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Subaru recalls 81,000 Impreza models for airbag replacement

Subaru has submitted paperwork to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regarding an Impreza recall to replace faulty Takata airbag inflators, and the final tally is 81,100 units built between January 28, 2003 and May 31, 2005. Earlier this month Subaru had projected 78,000 Imprezas would be recalled from the 2004 and 2005 model years, but that final number also includes the Saab 9-2x; that Saab model, nicknamed the "Saabaru," was a badge-engineered Impreza Wagon that General Motors began selling in 2004. Affected Saab models were built from February 11, 2004 to March 17, 2005. This recall specifically affects passenger-side inflators, and Subaru and GM will notify owners that they can take their cars to the dealer for a free repair. The recall doesn't officially begin, however, until July 17, 2015. The notice from the NHTSA below has more information. Related Video: Report Receipt Date: MAY 28, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V323000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 81,100 Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc.SUMMARY: Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.CONSEQUENCE: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.REMEDY: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-763 in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign.NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2015 Subaru WRX: Introduction

"As far as street-legal rally cars go, there's still nothing better than a WRX." I wrote that line following my first drive of the 2015 Subaru WRX late last year - one of the better motoring experiences I had in 2013. Sure, a particularly involving drive route helped, but I don't want to sell the new Subaru short: it's a seriously good car - easily one of the sharpest, best-driving little turbos available today.
When I drove the even hotter 2015 WRX STI in January, it was a similar love-fest. The STI is infused with all of the WRX's greatness, but it's sharper, meaner, and on good roads (and race tracks), the winged wonder is really outstanding. But because of its higher price tag, less forgiving suspension tuning, and only marginal performance increases, I'm convinced that the STI isn't the best WRX for the money. And much as I love it, I just don't think I'd ever buy the STI over its more sedate sister (though I totally understand why others might).
So when it came time to add a new long-term car to the Autoblog fleet, many votes were cast in favor of the WRX. There was a lot of debate about whether or not to get the standard version, or the mightier STI. But at the end of the day, my argument that the basic WRX is the better daily driver - nee, one of the best all-around, all-weather performers money can buy - carried the day.

Here's the story with the Chicken Tax

Quiz America's auto enthusiasts about the vehicles they most want to see in the US market, and for every one that doesn't respond with a French hot hatchback or some diesel-powered offering, there'd be at least three that ask for some small, imported pickup truck. That won't happen, though, and we have the Chicken Tax to thank. This damnable bit of legislation affixes a 25-percent tariff to any light truck not built in the United States. That's why Honda, Toyota and Nissan build all their trucks in the United States, and it's also why pickups like the foreign-built Volkswagen Amarok, shown above, or the long-rumored Mahindra pickup aren't offered here. Wired has the story on the roots of the Chicken Tax, including how one Japanese manufacturer got around it and even delivered a vehicle to one of our country's presidents. Head over and check it out.