WRH-23 Safety Recall/STOP SALE – Tire Bead Damage – 2023 Subaru Ascent

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Bulletin Number: WRH-23; Date: 04/07/23 Page 1 of 3 PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN Continued… 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. NUMBER: WRH-23 DATE: 04/07/23 NHTSA ID: TBD APPLICABILITY: 2023MY Ascent SUBJECT: Safety Recall/STOP SALE – Tire Bead Damage Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall and stop sale for certain 2023 model year Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. Description of the Defect and Safety Risk The vehicles included in this recall/stop sale may be equipped with tires that were damaged during the wheel mounting and assembly process. A misaligned bead guide arm on the tire mounting equipment may have caused excessive stress on the tire bead during mounting, possibly causing damage to the internal structure of the tire. Internal damage to the tire bead may lead to structural failure of the tire and rapid tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru retailers will remove and replace all four tires with new ones at no cost to the customer. All removed tires should be rendered unusable and be disposed of according to local regulations. Affected Vehicles A total of 4,409 U.S. Subaru Ascent vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below: Model Year Carline Production Date Range 2023 Ascent (w/20” wheels) December 1, 2022 – January 5, 2023 Not all vehicles in the production date range listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. This information is now available. 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. ©2023 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Bulletin Number: WRH-23; Date: 04/07/23 Page 2 of 3 Continued… Retailer Responsibility 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 $22,423 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. 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). 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. Owner Notification Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail in May. Retailers will be notified when the owner notification has been scheduled. PART INFORMATION: The tires are to be ordered using the normal ordering process through the Subaru Tire Center. Part Description Part Number Quantity FALKEN ZIEX ZE001 A/S 245/50/20 45HR0ZE001AS 4 SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION: STEP 1: Using a wax pen or tape, mark the position of ALL four wheels. STEP 2: Replace ALL four tires following the Service Procedures supplied in the applicable Service Manual. STEP 3: Using a unibit, drill bit, or hole saw, CAREFULLY drill one hole in the sidewall of ALL four tires above the DOT number. It is important to perform this step to confirm the tires cannot be re-used in any way. See the example images below. Bulletin Number: WRH-23; Date: 04/07/23 Page 3 of 3 STEP 4: CONFIRM ALL the wheel nuts are torqued in a star pattern to 120 Nm (12.2kgf-m, 88.5ft-lb). IMPORTANT: • The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) re-registration is NOT REQUIRED after tire replacement. The only exception to this is if a TPMS sensor requires replacement. In that case, follow the TPMS registration procedure supplied in the applicable Service Manual. • Perform a road test when the repair is complete to confirm there are no TPMS or sound issues. 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. 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 Fail Code 4 OEM TIRES R&R A112-104 1.0 WRH-23 NOTES: • Tire shipping costs and up to $20.00 dollars can be claimed for tire disposal in sublet. • Part number SOA635009 is to be used for maximum of two wheel weights per wheel used. 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.

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Retailers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: April 5, 2023 New Safety Recall/STOP SALE: WRH-23 Tire Bead Damage Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall and stop sale for certain 2023 model year Ascent vehicles equipped with 20-inch wheels. Description of the Defect and Safety Risk The vehicles included in this recall/stop sale may be equipped with tires that were damaged during the wheel mounting and assembly process. A misaligned bead guide arm on the tire mounting equipment may have caused excessive stress on the tire bead during mounting, possibly causing damage to the internal structure of the tire. Internal damage to the tire bead may lead to structural failure of the tire and rapid tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru retailers will remove and replace all four tires with new ones at no cost to the customer. All removed tires should be rendered unusable and be disposed of according to local regulations. Affected Vehicles A total of 4,409 U.S. Subaru Ascent vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below: Model Year Carline Production Date Range 2023 Ascent (w/20” wheels) December 1, 2022 – January 5, 2023 Not all vehicles in the production date range listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. This information is now available. Retailer Responsibility 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 $22,423 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. 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). 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. Owner Notification Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail in May. Retailers will be notified when the owner notification has been scheduled. Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions The WRH-23 Product Campaign Bulletin will be available on STIS by the end of this week. The service, parts, and claim instructions that will be included in the bulletin are listed below, so that affected stop sale vehicles may be repaired: PART INFORMATION: The tires are to be ordered using the normal ordering process through the Subaru Tire Center. Part Description Part Number Quantity 245/50 20.0 ZIEX ZE001 A/S FALKEN 45HR0ZE001AS 4 SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION: REMINDER: Customer satisfaction and retention starts with performing quality repairs. STEP 1: Replace ALL four tires following the Service Procedures supplied in the applicable Service Manual. STEP 2: Using a unibit, drill bit, or hole saw, CAREFULLY drill one hole in the sidewall of ALL four tires. It is important to perform this step to confirm the tires cannot be re-used in any way. See the example images below. STEP 3: CONFIRM ALL the wheel nuts are torqued in a star pattern to 120 Nm (12.2kgf-m, 88.5ft-lb). IMPORTANT: • The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) re-registration is NOT REQUIRED after tire replacement. The only exception to this is if a TPMS sensor requires replacement. In that case, follow the TPMS registration procedure supplied in the applicable Service Manual. • Perform a road test when the repair is complete to confirm there are no TPMS or sound issues. 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. 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 Fail Code 4 OEM TIRES R&R A112-104 1.0 WRH-23 NOTE: Up to $20.00 dollars can be claimed in sublet for tire disposal. WRH-23

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-258 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Subaru of America, Inc. Submission Date : APR 07, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-258 Manufacturer Recall No. : WRH-23 Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : Subaru of America, Inc. Address : One Subaru Drive Camden NJ 08103 Company phone : 844-373-6614 Population : Number of potentially involved : 4,409 Estimated percentage with defect : 100 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2023-2023 Subaru Ascent Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : SUV Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: The affected vehicles, equipped with 20” wheels, may be equipped with tires that were damaged during the wheel mounting and assembly process. The basis for how the recall population was determined: Potentially affected vehicles were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles not included in this recall are equipped with properly mounted tire and wheel assemblies or are equipped with 18” wheels. The recall population includes 2023 model year Ascent vehicles. The number of potentially affected vehicles is 4,409. Production Dates : DEC 01, 2022 – JAN 05, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : During the wheel/tire assembly process, a mis-aligned bead guide arm caused excessive stress on the tire bead, possibly causing damage to the internal structure of the tire. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-258 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of the Safety Risk : Internal damage to the tire bead may lead to structural failure of the tire and rapid tire deflation, increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : The bead guide arm on a piece of tire mounting equipment was knocked out of alignment. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : NR Involved Components : Component Name 1 : Tire Component Description : FALKEN ZIEX ZE001 A/S 245/50R20 Component Part Number : 28121XC01A Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Subaru Address : NR NR Country : NR Chronology : February 17, 2023 – Subaru received a technical report based on a reported flat tire where the technician noted a break in the sidewall. Subaru opened an investigation. March 2023 – The results of the investigation indicated that the tire bead was being over stressed during the tire/wheel mounting process. Further investigation found that the bead guide arm on a piece of tire mounting equipment had been out of alignment from December 5, 2022, to January 10, 2023, when it was repaired after the condition was identified during routine inspection. March 31, 2023 – Subaru decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall. Subaru is only aware of 10 technical reports in the U.S. market between February 17, 2023 and March 31, 2023. Subaru is not aware of any crashes or injuries resulting from this condition Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-258 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will remove and replace all four tires with new ones. All removed tires will be rendered unusable and be disposed according to local regulations. Subaru will provide reimbursement to owners for repairs according to the general plan submitted in May 2020. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The replacement tires are new tires that have not been damaged in the process of being mounting on the wheel. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : Subaru corrected the condition in the vehicle manufacturing process beginning January 10, 2023. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Dealer notification occurred April 5, 2023. Owner notification is scheduled to begin before June 6, 2023. Planned Dealer Notification Date : APR 07, 2023 – APR 07, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : JUN 06, 2023 – JUN 06, 2023 * NR – Not Reported

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