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Campaign 16V359 Posted May 25, 2016 146,010 units

2003-2008 Subaru Air Bag Recall 16V359: Inflator

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 31, 2026

Recall 16V359 covers 146,010 2003-2008 Subaru and Saab vehicles for passenger air bag inflators. Repair is free at franchised Subaru dealers.

Subaru is recalling 146,010 2003-2008 Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles sold or registered in Zone B states because the passenger front air bag inflator can rupture during a crash. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Subaru dealers will complete the free repair.

Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?

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What's wrong?

The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca sits inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash where the front air bag deploys, the inflator burns propellant to fill the air bag quickly so it can cushion the passenger.

On affected vehicles, the Takata non-desiccated inflator uses phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant. That propellant breaks down after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling, especially in Zone B states listed for this recall. When a degraded inflator activates, the burn is too aggressive and pressure inside the metal inflator rises beyond its design limit. The inflator body can rupture, sending metal fragments into the passenger compartment during air bag deployment.

There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag system can look normal until a crash deploys the passenger frontal air bag.

Who's affected?

Spans 6 models across the 2003-2008 model years; all use the same passenger-side front air bag inflator module.

2004 Subaru Legacy front air bag
2003 Subaru Outback front air bag
2004 Subaru Outback front air bag
2005 Subaru Baja front air bag
2003 Subaru Baja front air bag
Units affected146,010

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.

What's the safety risk?

A passenger frontal air bag inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, striking occupants and causing serious injury or death. Treat this as a prompt repair issue and confirm whether your VIN is included before scheduling service. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2008 Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, or Tribeca is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement.
  3. Bring the recall notice if Subaru mailed one. If you do not have it, reference recall number 16V359 when you call.
  4. Ask Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500 about recall TKB-16 if the dealer needs help confirming the passenger air bag inflator repair.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Subaru technician replaces the passenger frontal air bag inflator in the affected air bag module. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free of charge. Subaru and General Motors handled owner notices for the Subaru and Saab-badged vehicles in this campaign, but the repair path is the same: schedule the recall work with the dealer and confirm that this campaign applies to your VIN.

Timeline

May 25, 2016 NHTSA published the recall
August 24, 2016 Owner notification mailed
April 23, 2018 VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 16V359?

Recall 16V359 covers 146,010 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles in Zone B states with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture during deployment. Metal fragments can strike occupants, causing serious injury or death.

What should I do if my 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, or Tribeca is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V359. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer and ask for the passenger frontal air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 16V359 and Subaru recall number TKB-16 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect to be repaired at no cost, and the dealer will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 16V359.

What is the safety risk in recall 16V359?

The risk is metal fragments entering the cabin during passenger air bag deployment. NHTSA campaign 16V359 states that the inflator can rupture after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling, and fragments can strike occupants, causing serious injury or death.

What if I bought this vehicle used?

The free recall repair still applies. Ownership history does not remove a federal safety recall. Check your VIN because this recall depends on the exact vehicle and Zone B registration history, then call a franchised Subaru dealer if your VIN is included.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V359000
Subaru customer service1-856-488-8500
NHTSA recall #16V359
NHTSA recall # (full)16V359000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →