Recall 12V254 affects 1,886 2013 Subaru Brz vehicles with incorrect front-passenger air-bag instructions. Subaru mailed corrected owner's manuals free of charge.
Subaru is recalling 1,886 2013 Brz vehicles because the owner's manual gives an inaccurate description of the front passenger occupant classification system and needs clearer air bag instructions. That misinformation can increase the risk of injury to front seat occupants in certain crashes, and the Subaru dealer remedy will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The affected item is the owner's manual for the 2013 Subaru Brz. It is supposed to explain how the front passenger occupant classification system works, which is the system that reads the front passenger seat and helps the air bag system respond correctly under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208.
In this recall, the manual does not accurately describe the actual operation of that front passenger system. Subaru also identified other air bag sections that needed clearer wording. The defect is in the information given to the owner, not a broken sensor or air bag module named in the filing.
An owner would not hear, feel, or see a mechanical warning from the vehicle because the problem is the manual language. There is no warning sign before failure. The practical concern is that the owner has incomplete or inaccurate instructions about the passenger air bag system.
Who's affected?
| 2013 Subaru Brz | vehicle equipment |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 1,886 |
Not every 2013 Subaru Brz coupe is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific coupe is included.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect owner's manual information can leave front seat occupants using safety guidance that does not match the vehicle, increasing injury risk during certain crash conditions. Use the corrected manual when Subaru provides it, and ask a Subaru dealer if seat or restraint instructions are unclear. Repair will be free at any franchised Subaru dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013 Subaru Brz is included in this recall.
- Contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 if you did not receive the corrected owner's manual.
- Request the corrected owner's manual pages that clarify front passenger occupant classification and air bag system operation.
- Reference recall number 12V254 when you call Subaru.
- Use the corrected owner's manual guidance for front passenger seating and air bag information once Subaru provides it.
What happens at the repair
Subaru's remedy is a corrected owner's manual, not a parts replacement. Subaru mailed corrected manuals free of charge after the safety recall began on June 19, 2012. If your VIN is included and you never received the corrected manual, contact a Subaru dealer and ask for the corrected owner's manual for campaign 12V254. The dealer can confirm the manual update tied to your vehicle and provide the corrected air bag and occupant classification information at no charge.
Timeline
| June 5, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 19, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V254?
Recall 12V254 covers 1,886 2013 Subaru Brz vehicles with owner manuals that describe the front passenger occupant classification system incorrectly and need clearer air bag language. Subaru mailed corrected owner's manuals free of charge under this recall.
What should I do if my 2013 Subaru Brz is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Brz is included in recall 12V254. If it is, confirm that you have the corrected owner's manual from Subaru. Reference recall number 12V254 when you contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Subaru's remedy is free under this recall. For recall 12V254, Subaru mailed corrected owner's manuals to owners at no charge after the safety recall began on June 19, 2012.
What is the safety risk?
Incorrect owner manual language about the front passenger occupant classification system and air bag system increases the risk of injury to front seat occupants during certain crash conditions. The correction is the updated Subaru owner's manual language for the affected 2013 Brz.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V254000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-800-782-2783 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V254 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V254000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →