ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

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PARTS MANAGER

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CLAIMS PERSONNEL

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

SERVICE MANAGER

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© 2022 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

2009-2013 MY Forester

NUMBER: WRJ-22

SUBJECT:

Defective Left Front Seat Belt installed
as a replacement part

DATE: 11/11/22
REVISED: 12/09/22
NHTSA ID: 22V-838

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is initiating a new safety recall for certain 2009-2013 model year
Forester vehicles, in which a defective left front seat belt may have been installed as a replacement
part.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT AND SAFETY RISK
A left front seat belt assembly, installed in vehicles as a replacement part, may have been assembled
with a force limiter torsion bar that was not manufactured to specification. In the event of a crash, the
seat belt assembly may not function as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
REMEDY
For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru retailers will inspect the identification number of the left
front seat belt and replace it with a new one, if necessary, at no cost to the customer.
AFFECTED VEHICLES
A total of 16 U.S. Forester vehicles will be included in this recall, as listed below:
Model Year

Carline

Production Date Range

2009-2013

Forester

January 10, 2008 – November 14, 2012

Not all vehicles in the production 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.

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: WRJ-22R; Revised: 12/09/22

Page 1 of 7

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 is in the process of obtaining current vehicle registration data and will notify affected vehicle
owners by first class mail within 60 days. Retailers will be advised when the notification is scheduled.
PART INFORMATION:
The torsion bar portion of the force limiter mechanism may have a distorted shape due to foreign
matter inside the metal mold during production. The production equipment and inspection process
has been redelvolped to rectify the seat belt production.

REMINDER: Always order the most up-to-date replacement parts based on the specific VIN being
repaired.
Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-22R; Revised: 12/09/22

Page 2 of 7

Part Description

Part Number

BELT ASSY F OUT ULH (LEFT)

64621SC010AP

SERVICE PROCEDURE OVERVIEW FLOWCHART:

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
REMINDER: Customer satisfaction and retention starts with performing quality repairs.
STEP 1: Locate the large tag located on the left front seat belt. Read the 6-digit identification number
labeled “ID.NO.” If the number found is 373736, the seat belt MUST be replaced. A non-affected
identification number (001994) is shown in the example image below.

LH

Is identification number 373736 found printed on the tag?

YES – Proceed to STEP 2.

NO – The seatbelt is not affected. The procedure is finished.
Continued...

Bulletin Number: WRJ-22R; Revised: 12/09/22

Page 3 of 7

STEP 2: The service procedures for the left front seat belt replacement remain unchanged. Always
refer to the applicable Service Manual and review the full requirements of the repair being performed.
The Service Manual procedures contain information critical to performing an effective repair the
first time, every time. This includes but is not limited to important SAFETY precautions, proper
inspection criteria, necessary special tools, required processes and related one-time-use parts needed
for a complete and lasting repair.
Refer to STIS: Airbag System & Seat Belt System > SEAT BELT SYSTEM > Front Seat Belt
IMPORTANT: ALL affected seat belts must be returned to the Parts Collection Center (PCC).
Please collect and Hazmat ship with tracking to:
Parts Collection Center
3701 David Howarth Dr
Suite B
Lafayette, IN 47909
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

SEAT BELT INSPECTION

A065-700

0.2

SEAT BELT INSPECTION & REPLACEMENT

A913-720

0.6

Fail Code
WRJ-22

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.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-22R; Revised: 12/09/22

Page 4 of 7

URGENT
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
This notice applies to the VIN identified in
the address section printed below

Subaru of America, Inc
PO Box 9103
Camden, NJ 08101-9877
844-373-6614
www.subaru.com

Subaru Safety Recall WRJ-22
NHTSA ID 22V-838
December 2022

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 2009-2013 model year Forester vehicles.
You received this notice because our records indicate that you currently own one of these
vehicles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT AND SAFETY RISK
Our records indicate that the left front seat belt assembly in your vehicle, installed as a
replacement part, may have been assembled with a force limiter torsion bar that was not
manufactured to specification. In the event of a crash, the seat belt assembly may not
function as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
WHAT SUBARU WILL DO
Subaru will inspect the identification number on the left front seat belt assembly in your
vehicle and replace the seat belt with a new one, if necessary, at no cost to you.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Please contact your Subaru retailer (dealer) immediately for an appointment to have this
repair performed, at no cost to you.

HOW LONG WILL THE REPAIR TAKE?
The time to inspect and replace the seat belt assembly, if necessary, is less than 40
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.

OWNER INFORMATION
Government regulations require that recall notifications be sent to the last known owner of
record. That information is based primarily on state registration and title data. If you are a
lessor of this vehicle, federal regulations require you to forward this notice to your lessee
within ten days.
If you have moved or sold your vehicle, please go to https://www.subaru.com/support/
customer-support.html to send us your information.

IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR A REPAIR
If you have already paid for repairs associated with this condition, you may be eligible for
reimbursement. Reimbursement consideration will be based on the amount an authorized
Subaru retailer in your area would charge for the same repair.
Please send the original service repair order, which has the name of the repair facility, date
of repair, mileage at the time of repair, complete 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN),
and your name, with correct mailing address and telephone number to the address listed
below.
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer Advocacy Department, Attention: WRJ-22 Recall
P.O. Box 9103, Camden, NJ 08101-9877
Please send original receipts only and retain a photocopy for your records. Please be
assured that we will attempt to process your reimbursement request as quickly as possible,
but it may take up to 60 days for this process to be completed.
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 “Customer Support”

•

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 Advocacy Department
P.O. Box 9103, Camden, NJ 08101-9877

To subscribe to the NHTSA Recall Notification email System, please go to: https://wwwodi.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
(NHTSA), 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll-free Vehicle
Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.NHTSA.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.

A subsidiary of SUBARU CORPORATION