The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·17V014000·Announced 2017-01-10

Subaru Recalls Vehicles Due to Front Passenger Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk

Subaru is recalling specific 2005-2012 models because front passenger air bag inflators may rupture in a crash, potentially causing serious injury or death.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in serious injury or death, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural vehicle defects involving serious harm.

Plain-English summary

Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles. The recall affects vehicles originally sold or registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The defect involves certain air bag inflators used in the front passenger air bag modules. Due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling, these inflators may rupture if the air bags deploy in a crash. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking vehicle occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator free of charge. The recall began on March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
SUBARU BAJA, IMPREZA, FORESTER, LEGACY
Brand
SUBARU
Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag Inflator
Hazard
Affected units
53,480

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (8)

  • BAJA
  • IMPREZA
  • FORESTER
  • LEGACY
  • TRIBECA
  • OUTBACK
  • B9 TRIBECA
  • WRX

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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