Subaru has issued a recall for the 2012 Impreza to fix an airbag glitch.
Unlike four-door model uses an occupant detection system that measures electrical capacitance to determine if an adult or a child is seated in the front passenger seat. The capacitance measurement is thrown off if the passenger is touching a grounded metal part of the vehicle, such as the seat adjuster lever, or using a cellphone or other device that is plugged into the power outlet.
When the system receives an incorrect capacitance reading, it sometimes disables the front passenger airbag regardless of the occupant’s size. Some passengers consequently face a higher risk of injury in a frontal crash.
The company has been aware of the problem since the 2012 Impreza first arrived on the market. A software revision was created in 2012 and the resolution was detailed in a technical service bulletin, however Subaru did not view the behavior as a safety concern at the time. The company presumably believed activation of the airbag warning light on the dash and “off” indicator on the center stack both served as safeguards.
After the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a formal investigation in April, citing dozens of owner complaints, Subaru reconsidered its position and decided to elevate the handling to a formal safety recall.
Affected vehicles will receive a new occupant control unit to restore normal behavior and prevent the system from improperly disabling the front passenger airbag.
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