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2012 SUBARU Outback AIR BAGS Recalls

9 recalls Highest severity: High Priority

All recalls are free to repair at your local dealership. Contact your dealer to schedule service for AIR BAGS issues.

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AIR BAGS Safety Recalls

High Priority #20V002000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger airbag inflator in your vehicle is a critical safety device that deploys in the event of a crash. In certain 2003-2014 Subaru models, including your Forester, Impreza, or Legacy, this inflator may have been replaced previously due to a similar issue. However, it could still fail and explode in the future, causing serious harm.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator explodes, it will send sharp metal fragments flying into the vehicle, putting you and your passengers at risk of serious injury or even death.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the passenger airbag inflator with a new, safer one at no cost to you. You should schedule this repair as soon as you receive the recall notice – it's a crucial step to protect your safety on the road.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of 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 or "Zone B." 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag 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 TKB-20.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #20V003000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The airbag inflator in your vehicle is a critical safety component that could deploy in the event of a crash. In some older Subaru models, the inflator's propellant can degrade over time, especially in humid environments.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator fails, it could explode and send sharp metal fragments flying into the cabin, posing a serious risk of injury or even death to you or your passengers.
Free Fix
Your Subaru or Saab dealer will replace the faulty airbag inflator with a new, safer one at no cost to you. This repair is necessary to ensure your safety on the road, and you should schedule it as soon as possible.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally 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 or "Zone C." 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag 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 TKC-20.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #20V001000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger airbag inflator in your vehicle is a critical safety device that deploys in the event of a crash. In certain Subaru models, this inflator may be prone to exploding due to aging and humidity, causing sharp metal fragments to fly towards you or your passengers.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal pieces could hit you or your passengers, leading to severe injuries or even death. This is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate attention.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty airbag inflator with a new, safer one at no cost to you. This is a free repair, and you should schedule it as soon as possible once you receive the recall notice.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — 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.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #19V008000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The air bag in your passenger seat is designed to protect you in a crash. In some 2010-2014 Subaru models, a part called the inflator module could fail and not work properly, even after years of normal use.
Risk if Unfixed
If this happens, the air bag might not deploy correctly, and sharp metal fragments could hit you or your passengers, causing serious injury or even death.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty air bag inflator with a safe one, at no cost to you. Just schedule an appointment when you get the recall notice, and they'll take care of it.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of 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. 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
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.
Original — Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #19V007000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The airbag in your vehicle's passenger seat is designed to protect you in the event of a crash. However, in certain Subaru models, the inflator that makes the airbag deploy could rupture, causing metal shards to fly towards you.
Risk if Unfixed
If the airbag inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments could hit you or other passengers, leading to serious injury or even death.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty passenger airbag inflator with a safe one, free of charge. You should schedule the repair as soon as possible.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
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.
Original — Remedy
Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #19V009000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger air bag in your vehicle is designed to protect you in a frontal crash. The inflator module is a critical part that makes the air bag deploy correctly. In some Subaru models from 2010-2014, this part may not work properly due to exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
Risk if Unfixed
If the air bag inflator explodes in a crash, it could send sharp metal fragments flying towards you, the driver, or other passengers. This could cause serious injury or even be fatal.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty air bag inflator with a new one at no charge to you. You should schedule the repair as soon as possible to ensure your safety on the road.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
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.
Original — Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #18V012000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The passenger air bag inflator in your vehicle is the part that helps keep you safe in case of a crash. In some 2009-2013 Subaru models, this inflator could fail and explode, causing severe injury or death.
Risk if Unfixed
If the inflator explodes, sharp metal fragments could shoot out and hit you or other passengers, causing serious harm or even death.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the faulty air bag inflator with a new one, at no cost to you. The repair is free, and you should schedule it as soon as possible.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. 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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
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.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, 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 TKA-18.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #17V014000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Manufacturer
Subaru of America, Inc.
What Happened
The front passenger air bag in your vehicle is a safety feature that inflates in a crash to cushion your body. In certain 2005-2012 Subaru models, the air bag inflator could fail and rupture, releasing sharp metal fragments.
Risk if Unfixed
If the air bag inflator ruptures, metal shards could hit you or your passengers, causing serious injury or even death. This is a life-threatening scenario that requires immediate attention.
Free Fix
Subaru will replace the faulty air bag inflator with a new one, free of charge. You should schedule the repair as soon as possible to ensure your safety on the road.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Original — Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →
High Priority #12V047000 Plain English
Component

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Manufacturer
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
What Happened
The side curtain air bags in your Legacy or Outback are designed to protect you from side impacts. In some 2012 models built in a specific period, the air bags might not deploy as intended due to a faulty propellant mixture.
Risk if Unfixed
If you're in a side collision, the side curtain air bags might not deploy, which could leave you more vulnerable to injury, even with the seatbelt on.
Free Fix
Your Subaru dealer will replace the side curtain air bag modules with new ones, free of charge. You'll get a notification with the scheduled repair date, and you should contact them as soon as you receive it.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
SUBARU IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 LEGACY AND OUTBACK VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 1, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 23, 2011. THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS THAT CONTAIN AN INCORRECT PROPELLANT MIXTURE FOR THE INITIATOR COMPONENT USED, RESULTING IN INSUFFICIENT OUTPUT OF COMPRESSED GAS.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Original — Remedy
SUBARU WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG MODULES, FREE OF FEBRUARY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUBARU AT 1-800-782-2783.
View full recall details → Repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Find a dealer →

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