Passenger side: inflator moduleRecall 20V-001 · Saab and Subaru vehicles

Subaru of America, Inc. recall 20V-001 covers 258,813 Saab and Subaru vehicles for a passenger side: inflator module problem, reported to NHTSA on January 2, 2020. The manufacturer's latest report (2023 Q2) shows 82% of affected vehicles repaired.

82%
Vehicles repaired212,286 of 258,813 · 2023 Q2
Vehicles affected258,8137 models
ReportedJan 2, 2020Owners notified Jan 7, 2020
Complaints since102Same system, after the recall

Source: NHTSA recall 20V001000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.

What's wrong

The problem

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.

The risk

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

The fix

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.

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.

Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Repair progress

How fast cars are being fixed

82%repaired

Share of affected vehicles repaired in each quarterly report the manufacturer filed with NHTSA.

0%50%100%2020 Q12023 Q2
7 models

Vehicles in this recall

Built from March 8, 2002 to May 23, 2014. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.

Background

The investigation behind this recall

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · open
    NHTSA