Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: December 1, 2014
Subject: New Subaru Recall Campaign: Front Passenger Air Bag Inflators WQP-51
This is a geographic expansion of the current WQM-49 limited regional recall. Details of the transition
from WQM-49 to WQP-51 will be provided in future communications.
Subaru will be conducting a recall of certain model year 2003-2005MY Subaru Legacy, Outback, and Baja
vehicles, and certain 2004-2005MY Subaru Impreza (including WRX/STI) vehicles, that are currently or
have ever been registered in the following areas of high absolute humidity: Florida, the counties of
Georgia adjacent to Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, as
well as the coastal areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The air bag inflators in the front passenger air bags for these vehicles could be susceptible to rupture and
the front passenger air bag could deploy abnormally in a crash. The cause of the potential for ruptured
inflators and the influence of high absolute humidity are under investigation.

Affected Vehicles

Not all vehicles within the following production date ranges are covered 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.
Model Year
2003
2004
2005
2003
2004
2005
2003
2004
2005
2004
2005

Model
Legacy
Legacy
Legacy
Outback
Outback
Outback
Baja
Baja
Baja
Impreza, WRX, STI
Impreza, WRX, STI

Starting production date
2/18/2003
3/17/2003
2/23/2004
2/18/2003
3/13/2003
2/6/2004
2/18/2003
4/7/2003
3/16/2004
1/28/2003
2/11/2004

Ending production date
6/6/2003
3/1/2004
1/26/2005
6/11/2003
3/15/2004
10/6/2004
6/6/2003
7/21/2004
10/27/2004
2/13/2004
12/10/2004

Geographical Expansion

The earlier regional recall included vehicles with registration history in: Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Consistent with other automotive manufacturers involved in regional recalls of Takata front passenger air
bag inflators, Subaru’s new regional recall will include additional areas of high absolute humidity based on
the annual mean dew point temperature of 60.0 degrees Fahrenheit or more, and locations within 125
miles of these areas.
This regional recall will include certain 2003-2005MY Subaru Legacy, Outback and Baja vehicles, and
certain 2004-2005MY Subaru Impreza (including WRX/STI) vehicles, currently or previously registered in
the following locations:

•

The following States and U.S.
Territories:
o Florida
o Hawaii
o Puerto Rico
o U.S. Virgin Islands
o Guam
o Saipan
o American Samoa

•

The counties of Georgia which are
adjacent to Florida

•

The coastal areas of:
o Alabama
o Louisiana
o Mississippi
o Texas

Description of the Safety Hazard

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of an affected passenger frontal air bag, the inflator
could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

Description of the Remedy

The front passenger air bag inflator will be replaced.

Retailer Program Responsibility

Retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory (used, demo & SSLP). 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.
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 the Product Campaign Bulletin, which
will be issued shortly.

Owner Notification

Subaru is in the process of identifying the affected vehicles based on current and historical vehicle
registration data. Once identified, Subaru will notify potentially affected vehicle owners by first class mail.
This is expected to occur within the next 45 days. Retailers will be advised when owner notification
begins.