Subaru has issued a recall for 118,723 vehicles due to a sensor issue that could prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying during a crash.
This recall pertains to Subaru's Outback and Legacy models from 2020-2022. The malfunction of the airbag sensor could heighten the risk of injury to a passenger in the event of an accident, according to Subaru's recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week.
The impacted Legacy and Outback vehicles contain a sensor responsible for detecting a passenger in the front seat. This sensor is linked to the vehicle's Occupant Detection System (ODS). Subaru stated that a third-party company contracted to manufacture the ODS may have utilized defective circuit boards within the system, as outlined in the company's recall notification.
A cracked circuit board can lead to moisture seepage and ultimately result in a short circuit, Subaru explained. In the event of a short circuit, the vehicle may fail to detect the presence of a passenger in the front seat.
Subaru Recalls Outback and Legacy Vehicles Due to Airbag Sensor Issue
Subaru has issued a recall for certain Outback and Legacy vehicles due to a potential airbag sensor problem. If there's a possible short circuit, the dashboard on the Outback or Legacy will alert drivers and the "airbag system warning lamp will illuminate, the front passenger's frontal airbag OFF indicator will illuminate and the front passenger airbag may not deploy in certain crashes as designed," the recall states.
Subaru has announced that it will replace the ODS sensors free of charge for affected Outback and Legacy owners who take their vehicle to a dealership. The company plans to notify dealerships about the recall and replacements on Wednesday.
Owners of Subaru vehicles with questions about the recall can contact the company at (844) 373-6614 and mention recall number WRA-24. Alternatively, they can also contact NHTSA at (888) 327-4236.
Other Recent Vehicle Recalls
In January, Ford recalled about 1.9 million Ford Explorer SUVs because the windshield trim panels could fly off while the vehicle is traveling at highway speeds.
The sensor problem at Subaru is the latest in a recent string of vehicle recalls. Last week, Hyundai and Kia recalled a combined 147,110 vehicles because a part inside the cars may stop charging their batteries. Earlier this month, General Motors recalled nearly 820,000 pickup trucks because of a glitch that could cause the tailgate to open unexpectedly.
