ATTENTION:

CLAIMS PERSONNEL q

IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE MANAGER

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PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

NUMBER: WTU-80

2019MY Ascent

SUBJECT: STOPSALE/Recall
Possible Missing Spot Welds

DATE: 08/02/18
NHTSA ID: 18V-508
REVISED: 08/08/18

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2019 model year Ascent vehicles, due to the
possibility of some missing body structure welds. A total of 293 U.S. vehicles are affected by this
recall.
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
$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.

AFFECTED VEHICLES:
A total of 293 U.S. vehicles are affected by this recall. Coverage for all affected vehicles must be
confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com.
Model Year
2019

Carline
Ascent

Production Date
July, 2018

Your Region/Distributor will provide you with a detailed list of the affected vehicles. If you have
any of the affected vehicles in inventory, please ensure your sales and service staff are immediately
notified that any unsold unit(s) are un-saleable until the recall remedy is completed, and the recall
claim is recorded in the system by the SOA Claims group.
NOTE: Not all VINs produced in the date range listed above are affected by this recall.
Coverage for all affected vehicles must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function
on subarunet.com. This information is now available.

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.

Bulletin Number: WTU-80; Revised 08/08/18

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.

Page 1 of 5

CONDITION:
There is a possibility that some spot welds were missed during production around the B-pillar.
If these spot welds were missed, the strength of the vehicle’s body may be reduced, potentially
increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REMEDY:
Subaru factory representatives will be dispatched to inspect all affected vehicles. Please isolate any
affected vehicles at your dealership and do not allow them to be test-driven or delivered to a retail
customer until the inspection is completed.
OWNER NOTIFICATION:
Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail. Owners with a valid email address on
file with MySubaru.com will also be notified by email.
Owner notification is expected to occur by the end of August for any retailed vehicles that have not
been inspected by that time.
RETAILER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY:
Any vehicles listed in a recall/campaign that are in retailer 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 the Product Campaign
Bulletin.

Whenever a vehicle subject to any recall is taken into retailer inventory or in for service, necessary
steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the
vehicle.
SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
Retailers will be provided a detailed list of any affected sold and unsold vehicles by their respective
Regional Office / Distributor.
Subaru factory representatives will be dispatched to inspect all affected vehicles. Please isolate
any affected vehicles at your dealership for that inspection.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WTU-80; Revised 08/08/18

Page 2 of 5

CLAIM PROCEDURES:
Once the Subaru factory representative’s inspection has been completed, the inspection information
will be provided to the SOA Claims group to record into the system. If the vehicle does not pass the
inspection, it will be returned to the factory and replaced with a new one.
Any unsold unit(s) are un-saleable until the claim is recorded by the SOA Claims group, indicating
that the vehicle passed the inspection.
If you have any questions, please contact the Subaru Claims Helpline at 1-866-SUBARU2 (1-866782-2782).
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.

Bulletin Number: WTU-80; Revised 08/08/18

Page 3 of 5

OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
This notice applies to the VIN below

Subaru of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 9800
Camden, NJ 08103-9800
844-373-6614
www.subaru.com

Subaru Recall WTU-80
NHTSA ID 18V-508
August 2018

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 vehicles. You received this notice because our records indicate that you currently own one
of these vehicles.
REASON FOR THIS RECALL
There is a possibility that some spot welds were missed during production around the B-pillar of your vehicle. If
these spot welds were missed, the strength of the vehicle’s body may be reduced, potentially increasing the risk of
injury in the event of a crash.
WHAT SUBARU WILL DO
A Subaru factory representative will be dispatched to your Subaru retailer (dealer) to inspect your vehicle. If your
vehicle is found to be missing any of these spot welds, Subaru will replace your vehicle with a comparable new
one at no cost to you. Subaru will also be responsible for paying any taxes, registration or other fees that may
result from this vehicle exchange.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
You should contact your Subaru retailer for an appointment to have your vehicle inspected by a Subaru factory
representative, free of charge.
HOW LONG WILL THE INSPECTION TAKE?
The time for this inspection 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 Subaru retailer flexibility in
scheduling.
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 ‘Customer Support,’ then select
‘Address Update’ or ‘Ownership Update’ from the drop-down menu.

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.’
If you need additional assistance, please contact us directly:
•

By e-mail: Go to www.subaru.com and select “Contact Us”

•

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 9800, Camden, NJ 08103-9800

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, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE,
West Building, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-4249153) 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: 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.)

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