ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

q

PARTS MANAGER

q

CLAIMS PERSONNEL

q

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

SERVICE MANAGER

q

© 2023 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY:

2023 Ascent

SUBJECT:

Lower Control Arm Castle Nut /
Improper Torque

NUMBER: WRJ-23R
DATE: 06/02/23
REVISED: 06/05/23
NHTSA ID: 23V-392

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2023 model year Ascent
vehicles that may be equipped with a front lower control arm with a loose castle nut.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT AND SAFETY RISK:
The affected vehicles may be equipped with either a left or right front lower control arm with an
insufficiently tightened ball joint castle nut. Over time, the rotational movement of a loose castle
nut could result in the sheering of the retention pin. Without a functional retention pin, the castle nut
could eventually fall off completely, allowing the ball joint to separate from the lower control arm.

If the ball joint separates from the lower control arm while driving, the vehicle may experience a loss
of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
REMEDY
Subaru dealers will inspect the five (5) affected vehicles and, if the castle nut is determined to be
loose, replace the lower control arm assembly at no cost to the customer.
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-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 1 of 6

AFFECTED VEHICLES
A total of five (5) U.S. vehicles will be included in this recall as listed below:
Model Year

Carline

Production Date Range

2023

Ascent

March 31, 2023 – April 3, 2023

Not all vehicles in the production date 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.
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.
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 will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail by the end of June. Retailers will be
advised when owner notification is scheduled.
PART INFORMATION:
REMINDER: The parts required may vary depending on the results of the torque inspection
performed.
Part Name

Part Number

Quantity

LOWER ARM ASSEMBLY-FRONT, RIGHT

20202XC00A

1

LOWER ARM ASSEMBLY-FRONT, LEFT

20202XC01A

1

SELF LOCKING NUT

902330009

1

FLANGE BOLT

901000425

2

STUD BOLT

901370012

1

COTTER PIN

051030320

1

SELF LOCKING NUT

902330007

1

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 2 of 6

SERVICE PROCEDURE / INFORMATION:
STEP 1: Refer to the VIN table below to confirm the affected side of the vehicle.
VIN

Section To Be Inspected

P3434783

Right (passenger) side

P3434823

Right (passenger) side

P3434849

Right (passenger) side

P3434691

Left (driver) side

P3434636

Right (passenger) side

STEP 2: Raise the vehicle using the lift manufacturer’s specified procedures.

STEP 3: Using the table shown in STEP 1 above, remove and discard the lower control arm castle
nut cotter pin on the VIN specified side.

STEP 4: Using a paint marker, mark an alignment line on the joint portion of the lower control arm
and the castle nut. See the images below.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 3 of 6

STEP 5: Set a torque wrench to 39Nm (28.8ft. lbs.). Tighten the castle nut until the torque limit is
indicated by the torque wrench.

STEP 6: Perform a visual inspection of the markings made to the castle nut and lower control arm.
If the markings indicate the castle nut has moved during the torque procedure, the lower control arm
assembly will require replacement. If the markings indicate no movement, only the cotter pin will
require replacement. See the images below.

Has movement of the castle nut been detected?
YES: Proceed to STEP 7.
NO: Replace the one-time use cotter pin. No further action is required.
STEP 7: Replace the affected front lower control arm assembly as per the applicable Service Manual.
Refer to STIS Suspension > FRONT SUSPENSION > Front Arm

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 4 of 6

IMPORTANT NOTES:

•

The lower control arm assembly comes complete
with the ball joint and control arm bushings
previously installed as an assembly.

•

IMPORTANT: The Service Manual uses a black star (★)
in the component breakdown illustrations to indicate
one-time use parts which MUST be replaced.

STEP 8: Perform a four-wheel alignment.
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.

Continued...
Bulletin Number: WRJ-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 5 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

CASTLE NUT INSPECTION

A111-421

.2H

INSPECTION AND LEFT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM
R&R AND ALIGNMENT

A111-423

1.9H

INSPECTION AND RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM
R&R AND ALIGNMENT

A111-424

1.9H

Fail Code

WRJ-23

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: WRJ-23R; Revised: 06/05/23

Page 6 of 6