Recall 19V008 covers 330,120 2010-2014 Subaru vehicles for passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
Subaru is recalling 330,120 certain 2010-2014 Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode during a crash deployment after humidity and temperature exposure. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; Subaru dealers will replace the inflator free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in recall 19V008 is the part that fills the passenger air bag during a crash deployment. In affected 2010-2014 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles, that inflator sits inside the passenger air bag module and relies on controlled propellant combustion to inflate the bag at the right force.
The recalled Takata inflators use non-desiccated phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant. Over time, exposure to humidity and temperature cycling breaks down the propellant wafers. If the air bag deploys after that degradation, combustion becomes too aggressive, internal pressure rises too high, and the inflator body can rupture instead of staying contained.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag system can appear normal until a crash deployment, so the VIN decides whether this specific passenger inflator is included.
Who's affected?
Spans the Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx across the 2010-2014 model years, all tied to the same passenger-side front air bag inflator module.
| 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 |
| 2013 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2014 Subaru Legacy | front air bag |
| 2014 Subaru Outback | front air bag |
| 2014 Subaru Tribeca | front air bag |
| 2014 Subaru Wrx | 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 | 330,120 |
| 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?
An inflator explosion inside the passenger frontal air bag module can 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 the VIN and schedule the inflator replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2014 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, or Wrx is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free passenger front air bag inflator replacement that fixes the inflator explosion risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Subaru has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V008 when you call.
- Ask the Subaru dealer how to limit front passenger seat use until the repair is complete.
- Call Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 with questions and reference Subaru recall TKB-19.
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 owners who already paid for this recall repair. If you've paid out of pocket for the same inflator work, bring repair invoices, receipts, and proof of payment to the service desk so Subaru can review the claim under its standard plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 9, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 10, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 10, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 25, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 1, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 1, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V008?
Recall 19V008 covers 330,120 2010-2014 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, and Wrx vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. Subaru dealers replace the front passenger air bag inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2014 Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, Impreza, Tribeca, B9 Tribeca, or Wrx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V008. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the front passenger air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall 19V008 or Subaru recall TKB-19 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Subaru dealers replace the front passenger air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Subaru dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 19V008?
The risk is sharp metal fragments inside the cabin during a crash. If the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the inflator can explode and strike the front passenger, driver, or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. The repair replaces the inflator.
What if I bought this Subaru used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Subaru is included, then call a franchised Subaru dealer and reference recall 19V008 or Subaru recall TKB-19.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V008000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-844-373-6614 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V008 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V008000 |
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 →