ATTENTION:

CLAIMS PERSONNEL q

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

SERVICE MANAGER

© 2019 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

GENERAL MANAGER q
PARTS MANAGER

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PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

SUBJECT:

NUMBER: WUW-08R

2019MY Ascent
2019MY Crosstrek Hybrid (PHEV)
2019MY Forester

NHTSA ID: 19V-856
DATE: 12/04/19

PCV Valve- Design Change

REVISED: 02/04/20

INTRODUCTION:
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2019 model year Ascent,
Forester, and Crosstrek Hybrid vehicles in which the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve
may be defective.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT AND SAFETY RISK:
The PCV valve may separate and allow engine oil to enter the combustion chamber, resulting in a
visible change in appearance and/or the amount of tailpipe exhaust. If driving under this condition
continues, separated components from the PCV valve may enter the engine. If this occurs, the
vehicle may experience a loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
AFFECTED VEHICLES:
A total of 51,613 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall, as listed below:
Model Year

Carline

Production Date Range

Affected Vehicle Count

2019

Ascent

February 22, 2018 – August 31, 2018

18,193

2019

Forester

July 4, 2018 – March 21, 2019

33,383

2019

Crosstrek PHEV

September 11, 2018 – October 8, 2018

37

Not all vehicles in the production ranges listed above are affected by this recall. Coverage must be
confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com prior to repair. The
status of this recall will display as “Open- Limited Parts Yet Available” until sufficient parts supply is
available to support this recall.
PARTS:
Sufficient remedy parts supply is expected to be available within this month. Once available, parts
must be ordered through PRIME. Please refer to ‘Recalls & Campaigns/PRIME Max Quantities’ on
Subarunet for the orderable quantities.
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.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 1 of 6

RETAILER RESPONSIBILITY:
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). In-stock, unsold vehicles may be repaired with existing
replacement parts inventory (see PARTS INFORMATION below). Those parts should be ordered
through normal parts ordering channels. Please refer to the service procedure and claim submission
information within this bulletin.
Additionally, once the PCV valve kits are available, 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.
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 $21,000 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.
OWNER NOTIFICATION:
Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail within 60 days. Owners with a valid
email address on file will also be notified by email. Retailers will be advised when the notification is
scheduled.
PARTS INFORMATION:
ASCENT:
A Service Parts Kit, p.n. X1181AA010 for use on ASCENT models only is now available. The
kit will consist of a new PCV valve and the 2- one-time use o-rings required to be replaced when
removing the intercooler assembly.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 2 of 6

FORESTER and CROSSTREK PHEV:
Replace the PCV Valve using p.n. 11810AA230. Reinstall the original
PCV hose.
SERVICE PROCEDURE:
REMINDER: Customer satisfaction and retention starts with performing quality repairs.
The PCV Valve on the affected models listed above may have been produced improperly. If the PCV
Valve is broken, its internal components may have fallen into the engine. This may result in a large
amount of white smoke from the tail pipe.

Flow Chart:

Step 1: Remove the PCV Valve following the procedure in the applicable Service Manual.
•

If the PCV valve is BROKEN (NG), proceed to Step 2 and remove the engine following the
procedure in the applicable Service Manual.

•

If the PCV valve is OK (NOT broken), replace it with a new PCV valve to complete the
procedure following the applicable Service Manual. Proceed to the Claim Reimbursement
and Entry Procedures section.
Continued...

Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 3 of 6

Step 2: Following the applicable Service Manual procedures, remove the oil separator cover and
collect the PCV valve components (4 small parts) as shown in the photos below. If all four (4) of
the PCV valve components cannot be collected after removing the oil separator cover, proceed with
removing the oil pan to collect any remaining components.

TIP: If any PCV
valve components
remain in the oil
pan-side passage,
apply compressed
air to the oil pan
side passage as
shown below.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
•

Always wear safety glasses.

•

Never reuse the oil separator cover as it is a one-time use item. Replace it with p.n.
11831AA260.

Step 3:
• If all the broken PCV valve components cannot be collected, replace the short block
assembly along with a new PCV valve following the applicable Service Manual procedures.
•

If all the broken PCV valve components are collected, install a new separator cover and PCV
valve. Reassemble the vehicle in reverse order following the applicable Service Manual
procedures to complete the procedure.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 4 of 6

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 / Model
Applicability
Ascent

Crosstrek
PHEV

Forester

PCV VALVE INSPECTION / REPLACEMENT

A145-641

0.4

0.3

0.2

PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R,
SEPARATOR COVER REMOVAL TO COLLECT
PCV PARTS, REPLACE PCV VALVE

A145-642

5.1

3.4

4.6

PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R,
SEPARATOR COVER & OIL PAN REMOVAL TO
COLLECT PCV PARTS, REPLACE PCV VALVE

A145-643

6.1

4.2

5.4

PCV VALVE INSPECTION, ENGINE R&R,
SEPARATOR COVER & OIL PAN REMOVAL,
COLLECT PCV PARTS, REPLACE SHORT
BLOCK & PCV VALVE

A145-644

13.4

12.2

13.3

Fail
Code

Claim
Type

WUW-08

RC

NOTE: When claiming for the ThreeBond 1217H sealer:
•

If the repair is replacing the PCV ONLY, use p.n. SOA635322 for sealing the PCV valve
threads.

•

If the repair required involves resealing the separator cover and oil pan, use p.n. SOA635068.

•

If the repair required involves Shortblock assembly replacement, use p.n. SOA635305.

CALIFORNIA “VEHICLE EMISSION RECALL - PROOF OF CORRECTION”
CERTIFICATE
The California Air Resources Board and the Department of Motor Vehicles Registration/Recall
Program requires that all emission related Recall/Campaign or Service Program repairs be completed
before a vehicle registration is renewed. Please provide owners of vehicles registered in the state of
California a completed “Vehicle Emission Recall - Proof of Correction” certificate. Vehicle owners
should be advised to retain this certificate because the California Department of Motor Vehicles may
require they provide proof this service program repair has been completed.
Additional certificates are available through normal parts ordering channels using part number
MSA6P1301. Quantity 1 = 1 booklet of 50 certificates.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 5 of 6

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.
Part Number

Applicability

Description

Order Quantity

MSA6P1302

All Models

Campaign Completion Labels
(contains one sheet of 20 labels)

1

WUW-08

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: WUW-08R; Revised: 02/04/20

Page 6 of 6