NHTSA recall 12V099000

Seat Belts · Subaru of America, Inc.

March 13, 2012report date

326,014units affected

Vehicle recalltype

Details

What's wrong: The automatic locking retractor in the seat belt assemblies located in the rear center seating of the affected vehicles do not meet lockability requirements and fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, âoccupant crash protection.â specifically, the assemblies may not permit proper installation and secure attachment of a child restraint in that seating position.

Why it matters: An insecure installation of a child restraint can increase the risk of injury to a child during a crash.

The fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear center seat belt assembly with a newly modified automatic locking retractor, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed on March 26, 2012.

Affected vehicles on MotorDeets

All model years NHTSA lists

2009 Subaru Forester, 2010 Subaru Forester, 2011 Subaru Forester, 2012 Subaru Forester.

Recalls can cover only some VINs. Check yours on NHTSA's official recall page for 12V099000.

Source: NHTSA recall records. Summary shortened; the official notice has the full text.