# NHTSA recall 12V602000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 12V602000
- Manufacturer's number: WQE\-41
- Manufacturer: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
- Reported: 2012\-12\-26
- Owners notified: 2013\-02\-19
- Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Units potentially affected: 633842

## What is wrong

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\(s\).


## What can happen

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.


## The 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.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [2012 SUBARU B9 TRIBECA](/makes/subaru/b9-tribeca/2012/recalls.md)
- [2009 SUBARU FORESTER](/makes/subaru/forester/2009/recalls.md)
- [2010 SUBARU FORESTER](/makes/subaru/forester/2010/recalls.md)
- [2011 SUBARU FORESTER](/makes/subaru/forester/2011/recalls.md)
- [2012 SUBARU FORESTER](/makes/subaru/forester/2012/recalls.md)
- [2010 SUBARU LEGACY](/makes/subaru/legacy/2010/recalls.md)
- [2011 SUBARU LEGACY](/makes/subaru/legacy/2011/recalls.md)
- [2010 SUBARU OUTBACK](/makes/subaru/outback/2010/recalls.md)
- [2011 SUBARU OUTBACK](/makes/subaru/outback/2011/recalls.md)
- 2006 SUBARU TRIBECA
- 2007 SUBARU TRIBECA
- 2008 SUBARU TRIBECA
- 2009 SUBARU TRIBECA
- 2010 SUBARU TRIBECA
- 2011 SUBARU TRIBECA

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [07\-59\-07R](/bulletins/11012260.md), 2025-01-03, Service bulletin
- [WQE41a](/bulletins/10235882.md), 2023-05-08, Service bulletin
- [WQE41](/bulletins/10235881.md), 2023-05-08, Service bulletin
- [TechTIPS](/bulletins/10235875.md), 2023-05-08, Service bulletin
- [Announcement\-2](/bulletins/10233125.md), 2023-03-20, Service bulletin
- [711016](/bulletins/10182590.md), 2020-11-16, Service bulletin
- [07\-131\-18](/bulletins/10130273.md), 2018-03-13, Service bulletin
- [ONEILL](/bulletins/10111102.md), 2017-08-14, Service bulletin
- [WQE\-41M2](/bulletins/10085114.md), 2016-11-29, Service bulletin
- [WQE41M](/bulletins/10085003.md), 2016-11-29, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/12V602000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/12V602000)

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