WRO-23 Water Pipe Bolt Tightening – 2024 Subaru Forester

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Subarunet Announcement To: All Subaru Retailers From: Subaru of America, Inc. Date: October 27, 2023 New Safety Recall: WRO-23 Water Pipe Bolt Tightening Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2024 model year Forester vehicles. Description of the Defect and Safety Risk The vehicles included in this recall may have insufficiently tightened engine water pipe attachment bolt(s). Over time, a loose attachment bolt may result in the water pipe losing its seal and coolant may leak. If coolant were to leak, it could contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts to the specified torque at its port processing facilities prior to delivery to Subaru retailers. Affected Vehicles A total of 49 U.S. vehicles will be included in this recall as listed below. Not all vehicles produced on the same production date are affected by this recall. None of the potentially affected vehicles have been sold to retailers or retail purchasers. This information will be available later today. Model Year Carline Production Date 2024 Forester September 13, 2023 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. Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions None of the potentially affected vehicles have been sold to retailers or retail purchasers. Subaru will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts to the specified torque at its port processing facilities prior to delivery to Subaru retailers.

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-723 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Subaru of America, Inc. Submission Date : OCT 26, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23V-723 Manufacturer Recall No. : WRO-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 : 49 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2024-2024 Subaru Forester Vehicle Type : LIGHT VEHICLES Body Style : SUV Power Train : GAS Descriptive Information : Description of the issue: The affected vehicles may have an insufficiently tightened engine water pipe attachment bolt(s). The basis for how the recall population was determined: 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 were assembled with properly tightened bolts. The recall population includes certain 2024 model year Forester vehicles. The number of potentially affected Forester vehicles is 49. Production Dates : SEP 13, 2023 – SEP 14, 2023 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The affected vehicles may have an insufficiently tightened engine water pipe attachment bolt(s). Over time, a loose attachment bolt may result in the water pipe losing its seal and coolant may leak. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : If coolant were to leak, it could contact a hot exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a fire. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-723 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of the Cause : An inadequate work instruction may have caused the water pipe attachment bolts to be insufficiently tightened during the engine assembly process. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : NR Involved Components : Component Name 1 : WATER PIPE Component Description : PIPE ASSY-WATER Component Part Number : 14049AA851 Component Name 2 : WATER PIPE Component Description : PIPE ASSY-WATER Component Part Number : 14049AA831 Component Name 3 : WATER PIPE Component Description : PIPE ASSY-WATER Component Part Number : 14049AA821 Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Subaru Address : NR NR Country : NR Chronology : September 13, 2023 – Subaru identified an insufficiently tightened water pipe attachment bolt on an engine assembly and opened an investigation. September 14 – October 11, 2023 – Subaru identified a work instruction as the likely root cause. Subaru then identified the potentially affected production period and vehicle population. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-723 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 October 19, 2023 – For the entire population of potentially affected vehicles, Subaru is not aware of any field reports, warranty claims, or VOQs related to this condition. However, out of an abundance of caution, Subaru decided to conduct a safety recall. Subaru is not aware of any reports involving accident, fire or injury related to this condition. Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : For all the potentially affected vehicles, Subaru will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts to the specified torque at its port processing facilities prior to delivery to Subaru dealers. None of the potentially affected vehicles have been sold to dealers or retail purchasers. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : Not Applicable. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The recall condition was corrected in production on September 14, 2023. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : For all the potentially affected vehicles, Subaru will tighten the water pipe attachment bolts to the specified torque at its port processing facilities prior to delivery to Subaru dealers. None of the potentially affected vehicles have been sold to dealers or retail purchasers. Dealer notification is expected to occur on October 27, 2023. Owner notification is not required for this recall. A representative copy of the Part 577 owner notification letter will be uploaded to NHTSA within 60 days. Planned Dealer Notification Date : OCT 27, 2023 – OCT 27, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : DEC 22, 2023 – DEC 22, 2023 * NR – Not Reported

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