Vehicle recall R/2016/148

Subaru Impreza recall: Airbag may not deploy

DVSA recall R/2016/148 names the Subaru Impreza. It was launched 1 August 2016. It covers vehicles built 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/2016/148
Launched: 1 August 2016
Issued by: SUBARU
Vehicles: 408 across the lines below

What can go wrong

Certain circumstances can trigger the Occupant Detection System (ODS) to incorrectly detect a high rise in capacitance which deactivates the ODS and turns the passenger airbag off. This is signalled to the driver via the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL). If a heavy frontal collision occurs after the MIL illuminates the airbag will not deploy.

The fix

Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the Occupant Detection Unit.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. Vehicle numbers are DVSA figures for each line.
Model	Built	Vehicles
Subaru Impreza	1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012	408

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/2015/112 Passenger side airbag may fail to deploy correctly 1 July 2015, Subaru Impreza
R/2014/127 Brake fluid may leak 30 November 2014, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester and others
R/2018/141 Front passenger airbag inflator may rupture in a deployment event 23 July 2018, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester, Subaru Impreza and others
R/2018/326 Mis connection of the fuel pump connector 1 December 2018, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Outback
R/2013/117 Engine may cut out 10 January 2014, Subaru Impreza, Subaru Forester
R/2019/025 The load may exceed the valve spring's fatigue strength and the spring may fracture 1 March 2019, Subaru Forester, Subaru Brz, Subaru Impreza and others

Found one you might buy?

A recall is one part of the picture. See how often it fails its MOT at each age, or what the VetTheCar Buying Report tells you about a specific car.

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources