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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
