TKC-18 – Takata Front Passenger Airbag Inflator Replacement (2018 Calendar year expansion) – 2009 Subaru

January 9, 2018

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V014

Manufacturer Subaru of America, Inc.

Components AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected 72,150

 

Summary

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

 

Remedy

Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru’s number for this recall is TKC-18.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Subaru has a Recall

 

---

NUMBERS: TKA-18R TKB-18R TKC-18R DATE: 02/09/18 REVISED: 07/20/18 NHTSA ID: 18V-012 18V-013 18V-014

APPLICABILITY:	2009-2013 model year Legacy
	2009-2013 model year Outback
	2009-2013 model year Forester
	2009-2013 model year Tribeca
	2009-2011 model year Impreza
	2009-2013 model year WRX and STI
SUBJECT:	Takata Front Passenger Airbag Inflator Replacement (2018 Calendar year expansion)

  SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed above, equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced  passenger side frontal airbag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (certain specific vehicles only).

This phase of the Takata recall expansion includes the following model year vehicles: Zone A vehicles – 2013 model year and older (Recall code TKA-18) Zone B vehicles – 2010 model year and older (Recall code TKB-18) Zone C vehicles – 2009 model year and older (Recall code TKC-18) In addition, any older models not previously recalled which have established registration within Zones A or B since recalls TKA17 and TKB17 were implemented last year will also be included in this phase of the expansion.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE SAFETY DEFECT AND SAFETY HAZARD The affected vehicles are equipped with a Takata-sourced passenger side frontal airbag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion.  Over time, that could cause the inflator to rupture when the  passenger’s frontal airbag deploys in a crash.  If the inflator ruptures, metal fragments could strike vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.   BACKGROUND The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expanding and prioritizing the recalls of all non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side Takata airbag inflators based on the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants. The combination of time, high temperature fluctuations, and humidity contribute to the degradation of the propellant in the inflators. Therefore, NHTSA is prioritizing the Takata recalls by age and location of the vehicles. To do so, NHTSA has established three geographical Zones – A, B, and C – based on the level of heat and humidity as listed below:

Zone A: Hot and Humid Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands.   Zone B: Less Hot and Humid Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,  Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio,  Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Zone C: Least Hot and Humid Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,  Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

  This phase of the Takata recall expansion includes the following model year vehicles:

• Zone A vehicles – 2013 model year and older (Recall code TKA-18)
• Zone B vehicles – 2010 model year and older (Recall code TKB-18)
• Zone C vehicles – 2009 model year and older (Recall code TKC-18)

Future phases of the Takata recalls will be implemented each year until the year 2020, to include  additional vehicles until all non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side Takata airbag inflators are recalled.   REPAIR Subaru will replace either the inflator for the front passenger airbag or the airbag module assembly at no cost to the customer.   OWNER NOTIFICATION Owners of the vehicles included in this phase of the Takata recall expansion is expected to begin in February, 2018.   AFFECTED VEHICLES Listed below are the models affected by this phase of the Takata recall expansion. Not all vehicles within these ranges are affected by this phase of the Takata recall, since some of the vehicles within these ranges have already been affected by previous Takata recalls. Therefore, coverage must be  confirmed by using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com. Coverage information will be available prior to owner notification.   Recall Code TKA-18 (NHTSA ID 18V-012) – Zone A MY 2013 & Older:

• 2009-2013 Legacy & Outback
• 2009-2011 Impreza
• 2009-2013 WRX & STI
• 2009-2013 Forester
• 2009-2013 Tribeca

Recall Code TKB-18 (NHTSA ID 18V-013) – Zone B MY 2010 & Older:

• 2009-2010 Impreza, WRX & STI
• 2009-2010 Tribeca
• 2009-2010 Legacy & Outback
• 2009-2010 Forester

Recall Code TKC-18 (NHTSA ID 18V-014) – Zone C MY 2009 & Older:

• 2009 Impreza, WRX & STI
• 2009 Tribeca
• 2009 Legacy & Outback

  RETAILER AFFECTED VIN LISTS Each Subaru retailer will receive an affected VIN list from their Zone office when owner notification begins. Vehicles will be assigned to retailers in the affected VIN list as follows:

• Original vehicle owners are assigned to the original selling retailer when their current address is within a 100-mile radius of that retailer.
• If the original selling retailer is inactive, the VIN has been assigned to the nearest active retailer.
• For any new owners or when original owners live more than 100 miles from the original selling retailer, the VIN has been assigned to the nearest active retailer.

IMPORTANT:  Retailer affected VIN lists include owner name and address information for  vehicles affected by this recall.  This information will enable retailers to follow-up with owners of potentially affected vehicles.  The lists contain owners’ names and addresses obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records.  The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any other purpose is unlawful.  Accordingly, retailers are urged to limit the use of these lists for the purpose of completion of this safety recall.   RETAILER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY Any 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 this Product Campaign

Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles  in their inventory (used, demo & SSLP) for which parts are available to complete this recall.  Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into retailer inventory, or in for  service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle, provided that parts are available to complete this recall.   PARTS INFORMATION The parts required for this recall are the passenger airbag inflator kits or modules listed below. Until sufficient parts supply is available for Subaru to re-notify owners, recall coverage status for  the affected vehicles will show as “Open-Limited Parts Available.” Limited parts supply will  become available prior to owner re-notification therefore, this status is not intended to discourage scheduling these repairs and will not affect the retailer’s ability to file a claim for repairs performed prior to owner re-notification.

Airbag Module Part Number	Inflator Kit Part Number	Applicability / Description	Order Quantity
98279SC05A	98279SC010	Forester (2009-2013)	1
98279FG07A	98279FG010	Impreza (2009-2011)	1
		WRX and STI (2009-2013)
N/A	98279AG00A	2009 Legacy / Outback, Inflator Type 1	1
N/A	98279AG05A	2009 Legacy / Outback, Inflator Type 2
98279AJ06A	98279AJ02A	Legacy (2010-2013)	1
		Outback (2010-2013)
N/A	98279XA02A	Tribeca (2009-2013)	1
N/A	SOA963W110	2009 Legacy / Outback Non-Woven Material, 8” X 11” Sheet	1

  As a reminder, if a customer requests a loaner car, retailers should make every effort to comply with this request and follow normal warranty procedures to obtain reimbursement for the loaner car. See Section 8.4.7 of the Claims Policies and Procedures Manual on subarunet.com for details on rental authorizations.   PART RETURN PROCEDURES Please review the ‘Inflator/Module Return’ instructions included as ‘Appendix A’ of this bulletin carefully.

• A company called Takata XPO will arrange pick up of the removed inflators/modules and return them to Takata.
• FedEx will no longer handle the return shipments as with previously issued Takata recalls. However, if you do not have a large amount of inflators/modules to pick up, you may be directed to use FedEx for return. Please follow the instructions given to you by Takata XPO.
• Once a month or upon accumulating 200 kits for return (whichever comes first), please call Takata XPO at 1-877-650-3476 for pick up. Please see step 6 (on pg. 30) of the return instructions.

If you continue to receive inventory of inflators with the original FedEx documentation, please follow the instructions in step 4b. of the new ‘Inflator Returns’ instructions.  DO NOT CALL FEDEX.

 

• Upon claim approval and where applicable, Subaru of America, Inc. will generate a Part Return Notice requesting the old and new inflator serial number information only. DO NOT WAIT FOR TAKATA XPO TO PICK UP THE INFLATOR/MODULE TO SEND THIS INFORMATION TO THE PARTS COLLECTION CENTER (PCC).

• IMPORTANT: Each removed airbag inflator/module must be returned directly to the supplier, Takata USA, in the same box in which the new one was received.

The shipping box contains a bar code label, which will be used by Takata USA to document the replacement of the old inflator/module with the new inflator/module. Therefore, it is very important for the removed inflator/module be returned in the exact same box which contained the newlyinstalled inflator/module for that vehicle. If the original box cannot be re-used, please refer to the shipping instructions under “Requesting a new box/ shipping labels.”

• IMPORTANT: When affixing the shipping label to the shipping box do not obstruct the bar code label.
• A completed SOA Warranty Parts Tag (MSA5W402A) must be attached to the returned inflator/module. The tag must contain the following information: claim number, repair date, full 17-digit VIN, and mileage.

  SOA PART RETURN NOTICE INFORMATION IMPORTANT NOTE:  The following information is applicable to SOA and Subaru Distributors Corporation (SDC) retailers ONLY.  Subaru New England (SNE) retailers will continue to follow the procedures currently in place as supplied below. All SOA and SDC retailers are required to enter BOTH the newly-installed (replacement) and the removed (original) serial numbers for the airbag inflator (or module assembly) into the supplied fields as shown in the screen shot below. Claims will not receive an “Approved” status without the serial number information being entered in the appropriate fields in the Recall Claim Entry system. As a result of adding these new required entry fields, Part Return Notices will no longer be generated. The information below is applicable to SNE retailers only:

• Upon claim approval and where applicable, Subaru of America, Inc. will generate a Part Return Notice requesting information only.
• To ensure proper claim credit where applicable, the old and new inflator/module serial numbers must be recorded on the Part Return Notice and sent to SOA Part Collection Center (PCC) as instructed on the return notice.
• Where applicable, the completed Part Return Notice should then be sent using the YRC web portal and utilizing the “Ship Small Parcel” link which will direct the user to the appropriate UPS web page application to complete the shipment. Please keep the UPS tracking number for your records.
• DO NOT WAIT FOR TAKATA XPO TO PICK UP THE INFLATOR/MODULE TO SEND THIS INFORMATION TO THE PCC.

Under no circumstances should any airbag inflators or modules be sent to Subaru of America, Inc.  

SERVICE PROCEDURE

This Campaign involves the replacement of the inflator portion of the passenger-side front airbag assembly or the complete module assembly. The subject inflators/modules could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant components which may affect how the assembly inflates in the event of a collision resulting in an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.  This procedure will outline removal of the passenger-side airbag assembly and replacement of either the inflator component and related wiring harness or, the complete module assembly. VERY IMPORTANT: Failure to follow these service procedures carefully and correctly may result in an accidental deployment of the inflator and potentially cause serious injury.  Please read through and understand these procedures COMPLETELY before beginning repairs.  In addition, proper operation of the airbag after reassembly may be compromised if these service procedures are not followed. As additional service procedures are developed for the other models affected by the expansion and implementation of this recall campaign, they will be added to this document and also made available on STIS.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS – SERVICE PROCEDURES

Description	Starting Page Number
Service Procedure for 2009MY Legacy/Outback Models, Inflator Type 1	9
Service Procedure for 2009MY Legacy/Outback Models, Inflator Type 2	19
Service Procedure for 2010-2013MY Legacy / Outback Models	30
Service Procedure for 2009-2013MY Forester and 2009-2011MY Impreza, and 2009-2013MY WRX & STI models	37
Service Procedure for 2009-2013MY Tribeca Models	43

  Tools Required

DESCRIPTION	BRAND OR TYPE	QUANTITY
Pliers	–	1
Wire Cutters	–	1
Needle-Nose Pliers	–	1
Torque Wrench	Inch-Pound	1
Safety Goggles	–	1
Flat-Blade Screwdriver	–	1
Scissors	–	1
Ratchet	1/4” Drive	1
8 mm and 10 mm Socket		1 ea.
Airbag Deployment Fixture	J-39401-B	1
Tether Clip Release Tool *See Page 8 for more information	SOA635147	1

    CAUTION:  Before starting this service procedure, perform a visual inspection of both front airbags looking for any damage or abnormality.  Next, turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position and  confirm the airbag warning lamp illuminates then extinguishes normally.  If it does not or if ANY concern is noted with the airbag system, STOP and report these findings to the customer BEFORE proceeding further.  Any concerns identified with the airbag system (when no airbag deployment has occurred), are not related to this campaign and must be addressed separately.  Even if the system has a concern, this may not preclude completion of this campaign.  If you are unsure about proceeding, document and fully diagnose the concern then contact the SOA Technical Helpline to review your findings.  It is in the best interest of the retailer to fully document any concerns found during this preliminary inspection and review with the customer BEFORE proceeding with the campaign service procedure.

• Vehicles that do not contain Genuine Subaru airbags are not eligible for this recall repair. For more information on identifying counterfeit airbags and how to address related customer situations, please refer to STIS for the “Counterfeit Airbag Information” Dealer Advisory Bulletin dated October 25, 2012  by going to Subarunet>Service>STIS>Online Reference – choose Publication Type: ‘Other/Miscellaneous’  and search keywords: ‘Airbag’).
• Do not proceed with this repair if your inspection reveals a non-Genuine Subaru airbag module has been installed in the vehicle. Follow the instructions described in the “Counterfeit Airbag Information” Dealer Advisory Bulletin.
• IMPORTANT: Always examine airbag modules closely before and during removal.  Confirm they match the photos of the Genuine Subaru airbag components supplied throughout this bulletin BEFORE  The photo below shows an example of an aftermarket or counterfeit airbag inflator.  This photo is being provided as an example of what may be a wide variety of non-OEM components.
• If an aftermarket or counterfeit passenger airbag or inflator is identified at any point during the campaign service procedure, STOP IMMEDIATELY. NEVER attempt to remove or otherwise disable any aftermarket or counterfeit device.
• Document the presence of the aftermarket or counterfeit device on the repair order and with photos. Report this information immediately on a Quality Monitoring Report (QMR).

IMPORTANT: When entering a related QMR, use failure code ULF and NOT the campaign fail code.

---

NHTSA ID Number: 10166955 Manufacturer Communication Number: Subarunet Announ

Summary

The next group of renotification letters will include the following open Takata recalls, using recently refreshed owner information from IHSM (POLK). Approximately 356,000 renotifications will be mailed, nationally, on November 7th.

---

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=10166955 https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10166955-0001.pdf  

---

 

---

6 Affected Products

Vehicles

SUBARU	FORESTER	2009
SUBARU	IMPREZA	2009
SUBARU	LEGACY	2009
SUBARU	OUTBACK	2009
SUBARU	TRIBECA	2009
SUBARU	WRX	2009

 

---

22 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-18V014-8982.PDF 221.049KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- January 10, 2018 – Takata Recall Expansion – New Subaru Recall Campaigns TKA‐18, TKB‐18, TKC‐18

RCMN-18V014-3912.pdf 98.805KB

 

---

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-18V014-5518.pdf 289.278KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-18V014-9074.pdf 4726.499KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-18V014-4445.pdf 4811.617KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-18V014-5864.pdf 636.43KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2018-1

RCLQRT-18V014-4965.PDF 214.531KB

 

---

Recall 573 Report – AMENDMENT 1

RCLRPT-18V014-9000.PDF 225.81KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- March 15, 2018 – Re: Takata Part Number Claim – 98279SC010

RCMN-18V014-0147.pdf 41.532KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- March 15, 2018 – Re: Takata Part Number Claim – 98279SC010

nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18V014-4120.pdf" target="_BLANK" rel="noopener no referrer noreferrer">RCMN-18V014-4120.pdf 41.532KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Takata Part Number Update – 98279SC010

RCMN-18V014-3916.pdf 74.11KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-18V014-9822.pdf 6334.869KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-18V014-6913.pdf 389.515KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Subarunet Announcement – February 6, 2018 UPDATE – Takata Recall Expansion –TKA-18, TKB-18, TKC-18

RCMN-18V014-9360.pdf 404.542KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-18V014-9511.pdf 390.215KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB – REVISED: 07/20/18 – SUBJECT: Takata Front Passenger Airbag Inflator Replacement (2018 Calendar year expansion)

RCRIT-18V014-8528.pdf 6380.276KB

 

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- Date: July 19, 2018 Re: Parts Return Request – Takata Inflator 98279AJ02A

RCMN-18V014-5823.pdf 24.115KB

 

---

ISSUED Renotification Notice

RCRN-18V014-8616.pdf 314.437KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2018-2

RCLQRT-18V014-6685.PDF 214.636KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2018-4

RCLQRT-18V014-5615.PDF 211.459KB

 

---

ISSUED Renotification Notice – Follow up Email

RCRN-18V014-2135.pdf 390.734KB

 

---

ISSUED Renotification Notice – Follow up email – Takata Recall Reminder

RCRN-18V014-0234.pdf 891.423KB

 

---

1 Associated Investigation

Air Bag Inflator Rupture
NHTSA ID: EA15001
Dated opened: February 24, 2015

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers. All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.

During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers. Nonetheless, at ODI’s insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation. The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures. As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.

Takata’s initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida. Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas. Takata’s testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions. During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.

Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina. Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls. Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity. Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing. All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.

The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time. ODI’s investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.

The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

---

Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=18V014&docType=RCL

---

 

Last update on 2025-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

---

 

This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.