THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 28,000 MI. HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK I SEE THAT A LOT OF OWNERS OF OUTBACKS ARE ALSO HAVING CRACKS DEVELOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SHOWED UP AS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CRACK IS ON THE TOP OF THE WIN…
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THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 28,000 MI. HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK I SEE THAT A LOT OF OWNERS OF OUTBACKS ARE ALSO HAVING CRACKS DEVELOP. NOT SURE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK SHOWED UP AS I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE I WASN'T EVEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CRACK IS ON THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD NEAR THE CENTER.
NHTSA ODI #11268323
76,000 miles · Oct 10, 2019
Unknown Or Other
THE IGNITION KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME, BUT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE READ MANY ONLINE COMPLAINTS WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL SUBARU OWNERS. THEY SAID SUBARU IS CHARGING THE CONSUMER ANYWHERE FROM $375 TO $800 TO FIX IT.
NHTSA ODI #11267591
63,000 miles · Oct 9, 2019
Unknown Or Other
FAULTY WINDSHIELD, I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS JUST CRACKED. THE CRACK ALWAYS BEGINS IN THE SAME PLACE, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY IN DEFROST PORTION OF GLASS. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE GLASS TWICE AT NO COST AT 27,407 MILES AND 45,099 MILES. NOW AT APPROX. 63,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN.…
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FAULTY WINDSHIELD, I AM ON MY THIRD WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS JUST CRACKED. THE CRACK ALWAYS BEGINS IN THE SAME PLACE, LOWER PASSENGER SIDE BELOW WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY IN DEFROST PORTION OF GLASS. SUBARU HAS REPLACED THE GLASS TWICE AT NO COST AT 27,407 MILES AND 45,099 MILES. NOW AT APPROX. 63,000 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. SUBARU IS "UNAWARE" OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELDS IN 2017 OUTBACK MODELS. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY ROCK IMPACT TO THE GLASS. WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEAR A POP SOUND AND CRACK BEGINS TO FORM AND SPREAD QUICKLY.
NHTSA ODI #11267351
35,000 miles · Sep 5, 2019
Unknown Or Other
THE GEAR SHIFTER DOES NOT GO IN TO PARK COMPLETELY ALLOWING FOR RELEASE OF THE KEY. THERE IS A 'RESET' YOU CAN DO IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OR THEY WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER SOLVING THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11253365
21,000 miles · Aug 29, 2019
Unknown Or Other
MY OUTBACK HAS HORRIBLE WIND NOISE. ITS SO LOUD I CANT USE THE BLUETOOTH PHONE, NOR LISTEN TO THE RADIO. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE AND WILL IMPACT MY NEXT PURCHASE.
NHTSA ODI #11252280
48,000 miles · Aug 27, 2019
Unknown Or Other
POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. OEM WINDSHIELD CRACKED SUDDENLY A YEAR AGO. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE VERY TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. NO APPARENT STONE CHIPS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO ATTRIBUTE THIS TO. ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED, THIS TIME STARTING…
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POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO CRACK. OEM WINDSHIELD CRACKED SUDDENLY A YEAR AGO. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE VERY TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER. NO APPARENT STONE CHIPS OR OTHER DAMAGE TO ATTRIBUTE THIS TO. ABOUT 8 WEEKS AGO THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED, THIS TIME STARTING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE HOOD AREA, AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THERE'S NO WAY FOR A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT TO IMPACT THIS AREA, WHICH, GIVEN THE SUDDEN LARGE CRACKS THAT APPEARED, LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE'S A STRUCTURAL STRESS ISSUE COMING TO PLAY ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS A STRUCTURAL SAFETY COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE, I BELIEVE THIS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE LONG TERM, NOT TO MENTION A SIZABLE ANNUAL EXPENSE BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND HAVING THE EYESIGHT CAMERAS RECALIBRATED FOR THE NEW GLASS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD LESS THAN THREE YEARS. THE 'WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN' DATE SELECTED BASED ON THIS YEARS CRACKING. I DIDN'T TAKE PHOTOS OF LAST YEARS CRACKED WINDSHIELD. CURRENT CRACKED WINDSHIELD STILL IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11251835
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2019
Unknown Or Other
HESITATES FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS FROM A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW JAN. 2017. REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPT AT DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE. REPORTED IT TO SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. THEY REFUSE TO CHECK INTO IT AND SAY IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. I AM VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AS I NE…
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HESITATES FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS FROM A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW JAN. 2017. REPORTED TO SERVICE DEPT AT DEALERSHIP. TOLD IT IS THE WAY I DRIVE. REPORTED IT TO SUBARU CORPORATE OFFICES. THEY REFUSE TO CHECK INTO IT AND SAY IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. I AM VERY CAREFUL ABOUT PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT ALSO HAS A ROUGH IDLE. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES IN THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA ODI #11244441
25,000 miles · Aug 10, 2019
Unknown Or Other
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I-80 IN NEBRASKA. WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND, HER SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING AHEAD FO THE EVENT. LUCKILY THE HEADLINER SHADE WAS CLOSED SO THE DIDN'T GET HIT BY GLASS AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY.
NHTSA ODI #11242972
17,350 miles · Jul 25, 2019
Unknown Or Other
REPEATED ISSUES WITH REAR LIFT GATE. INCLUDING NOT OPENING AND STICKING AN ANIMAL IN THE BACK AND NOT SHUTTING COMPLETING HOWEVER GIVING THE INDICATION OF SHUT. TODAY 7-25-19, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES AN HOUR AND THE LIFTGATE NOT SHUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH DURING THE MORNING COMMUNICATE. THERE WAS NO SA…
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REPEATED ISSUES WITH REAR LIFT GATE. INCLUDING NOT OPENING AND STICKING AN ANIMAL IN THE BACK AND NOT SHUTTING COMPLETING HOWEVER GIVING THE INDICATION OF SHUT. TODAY 7-25-19, I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES AN HOUR AND THE LIFTGATE NOT SHUT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH DURING THE MORNING COMMUNICATE. THERE WAS NO SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER UNTIL 10 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR IT APPEARED TO BE SHUT HOWEVER I HAD TO PUSH ON THE BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO SHUT IT. LUCKILY MY DOG WAS NOT IN THE CAR AT THE TIME, BUT THIS CAN POSE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF ACTUALLY CAME OPEN. I HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY SAID THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING IF THEY CANNOT RECREATE IT THEY ONLY RESET THE SENSOR. THIS WAS THE FINAL DRAW FOR ME AND I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. NOTE: PICTURE TAKEN WAS WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11234759
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2019
Unknown Or Other
DRIVER FRONT DOOR LOCK AND UNLOCK FAILED. DOESN'T OPERATE WITH FOB OR KEY. LOCK AND UNLOCK INTERIOR SWITCH DOESN'T WORK EITHER,NO AFFECT.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Outback vehicles. A replacement air bag control module may have been installed that is not compatible with the passenger air bag module, possibly affecting air bag deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUX-09.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:knee Bolster
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Consequence: If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Steering:column
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured September 21, 2016, to September 23, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the knee guard bracket may not be properly attached to the steering beam assembly.
Consequence: If the knee guard is not properly attached and the driver is not wearing a seatbelt, the knee guard may not be able to properly restrain the driver's lower body in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the knee guard welding on each vehicle's steering beam, replacing the beam as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 14, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTL-72.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
Consequence: If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Suspension
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2017 Outback vehicles manufactured June 20, 2016, to June 23, 2016. The affected vehicles may have improperly tightened attaching bolts for the front left and right brake calipers, wheel hubs, and the right stabilizer clamp.
Consequence: If any of the front brake caliper, wheel hub or stabilizer clamp attaching bolts loosen or detach, the related components would also become loose and may detach possibly making the vehicle unstable and reducing the braking capability. These conditions would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bolts for proper torque, and replace any loose bolts, free of charge. The recall began on August 8, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WTE-66.
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Legacy and Outback vehicles manufactured February 29, 2016, to May 6, 2016. The steering column on the affected vehicles may have been improperly machined, and as a result, turning the steering wheel may have no effect on the direction of the wheels.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The loss of steering ability would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lot number on the steering column, replacing the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783 or by visiting http://www.wtd65.service-campaign.com. Subaru's number for this recall is WTD-65. Note: Until the vehicles have been inspected, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Illustration