Manufacturer recall number

Subaru recall TKC-20

Q: Is TKC-20 the same recall as 20V003000?

Yes. TKC-20 is Subaru’s own number for it; 20V003000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Subaru calls it TKC-20. NHTSA filed it as campaign 20V003000 on Jan 2, 2020: air bags on the 2003–2014 Saab and Subaru, 111,562 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 20V003000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA Subaru’s own VIN lookup →

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
20V003000	2003–2014 Saab and Subaru	Air Bags	Jan 2, 2020	111,562	high

Problem Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 20V003000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. TKC-20 is the number Subaru assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 20V003000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Subaru’s own VIN lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is TKC-20 the same recall as 20V003000?

Yes. TKC-20 is Subaru’s own number for it; 20V003000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does TKC-20 cover?

2003–2014 Saab and Subaru, 111,562 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the TKC-20 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.