Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: November 16, 2023
UPDATE Safety Recall/STOP SALE: WRP-23 Driveshaft Failure
Please be advised that the inspection procedures listed in this announcement may be used for affected SSLP units, in
addition to the stop sale units affected by this recall, prior to parts availability. If an affected lot number is found, the
vehicle is to remain on HOLD until recall remedy parts are available.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) has initiated a safety recall for certain 2023 model year WRX vehicles, certain 2024
model year Crosstrek and Impreza vehicles, and certain 2023-2024 model year Forester vehicles.
Description of the Defect and Safety Risk
The vehicles included in this recall may be equipped with a front drive shaft assembly with an outer race that could
crack, due to improper cooling during the manufacturing process.
Over time, a cracked outer race could break, potentially resulting in loss of motive power. Additionally, if the outer race
breaks, the vehicle may roll when parked if the parking brake is not applied. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
For all potentially affected vehicles, Subaru dealers will inspect the left-hand and right-hand front drive shafts and where
necessary, replace them with a new one at no cost to the customer.
Affected Vehicles
A total of 3,732 U.S. vehicles will be included in this recall as listed below. Not all vehicles in the production range listed
below are affected by this recall. Coverage must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on
subarunet.com prior to repair. This information will be available later today.
Model Year
2023
2024
2024
2023-2024

Carline
WRX
Crosstrek
Impreza
Forester

Production Date Range
9/1/2023 – 9/13/2023
9/5/2023 – 9/13/2023
9/6/2023 – 9/7/2023
9/4/2023 – 9/14/2023

Please be advised that the parts supply for this recall is not yet available. Therefore, the WRP23 recall coverage status
for the affected VINs will be ‘Open-Remedy not yet available’ until the parts are available. We expect parts to be
available in December, at which time the VIN status will be updated to allow repairs to begin. Retailers will be notified
when this update occurs.

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.
Service, Parts, and Claim Instructions
For stop sale and SSLP units affected by this recall, please refer to the lot number inspection procedure included at the
end of this announcement. If an affected lot number is found during the inspection, the vehicle is to be held under the
stop sale until remedy parts are available. Retailers will be advised when parts are available.
Once parts are available, please refer to the WRP-23 Product Campaign Bulletin on STIS for detailed service, parts, and
claim instructions.
Owner Notification
Subaru will notify affected vehicle owners by first class mail within 60 days. Retailers will be advised when owner
notification is scheduled.
STOP SALE & SSLP UNITS: LOT NUMBER INSPECTION PROCEDURE PRIOR TO PARTS AVAILABILITY
The vehicles included in this recall may be equipped with a front drive shaft assembly with an outer race (shown below)
that could crack, due to improper cooling during the manufacturing process.
Over time, a cracked outer race could break, potentially resulting in loss of motive power. Additionally, if the outer race
breaks, the vehicle may roll when parked if the parking brake is not applied. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
For stop sale and SSLP vehicles only, Subaru retailers should inspect the front drive shaft lot numbers. If the affected lot
number is found, the vehicle is to remain on HOLD under this stop sale until recall remedy parts are available. A future
announcement will be made when parts are available.

SERVICE PROCEDURE FLOWCHART:
No (Vehicle is not affected)

Is the VIN in the affected VIN list?

Yes (Vehicle is affected)

Confirm the lot number engraving type.
Is 2-digit number engraved in the axis direction?
Yes

No

73

NTN

Inspect if the lot number is either of the following 2-digit numbers.
Is the number either "71", "73", or "75"?

Yes

No

The vehicle is to be placed on HOLD
under Stop Sale under further notice.

Record the lot numbers on the repair order.

End

LOT NUMBER INSPECTION PROCEDURE:
STEP 1: Lift the vehicle according to the lift manufacturer’s instructions.
STEP 2: Rotate the left/right front wheel to find the 2-Line engraving located on both the left and right outer race
portions of the inner drive shaft joints.
CAUTIONS:
• There are three engraves on the drive shaft outer race. One is the lot number, and the others are NOT lot
numbers. The lot number engraving is shown in the images below.
•

SLOWLY rotate the wheel to find the lot number. Remove and dust and/or dirt using a clean cloth to make the
numbers more visible. A flashlight will also aid in the reading.

STEP 3: Confirm the lot number engraving type and read the lot number. See the tables below for further detail.

STEP 4: Do any of the drive shafts require replacement?
YES: The vehicle should remain on HOLD under Stop Sale until remedy parts are available. No claim should be
submitted until the affected driveshaft(s) are replaced.
NO: The procedure is complete. Record the lot numbers and include them in the repair order notes, and submit
an ‘RC’ claim for inspection only.

SERVICE PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION LABEL:
If the inspection shows that both the LH and RH front driveshaft lot numbers are OK, 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.

WRP-23

CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT AND ENTRY PROCEDURES:
If the inspection shows that one or both of the front driveshafts contain an affected lot number (71, 73, or 75), the
vehicle should remain on hold under this stop sale until remedy parts are available. DO NOT SUBMIT A CLAIM UNTIL
THE AFFECTED DRIVESHAFT(S) ARE REPLACED. Further repair, parts, and claim instructions will be included in the
WRP-23 Product Campaign Bulletin once remedy parts are available.
If the inspection shows that both the LH and RH front driveshaft lot numbers are OK, credit to perform this recall will be
based on properly completed repair order information. Retailers may submit claims through subarunet.com.

Labor Description
INSPECTION ONLY OF DRIVESHAFTS
(only if both the LH and RH driveshaft lot numbers are OK)

Labor Operation
#
A121-300

Labor
Time
0.3

Fail
Code
WRP-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.