Campaign 20V-001

Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling

View NHTSA filingAll Subaru campaigns
Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of 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 or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.

Notes

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.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 20V001000. Text as published by NHTSA.
Vehicles covered

7 product lines are covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about airbags on these vehicles: 1,138, of which 131 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 20V-001
MakeModelModel yearsComplaints on this component
Saab9-2X2005 to 200654
SubaruBaja2003 to 200617
SubaruForester2009 to 2013144
SubaruImpreza2004 to 2011145
SubaruLegacy2003 to 2014236
SubaruOutback2003 to 2014538
SubaruWRX2004 to 20144
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.