Recall 18V012000: 2009–2013 Subaru Forester and 6 other models
- Report received
- Jan 9, 2018
- Manufacturer
- Subaru of America, Inc.
- Potentially affected
- 64,179vehicles
- Model years
- 2009–2013
Check your own vehicle. A recall applies only to vehicles within the affected build range. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
What NHTSA recorded
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.
Possible consequence
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.
Remedy
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.
Affected model years
Pages for each model year show complaints, parts, mileage and other recalls.
- 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca4 complaints
- 2009 Subaru Forester178 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Forester262 complaints
- 2011 Subaru Forester147 complaints
- 2012 Subaru Forester106 complaints
- 2013 Subaru Forester78 complaints
- 2009 Subaru Impreza104 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Impreza46 complaints
- 2011 Subaru Impreza58 complaints
- 2009 Subaru Legacy65 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Legacy150 complaints
- 2011 Subaru Legacy167 complaints
- 2012 Subaru Legacy90 complaints
- 2013 Subaru Legacy66 complaints
- 2009 Subaru Outback106 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Outback360 complaints
- 2011 Subaru Outback653 complaints
- 2012 Subaru Outback294 complaints
- 2013 Subaru Outback297 complaints
- 2009 Subaru Tribeca5 complaints
- 2010 Subaru Tribeca4 complaints
- 2011 Subaru Tribeca2 complaints
- 2013 Subaru Tribeca3 complaints
- 2009 Subaru WRX41 complaints
- 2010 Subaru WRX1 complaints
- 2011 Subaru WRX4 complaints
- 2012 Subaru WRX2 complaints
- 2013 Subaru WRX7 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.