WRN-23 – Propeller Shaft Center Brace Mounting Surfaces – 2023 Subaru Outback, Legacy, Ascent, & Impreza

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Retailers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: September 22, 2023 New Safety Recall: WRN-23 Propeller Shaft Center Brace Mounting Surfaces Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2023 model year Outback, Legacy, Ascent and Impreza vehicles. Description of the Defect and Safety Risk Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts on affected vehicles may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. If the vehicle is driven with the bolt loosened, occupants may experience irregular sounds and/or vibrations from the propeller shaft area during vehicle operation. In the worst case, if both of the center support bolts completely come out due to continuous vibration, the front end of the propeller shaft could separate, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy For all the potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will clean the bolt seating surfaces of the center support brace, install new bolts, and tighten to the specified torque at no cost to the customer. Affected Vehicles A total of 4,311 U.S. vehicles will be included in this recall as listed below. Not all vehicles in the production range listed below are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. This information will be available later today. Model Year Carline Production Date Range 2023 Outback March 21, 2023 – March 31, 2023 2023 Legacy March 21, 2023 – March 30, 2023 2023 Ascent March 20, 2023 – March 29, 2023 2023 Impreza (4-door) March 22, 2023 – March 27, 2023 2023 Impreza (5-door) March 22, 2023 – March 31, 2023 Please be advised that the parts supply for this recall is not yet available. Therefore, the WRN23 recall coverage status for the affected VINs will be ‘Open-Remedy not yet available’ until the parts are available. We expect parts to be available in October, at which time the VIN status will be updated to allow repairs to begin. Retailers will be notified when this update occurs. 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 $26,315 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. Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions For detailed service, parts, and claim instructions, please refer to the WRN-23 Product Campaign Bulletin which will be available on STIS when parts are available. Owner Notification Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail within 60 days. Retailers will be advised when owner notification is scheduled.

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Subaru of America, Inc. Submission Date : SEP 21, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-647 Manufacturer Recall No. : WRN-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 : 4,311 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2023-2023 Subaru Outback Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : SUV Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. -The basis for how the recall population was determined: Vehicles potentially equipped with an affected center support brace were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles equipped with a center support brace which was properly manufactured are not affected. The recall population includes certain 2023 model year Outback vehicles. The number of potentially affected Outback vehicles is 2,490. Production Dates : MAR 21, 2023 – MAR 31, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Vehicle 2 : 2023-2023 Subaru Legacy Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : 4-DOOR Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. -The basis for how the recall population was determined: Vehicles potentially equipped with an affected center support brace were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles equipped with a center support brace which was properly manufactured are not affected. The recall population includes certain 2023 model year Legacy vehicles. The number of potentially affected Legacy vehicles is 366. Production Dates : MAR 21, 2023 – MAR 30, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Vehicle 3 : 2023-2023 Subaru Ascent Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : SUV Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. -The basis for how the recall population was determined: Vehicles potentially equipped with an affected center support brace were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles equipped with a center support brace which was properly manufactured are not affected. The recall population includes certain 2023 model year Ascent vehicles. The number of potentially affected Ascent vehicles is 1,043. Production Dates : MAR 20, 2023 – MAR 29, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Vehicle 4 : 2023-2023 Subaru Impreza Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : STATIONWAGON Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. -The basis for how the recall population was determined: Vehicles potentially equipped with an affected center support brace were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles equipped with a center support brace which was properly manufactured are not affected. The recall population includes certain 2023 model year Impreza vehicles. The number of potentially affected Impreza vehicles is 264. Production Dates : MAR 22, 2023 – MAR 31, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Vehicle 5 : 2023-2023 Subaru Impreza Vehicle Type : Body Style : Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : -Description of the issue: Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. -The basis for how the recall population was determined: Vehicles potentially equipped with an affected center support brace were identified using vehicle production records. -How the recalled products differ from products that were not included in the recall: Vehicles equipped with a center support brace which was properly manufactured are not affected. The recall population includes certain 2023 model year Impreza vehicles. The number of potentially affected Impreza vehicles is 148. Production Dates : MAR 22, 2023 – MAR 27, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 Page 4 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : Some mounting surfaces for the propeller shaft center support brace bolts may have been inadvertently painted during the supplier’s manufacturing process. If these mounting surfaces are painted, the support brace bolts may not retain the specified torque. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : In the worst case, if both of the center support bolts completely come out due to continuous vibration, the front end of the propeller shaft could separate, increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : Masking applied to the center support brace mounting surfaces prior to painting may not have been fully seated on some of the bolt mounting surfaces. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : Occupants may experience irregular sounds and/or vibrations from the propeller shaft area during vehicle operation. Involved Components : Component Name 1 : PROP SHAFT AY ECC Component Description : Propeller Shaft Assy Component Part Number : 27111XC00C Component Name 2 : PROP SHAFT ASSY Component Description : Propeller Shaft Assy Component Part Number : 27111AN12A Component Name 3 : PROP SHAFT ASSY Component Description : Propeller Shaft Assy Component Part Number : 27111AN13A Component Name 4 : PROP SHAFT AY ECC Component Description : Propeller Shaft Assy Component Part Number : 27111FL04C Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 Page 5 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Component Name 5 : PROP SHAFT AY EMC Component Description : Propeller Shaft Assy Component Part Number : 27111FL05C Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Hitachi Astemo Americas, Inc Address : 34500 Grand River Ave. Farmington Hills Michigan 48335 Country : United States Chronology : April 3, 2023 – A low torque value of a fixing bolt of the propeller shaft center support brace was identified during an inspection sampling at the factory. April 4, 2023 – Subaru opened an investigation with the supplier. Subaru initiated a 100% inspection of propeller shaft center support assemblies in response to the initial supplier observation that there may be an issue in the paint masking process. April 27, 2023 – The supplier presented the findings of their investigation, including the scope of affected parts shipments. May 24, 2023 – Subaru determined the broad scope of potentially affected vehicles. June – August, 2023 – Subaru and the supplier conducted endurance-vibration testing on the propeller shaft center support and fixing bolts. September 14, 2023 – For the entire population of potentially affected vehicles, Subaru is not aware of any field reports, warranty claims, or VOQs. However, out of an abundance of caution, Subaru decided to conduct a safety recall. Subaru is not aware of any reports involving accident or injury related to this condition. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-647 Page 6 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : For all the potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will clean the bolt seating surfaces of the center support brace, install new bolts and tighten to the specified torque. Subaru will provide reimbursement to owners for repairs according to the general plan submitted in May 2022. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : N/A Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : Subaru began 100% inspection of propeller shaft center support assemblies on April 4, 2023. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Dealer notification is expected to occur by September 22, 2023. Owner notification is scheduled to begin on or about November 20, 2023. Planned Dealer Notification Date : SEP 22, 2023 – SEP 22, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : NOV 20, 2023 – NOV 20, 2023 * NR – Not Reported

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