RoadVitals

1998 Subaru Legacy 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.
11
Latest Feb 21, 2012
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.
10%
of 114 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.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

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 1998 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 Feb 21, 2012
Crash reported1 injury reported

CPSC#I1220374A. 1998 LEGACY SUBARU. CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. *LN

NHTSA ID
10449775
Incident
Feb 3, 2012
Airbags
Filed Oct 8, 2010
Crash reported

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND THE HYDRANT DID BREAK AWAY AS DESIGNED. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10359674
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
123,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 30, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DURING THE CRASH, THE CONTACT WAS FORCED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THEY HAD NO FINDINGS REGARDING THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39,000.

NHTSA ID
10207443
Incident
Aug 27, 2007
Mileage
39,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 18, 2002

AT TIME OF A REGULAR SERVICE, TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG SWITCH HAS FAILED, EVEN THOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. TOLD THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND TOLD I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW SWITCH FOR $552 + TAX AND INSTALLATION. THERE ARE 10 OTHER EVENTS ON YOUR SITE SHOWING THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY, MANY RESULTING IN INJURIES. I BELIEV A RECALL IS WARRANTED HERE.*AK

NHTSA ID
763219
Incident
Jun 18, 2002
Airbags
Filed Aug 25, 2000
Crash reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. I RECEIVED WORD TODAY THAT THE CAR IS CONSIDERED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DIRVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG EMPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
729074
Incident
Aug 13, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

DURING A FRONT END COLLISION DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. YH

NHTSA ID
552866
Incident
Jun 13, 2000
AirbagsSuspension
Filed May 4, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH DRIVER SWERVED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE WHEN DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY IMPACT DONE TO VEHICLE. DUE TO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS ,DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
861410
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 14, 2000

THIS IS AN AIRBAG CUTOFF SWITCH COMPLAINT. I COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER PLACE ON YOUR WEBSITE TO LODGE IT. WE GOT OUR CUTOFF SWTICH AUTHORIZATION ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE SUBARU SWITCH WAS TO BE READY 12/98. NOW THERE'S NO DATE EVEN GIVEN. THIS IS UNFAIR. YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE BAG AND US TO BUY IT, CAN'T YOU FORCE THEM TO MAKE THE CUTOFF SWITCH? THEY ADVISE WE NOT USE A GENERIC. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO CRAM 4 KIDS IN MY BACKSEAT SHARING BELTS. IS THAT SAFE? *AK

NHTSA ID
717338
AirbagsBrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 22, 1999
Crash reported

WHEN DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND LIFTED UP, AND ALL POWER WENT TO THE FRONT SIDE. CONSUMER APPLIED ABS BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID AND RUN INTO A HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
840764
Incident
Jun 14, 1998
Airbags
Filed Nov 2, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING AT 70MPH. IT WAS A FRONTAL AND SIDE COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
829916
Incident
Oct 29, 1998
Airbags
Filed Nov 30, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS IN A CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER.

NHTSA ID
526933
Incident
Oct 28, 1997

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

Engine30Brakes14Driver assistance10Transmission9Electrical9Steering8Fuel system8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .