WQL-48

Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: July 3, 2014
Subject: New Subaru Recall Campaign: Front Passenger Air Bag Inflators WQL‐48
Subaru of America, Inc. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, may exist on
the following potentially affected vehicles. The subject vehicles are equipped with front passenger air bag
inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers.
Affected Vehicles
This condition may exist on certain 2003‐2004 model year Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles, and certain
2004 model year Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles.
Model Year
2003
2004
2003
2004
2003
2004
2004
Model
Legacy
Legacy
Outback
Outback
Baja
Baja
Impreza, WRX, STI
Starting production date
01/22/2003
03/17/2003
02/18/2003
02/28/2003
01/22/2003
03/03/2003
01/08/2003
Ending production date
05/14/2003
02/10/2004
04/15/2003
02/11/2004
05/06/2003
07/21/2004
05/15/2003
Not all vehicles within these production date ranges are affected by this recall. Coverage for all affected
vehicles must be confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com. This data
will be available when owner notification begins.
Description of the Safety Defect and Safety Hazard
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, improperly
manufactured propellant wafers inside the inflator could cause the inflator to rupture with metal
fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.
Description of the Remedy
Although the percentage of affected vehicles is unknown, replacement of the vehicle’s front passenger air
bag inflator will be performed on all of the potentially affected vehicles.
Retailer Program Responsibility
Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP). Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into
retailer new or used inventory, or in for service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall
correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.
New, used, demo or SSLP vehicles listed in a recall/campaign that are in retailer stock must be:



Immediately identified.
Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to inspection and/or repair.
Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Product Campaign Bulletin, which
will be issued shortly.
Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a retailer to deliver a new motor vehicle
covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru
Retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory (new, used, demo) prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil
penalties of up to $7,000 per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also
be in breach of the Subaru Dealer Agreement.
Owner Notification
Subaru is in the process of acquiring replacement parts necessary to remedy the condition. When
available, Subaru will notify potentially affected vehicle owners by first class mail. This is expected to
occur within the next 60 days. Retailers will be advised when owner notification begins.