Recalled Subaru Vehicles with Takata Airbag Inflators

Posted on
Author
Scott McCracken
Tagged
#airbags-and-seat-belts #recall
Test dummy getting hit by an airbag with the Takata logo superimposed.

Takata's inflators use a chemical called ammonium nitrate to inflate the airbag during a crash. The ammonium nitrate can become unstable when exposed to temperature fluctuations or high humidity, causing the inflators to explode with an unexpected amount of force. How much force? Enough to rupture the metal cannister during a deployment and spray sharp fragments out into the cabin during a crash.

Accornding to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 15 drivers have been killed and 250 people injured by an exploding Takata inflator.

Which Subaru Vehicles Have Been Recalled? ∞

Given the scope of these recalls, NHTSA decided to spread out the recalls to get replacements to owners in the highest-risk regions or zones first. The last wave of inflator-related recalls is expected to begin in early 2020.

A zone is a group of states and territories where a vehicle was originally sold or registered at some point in time.

  • Zone A: 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.
  • Zone B: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
  • Zone C: 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.
MakeModelYearsLimited To
SubaruBaja2005-2006Zone A, B
2003-2006Zone C
Forester2009-2012Zone A
2009-2010Zone B
2009-2013Zone C
Impreza2006-2011Zone A
2006-2010Zone B
2006-2011Zone C
Impreza WRX2006-2011Zone A
2006-2009Zone B
2006-2008Zone C
2004-2005
Impreza STi2006-2011Zone A
2006-2009Zone B
2006-2008Zone C
2004-2005
Legacy2003-2004Zone A, B, C
2009-2012Zone A
2009-2010Zone B
2009-2014Zone C
Outback2003-2004Zone A, B, C
2009-2012Zone A
2009-2010Zone B
2009-2014Zone C
Tribeca2006-2012Zone A
2006-2010Zone B
2009-2014Zone C
2006-2008
WRX2009, 2012Zone A
2009-2010Zone B
2009-2014Zone C

A few notes about zones:

  1. A vehicle can be recalled in more than one zone.
  2. When no zone is defined, the recall was more widespread. Possibly internationally.
  3. If you find this all very confusing, you're not alone my friend.

Owners of these vehicles are urged to call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or lookup your VIN (vehicle identification number).

"Consumers that are uncertain whether their vehicle is impacted by the Takata recalls, or any other recall, can contact their manufacturer’s website to search, by their vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm whether their individual vehicle has an open recall that needs to be addressed."

Generations Where This Problem Has Been Reported

This problem has popped up in the following Subaru generations.

Most years within a generation share the same parts and manufacturing process. You can also expect them to share the same problems. So while it may not be a problem in every year yet, it's worth looking out for.

Further Reading

A timeline of stories related to this problem. We try to boil these stories down to the most important bits so you can quickly see where things stand. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts for your vehicle over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Subaru is recalling 783,000 vehicles to replace dangerous Takata airbag inflators.

    This campaign is part of an industry-wide effort involving more than a dozen automakers and 1.7 million vehicles. The chemical inside of Takata airbag inflators can become unstable over time, leading to violent and sometimes deadly airbag deployments. The recall is for both driver and passenger side inflators in certain 2010-2014 model years, but is limited to certain states.

    keep reading article "The Latest 783,000 Subaru Vehicles Recalled with Takata Inflators"

  5. This latest round of Takata recalls has been split into what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is calling "zones" across the country.

    See the full list of recalled vehicles.

    Takata's metal inflators are at risk of exploding because they don't contain a drying agent called desiccate. Over time, the ammonium nitrate inside the inflator can become unstable when exposed to heat and humidity. If they do explode during an airbag deployment, metal shrapnel shoots throughout the cabin, injuring or killing the people inside.…

    keep reading article "Subaru Recalls 383,000 Vehicles with Takata Airbags"

OK, Now What?

Maybe you've experienced this problem. Maybe you're concerned you will soon. Whatever the reason, here's a handful of things you can do to make sure it gets the attention it deserves.

  1. File Your Complaint

    CarComplaints.com is a free site dedicated to uncovering problem trends and informing owners about potential issues with their cars. Major class action law firms use this data when researching cases.

    Add a Complaint

  2. Notify CAS

    The Center for Auto Safety (CAS) is a pro-consumer organization that researches auto safety issues & often compels the US government to do the right thing through lobbying & lawsuits.

    Notify The CAS

  3. Report a Safety Concern

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is the US agency with the authority to conduct vehicle defect investigations & force recalls. Their focus is on safety-related issues.

    Report to NHTSA