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The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration said in documents posted online that it had
received 26 vehicle owner questionnaires involving the Imprezas'
occupant detection system failing to operate or incorrectly
turning off the front passenger air bag when the seat is
occupied, which could increase the risk of injury in an
accident. The investigation involved an estimated 33,500 cars.
The NHTSA also noted that Subaru, a unit of Fuji Heavy
Industries Ltd <7270.T>, published a technical service bulletin
in May 2012 to address conditions that lead to the passenger
seat air bag turning off when the front seat is occupied.
The U.S. safety agency said it was opening the probe, called a
preliminary evaluation, to assess the scope, frequency and
consequence of the potential problem and any possible connection
to the earlier service bulletin.
Subaru officials could not immediately be reached to comment.
A preliminary investigation is the first step in a process that
can lead to a recall if regulators determine that a manufacturer
needs to address a safety issue.
(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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