Recall 18V012 affects 64,179 2009-2013 Subaru vehicles with passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
Subaru is recalling 64,179 2009-2013 Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, Outback, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode during crash deployment after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death, and Subaru dealers will replace the inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the affected 2009-2013 Subaru vehicles is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash severe enough to deploy the air bag, the inflator burns propellant to create gas that fills the air bag in front of the passenger.
In recall 18V012, the affected Takata inflators use phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant without a drying agent. Long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling breaks down the propellant wafers. When the air bag deploys, that degraded propellant burns too aggressively and creates excessive pressure inside the inflator. The inflator body can rupture instead of sending gas only into the air bag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle will not give a reliable light, sound, smell, or change in driving feel that tells you the passenger inflator has degraded.
Who's affected?
Covers Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, Outback, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles from the 2009-2013 model years, all tied to the front passenger air bag inflator module.
| 2009 Subaru Forester | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2009 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2009 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2009 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2009 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Forester | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Forester | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Impreza | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2012 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2012 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2012 Subaru Forester | front air bag |
| 2013 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2013 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2012 Subaru B9 Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2013 Subaru Forester | front air bag |
| 2009 Subaru Wrx | front air bag |
| 2013 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2013 Subaru Wrx | front air bag |
| 2011 Subaru Wrx | front air bag |
| 2010 Subaru Wrx | front air bag |
| 2012 Subaru Wrx | front air bag |
| Units affected | 64,179 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A passenger air bag inflator can explode inside the module and send sharp metal fragments toward the front seat passenger, driver, or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm your VIN and schedule the repair promptly if included. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2013 Subaru Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, Outback, B9 Tribeca, or Wrx is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free passenger air bag inflator replacement that addresses the inflator rupture and metal-fragment hazard.
- Bring the recall notice if Subaru mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V012 when you call.
- Ask Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 if the dealer needs help confirming Subaru recall TKA-18.
- Limit front passenger seat use until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Subaru technician replaces the front passenger air bag inflator in the passenger frontal air bag module. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Subaru has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented out-of-pocket repairs tied to this recall. If you already paid for a related passenger air bag inflator repair before the recall work, bring the repair invoice and proof of payment to the Subaru service desk so they can review it under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 9, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 9, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 9, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 9, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 9, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V012?
Recall 18V012 covers 64,179 Subaru vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. The included models are 2009-2013 Forester, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles, plus 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold or registered in listed high-humidity areas.
What should I do if my 2009-2013 Subaru Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, Outback, B9 Tribeca, or Wrx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Subaru is included in recall 18V012. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the front passenger air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 18V012 or Subaru recall TKA-18 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Subaru dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator free of charge, including parts and labor, under recall 18V012.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V012?
The risk is an inflator explosion inside the passenger frontal air bag module. Under NHTSA campaign 18V012, sharp metal fragments can strike the front seat passenger, driver, or other occupants, causing serious injury or death.
What if I bought my Subaru used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Subaru is included, especially if it was sold or registered in one of the covered high-humidity states or territories.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V012000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-800-782-2783 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V012 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V012000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →