Subaru adds 5,000 cars to Takata airbag recall list

Subaru has added 5,000 to its recall list over faulty airbags from Takata, according to Detroit News. Subaru's recall is restricted to vehicles that are or have been registered in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. 

Faulty airbags made by Tokyo-based Takata have spurred automakers to recall more than 12 million cars around the globe. And Takata's troubles aren't over yet: according to Detroit News, Subaru has just added 5,000 more vehicles to the still-growing recall list.

The problem with Takata's airbags stems from the propellant used to deploy them. Owners of cars dating from the early 2000s have filed reports of airbag ruptures, and occasionally, Takata's airbag systems have showered the interior of vehicles with shrapnel. There have been two such incidents in Japan, six in the US, and two fatalities have been attributed to the flaw.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been working with Takata and numerous automakers -- not only to facilitate recalls, but also to determine the underlying cause of the problem. The best lead they've identified so far is linked to heat and humidity, which is why several automakers limited their recalls to vehicles that have been sold or registered in warm Southern states.

And that's exactly what Subaru is doing. The company is recalling the following vehicles, but the recall is restricted to those models registered (now or previously) in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and/or the US Virgin Islands:

• 2003-2005 Subaru Baja
• 2004-2005 Subaru Impreza
• 2003-2005 Subaru Legacy
• 2003-2005 Subaru Outback
• 2005 Saab 9-2X (which was made by Subaru)

Subaru hasn't indicated when it will send notices to owners, but given the speed at which other automakers have done so, we imagine they'll go out soon. It's our guess that dealers will inspect and replace the front passenger airbag systems entirely, but stay tuned for confirmation.