The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating the 2012 Subaru Impreza due to a possible flaw in the front passenger seat airbags, Automotive News reports. An estimated 33,500 cars may be affected in the U.S., and thousands more in Canada.
So far the NHTSA has received 26 vehicle owner questionnaires involving the Impreza's occupant detection system failing to operate or incorrectly turning off the front passenger airbag when the seat is occupied, which could increase the risk of injury in an accident.
In May 2012, Subaru published a technical service bulletin to address conditions that lead to the passenger seat airbag turning off when the front seat is occupied.
Following this preliminary investigation, a recall may be announced in the coming weeks.
