Subaru of America has issued a safety recall on certain 2019-2022 model year Subaru Ascent vehicles.

The ground bolt that secures the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient heater may have been improperly fastened during vehicle production, the company said in a statement.

Subaru said the condition may result in the melting of the ground terminal and surrounding components, increasing the risk of fire when the PTC heater is in operation. There have been no crashes or injuries due to this issue. A total of 271,694 vehicles are affected by the recall.

Until the inspection and repair is completed by an authorized Subaru dealer, customers are being advised to park their vehicle away from garages, car ports, or other structures, and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. 

The inspection and repair will be completed at no cost to the customer.

If an owner notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver’s footwell area, they should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the “off” position.

To find out if a vehicle is affected, owners are advised go to https://www.subaru.com/recalls.html and enter the vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number. 

Checking for a new or old recalls on your vehicle is easier than you think. Enter your vehicles VIN number at NHTSA recalls site or checktoprotect.org to see if your vehicle has a open recall.

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