NHTSA campaign 12V602000 · Subaru campaign WQE-41
Subaru Recall 12V-602: Accessory Puddle Light may Short-circuit
NHTSA recall 12V602000 (Subaru campaign WQE-41) was reported by SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. on December 26, 2012, with 633,842 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Subaru Tribeca, Subaru Forester, Subaru Legacy and more for model years 2006–2012. Owners were notified on February 19, 2013, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 12V602000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Subaru VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 12V602000 (also written 12V-602 or 12V602)
- Filed by
- SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- Subaru campaign number
- WQE-41
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 633,842 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Exterior Lighting
- Owners notified
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 12V602000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 12V602000.
Defect description
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outback vehicles, certain model year 2006 through 2012 Tribeca vehicles sold before January 2012, and certain model year 2009 through 2012 Forester vehicles sold before January 2012. Up to 78,650 of these vehicles may have been equipped with accessory puddle lights that, when illuminated, brighten the area under the doors of the vehicle. A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (such as road spray that has road salt in it) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector(s).
Safety consequence
Over time, migration of the moisture into the circuit board and/or into the connector cavity, may result in a short circuit of the puddle light system. This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire.
Manufacturer remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fused-harness, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2013. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783 for more information.
Notes
Subaru's recall campaign number is WQE-41.Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 12V602000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.