More than 118 thousand Subarus in the US are recalled due to airbag defects

JakartaHerald.com - Subaru has issued a recall for 118,723 vehicles across the Legacy and Outback models in the United States due to airbag defects.

All of these vehicles have the potential to experience issues with the passenger detection system manufactured by Aisin Electronics.

In cases where the system fails to function properly, the passenger side airbag may not deploy in the event of an accident. 

Subaru estimates that only one percent of the recall population actually has a safety concern. The affected vehicles include Outback and Legacy models from 2020 to 2022.

"During production, the Occupant Detection Sensor Circuit Board may have deformed, leading to the formation of cracks on the capacitor, which could allow moisture to enter the capacitor over time and cause a short circuit," said a statement from Subaru quoted by Carscoops on Thursday. 

The Japanese automaker, known for its signature All Wheel Drive (AWD) feature, advises vehicle owners to watch out for two warning signs that may appear in their cars. 

Firstly, the SRS Airbag light will illuminate. Secondly, the light indicating that the passenger airbag is off should remain lit even if there is a passenger in the seat.

Between January 2021 and February of this year, Subaru received 23 technical reports regarding this issue. 

On February 15, 2024, the supplier issued a recall to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a month later, Subaru decided to initiate a recall as well due to the same problem. Interestingly, Subaru was aware of 253 warranty claims related to this defect but had no reports of injuries associated with it. 

Subaru owners who wish to find out if their vehicle is affected can contact their local dealer or search for their VIN on the NHTSA website.