Investigation PE96075: 1994–1996 Subaru Impreza

Status

CLOSED

Opened

Dec 18, 1996

Closed

Apr 30, 1997

Model years

1994–1996

Subject

Oversensitive air bag deployment

Component: Air bags

Summary

Odi has reviewed 33 complaints of oversensitive' air bag deployment (I.e., any non-crash deployment) received by odi and subaru involving model year 1995 subaru impreza & legacy vehicles and all other impreza & legacy vehicles equipped with air bag systems identical or similar to those in the 1995 impreza & legacy; they are late 1994-1996 impreza and all1995 & 1996 legacy (33 complaints out of 165,385 vehicles).odi's analysis indicates that certain impreza & legacy vehicles - - late 1994 & early 1995 impreza and all 1995 & early 1996 legacy (29 complaints out of 95,678 vehicles) -- have much higher complaint rate than the remaining vehicles which are different in vehicle structure or equipped with different air bag sensing system.most of the complaints (26 of the 29) indicate that the vehicle's dual air bags deployed from an undercarriage impact with a curb, bump, dip, pothole, etc.in the remaining 3 complaints, the driver alleged that the air bags deployed inadvertently or without any impact.in 13 of the 29 cases, only the vehicle's front tow hooks reportedly were found damaged or showed evidence of impact, and in 6 other cases both tow hooks and other undercarriage components were reportedly damaged or impacted; no details were given in the 10 remaining cases.this pe has been upgraded to ea97-010

An NHTSA investigation looks into whether a safety defect exists. Opening one is not a finding. Outcomes can include a recall, closure without action, or further inquiry.

Model years covered

• 1996 Subaru Impreza20 complaints
• 1995 Subaru Impreza46 complaints
• 1994 Subaru Impreza8 complaints