RoadVitals

2008 Subaru Impreza Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest Feb 4, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Subaru Impreza submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Feb 4, 2020

SUBARU IS UNABLE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR ALMOST A MONTH, I USE MY VEHICLE FOR WORK AND THIS RECALL IS POTENTIALLY DEADLY.

NHTSA ID
11307107
Incident
Feb 4, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jun 21, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL- I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH (BETWEEN 65-70), THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS AN EXTRA LANE (TEMPORARY 3 LANE FOR ENTRANCE, BUT NORMAL 2 LANE FREEWAY) TO MY RIGHT AND I BEGAN MERGING (OR POSSIBLY SWERVED FROM LOOKING OVER SHOULDER...AND A BEE FLEW INTO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALSO CAUSING ME TO SWERVE A BIT). I ENDED UP IN THE FAST (LEFT) LANE THAT WAS GOING SLOWER DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON...WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, BUT I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT AN ANGLE (MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT TO THEIR PASSENGER SIDE BACK) BECAUSE I SWERVED BACK INTO THE LUCKILY EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO ME, BUT IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DIDN'T SEE MY EXACT SPEED WHEN I HIT THE CAR BUT I WAS GOING OVER THE DOCUMENTED (ON PREVIOUS PAGE) SPEED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT OUR CARS STRUCK...THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH AND I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50-60 MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS ALL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SO FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF....ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD THE RECALL FIXED/SERVICED IN DECEMBER 2018, WHERE I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT AN HOUR LATER BECAUSE SOME "HOSING" WASN'T CORRECTLY REINSTALLED. SO I'M CURIOUS IF ANYTHING ELSE WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY THAT CAUSED THE AIRBAG NOT TO GO OFF. I HAD JUST TAKEN FULL COVERAGE OFF MY INSURANCE TO SAVE MONEY THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE I AM IN THE MOVING PROCESS-NOW WITH NO COVERAGE TO MY DAMAGE (WHICH MY INSURANCE QUOTED AROUND 2900$ HAD I HAD FULL COVERAGE STILL), AS WELL AS MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR MYSELF AND I SPENT ABOUT 8 HOURS IN THE ER. WHICH ALSO WON'T BE COVERED. I AM NOT 100% CERTAIN OF HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE WHY TRAFFIC WAS SLOWED SO SUDDENLY; THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF?

NHTSA ID
11221633
Incident
Jun 17, 2019
Mileage
157,155 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2017

TAKATATA AIRBAG RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE TK HOLDINGS INC. WAS FILING A CHAPTER 11 AND DOING AN AIRBAG RECALL THAT MAY AFFECT MY CAR. I LOOKED IT UP ON AIRBAGRECALL.COM AND WAS THEN DIRECTED TO THIS WEBSITE. THERE IS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR NOR WAS IT DAMAGED AT ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS ALL TO CHECK IF I NEED MY AIRBAGS REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11041328
Incident
Oct 23, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2017

TAKATA AIRBAG. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU OF RICHMOND LOCATED AT 9177 WEST BROAD STREET 23294, WHERE TRIED TO GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS FLASHING AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE AIRBAG WITH THE SENSOR BLINKING, SAYING THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE AIRBAG RECALL HAD NO CORRELATION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY AND CHARGE $1700 FOR THE SENSOR TO GET FIXED.

NHTSA ID
11040624
Incident
Apr 3, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 11, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11022641
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11022092
Incident
Sep 7, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 14, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE MONTHS AGO THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG RECALL. THE NOTICE STATES THAT CURRENTLY, PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND THAT SUBARU IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. ANY IDEA WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

NHTSA ID
11014985
Incident
May 4, 2017
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2016

I WAS NOTIFIED BY SUBARU IN JUNE OR JULY OF 2016 THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE TAKATA INFLATORS. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO NOT HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL IT IS REPLACED. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) SEVERAL TIMES (IN PERSON AND OVER THE PHONE) AND BEEN TOLD THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM TAKATA AND NO TIME-LINE FOR REVEIVING THEM. THIS IS MY 25 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-ENDANGERING CAR SINCE SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ?THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! HOW LONG WILL WE NEED TO WAIT TO CORRECT THIS FLAGRANTLY NEGLIGENT ACT ON THE PART OF TAKATA AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY? THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFER FROM SUBARU OR TAKATA TO COMPENSATE US OR PROVIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT YET 25 AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN OFFER A RENTAL VEHICLE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND TAKATA SHOULD BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

NHTSA ID
10934369
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. SUBARU ISSUED NOTICE IN JULY THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE AND WOULD BE REPAIRED, BUT NOW HAS NOT FOLLOWED UP. I CALLED THE NUMBER LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND WITH THE NHTSA TODAY TO FOLLOW UP (DURING THEIR LISTED BUSINESS HOURS). THE MESSAGE STATES THEY ARE CLOSED AND DISCONNECTS MY CALL. THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN MEASURES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT ANSWER MY CALL.

NHTSA ID
10929657
Incident
Dec 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 3, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURE EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10924087
Incident
Nov 3, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 19, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. SUBARU DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ESTIMATE WHEN THE REMEDY WILL BE AVAILABLE, MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER NOTIFYING ME OF THE DEFECT WITH THE TAKATA-SOURCED PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE TOLD NOT TO ALLOW PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE LOSS OF PASSENGER CAPACITY IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE TRANSPORT OF MY FAMILY AND A SCHOOL CARPOOL. I BELIEVE SUBARU IS OBLIGATED TO TELL CUSTOMERS EXACTLY WHEN THESE VEHICLES WILL AGAIN BE SAFE.

NHTSA ID
10907631
Incident
Sep 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 10, 2016

TAKATA RECALL NTSB 16-359 ZONE B DRIVING WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE AND MY DEALER, ANNAPOLIS SUBARU, TELLS ME THEY DON'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT AIR BAGS YET. VERY CONCERNED

NHTSA ID
10905478
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 16, 2016

LETTER FROM CONGRESSWOMAN FRANKEL ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB UPDATED 09/21/16. *JB

NHTSA ID
10896741
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. WHAT IS THE APPROVED TIMELINE. HOW CAN I REMEDY THIS FASTER

NHTSA ID
10894491
Incident
Aug 9, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 5, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V359000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10893631
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 7, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM A CONCUSSION FROM HITTING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,500.

NHTSA ID
10854077
Incident
Apr 5, 2016
Mileage
80,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 31, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ACROSS THREE LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE OTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE IMPACT DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WOULD WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ID
10617993
Incident
Sep 23, 2011
Mileage
8,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Jun 9, 2011

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CLUTCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SCREECHING/RUBBING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS APPLIED AND A LOUD POP NOISE FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD POP OUT OF 6TH GEAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD RATTLE NOISE ON COLD STARTS, THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW WASHER WAS INOPERABLE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OCCASIONALLY DID NOT RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE HOOD WAS LOOSE AND RATTLED, THE RIGHT REAR DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE, THE LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS WOULD NOT SECURE THE LUG NUT, THE BATTERY AND POWER STEERING PUMP WAS PUMPING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10405092
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
Airbags
Filed Jan 19, 2009
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT HEAD-ON MVC TRAVELING 35 MPH(AT TIME OF IMPACT). THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT APPROPRIATELY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S HEAD MADE CONTACT WITH DASH. THIS PASSENGER DID SUSTAIN A MODERATE NECK INJURY PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING MORNING REQUIRING EVALUATION AND TREATMENT IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255529
Incident
Jan 16, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2009

PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT CYCLES BETWEEN OFF AND ON WHEN A PASSENGER OF 100LBS IS SEATED IN THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254960
Incident
Jan 7, 2009
Mileage
1,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 12, 2009

THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG PERIODICALLY TURNS OFF WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 125 LBS AND WHEN SHE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG WILL HAPHAZARDLY CHANGE FROM "ON" TO "OFF" WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE REMAINING IN THE "ON" POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254690
Incident
Jan 9, 2008
Airbags
Filed Dec 29, 2008

FRONT PASSENGERS SITTING CORRECTLY THAT WEIGH BETWEEN ~95 AND 120LBS DO NOT ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253021
Incident
May 30, 2008
Mileage
50 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2008

2008 SUBARU IMPREZA FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS OFF AND ON WHILE MY WIFE 5'1" 110 LBS SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY STATED THE SENSOR IS SET TO DETECT 80LBS. DEALERSHIP IS NOW STATING SENSOR IS SET TO 125 LBS AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246821
Incident
Oct 26, 2008
Mileage
200 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2008

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY NEW 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK WHICH I PURCHASED JULY 27, 2008 IS SET FOR A 125 POUND PERSON ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. MY WIFE WEIGHS BETWEEN 120 AND 130 POUNDS SO THE BAG GOES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245216
Incident
Jul 27, 2008
Mileage
3,856 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 17, 2008

MY 24-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, WHO IS 5'2" AND WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 100 POUNDS, WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER HER WEIGHT AND SHUTS OFF THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG. BY MOVING AROUND AND ADDING WEIGHT TO THE SEAT WE WERE ABLE TO TURN THE AIRBAG BACK ON TEMPORARILY -- BUT WHEN SHE IS JUST SITTING IN THE SEAT AS SHE NORMALLY WOULD, HER WEIGHT IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THE SENSOR. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALER, WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO CHANGE THE CALIBRATION OF THE WEIGHT SENSOR. THE SENSOR CUTOFF IS UNREASONABLY HIGH; THERE ARE MANY ADULTS WHO DO NOT MEET THIS WEIGHT REQUIREMENT (A GOOGLE SEARCH TURNED UP MANY SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH SUBARUS). THIS MISCALIBRATION COULD HAVE DANGEROUS -- EVEN FATAL -- REPERCUSSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242710
Incident
Sep 17, 2008

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .