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NHTSA investigating 33k Subaru Imprezas for airbag sensor flaw

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is beginning an investigation into an estimated 33,500 units of the 2012 Subaru Impreza because of a potential flaw with the sensor for the airbag system. The government agency has 26 complaints about possible faults with the Occupant Detection System for the front passenger seat, and this is the sensor that decides whether a person is an adult, petite, child seat or some other object and adjusts the deployment of the airbag accordingly. However, these reports allege that it was incorrectly turned off when someone was in the vehicle, which caused the airbag not to activate. Subaru put out a Technical Service Bulletin in May 2012 that attempted to address a similar problem. For now, this investigation is classified as a preliminary evaluation and is gathering more data about the potential problem to "assess the scope, frequency, and consequence," according to NHTSA. Related Video: INVESTIGATION Subject : Passenger Front Air Bag Suppression Date Investigation Opened: APR 10, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: PE15012 Component(s): AIR BAGS All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) SUBARU IMPREZA 2012 Details Manufacturer: Subaru of America, Inc. SUMMARY: The Office of Defects Investigation has received 26 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire reports involving the passenger frontal air bag in MY 2012 Subaru Impreza vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type Occupant Detection System, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The reports allege that the Occupant Detection System, failed to operate properly and incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied. In a frontal crash sufficient to warranty deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat. Additionally, ODI notes that Subaru published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) No. 17-16-12 on May 29, 2012 to address conditions with the Occupant Detection System that can lead to suppression of the passenger air bag when the passenger seat is occupied. ODI is opening this this investigation to assess the scope, frequency, and consequence of incorrect air bag suppression and any connection that may exists to the TSB.

2018 Subaru Legacy starts at $23,055, Outback at $26,810

The midsize Subaru Legacy and Outback get a host of new updates for 2018. Both models get revised styling inside and out. Additionally, both models get some new standard features and revised suspension with the promise of improved ride and handling. As always, both come standard with all-wheel drive. The refreshed 2018 Subaru Legacy starts at $23,055 while a 2018 Subaru Outback will set you back at least $26,810, a bump of under $300 versus the outgoing models. Of course, both cars can be loaded up with a host of features and equipment. There are two engines available for each model, a 175 horsepower 2.5-liter flat four and a 256 horsepower 3.6-liter flat six. In the US, the only available transmission is a respectable but uninspiring CVT. Stepping up to the bigger engine isn't cheap. The top of the line Legacy 3.6R Limited starts at $32,805. The Outback 3.6R Limited starts at $36,310. There's a $39,605 Outback 3.6R Touring on top of that. Standard features on the base model are few, but moving up the range allows shoppers to add a number of features like Subaru's EyeSight safety suite, an 8-inch infotainment system, heated seats, mirrors, and windshield wipers, Bluetooth audio, LED lighting, and more. As the Outback is essentially a lifted Legacy wagon, standard features and trim levels generally mirror each other. Despite the rise of the crossover, the midsize sedan segment is still hugely popular and extremely cutthroat. The refreshed Legacy is right in the mix with the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, and the like with just hundreds of dollars separating the cars. The Outback is a bit harder to compare, as it's not quite a wagon but not quite a crossover. It's more expensive than most two-row crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, but offers more interior and cargo space. If you don't need a third row, the Outback undercuts models like the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Dodge Durango. Both the 2018 Subaru Legacy and Outback should go on sale later this year. Related Video: News Source: Subaru Subaru Crossover Wagon Sedan

Toyota to boost its Subaru stake to more than 20%

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp plans to raise its stake in Subaru Corp to more than 20% from around 17% now, a deal that would also see the smaller firm invest in Japan's top automaker, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday. The deal is due to be approved at a Toyota board meeting on Friday, the people said, declining to be identified because the information has not been made public. The investment would come a month after Toyota and another smaller Japanese automaker, Suzuki, said they would take small equity stakes in each other. Such tie-ups highlight how automakers are scrambling to chase scale, manage costs and boost development. Traditional car makers, especially smaller ones like Subaru and Suzuki, are struggling to meet the fast pace of change in an industry being transformed by the rise of electric vehicles, ride hailing and autonomous driving. Toyota's investment is likely to cost more than 70 billion yen ($650 million) based on Subaru's stock market value, said the Nikkei business daily, which first reported the news. Subaru is likely to reciprocate with a stake in Toyota that would roughly equal the value of Toyota's additional investment, one of the people told Reuters. The companies have long worked together on projects such as the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins. At one time, Subaru built Toyota Camrys in its Indiana plant. Representatives for both Toyota and Subaru said the news was not something that had been announced by their companies. "The plan appears to be to ultimately make Subaru a fully owned subsidiary, to help create a 'mega Toyota.' This is the first step towards that," said Takeshi Miyao, managing director of Carnorama, a consultancy. "It's all about building scale." Subaru is particularly strong in sport-utility vehicles (SUV) and all-wheel-drive technology. The two automakers in June said they planned to jointly develop an electric sport-utility vehicle on a platform produced together, to split costs. Car markers around the world have been joining forces to slash development and manufacturing costs of new technology. Ford Motor Co and Volkswagen AG have said they will spend billions of dollars to jointly develop electric and self-driving vehicles. Toyota seems to be particularly keen to build scale now by investing in smaller, domestic automakers, rather than forging cross-border tie-ups like some of its rivals.