SUBARU 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK Recall
Check Your Product
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Product
2003 SUBARU OUTBACK
Brand
SUBARU
Lot Codes / Batch Numbers
Not specified in NHTSA notice. Check official source for details.
Products Sold
Model Year 2003
Subaru of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2003 SUBARU OUTBACK vehicles due to air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module issues. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death..
Summary derived from NHTSA notice
Reason for Recall
As stated by NHTSA
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in 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, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Reported concern (NHTSA)
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recommended Action
Per NHTSA guidance
Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
Verify this information on the official source
For complete details and official instructions, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) directly.
View official NHTSA recall noticePage updated: Jan 10, 2026