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Campaign 20V001 Posted January 2, 2020 258,813 units

2003-2014 Subaru Multi-Model Recall 20V001: Air Bag

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 23, 2026

Recall 20V001 covers 258,813 2003-2014 Subaru and Saab vehicles with passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.

Subaru is recalling 258,813 2003-2014 Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, Wrx, Forester, and Saab 9-2X vehicles because replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators use a design that can explode after long exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into occupants, causing 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 these 2003-2014 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, Wrx, and Forester vehicles is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash, it fills the passenger air bag fast enough to cushion the person in that seat. The inflator depends on controlled combustion inside the canister, so pressure builds in a planned way.

On affected vehicles, the passenger inflator was already replaced in an earlier recall with an inflator of the same Takata design. Long exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature cycling degrades the propellant wafers inside it. If the air bag deploys, degraded propellant can burn too aggressively and create excessive pressure inside the inflator body. That pressure can rupture the metal body instead of sending gas cleanly into the air bag.

There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag light can still look normal before the inflator ruptures during deployment.

Who's affected?

Covers seven nameplates across the 2003-2014 model years, all tied to the passenger-side front air bag inflator module.

2006 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 affected258,813
Field incidentsNHTSA 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?

An air bag inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before rupture, so a normal air bag light or normal driving feel does not rule out the risk. Schedule the inflator replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2014 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, Wrx, or Forester is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the free passenger air bag inflator replacement that removes the explosion-prone inflator.
  3. Bring the recall notice if Subaru or Saab mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V001 when you call.
  4. Call Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 with questions. Saab owners can call the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007.
  5. Avoid using the front passenger seat until the inflator replacement is complete.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Subaru technician replaces the passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. Parts and labor are free under recall 20V001, and the repair has been open since January 7, 2020. Subaru handles its owners directly, while General Motors handles Saab owner notices for the 9-2X. If you already paid for a passenger air bag inflator repair tied to this recall, ask Subaru customer service about the general reimbursement plan on file and have repair documentation ready.

ReimbursementReimbursement available

Timeline

January 2, 2020 NHTSA published the recall
January 7, 2020 Dealer notification began
January 7, 2020 Dealer notification ended
January 7, 2020 Owner notification mailed
January 7, 2020 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 20V001?

Recall 20V001 covers 258,813 2003-2014 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, Wrx, and Forester vehicles in Zone A areas. The passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode after humidity, heat, and temperature cycling degrade the propellant. Dealers replace the inflator for free.

What should I do if my 2003-2014 Subaru Legacy, Outback, Baja, Impreza, 9-2X, Wrx, or Forester is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 20V001. If it is, contact a franchised Subaru dealer to schedule the passenger air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 20V001 or Subaru recall TKA-20 when you call. The repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Subaru dealers replace the passenger air bag inflator free of charge. Subaru listed recall TKA-20 for this campaign and began the recall repair process on January 7, 2020.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is sharp metal fragments entering the cabin if the passenger frontal air bag inflator explodes. That can seriously injure or kill the driver or other occupants. The fix is replacement of the affected passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator at a franchised dealer.

What if I bought this Subaru used?

The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN because these vehicles were included based on model, year, and Zone A sale or registration history. If your VIN is included, call a Subaru dealer and ask for recall TKA-20.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V001000
Subaru customer service1-844-373-6614
NHTSA recall #20V001
NHTSA recall # (full)20V001000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →