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: 2015 Subaru Outback
SUBJECT: 2015 Outback Accessory Trailer Hitch
Assembly

NUMBER: WQN-50
DATE: October 2014
NHTSA ID: 14V-577

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle
safety, exists on certain 2015 Outback vehicles equipped with a genuine Subaru accessory
trailer hitch assembly, part number L101SAL010. There may have been a mounting issue
during installation of the affected accessory trailer hitch assemblies.

AFFECTED VEHICLES
There are approximately 56 potentially affected 2015 model year Outback vehicles, produced
between 1/22/2014 and 8/18/2014. These vehicles are equipped with a genuine Subaru
accessory hitch assembly, specifically part number L101SAL010.
The affected vehicles were identified from port installation records, and from parts sales
records to retailers along with the installation information (VIN) provided by those retailers.
Vehicle coverage for this recall must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry
function on subarunet.com. This data will be available when owner notification begins.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD
Mounting nuts included in the accessory trailer hitch assembly are used to affix the trailer
hitch to eight separate threaded studs welded to the body of the affected vehicles. SOA has
determined that there may have been a mounting issue when installing the affected accessory
trailer hitch assemblies. As a result, the installer may have underestimated the amount of
torque being applied to the mounting nuts. Excessive tightening of the mounting nuts may, in
turn, damage the threaded studs on the vehicle.
If excessive tightening of the mounting nuts occurred during installation of the accessory
trailer hitch assembly, the mounting nuts may not provide sufficient force to remain attached
to the threaded studs or the threaded studs might break. If either of those conditions is
experienced while a trailer is being towed, the driver might not be able to operate the vehicle
as desired or the trailer may detach from the vehicle. Either situation could possibly result in
a crash.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REMEDY
Retailers will replace all eight (8) mounting nuts for the accessory trailer hitch assembly. Also,
the retailers will inspect all eight (8) threaded studs for damage and determine whether stud
replacement is required.
If inspection reveals that any of the studs require replacement, the retailer may need to make
arrangements to have the remainder of the repair performed by an automotive body shop.
Subaru will cover the expense of a loaner vehicle, if the repair cannot be completed the same
day it is started as a result of subletting the remainder of the repair to a body shop.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 1

OWNER NOTIFICATION
Notification letters will be sent to owners of all vehicles included in this recall. Owner
notification will occur around October 7, 2014. A copy of the Owner Notification Letter is
included at the end of this bulletin.

RETAILER AFFECTED VIN LISTS
Each Subaru retailer that sold an affected vehicle will receive notification from their Zone
Office prior to owner notification.

SUBARU RETAILER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY
Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected
vehicles in their inventory (used, demo & SSLP). Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to
this 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.
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.

Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a retailer 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 (new, used, demo) prior to the vehicle
being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to $7,000 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.

PARTS INFORMATION
The parts required for this recall are listed below:
PART NUMBER

DESCRIPTION

ORDER QUANTITY

L101SAL900

WQN-50 Hitch Repair Kit
(includes 8 threaded studs, 8 mounting nuts,
and 4 trial/testing nuts)

1

44011AL000

Exhaust Gasket

902350001

Lock Nut

Qty. 1 for H-4 vehicles
Qty. 2 for H-6 vehicles
Qty. 2 for H-4 vehicles
Qty. 4 for H-6 vehicles

Prior to owner notification, the hitch repair kits, exhaust gaskets, and lock nuts will be
distributed to each retailer that sold an affected vehicle. Retailers should not place orders
through the Parts system.
Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 2

PART RETURN PROCEDURES
Upon claim approval, SOA will generate a Part Return Notice for the hitch repair kit, part
number L101SAL900. To satisfy the Part Return Notice, the following parts must be returned
to the SOA Part Collection Center (PCC) at the shipping address listed on the notice:
•
•
•

The eight (8) original M10 nuts removed from the vehicle
The four (4) bright silver Trial Nuts used during the inspection
Any unused threaded studs not needed for the repair

A properly completed Warranty Parts Tag (MSA5W402A) and a copy of the repair order must
be included with the returned parts. Failure to return these parts will result in a claim debit.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
The Service Procedure for this campaign involves inspection of the trailer hitch frame
mounting stud bolts and replacement of the eight retaining nuts threaded onto those bolts.
Any of the threaded stud bolt(s) found to be damaged and fail the Trial Nut inspection
procedure must be replaced.
Parts Required
PART NAME:
Hitch Repair Kit
Exhaust Gasket
Lock Nuts

PART NUMBER
L101SAL900
44011AL000
902350001

QUANTITIES REQUIRED
1
1 (H-4), 2 (H-6)
2 (H-4), 4 (H-6)

The Hitch Repair Kit, p.n. L101SAL900 consists of the following:
TRIAL NUT (Bright Silver) 4 pcs.
For TESTING ONLY, must be returned to SOA with the other 8 removed nuts.

REPLACEMENT NUT (Gray) 8 pcs.
All 8 MUST be installed and torqued to 51 ft. lbs.

STUD BOLT 8 pcs.
To be replaced as needed after inspection and thread testing with the Trial Nuts.

STEP 1- Initial Disassembly and Hitch Frame Retaining Nut Inspection
•

Remove both rear combination lamp assemblies following the procedure below:
1. Remove both combination lamp covers by removing the screw clips (1).
2. Using a 10mm socket, remove the 2 bolts securing the combination lamp
assemblies. Remove the assembly by pulling straight back. (Repeat for both sides.)

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 3

3. Remove the 2 screws (3) screws securing the bumper fascia. Screws can be
accessed by CAREFULLY opening the access covers.

4. Remove the 2 combination lamp bulb sockets and harness connector from
each side.

Set all parts aside and protect from damage during bumper fascia removal.
•

Remove rear bumper fascia following the procedure below:
1. With a screwdriver, release (1) small push button fastener per side on the left
and right side of the fascia wheel well. Use the tip of the screwdriver to push the
center of the pin in.
2. With a small flat head screwdriver, remove (7) large push pin fasteners across the
length of the bumper.
3. Start at the LH side rear wheel. Using both hands, pull one side of the fascia out
from the vehicle.
4. Continue around the rear LH side. At the rear corner, begin to pull rearward and
work across the vehicle from the left to right to remove the entire bumper fascia.
5. Fully release the bumper from the vehicle body.
6. Lay the bumper fascia aside where it will not be damaged during hitch R&R.
Continued...

Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 4

TOP OF VEHICLE

TOP OF VEHICLE

•

Once the rear bumper fascia has been removed, remove each of the eight M10 (15mm
hex) retaining nuts (circled in green below) securing the hitch frame to the stud bolts
one at a time using HAND TOOLS ONLY. As each nut is removed, inspect the
flange portion of the nut for a stamping mark as follows:

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 5

•

If all eight removed nuts have an “S” stamping mark on them as shown below,
replace them with the GRAY nuts included in the Hitch Repair Kit and torque to 51
ft. lbs. in the sequence shown in the chart on pg. 8 (5-12). Once all of the new
GRAY nuts have been installed, skip ahead to STEP 7 to complete the campaign
service procedure.

•

If any of the nuts have stamping marks other than an “S”, the hitch frame must be
removed and the stud bolt threads must be closely inspected for damage.

STEP 2- Hitch Frame Assembly Removal
•

Remove the rear muffler(s) and heat shield(s). Retain the muffler bolts for re-use.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 6

•

Remove the two M12 hitch frame bolts (17mm hex) from the back of each frame rail
shown below.

STEP 3- Stud Bolt Thread Inspection Procedure
•

Inspect the threads of each stud bolt for damage.
оо If severe damage to the threads is confirmed as shown in the example photo
below, the affected stud bolt(s) must be replaced.
оо If the threads do not appear to be severely damaged, take one of the bright silver
Trial Nuts from the Hitch Repair Kit and thread it onto the stud bolt by hand. A
15mm socket can also be used to turn the nut by hand only (no ratchet or other
turning tools). Thread the Trial Nut all the way onto the stud bolt until it contacts
the body. If the Trial Nut can be threaded onto the stud bolt BY HAND, the stud
bolt does not need to be replaced. Inspect all the stud bolts using the four bright
silver Trial nuts included in the Hitch Repair Kit. Each Trial Nut should only be
used twice (to test only two stud bolts).
Trial Nut
(Bright silver finish)

Damaged Threads

•

If the Trial Nut cannot be threaded all the way on by hand as described above, the
affected stud bolt(s) will need to be replaced. Mark the affected stud bolt(s) with
paint to identify them for replacement.
Continued...

Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 7

NOTE: Slight resistance may be felt at some point(s) during this testing. If the Trial Nut can
be run back and forth BY HAND ONLY a few times and overcome the resistance, the stud
bolt is acceptable for reuse.
STEP 4- Stud Bolt Replacement
IMPORTANT: If it is determined any stud bolt replacements are required, it is recommended
the following repairs be performed by a qualified body shop which has the proper tools,
welding capabilities, and resources for restoring the vehicle’s OEM corrosion protection and
sound deadening characteristics after completing the repair.
REMINDER: Record the customer’s radio station presets and (if applicable) navigation
system favorites before sending the vehicle to the Body Shop as the battery must be
disconnected during the repair.
Mounting Stud Bolt Replacement Procedure, General Guidelines for Body Shops
•

Scrape the sound deadening and undercoating off the stud bolt flange and surrounding
area.

•

Using a small belt sander / grinder, grind the stud bolt flange away while being
careful to not overheat or damage the surrounding sheet metal

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WQN-50; Date: October 2014

Page 8

•

When the stud bolt flange gets thin enough, the edges will start to discolor from heat
and indicate the locations of the 3 welds securing it to the sheet metal. Continue
grinding CAREFULLY until the bond holding the stud bolt can be broken by tapping
it through from the outside with a hammer. If the stud bolt does not break loose with
a firm tap of the hammer, continue grinding the flange until it breaks free. DO NOT
use any excessive force which may bend or damage the sheet metal.

•

Once the damaged stud bolt(s) are removed, dress the area smooth for the
replacement. Remove any remnants of the original welds to prevent contamination
of the new welds.

•