2006 Saab 9-2x Recalled Over Airbag-Related Issue

An airbag-related recall from Subaru is also affecting the Saab 9-2x.

The background: the Saab 9-2x was essentially a badge-engineered Subaru Impreza hatchback, earning it the name Saabaru. It was developed and manufactured by Subaru for GM back when Saab Automobile was a fully-owned subsidiary of General Motors, during which time GM held a 20 percent stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru’s parent company. General Motors subsequently sold Saab to Spyker shortly after its own bankruptcy proceedings.

The defect: 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.

The hazards: an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Affected vehicles:

Saab

• 2006 Saab 9-2x

Subaru

• 2003-2004 Subaru Legacy
• 2003-2004 Subaru Outback
• 2009-2011 Subaru Legacy
• 2009-2011 Subaru Outback
• 2009-2011 Subaru Forester
• 2006-2011 Subaru Impreza
• 2006-2011 Subaru Tribeca
• 2003-2006 Subaru Baja

Affected vehicles were originally sold or have ever been registered in the following states or territories:

• Alabama
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Puerto Rico
• American Samoa
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Number of vehicles affected: 159,274 vehicles (United States figure, includes Subaru and Saab).

The fix: Subaru will notify their owners while General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. A notification schedule has not yet been provided. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru’s number for this recall is TKA-16.

Owners should: customers looking to find out if their vehicle is included in this Saab 9-2x recall should visit recalls.gm.com. There, owners will be able to enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see any open recalls as well as customer satisfaction programs. If the vehicle is part of the recall, customers should take it to a dealer for repairs.

Owners can also contact Subaru or Saab customer service, as appropriate, with questions by using the following information.

Contacts:

• Subaru Customer Service: 1-856-488-8500
• GM Customer Service: 1-800-955-9007
• Subaru Recall Number: TKA-16
• NHTSA Toll Free: 1-888-327-4236
• NHTSA (TTY): 1-800-424-9153
• NHTSA Website: www.safecar.gov
• NHTSA Recall Number: 16V358000