IllustrationCRACKED WINDSHIELD REPLACED, WIPERS HAVE NOT WORKED AS WELL AFTER
2017 Subaru Outback
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outback years
Owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Outback are substantially higher than the model-year median of 207.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outback years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
2040–25K
20725–50K
7750–75K
2075–100K
6100–150K
2150K+
516 reports with mileage · 401 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 391 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility/wiper. Review the 205 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
32 crash reports3 fire reports17 injury reports
Visibility/wiper complaints
205 reportsCRACK IN WINDSHIELD ON DRIVERS SIDE, UNDER THE WIPER BADE AREA. APPEARS TO ORIGINATE IN THE 'FRIT' AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD. OCCURRED AROUND APRIL, 2019.
TWO EPISODES OF SPONTANEOUS CHIPPING/CRACKING. FIRST CHIP HAPPENED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER WHEN PARKED IN PARKING LOT. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE FIRST 3 MONTH CHECK-UP. WE CHOOSE NOT TO REPLACE IT AS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SPIDERING AND IT DID NOT AFFECT DRIVER VISION. SECOND CRACK HAPPENED TODAY, WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE…
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TWO EPISODES OF SPONTANEOUS CHIPPING/CRACKING. FIRST CHIP HAPPENED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER WHEN PARKED IN PARKING LOT. THIS HAPPENED BEFORE THE FIRST 3 MONTH CHECK-UP. WE CHOOSE NOT TO REPLACE IT AS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF SPIDERING AND IT DID NOT AFFECT DRIVER VISION. SECOND CRACK HAPPENED TODAY, WHILE PARKED IN A GARAGE, AT AROUND 40K MILES. THIS IS A LARGE CRACK THAT IS ARISING FROM THE MEDIAL BOTTOM ASPECT OF THE WINDSHIELD.
I BOUGHT MY SUBARU OUTBACK NEW FROM THE DEALER IN JUNE OF 2017. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES. THE FIRST CRACK, IN 2017 WAS THE RESULT OF A BLACK WALNUT FALLING FROM A TREE IN WHICH THE CAR WAS PARKED UNDER. THE CRACK WENT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK IN…
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I BOUGHT MY SUBARU OUTBACK NEW FROM THE DEALER IN JUNE OF 2017. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD THREE TIMES. THE FIRST CRACK, IN 2017 WAS THE RESULT OF A BLACK WALNUT FALLING FROM A TREE IN WHICH THE CAR WAS PARKED UNDER. THE CRACK WENT FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. THE SECOND CRACK IN 2018 WAS FROM GRAVEL ON A HIGHWAY EXIT WHEN THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 35MPH. THE CRACK STARTED AT THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD AND GREW ALL THE WAY DOWN AND ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN LESS THAN A DAY. THE THIRD CRACK HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2020, THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON RT 95 WHEN THE DRIVER HEARD A POP AND A CRACK APPEARED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER HAD NOT SEEN AN OBJECT HIT THE GLASS NOR HEARD ANYTHING GREATER THAN THE SMALL POP OF THE GLASS.
WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND I'M NOT SURE WHY. STARTED SMALL; STRETCHED COMPLETELY ACROSS WITHIN TWO DAYS. DRIVING IT WITH THE CRACK DIDN'T FEEL SAFE. HARD TO SAY IF IT WAS HAPPENING WILE THE CAR WAS MOVING OR WHILE IT WAS PARKED SINCE IT HAPPENED SLOWLY.
UNEXPLAINED WINDSHIELD CRACKING STARTING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE AT THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW BY THE DEFROSTER.
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A HORIZONTAL CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY A YEAR AND HALF INTO OWNERSHIP. NOTHING WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR CARPORT. IT WAS OBSERVED WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (JULY 10, 2018). SAN DIEGO WAS EX…
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THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A HORIZONTAL CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE ONLY A YEAR AND HALF INTO OWNERSHIP. NOTHING WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK WAS NOT THERE IN THE EVENING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR CARPORT. IT WAS OBSERVED WHEN WE WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING (JULY 10, 2018). SAN DIEGO WAS EXPERIENCING AVERAGE SUMMER TEMPERATURES. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT OUR OWN COST, AS THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. A SECOND CRACK IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE HAS APPEARED APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS LATER. AGAIN, THERE WAS NO CRACK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY IN THE EVENING. NOTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD IN THE DAYS PRIOR. IN THE MORNING, WE CAME OUT TO AN IDENTICAL HORIZONTAL CRACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD (JANUARY 21, 2020). THE TEMPERATURE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE WINTER AVERAGE (LOW OF 45F). AS WE HAVE MOVED CITIES (SAN DIEGO TO PORTLAND), WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AS WE ALSO HAD A SAFETY RECALL THAT NEEDED TO BE FIXED. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THAT IT WASN'T THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT SOMETHING MUST HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AT EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE. THE MECHANIC DID NOT THINK THAT ANYTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE. THE ASSISTANT MANAGER MOTIONED FOR HIM TO BE QUIET AND THEN TRIED TO CONVINCE MY WIFE THAT IT WAS A ROCK.
WHILE DRIVING ON HWY 101 IN PASO ROBLES , HEARD A LARGE POP. AFTER STOPPING NOTICED A CRACK APPROX 8 INCHES LONG ON PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT HALFWAY UP APPARENTLY EMANATING FROM THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD. DID NOT SEE AN OBVIOUS ROCK HIT.
THE WINDSHIELD IN OUR 2017SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS. A CRACK INITIATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CORNER WIPER DEFROST ZONE, AND GREW UPWARD AND INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTO. THIS HAPPENED UNDER ROUTINE LOW SPEED IN-TOWN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON EX…
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THE WINDSHIELD IN OUR 2017SUBARU OUTBACK HAS FAILED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE YEARS. A CRACK INITIATED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CORNER WIPER DEFROST ZONE, AND GREW UPWARD AND INTO THE CENTRAL PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. SEE PHOTO. THIS HAPPENED UNDER ROUTINE LOW SPEED IN-TOWN DRIVING CONDITIONS AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON EXCEPT THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WAS ON. A CRACKED WINDSHIELD IS A SAFETY RISK. SUBARU IS WELL AWARE OF THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN AND MATERIALS IN OUTBACKS AND OTHER SUBARU MODELS OF THIS VINTAGE, AND THE ATTENDANT SAFETY CONCERNS THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS REPRESENT. EVIDENCE OF A PERVASIVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD PROBLEM AND RELATED SAFETY CONCERNS INCLUDES SUBARU SERVICE BULLETIN #12-19215R AND NUMEROUS ASSOCIATED CLASS ACTION SUITS INCLUDING LUONG V. SUBARU OF AMERICA AND POWELL V. SUBARU OF AMERICA. SUBARU'S SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO REPLACE BROKEN DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS WITH NEW DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS OF THE SAME TYPE THAT ARE PRONE TO BREAK AGAIN, OR TO DENY RESPONSIBILITY. SUBARU SHOULD OFFER FREE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS FOR THE LIFE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES, OR IMPROVE THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN AND MATERIALS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE CRACKING AND DAMAGE SUSCEPTIBILITY ISSUES.
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OR CRACKED IN MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6 LIMITED. IT CAUSED A DISTRACTION FOR ME WHILE DRIVING AS I THREW UP MY HANDS TO SHIELD MY FACE. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES NEAR THE LOWER PORTION OF THE MIDDLE/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE VEHICLE. THE NE…
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WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, MY WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OR CRACKED IN MY 2017 SUBARU OUTBACK 3.6 LIMITED. IT CAUSED A DISTRACTION FOR ME WHILE DRIVING AS I THREW UP MY HANDS TO SHIELD MY FACE. THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES NEAR THE LOWER PORTION OF THE MIDDLE/PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ON THE VEHICLE. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND HAD THE DEFROST ON IN COLD WEATHER, WHICH I SUSPECT MAY HAVE SPURRED THE FIRST CRACKING, AND THE CRACK SPREAD HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. I SUSPECT THE GLASS IS DEFECTED. IT COULD MAYBE ALSO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE POSITIONING OF THE DEFROST VENTS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BLOWING ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS QUOTED OVER $1,000 FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY WILL HAVE TO RECALIBRATE MY SUBARU EYESIGHT CAMERA SYSTEM AS WELL WHEN REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD WITH NEW GLASS. I HAVE READ THAT MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE MULTIPLE SPONTANEOUS CRACKS IN THEIR WINDSHIELD PER YEAR, WHICH WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY VEHICLES WARRANTY. I SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE WARRANTY AS WELL. I WOULD LOSE MONEY ON MY CAR IF I TRADED IT IN AT THIS POINT. IT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR SUBARU'S MISTAKES AND DISHONESTY IN PRODUCING DEFECTED GLASS. I CAN PROVIDE A RECEIPT FOR REPAIR ONCE COMPLETED.
Official recalls
419V910000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
Dec 19, 2019
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.
16V716000 · Air Bags:knee Bolster; Steering:column
Oct 6, 2016
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.
16V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper; Suspension
Aug 3, 2016
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.
16V292000 · Steering:column
May 11, 2016
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
1EA21002 · 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.