Some Subaru Ascent Owners To Get A Brand-New Model Thanks To A Recall

The Subaru Ascent recently went on sale in the United States and it’s already a hit with consumers as the model is out selling the Legacy.

Unfortunately, the early success is being marred by a slightly unusual recall which will see owners of the crossover being given a brand-new model.

While most recalls simply involve a minor fix and a visit to the dealership, Consumer Reports says this issue is significantly more complex as some of the welding robots at the plant that builds the Ascent were improperly programmed. As a result, “some of the spot welds around the B-pillar were missed [and] the strength of the vehicle’s body may be reduced, potentially increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from the recall, but Subaru says it affects 293 Ascents. However, a Subaru spokesperson told the publication that only nine of the models have been sold to consumers and remaining vehicles are on dealership lots or in transit.

While only nine consumers are impacted by the recall, Subaru is taking the unusual step of their replacing their Ascent with a new one. It’s doubtful that owners have logged too many miles on the recalled crossovers – as it involves Ascents built between July 13 and July 21 – but those nine people will be getting a new model.

While it’s rare for automakers to fully replace recalled vehicles, Consumer Reports noted it has happened twice in the past two years. These recalls involved the Jaguar XF and a handful of Volkswagen models including the Eos, Golf, GTI, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg.