2022 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition on 2040-cars

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Subaru recalling over 8,000 cars for Takata airbag inflators

We have one more automaker to chalk up recalling Takata airbag inflators. Subaru is now throwing its hat in the ring by repairing 8,557 vehicles nationwide for faulty front passenger inflators. According to the Defect Notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem affects 3,151 examples of the Legacy, Outback and Baja from the 2003 and 2004 model years and 5,406 units of the Impreza, including the WRX and STI (pictured above), from the 2004 model year.
As we all know by now, it's possible for the inflators to explode during airbag deployment possibly affecting not only the bag's inflation but also potentially spraying metal shrapnel at occupants. All of the affected vehicles will receive new passenger side inflators at no charge to the owner.
Seven automakers in the US announced recalls for the problem in late June affecting an estimated 2.1 million vehicles. Unlike some of the companies, Subaru is repairing all of the affected models in the US, rather just in certain warm-weather states. According to company spokesperson Michael McHale to Autoblog the reason is that "it was simpler to get everybody in there and make sure it was done." The replacement inflators should be in by the end of July, he said. Scroll down to read the recall report from NHTSA or download the full defect notice as a PDF, here.

Autoblog sell-it-yourself highlight: 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca

Introduced for 2006 and built in Lafayette, Indiana, atop a Legacy platform, the B9 Tribeca was Subaru's first attempt at a three-row crossover. Like the smaller Mazda5, the B9 provided seating for your kids but cramped quarters for adults. Add to that the controversial styling and upmarket pricing (before Subaru was regarded as upmarket), and you had a tepid response from the buying public. While the styling – specifically the B9's nose – was controversial, I liked its Euro-inspired profile on the outside and really enjoyed the design execution on the inside. The third row was optional, and for the occasional extra kid or small adult, useful. It's the utility of the footprint, however, I really like, and with a 3.0 liter Subaru six, it's perfect for your urban or suburban adventures. Autoblog's 'For Sale' example, located in Woodland Hills, Calif., has average miles for an 11-year-old vehicle and looks to be in good cosmetic condition. Despite Subaru's reputation for rugged reliability, a vehicle of this age will inevitably need some attention. A pre-purchase inspection should be mandatory, and you would hope for a clean CarFax. At $6,500, the asking price is at the low end of typical for a clean example with this mileage and may reflect its Sunbelt location, since Subaru resale is historically higher in the Northeast and Northwest. Related Video:

Subaru mulling expanding Indiana plant for Forester, Impreza

Thanks to currency fluctuations and their impact on the bottom line, a growing number of Japanese automakers are starting to increase vehicle production in the US, and it appears Subaru could be the next to do so. According to Bloomberg, Subaru is looking into expanding production capacity at its Lafayette, Indiana assembly plant, which currently builds the Outback, Legacy and Tribeca as well as the Toyota Camry.
Subaru's Indiana plant currently has an annual maximum capacity of 310,000 units, but the automaker is expecting to far exceed that figure this year, with year-to-date sales of 299,788 units through November (not including Camry) - an increase of almost 30 percent over 2011. The report indicates that Subaru could expand the plant to add as many 50,000 additional units to the plant, likely in the form of either the Forester or Impreza.