Passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode
Defect Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
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.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Subaru Of America, Inc. or involving Air Bags.
FAQ: Recall 18V012000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 18V012000?
NHTSA recall 18V012000 was issued by Subaru Of America, Inc. on January 9, 2018. It addresses: Passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode. The recall affects approximately 64,179 vehicles, with the defect involving the Air Bags component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Subaru Of America, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 18V012000 or the manufacturer campaign number TKA-18. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.