Recall 17V016 covers 62,764 2005-2008 Subaru Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles for passenger air bag inflators. Repair is free.
Subaru is recalling 62,764 2005-2008 Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can rupture after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. In a crash requiring air bag deployment, metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; the Subaru dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in these 2005-2008 Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles is the gas generator inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash that calls for the passenger air bag, the inflator burns propellant to create gas that fills the bag. That gas burst is supposed to stay controlled, so the air bag opens in front of the passenger without the inflator housing breaking apart.
The problem is inside certain Takata non-desiccated inflators. Their propellant wafers break down over time after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. When the air bag deploys, degraded propellant burns too aggressively and creates excessive pressure inside the inflator. That pressure can rupture the inflator body instead of producing a normal passenger air bag deployment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle can look and drive normally until a crash triggers the passenger frontal air bag.
Who's affected?
The included list spans the Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca across the 2005-2008 model years, all tied to the same front air bag inflator module.
| 2005 Subaru Baja | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2006 Subaru Baja | front air bag |
| 2006 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2007 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2006 Saab 9-2X | front air bag |
| 2008 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2008 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2006 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2007 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| Units affected | 62,764 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
If the inflator ruptures during air bag deployment, metal fragments can strike people in the vehicle and cause serious injury or death. Schedule the repair soon; the risk is tied to the front passenger air bag inflator, so prioritize replacement before relying on that seat. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2008 Subaru Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, or Tribeca is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free passenger air bag inflator replacement.
- Reference recall number 17V016 when you call, and bring the recall notice if you have it.
- Ask the dealer to replace the inflator that can rupture in a crash and send metal fragments toward occupants.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Subaru technician replaces the front passenger air bag inflator. The replacement part and labor are free under the recall. Subaru lists a general reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you already paid out of pocket for a related passenger air bag inflator repair before the recall notice, keep your repair order and payment documentation, then ask Subaru customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 10, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| January 13, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 6, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 8, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V016?
Recall 17V016 covers 62,764 2005-2008 Subaru Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, and Tribeca vehicles with passenger front air bag inflators that can rupture during deployment. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2005-2008 Subaru Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, or Tribeca is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V016. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer and schedule the passenger front air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 17V016 or Subaru recall TKC-17 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and the remedy for NHTSA campaign 17V016 is a free front passenger air bag inflator replacement at a dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk in recall 17V016 is inflator rupture during a crash that deploys the passenger front air bag. Per NHTSA campaign 17V016, metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants and cause serious injury or death. Confirm your VIN and schedule the free dealer repair.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner or where the vehicle was bought. If you never received a letter, check your VIN, then call a franchised Subaru dealer with recall number 17V016 or Subaru recall TKC-17.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V016000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-800-782-2783 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V016 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V016000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →