Note: An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect model year for Legacy and Outback vehicles involved in the recall.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Subaru is recalling vehicles in the United States for potential lighting problems that could lead to smoke or fire, according to U.S. safety regulators.
The recall by Subaru, owned by Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., potentially affects some Forester vehicles from model years 2009 through 2012, all Legacy and Outback vehicles from model years 2010 and 2011, and some Tribeca vehicles from model years 2006 through 2012, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The vehicles potentially affected by the recall are equipped with accessory puddle lights that when lit brighten the areas under the doors, according to NHTSA documents.
Technically, the recall includes 634,000 vehicles that could have been equipped with the feature, but a Subaru spokesman said the recall involves only 53,999 cars equipped with the lights. The wider number of owners must be alerted because the company does not know which cars have them.
There have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue, but there was one report of smoke, the spokesman said.
A short circuit can develop when the light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source such as road spray that has road salt in it, NHTSA said. That can cause heat that could melt the plastic, resulting in smoke or fire.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional harness, NHTSA said. The recall is expected to begin next month.
