Campaign 23V-076

Replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly

Defect summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2004-2005 Impreza and WRX vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence

An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the passenger inflator and if necessary, install a new inflator kit, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14, 2023. Owners may contact Subaru's customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRF-23.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 23V076000. Text as published by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered

2 product lines are covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about airbags on these vehicles: 29, of which 8 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 23V-076
Make	Model	Model years	Complaints on this component
Subaru	Impreza	2004 to 2005	26
Subaru	WRX	2004 to 2005	3

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.

Investigation

No NHTSA investigation is linked to this recall

Most recalls are started by the manufacturer. This one lists "Manufacturer" as its origin.

Before the recall

1 service bulletin on this component came first

Distinct manufacturer communications on the same component group, make, model and model year in the 24 months before the report date.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications file.

Service bulletins

24V-227 Mar 22, 2024
Capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from…
20V-003 Jan 2, 2020
Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling
20V-002 Jan 2, 2020
Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling
20V-001 Jan 2, 2020
Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling
19V-910 Dec 19, 2019
Replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag…
19V-701 Oct 3, 2019
Electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen