Japanese Carmaker Subaru Recalls Over 118,000 Vehicles Due to Airbag Issue

A Subaru logo at the Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo, on October 23, 2019. Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

Japanese automotive firm Subaru is recalling more than 118,000 vehicles due to a potential issue that could prevent airbags from deploying during a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on March 26.

Roughly 118,723 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles manufactured between 2020 and 2022 are impacted by the recall, according to a notice (pdf) issued by NHTSA.

Officials said the affected vehicles may be equipped with defective Occupant Detection System (ODS) sensors on the front passenger seat. The impacted vehicles were identified using vehicle production records, NHTSA said.

“There is a possibility that, during the production process in a specific period at a certain supplier, the ODS Sensor Printed Circuit Board (PCB) became deformed, causing a crack to form in a capacitor, which can allow moisture to enter the capacitor over time and result in a short circuit,” the agency said.

This could prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying properly in a crash, according to NHTSA.

“If the short circuit occurs, the SRS [Supplemental Restraint System] airbag system warning lamp will illuminate, [the] front passenger’s frontal airbag OFF indicator will illuminate and the front passenger airbag may not deploy in certain crashes as designed, increasing the risk of injury to an occupant in the seat,” the notice said.

Sensor Replacement

Subaru received 23 technical reports and 253 warrant claims related to the issues and opened a returned part investigation with the supplier, according to the notice. “Based on new information provided by the supplier, Subaru began its review process to evaluate the safety impact specific to Subaru vehicles and determine the potentially affected vehicle population,” the notice reads. On March 15, “Subaru decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall campaign.”

The automobile manufacturer said it is not aware of any injuries resulting from the issue. Subaru dealers will replace all four of the sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge, for all potentially affected vehicles.

Letters will be mailed to owners informing them of the safety risks surrounding the vehicles in May, Subaru said. Owners will also receive a second letter once sufficient remedy parts are available, the vehicle maker said.

The Epoch Times contacted Subaru for further comment.

Previous Recalls

The latest recall comes just over a week after Stellantis recalled around 285,000 vehicles due to a manufacturing defect that could cause airbags to rupture unexpectedly, hurling metal fragments at drivers and passengers and potentially injuring or killing them.

Hyundai Motor America and Kia America also recalled nearly 150,000 electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States this month over an electronics issue, specifically a damaged charging unit.

New Hyundai cars are displayed on the sales lot at San Leandro Hyundai in San Leandro, Calif., on May 30, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The NHTSA said that the integrated charging control unit in those vehicles could become damaged, leading to a failure in charging the 12-volt battery. This could result in a loss of drive power and thereby increase the risk of a crash.

That recall came just days after the two automakers pulled 170,000 EVs off the road in South Korea over problems with software in the charging systems that could cause the vehicles to stop while driving.

In February, Chrysler recalled more than 330,00 Jeep Grand Cherokees because of a steering wheel issue that could potentially cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

Also in February, General Motors recalled around 820,000 pickups in North America because the tailgates of the vehicles could unlatch and open unexpectedly. At the time the recall was announced, GM said it was aware of one reported incident of a minor injury and three minor property damage complaints related to the issue.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.