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.
22
Latest Oct 20, 2011
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.
18%
of 123 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.
16
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
9
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 1996 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2011
Crash reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS BUMPER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS AND THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ID
10430912
Incident
Oct 15, 2011
Mileage
108,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2005
MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 6/14/2005. WHILE DRIVING DOWN OUR LOCAL HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REPAIRS. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE A 55 MPH CRASH. *NM *NM
NHTSA ID
10128579
Incident
Jun 14, 2005
Mileage
98,966 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 2002
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND FORCE INTO THE BACK OF A PICK UP AND NEITHER BAG BAGS DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA ID
8010897
Incident
Jun 1, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 3, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported
VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN IT WAS HIT HEAD ON. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL PASSENGER WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET MADE ANY CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER OR DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ID
893395
Incident
Jul 31, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF OF ROAD WHERE SHE IMPACTED A TREE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS EVENT. *AK
NHTSA ID
880887
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 3, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE HIT DEER, MINIMUM DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. BUT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIR BAG BROKE, PASSENGER INJURED FACE. PASSENGER HAD SEATBACK ALL THE WAY, AND WAS LEANING BACK AT TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. *AK
NHTSA ID
877309
Incident
Dec 28, 2000
Airbags
Filed Dec 22, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON 35MPH FRONT-END IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SUSTAINED $7000 DAMAGES, FRONT-END IS CRUSHED. *AK
NHTSA ID
738162
Incident
Dec 19, 2000
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 17, 2000
Crash reported
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ID
857143
Incident
Jan 27, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jun 7, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE HIT A POLE HEAD-ON AT 30 TO 35MPH AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ID
837319
Incident
Apr 30, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 1, 1999
Crash reported
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ID
834336
Incident
Jan 13, 1999
Airbags
Filed Jul 23, 1998
1 injury reported
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIR BAG RESULTING IN A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND INJURY. (QCAW)
NHTSA ID
538195
Incident
Apr 14, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported
DURING FRONT IMPACT AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSING PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. 838195 DUP OF 824824; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
NHTSA ID
824824
Incident
Apr 14, 1998
Airbags
Filed Apr 20, 1998
BOTH AIRBAG'S DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END COLLISON. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FREE OF IT'S MOUNTING BRACKET, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.534534 DUP OF 540917; POSTED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
NHTSA ID
540917
Incident
Apr 20, 1996
Airbags
Filed Apr 20, 1998
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING FRONT END COLLISION. DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD/BROKE REARVIEW MIRROR, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
534534
Incident
Apr 20, 1998
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 24, 1998
Crash reported
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH , BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, OR SLOW DOWN, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION, AIRBAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ID
821088
Incident
Jan 13, 1998
Airbags
Filed Aug 22, 1997
Crash reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING GLASS TO FLY ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT SHATTERED THE DOOR OPENER WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE VISOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
518465
Incident
Mar 19, 1997
Airbags
Filed Jul 14, 1997
Crash reported
WHILE SLIDING ON SNOW IN PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5MPH, VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT VERY LIGHTLY TAPPED ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ID
814132
Incident
Mar 15, 1996
Airbags
Filed Jun 4, 1997
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS.
NHTSA ID
517782
Incident
Apr 2, 1997
Airbags
Filed May 27, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH GOING ABOUT (55) MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
NHTSA ID
810844
Incident
Apr 3, 1997
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 1997
Crash reported
WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE IDLED HIGHLY W/NO WARNING. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE HUSBAND DROVE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HIS WIFE PUSHED ACCELERATOR. AGAIN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISION W/NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ID
807026
Incident
Dec 28, 1996
Airbags
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Crash reported
AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
508255
Incident
Apr 5, 1996
Airbags
Filed Feb 29, 1996
Crash reported
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. *AK
NHTSA ID
979909
Incident
Feb 21, 1996
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own