Subaru recall: Air bags
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
What could happen
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-18.
Vehicles covered
- Subaru Forester 2009
- Subaru Impreza 2009
- Subaru Legacy 2009
- Subaru Outback 2009
- Subaru Tribeca 2009
- Subaru Wrx 2009
Facts
- NHTSA recall number
- 18V014000
- Type
- Vehicle
- Filed by
- Subaru Of America, Inc.
- Reported to NHTSA
- Jan 9, 2018
- Owners notified
- Feb 9, 2018
- Vehicles or items affected
- 72,150
- Started by
- NHTSA investigation
- Built
- Dec 3, 2007 to Mar 31, 2009
- Part
- Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
- Maker's own recall number
- TKC-18
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.
Other recalls for the same vehicles
- Subaru recall: Suspension Oct 19, 2026
- Subaru recall: Equipment Jul 7, 2026
- Subaru recall: Visibility May 28, 2026
- Subaru recall: Structure Dec 18, 2025
- Subaru recall: Child seat Jun 19, 2025
- Subaru recall: Wheels Jan 23, 2025
To check one car, enter its 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA page: a recall may cover only some vehicles of a model year.
Recall data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.