2009 Subaru Impreza Airbags Problems

The problem: like over 50% of adult Americans, I am female. I am 5' 3.5" tall (average for N. America, folks!) and weigh 109 lbs. I am also 66 years old and it's likely that despite my very active lifestyle (I'm a backpacker etc.), my bones are more brittle than a 25-y.o. man's. Your agency has failed in its duty to ensure the safety of ALL Americans. not just men and fat women. In order to reach the accelerator and see over the dashboard, i.e. in order to drive these vehicles which have passed your safety requirements, I sit in the death zone of the driver airbags and steering wheel column in all three vehicles I own: this 2009 Impreza, my 2000 Outback station wagon, and my 2012 Ford F350 Winnebago RV. Please don't tell me that I should buy one of the very few vehicles that might fit me better. I live on a mountainside in Alaska and need winter traction and handling. Why should my vehicle choices be narrowed because you have failed to recognizew that I exist? As a retired federal scientist and policy wonk with a law degree, I am appalled at your agency's callousness towards me and other average height drivers. How long will it take my government, staffed by people whose salaries I pay, to recognize that the male body is not the default for all humans? I am letting my Senator, Lisa Murkowshi, know that it's well past time for the NHTSA to protect me as well as it protects my husband.

NHTSA ID

11420322

Incident

Jun 9, 2021

COMPRESSING CLUTCH PEDAL CLICKS 3 TIMES LOUDLY WHEN CAR IS ON OR OFF. SOUNDS LIKE UNDER DRIVERS DASHBOARD. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED AIR BAG LIGHT ON, HORN ISNT WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

11266416

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD EITHER REQUIRE ME TO PAY TO HAVE AFTERMARKET GUAGES REMOVED PRIOR TO THEM PERFORMING THE RECALL, OR THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THEY CAUSED TO MY AFTERMARKET GUAGES WHILE PERFORMING THE RECALL. THE FREE RECALL IS GOING TO COST ME MONEY THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY.

NHTSA ID

11244321

Incident

Aug 9, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (LITHIA RENO SUBARU IN RENO, NV, 775-800-5534) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11030170

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10949214

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN MAY. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10936708

Incident

Dec 12, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW SUBARU IS HANDLING MY RECALL REPAIR. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BAY RIDGE SUBARU IN BROOKLYN NY ON 11/21/16 TO HAVE THE WORK DONE TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG ON 12/19/16, THEY TOOK MY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL AND VIN AND ASSURED ME THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK AND WERE HOLDING IT FOR THIS APT. I EVEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL CONFIRMING THIS INFORMATION. I RECEIVED A CALL ON 12/16 SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AND THAT MY APPOINTMENT HAD NO VEHICLE INFORMATION IN IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT FOR RECALL REPAIRS. I'M HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED. NOT ONLY HAVE LOST OUT ON THE FULL USE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED 6 MONTHS AGO, THIS EPISODE HAS REDUCED MY CONFIDENCE IN SUBARU'S COMMITMENT TO CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935619

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JULY. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10924231

Incident

Jul 11, 2016

Mileage

78,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL - IT HAS BEEN OVER 4 MONTHS SINCE THE AIRBAG IN MY CAR WAS RECALLED. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE, AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER STILL CANNOT PROVED AN ETA FOR PARTS.

NHTSA ID

10916550

Incident

Oct 17, 2016

TAKATA RECALL NOTICE ARRIVE IN JUNE. REMEDY NOT AVAILABLE AND NOW IN MID SEPTEMBER STILL NOT AVAILABLE. VEHICLE IS REPORTEDLY UNSAFE FOR PASSENGERS - AND NO INDICATION EXISTS OF WHEN REMEDY WILL OCCUR. IN MEANTIME, SUBARU HAS OFFERED NO RENTAL CAR ALTERNATIVE OR OTHER COMPENSATION FOR INCONVENIENCE.

NHTSA ID

10907242

Incident

Jun 19, 2016

FRONT END COLLISION, VEHICLE TOTALED. SEAT BELT FAILURE. BRAKE FAILURE. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MULTIPLE INJURIES SUSTAINED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713493

Incident

Apr 5, 2015

PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IN 09 IMPREZA SUBARU; SUBARU WILL FIX THE CAR TO OPERATE WITH ADULT OVER 100 LBS. OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM WILL NOT EVER OPERATE AND SUBARU FEELS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND CLAIMS IT PASSED FEDERAL SAFETY AND CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325431

Incident

Apr 13, 2010