Subaru recalls various vehicles with airbag inflator issue

Subaru of America is recalling 43,394 model year 2010-2013 Foresters, model year 2010-2014 Tribecas, WRXs, Outbacks & Legacys, and model year 2010-2011 Imprezas sold, or ever registered, in 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.

The vehicles are equipped with 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.

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger airbag 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.