helpline at 1‐866‐782‐2782.

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Dealer Notice April 15, 2013 2014 Forester Carpeted Floor Mats On 2014 Forester vehicles, SOA has detected a potential quality problem with carpeted floor mats. We are requesting that dealers immediately pull 2014 Forester carpeted floor mats from inventory vehicles, and cease installation until further notice. Dealers should hold these mats aside pending further instruction from SOA. Also, please be aware that we started to ship 2014 Foresters without carpeted floor mats on Friday April 12. In the event that you may have purchased any of these carpeted mats for your parts department inventory (part number J501SSG300), please set these aside also. Dealers may continue to retail 2014 Forester units to our customers, but without carpeted floor mats. Dealers must provide the attached disclaimer document to these customers, requesting their signature as acknowledgement. A copy of this signed disclaimer should be kept with the retail sale documentation (deal jacket). We apologize for any inconvenience. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PURCHASERS/LESSEES OF 2014 MODEL YEAR FORESTER VEHICLES Due to a possible quality problem that may exist with carpeted floor mats in 2014 Subaru Forester vehicles, those mats have been removed from the vehicle you are purchasing/leasing. You will be notified promptly once replacement mats are available. At that time, replacement mats will be provided to you free of charge. We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause you. THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE ABOVE NOTICE: ______________________________________ Date: _______________________ Signature Dealer should supply the following information: Name of Purchaser/Lessee:_______________________________ Address: ________________________________ ________________________________ Phone Number: ________________________________ VIN: ________________________________________________ Delivery Date: ________________________________________

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Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 1 Continued… Subaru of America, Inc. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists on certain 2014MY Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mats. The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification, which can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat resulting in a potential safety hazard. DESCRIPTION OF SAFETY HAZARD Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or accelerator pedal interference may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash. Recall code WQH-44 has been assigned to this recall campaign. AFFECTED VEHICLES This recall campaign applies to 2014MY Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mats sold on or before 4/22/13. Coverage for all potentially affected vehicles must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function at Subarunet.com. OWNER NOTIFICATION There are two owner notification letters associated with this recall campaign. The first owner notification letter was mailed on April 26, 2013. The letter explains the condition associated with the carpeted floor mats and advises vehicle owners to immediately remove the driver’s mat from the vehicle and store it for future return. It further explains that a second letter will be sent when replacement mats become available. The second owner notification letter advising replacement carpeted floor mats are available will be sent during the week of June 3, 2013. In addition to notification by mail, vehicle owners with a valid email address will be notified electronically on the same date letters are mailed. A copy of both owner notification letters is included at the end of this bulletin. APPLICABILITY: 2014MY Subaru Forester SUBJECT: Genuine Subaru Carpeted Floor Mats 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. PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NUMBER: WQH-44 DATE: June 2013 Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 2 Continued… DEALER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY Dealers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures defined in this bulletin to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP). Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into dealer new or used inventory, or in the dealership for service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle. New, used, demo or SSLP vehicles listed in a recall/campaign that are in dealer stock must be: • Immediately identified. • Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to inspection and/or repair. • Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in this Product Campaign Bulletin. 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 Dealer failing to perform the applicable service procedures as defined in this bulletin to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP) prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $6,000 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. PARTS INFORMATION Please Note: The 2014 Forester carpeted floor mat backing material used on the revised mats has changed. The revised mats use a singed needle punch material that is adhered to the back of the floor mat which grips the vehicle’s carpet. Previous style mats used an extruded TPO material that provided a nib pattern on the back of the carpet in order to provide carpet retention. Revised style Previous style Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 3 Continued… Each dealer will automatically be sent a quantity of replacement carpeted floor mat sets equivalent to cover all recall vehicles expected at that dealership. Replacement carpeted floor mat sets will be sent to dealers at no charge. Dealers may claim $32.72 in sublet for reimbursement of the parts handling allowance normally included in the MSRP of the floor mat set. Please refer to the Claim Reimbursement section of this bulletin for additional information. PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION J501SSG301 Forester Carpeted Floor Mat Set Please note: Replaced floor mat sets are on automatic warranty parts return and should not be scrapped. A Part Return Notice will be supplied upon claim approval. Please follow the instructions on the Part Return Notice which includes the return address. The following information describes an important and required procedure to follow when preparing a UPS Ground return shipment of the floor mats replaced as part of the WQH-44 recall. When preparing your UPS return shipping label, enter the part number replaced and WQH-44 in the 1st Reference or #1 Reference field. For example: J501SSG301 / WQH-44 REPAIR PROCEDURE Install the replacement floor mats in the appropriate locations. Make sure the driver’s floor mat is placed in its proper location and is correctly secured on the mat retaining pins. • Retaining pins are located on the driver’s side floor as illustrated below. • The floor mat should be properly secured using the built-in grommets by placing the grommets over the pins and pushing them downward. Important: Do not install more than one floor mat in the driver’s side floor position. Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 4 Continued… RECALL IDENTIFICATION LABEL Type or print the necessary information on a Recall 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. Ordering qty 1 = 1 sheet of 20 labels. CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES Credit to perform this recall will be based on the submission of properly completed repair order information. Dealers may submit claims through Vehicle Claim Entry on Subarunet.com. Replacement carpeted floor mat sets will be sent to dealers at no charge. However, dealers may claim $32.72 in sublet for reimbursement of the parts handling allowance normally included in the MSRP of the floor mat set. The part number must be entered on the claim. CLAIM TYPE & CAMPAIGN CODE LABOR LABOR OPERATION PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION SUBLET AMOUNT FOR PARTS HANDLING RC WQH-44 A106-340 0.2 hrs. Install Carpeted Floor Mats J501SSG301 Carpeted Floor Mats $32.72 Please note: Replaced floor mat sets are on automatic warranty parts return and should not be scrapped. A Part Return Notice will be supplied upon claim approval. Please follow the instructions on the Part Return Notice which includes the return address. The following information describes an important and required procedure to follow when preparing a UPS Ground return shipment of the floor mats replaced as part of the WQH-44 recall. When preparing your UPS return shipping label, enter the part number replaced and WQH-44 in the 1st Reference or #1 Reference field as shown below. For example: J501SSG301 / WQH-44. WQH-44 Reference #1: J501SSG301 / WQH-44 Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 5 Continued… Dear Subaru Owner: This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of 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 some 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT Subaru has determined that your vehicle is equipped with carpeted floor mats. The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification, which can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY HAZARD Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or accelerator pedal interference may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash. REPAIR In the interest of safety, Subaru is sending this notice to you before replacement mats are available. A second notification letter will be sent to you when replacement mats become available. At that time, Subaru will replace the carpeted floor mat set at no cost to you. PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE You should immediately remove the driver’s carpeted floor mat from the vehicle and store it for future return. Do not replace it with any of the other mats. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The condition described only poses a safety risk when an affected Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mat is installed in the driver’s floor position. Once the mat is removed from the vehicle, the safety risk no longer exists. If your vehicle was delivered without carpeted floor mats installed, this notice does not apply to you. However, you will be notified when replacement floor mats are available for your vehicle. Genuine Subaru All-weather floor mats (rubber, non-carpeted mats) are not affected by this recall. 1ST OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER Important Safety Recall Notice Subaru Recall Campaign WQH-44 NHTSA Recall No. 13V-159 April 2013 Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 6 Continued… CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR SOLD YOUR SUBARU? If you have moved or sold your vehicle, please complete the enclosed prepaid postcard and mail it to us. Or, if you prefer to update this information online, please go to www.subaru.com, select Contact Us then select Update Address from the drop down menu. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE: To locate the nearest Subaru Dealer you can access our website at www.subaru.com and select “Find a Dealer”. For additional information and for the most Frequently Asked Questions, please go to: • http://www.wqh44.service-campaign.com If you need additional assistance, please contact us directly: • E-mail: Go to www.subaru.com and select “Contact Us”. • Telephone: 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET. Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. ET • U.S. Postal mail: Write us at Subaru of America, Inc. Attn: CDS Department, P.O. Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000. Please contact us immediately if the dealer fails or is unable to make the necessary repairs free of charge. You may also contact the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888- 327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov if you believe the dealer 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 to have this repair performed. Sincerely, Subaru of America, Inc. Notice to Lessors: Under Federal law 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.) A subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 7 Continued… Dear Subaru Owner: This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. In April 2013, we notified you that SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in some 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles. We informed you that we would send you a second letter when repair parts became available. Those parts are now available. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT Subaru has determined that your vehicle is equipped with carpeted floor mats. The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification, which can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat. DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY HAZARD Curling of the driver side floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of, the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. Brake or accelerator pedal interference may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash. REPAIR To correct this condition, Subaru will replace the carpeted floor mat set at no cost to you. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO You should contact your Subaru dealer and schedule an appointment to have a replacement floor mat set installed. Please present this letter to your Subaru Dealer on the day of your service appointment along with the original floor mats for exchange. PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE If you have not already done so, you should immediately remove the driver’s carpeted floor mat from the vehicle and store it for future return. Do not replace it with any of the other mats. HOW LONG WILL THE REPAIR TAKE? The actual time to install the carpeted floor mat set is approximately 10 minutes. However, it may be necessary to leave your vehicle for a longer period of time on the day of your scheduled appointment to allow your dealer flexibility in scheduling. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The condition described only poses a safety risk when an affected Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mat is installed in the driver’s floor position. Once the mat is removed from the vehicle, the safety risk no longer exists. 2ND OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER Important Safety Recall Notice Subaru Recall Campaign WQH-44 NHTSA Recall No. 13V-159 June 2013 Bulletin Number: WQH-44; Date: June 2013 Page 8 If your vehicle was delivered without carpeted floor mats installed, this notice does not apply to you. However, new carpeted floor mats are now available for your vehicle. Please schedule an appointment with your Subaru dealer. The mats will be installed at no cost to you. Genuine Subaru All-weather floor mats (rubber, non-carpeted mats) are not affected by this recall CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR SOLD YOUR SUBARU? If you have moved or sold your vehicle, please complete the enclosed prepaid postcard and mail it to us. Or, if you prefer to update this information online, please go to www.subaru.com, select Contact Us then select Update Address from the drop down menu. IF YOU NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE: To locate the nearest Subaru Dealer you can access our website at www.subaru.com and select “Find a Dealer”. For additional information and for the most Frequently Asked Questions, please go to: • http://www.wqh44.service-campaign.com If you need additional assistance, please contact us directly: • E-mail: Go to www.subaru.com and select “Contact Us”. • Telephone: 1-800-SUBARU3 (1-800-782-2783) Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET. Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. ET • U.S. Postal mail: Write us at Subaru of America, Inc. Attn: CDS Department, P.O. Box 6000, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000. Please contact us immediately if the dealer fails or is unable to make the necessary repairs free of charge. You may also contact the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888- 327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov if you believe the dealer 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 to have this repair performed. Sincerely, Subaru of America, Inc. Notice to Lessors: Under Federal law 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.) A subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Dealers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: April 25, 2013 Subject: New Subaru Recall Campaign: 2014MY Forester Carpeted Floor Mats Subaru of America, Inc. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists on certain 2014MY Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with Genuine Subaru carpeted floor mats. The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification, which can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat resulting in a potential safety hazard. This action applies to: • Affected vehicles with carpeted floor mats sold on or before 4/22/13. • Affected vehicles in dealer inventory shipped to dealers on or before 4/12/13. Your Region will provide you with a list of affected VINs currently in your inventory. • Any affected vehicle replacement carpeted floor mats shipped to dealers on or before 4/24/13. (p/n J501SSG300) Description of Safety Hazard Curling of the drivers floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. If this were to happen, the driver might not be able to control the vehicle as desired, possibly resulting in a crash. Recall code WQH‐44 has been assigned to this recall campaign. Repair Instructions To immediately remedy this condition, remove the mats from affected vehicles. Dealers are requested to quarantine removed mats to ensure they cannot be used in any other vehicle. Return instructions will be provided in the near future. Repair Parts Subaru is currently working both internally and with the supplier to resolve the 2014 Forester Floor Mat quality issue. It is expected that replacement mat shipments to dealers will begin in early May. Additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available. Owner Notification Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail on or around 4/26/13. Vehicle owners will be instructed to immediately remove the driver’s carpeted floor mat from the vehicle and store it for future return. They will be further advised not to replace it with any of the other mats. A second notification will be sent when replacement mats become available.

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GR13-028 Page 1 of 4 Fuji Heavy Industries U.S.A., Inc. c/o Subaru of America Subaru Plaza PO Box 6000 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-6000 856-488-8500 856-488-8669 fax April 26, 2013 Ref. No.: GR13-028 Ms. Nancy Lummen Lewis Associate Administrator for Enforcement, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Attention: Recall Management Division (NVS–215) 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE Washington, DC 20590 RE: Part 573 Defect Information Report – Carpeted Floor Mats Curling on 2014MY Subaru Forester Vehicles (Second Submission) Dear Ms. Lewis, In accordance with 49 CFR Part 573 Defect and Noncompliance Responsibility and Reports, Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc. on behalf of Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) and Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. (FHI), submits the enclosed notification and report concerning a defect of the carpeted floor mats on certain 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles sold in the United States. Our internal designation for this recall campaign is: WQH-44. Note: The enclosed updates our previous submission dated April 24, 2013 (Ref. No. GR13-027). Specifically, the following information is being added to the report: • Page 2: 573.6(c)(2)(iv) – Information Regarding Manufacturer of Defective Component o Identification of component added o Component manufacturer’s name, business address, and business telephone added o Component’s country of origin added If you have any questions on the enclosed report, please contact me at (443) 430-3619 or [email protected]. Sincerely, John Frooshani Safety Activities Manager Government Relations Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc. 13V-159 (4 pages) Amended GR13-028 Page 2 of 4 Defect Information Report (49 CFR Part 573.6) 573.6(c)(1) – Manufacturer’s Name Vehicle Fabricating Manufacturers: Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd. [“FHI”] 1-7-2 Nishi-Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 160-8316, Japan Designated U.S. Agency: Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc. 2235 Rt. 70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 573.6(c)(2)(i) – Identification of Vehicles Containing the Defect Based on vehicle production records, we have determined from production dates that the recall affected passenger car population is as follows: Make: Subaru Model Year(s): 2014 Model(s): Forester vehicles Production Dates: Certain vehicles manufactured from January 2013 through March 2013. 573.6(c)(2)(iv) – Information Regarding Manufacturer of Defective Component Information regarding the manufacturer of the defective component (i.e. manufacturer of the defective carpeted floor mats installed on certain 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles sold in the United States) is provided below: Identification of Component: Carpeted floor mats installed on certain 2014 model year Subaru Forester vehicles Component Manufacturer: Pretty Products, LLC Address: Pretty Products, LLC. / 1513 Redding Ave. / LaGrange, GA 30240 Phone Number: (706) 884-1711 Component’s Country of Origin: United States 573.6(c)(3) – Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Containing the Defect Approximately 10,137 vehicles are estimated to potentially contain the defect. 573.6(c)(4) – Percentage of Vehicles Estimated to Actually Contain the Defect Although the percentage of affected vehicles likely to actually experience the failure is unknown, replacement of each car’s four (4) carpeted floor mats will be performed on all of the potentially affected vehicles. GR13-028 Page 3 of 4 573.6(c)(5) – Description of the Defect The resin composition used for the floor mat backing was not manufactured to specification. This can cause the floor mats to curl when exposed to heat. Curling of the floor mat could distract the driver and/or interfere with proper operation of one or a combination of the vehicle’s clutch, brake, and accelerator pedals. The driver might not be able to operate the vehicle as desired, possibly resulting in a crash. 573.6(c)(6) – Chronology of Principal Events April 1, 2013: Vancouver, WA Port identified twenty-one (21) 2014MY Forester carpeted floor mats with “curling.” April 2, 2013: Alerted supplier and requested an investigation. In addition, alerted all other port locations to inspect for similar condition. April 10, 2013: Supplier reported that on a sampling of five carpeted floor mats, one exhibited “curling.” April 11, 2013: SOA issued an initial field report to FHI. April 12, 2013: SOA held a meeting to discuss the floor mat issue. At the conclusion of this meeting, all 2014MY Forester carpeted floor mat inventory was placed on hold and a determination was made to cease installation of 2014MY Forester carpeted floor mats at all port locations. April 15, 2013: A determination was made to inform dealers to remove all carpeted floor mats from 2014MY Forester vehicles in inventory. April 16, 2013: SOA shipped actual failed carpeted floor mats to FHI for further investigation. April 19, 2013: SOA held a meeting with the supplier and audited their factory, but did not obtain sufficient information. FHI received actual failed carpeted floor mats and studied how it might influence real world driving. April 24, 2013: FHI has not finished the investigation but could not wait for further information; thus, FHI concluded that it must conduct a safety recall in the U.S. market. 573.6(c)(8) – Description of the Manufacturer’s Remedy Program (i) The remedy plan calls for dealers to replace each of the vehicle’s four (4) carpeted floor mats with new ones. (ii) Subaru of America, Inc. expects to notify U.S. dealers on or around April 24, 2013. It is expected that owner notification will begin within 5 days. Subaru will update NHTSA if the situation changes significantly. 573.6(c)(10) – Submission of Recall Communications Fuji Heavy Industries USA, Inc. will provide copies of all notices, bulletins and other recall related communications within 5 days after their distribution. GR13-028 Page 4 of 4 573.6(c)(11) – Manufacturer’s Campaign Number Our identification code for this recall campaign is: WQH-44 577.5(a) – Submission of Owner Notification Letter A copy of the owner notification letter will be submitted to NHTSA’s Recall Management Division at least 5 days prior to mailing.

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2014 Forester Carpet Floor Mats Procedures for Vehicles Delivered to Dealers Without Mats or Delivered With Faulty Mats, Which Are Not Subject to the WQH44 Recall Campaign June 5, 2013 Please note: Only those vehicles that were retailed at the time of the April 15, 2013 Dealer Notice concerning 2014 MY Forester Carpeted Floor Mats are included in the WQH44 recall campaign. Please refer to the recall campaign bulletin in STIS for detailed information. For the recall claims, an individual Part Return Notice will be sent to your dealership when the recall claim is approved. All other 2014 MY Foresters received with carpeted floor mats that were not retailed at the time of the Dealer Notice, and vehicles sent to the dealers without carpeted floor mats, will be covered under warranty for installing replacement carpeted floor mats. The carpeted floor mats removed from the in‐stock vehicles several weeks ago, and stored at your dealership, must be handled as follows:  These carpeted floor mats must be returned to the following address: SOA Part Collection Center 4105 Haggerty Ln Ste B Lafayettte, IN 47905‐8733 Attn: Field Quality Analysis Manager  See Section 15.3 of the Subaru Claims Policies and Procedures Manual in Subarunet/Service‐ Claim Entry/Info for proper shipping procedures.  Please include dealer identification with your shipment(s), and consolidate your shipment(s) as efficiently as possible.  Save your shipping records, including number of mats returned, to be confirmed by your DPSM during his or her visit to your dealership. Listed below are the warranty claim reimbursement procedures, for vehicles received with or without carpeted floor mats that are NOT included in the WQH44 recall campaign. CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES Dealers may submit a warranty claim through Vehicle Claim Entry on Subarunet.com. Replacement carpeted floor mat sets will be sent to dealers at no charge. However, dealers may claim $32.72 in sublet for reimbursement of the parts handling allowance normally included in the MSRP of the floor mat set. Claim Type Failure Code Labor Part Number Sublet Amount for Parts Handling WC ZFQ‐48 A063‐100 0.2 hrs. J501SSG301 $32.72 If you have any questions, please call the Claims Helpline at 1‐866‐782‐2782.

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