Subaru Starts The New Year With Another Outback Recall
The Subaru Outback is the brand’s best-selling vehicle in America and it gets another recall to start the new year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there only a limited number (46) of 2016-2017 Subaru Outback models affected by this latest recall.
What is the Outback recall issue?
Subaru finished the year on a high with the all-new sixth-generation 2020 Outback launch. Subaru says some fifth-generation 2016-2017 Outback AWD wagon models have defective passenger airbags that in the event of a crash, the airbag may not deploy increasing the risk of serious injury to an occupant in the front passenger seat.
2016-2017 Subaru Outback
Subaru of America says an incorrect airbag control module may have been installed as a replacement part in certain Outback models. An incorrect combination of the airbag control module and passenger airbag module may adversely affect the deployment characteristics in the event of a crash necessitating passenger airbag deployment.
This was likely due to the massive Takata airbag recall that has affected millions of vehicles worldwide. The replacement airbag control module was improperly superseded in the dealer part ordering system. On August 31, 2019, Subaru found that an incorrect airbag control module had been shipped to a dealer. Subaru did not identify which dealer received the incorrect part.
Subaru identified the Outback models that have an incorrect combination of the airbag control module and passenger airbag and decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall. Subaru says they are unaware of any field incidents attributable to this issue.
What should Outback owners do?
Subaru of America will notify the 2016-2017 Outback owners, and dealers will replace the passenger airbag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09. You can also click here to see if your Subaru Outback has been recalled.
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Denis Flierl has invested nearly 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates!
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