Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module (Subaru)
Vehicle recall 18V-012. NHTSA received Subaru of America, Inc.’s report on Jan 9, 2018.
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The short answer
NHTSA received Subaru of America, Inc.’s report on Jan 9, 2018. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
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.
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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module.
What should you do?
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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: 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.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 64,179 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- Subaru Foresterand 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- Subaru Legacyand 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- Subaru Imprezaand 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
- Subaru Tribecaand 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- Subaru Outbackand 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- Subaru B9 Tribecaand 2012, before the model years listed here
- Subaru WRXand 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by Subaru of America, Inc..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 27, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 27, 2026.