Subaru has issued a recall for over 118,000 SUVs and sedans in the United States due to a potential issue that could prevent airbags from deploying in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall on Wednesday, covering certain Outback and Legacy models produced between 2020 and 2022.
According to the NHTSA, the issue involves a cracked and short-circuited capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS). This could prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.
Subaru has responded to the recall, stating that safety is their top priority and that they are committed to informing owners of the Takata airbag inflator recall, which affects vehicles across the industry. The company is offering free repairs to replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat to address the issue.
This is not the first time that Subaru has encountered issues with Takata airbags. In fact, it comes just days after recalls by Chrysler and Dodge for a similar airbag inflator issue. The NHTSA noted that the recalls by Chrysler and Dodge also involved airbag inflators that could potentially rupture and cause injury or death to occupants.
In response to the recall, Chrysler is also recalling nearly 286,000 vehicles in the United States. The NHTSA stated that the issue involves side curtain airbag inflators that could rupture and release metallic fragments into the vehicle, posing a danger to occupants. The affected vehicles include certain 2018-2021 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 models.
In a statement, Stellantis-owned Chrysler attributed the issue to moisture introduced during supplier manufacturing, which could lead to stress corrosion and potential rupture of the inflator. The company also clarified that these inflators do not use the same propellant or inflator designs as the previously recalled Takata airbags.
The recall by Stellantis last year involved 2003 Dodge Ram pickups, where the company warned 29,000 owners to stop driving their vehicles immediately until repairs were made. This was in response to one person being killed due to an exploding Takata airbag inflator.
Subaru has also issued a statement regarding the recall, emphasizing the importance of safety and taking every measure to meet the challenge of potentially affected vehicles. The company has provided a tool for owners to check if their vehicle is included in the recall and has advised against using the front passenger seat until repairs are made.
This recall, along with previous recalls involving Takata airbag inflators, affects millions of vehicles from various manufacturers. This means that the availability of replacement parts and service space at Subaru stores may be affected. Stellantis and Subaru have urged owners to contact their retailers with any questions or concerns regarding the recall and to prioritize safety by addressing the issue as soon as possible.
