Update - New Subaru Defective Takata Airbag Recall Details - What You Should Know

The Takata defective airbag recall affects hundreds of thousands of Subaru Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, WRX, WRX STI, Tribeca, and Baja models. The faulty airbags affect many automakers, and it's not over yet. Automotive News reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it identified the 18th U.S. death tied to a Takata airbag inflator rupture after the review of a recent BMW crash.

The AN report says more than 290 U.S. injuries are tied to faulty Takata inflators and at least 27 deaths worldwide. There have been 15 U.S. deaths reported in Honda vehicles and two in Ford vehicles since 2009.

Can the airbag rupture and explode in a Subaru vehicle?

While no injuries or deaths have occurred in a Subaru vehicle, the NHTSA says, "Long-term exposure to high heat and humidity can cause these airbags to explode when deployed. Such explosions have caused injuries and deaths." If the inflator ruptures, metal fragments could strike passenger-side occupants, potentially causing severe injury or death.

All Subaru vehicles recalled

2009 to 2013 Subaru Forester
2003 to 2014 Subaru Outback
2004 to 2011 Subaru Impreza
2004 to 2014 Subaru WRX and WRX STI
2003 to 2014 Subaru Legacy
2006-2014 Tribeca
2003 to 2006 Subaru Baja

How do I know if my Subaru has been recalled?

Subaru has issued a recall for all Subaru models equipped with the defective Takata airbags. Subaru has notified all owners with open recalls to schedule repair service at their local Subaru retailer free of charge. Because the recall is massive, parts may not be available for your vehicle. Subaru is working with all available airbag manufacturers to increase the supply of proper replacement inflators soon.

The NHTSA urges Subaru owners to take a few simple steps to protect themselves and others from this severe threat to safety.

What should owners do?

The Subaru recall is only related to the passenger-side front airbag in certain Subaru vehicles. It does not affect driver-side front airbags, which were not equipped with Takata inflators. Therefore, if your car requires an airbag replacement, Subaru and the NHTSA recommend that occupants not use the front passenger seat until the repair is performed.

How can I check if my Subaru has an open recall?

Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 844-373-6614. There are three recall numbers for this issue: TKA-20, TKB-20, and TKC-20.

To see if your Subaru Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, WRX, WRX STI, Tribeca, or Baja has an open recall, use the VIN Lookup Tool. Subaru encourages owners to re-check every three months for updates.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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