RoadVitals

2006 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.
13
Latest Feb 3, 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.
15%
of 87 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

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 2006 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 3, 2020

OUR CAR WAS RECALLED DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN 2016, SO SEVERE THAT THE LETTER STATED THAT DEATH COULD OCCUR SHOULD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. AFTER AN INITIAL APPOINTMENT, WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO WAIT ABOUT A MONTH FOR THE REPLACEMENT TO BE DELIVERED. DURING THIS TIME, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. WE HAD TO ARRANGE FOR OTHER TRANSPORTATION ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WAS REPAIRED AS WELL AS WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSPECTED FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IN THE COURSE OF FIXING THE AIRBAG, THE DEALERSHIP DAMAGED OUR KEYLESS REMOTE (WHICH THEY FIXED). WE LOST VALUABLE TIME FROM WORK. NOW, LESS THAN 3 YEARS LATER, THE SAME CAR IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POSSES A SAFETY HAZARD, THIS TIME DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT AIRBAG. WE ARE TAKING IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, BUT AGAIN, THE SOONEST THEY CAN GET IT INTO THE SHOP IS MARCH 11. AGAIN, WE ARE LEFT WITH A CAR THAT CANNOT TRANSPORT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER FOR OVER A MONTH. THIS TIME, THE DEALERSHIP IS OFFERING A FREE LOANER CAR ON THE DAY THAT OUR CAR WILL BE IN THE SHOP, BUT WE ARE STILL LOSING VALUABLE TIME DUE TO THIS. THIS IS THE THIRD RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE WE OWNED IT. THE FIRST WAS A BRAKE LINE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11306761
Incident
Feb 3, 2020
Mileage
140,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 25, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11025469
Incident
Sep 25, 2017
Mileage
170,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 30, 2017

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY RESULTING IN THE CAR NOT REALIZING WHEN A PERSON IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WILL NOT ALLOW THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO GO OFF WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION

NHTSA ID
11020573
Incident
May 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO SCHEDULING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT ORDER THE PARTS UNTIL TWO MONTHS LATER WHEN THEY WERE CONTACTED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10990998
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 2016

TAKATA RECALL GOT RECALL LETTER, EMAILED (NO RESPONSE) THEN CALLED.... TOLD THEM WE ARE ON AN ISLAND IN SE ALASKA-NO ROAD, ONLY AMHS FERRY. THE NEAREST SUBARU RETAILER IS IN JUNEAU (WE HAD A RETAILER WHICH CLOSED A FEW YEARS AGO), JUNEAU IS ONLY REACHABLE BY PLANE OR FERRY. THE COST FOR US TO TAKE THE CAR THERE IS OVER $1,000.00 JUST TO GET THERE AND RETURN--NO FOOD, NO LODGING IN JUNEAU. THE FERRY DOES NOT RUN EVERY DAY, SO OVERNIGHTING IS MANDATORY. YOU CANNOT PUT YOUR CAR ON THE FERRY WITHOUT A DRIVER. MY HUSBAND IS DISABLED AND I AM NOT ABLE TO WORK DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES, WE AER ON A FIXED INCOME, AND CANNOT AFFORD THE FARE TO GET THE CAR TO THE JUNEAU SUBARU RETAILER. TO TAKE THE CAR SOUTH TO WASHINGTON STATE IS OVER $2,750.00 JUST FOR THE FERRY ROUND TRIP!!! SUBARU DID STATE IF WE SENT THEM THE AMHS INVOICE THEY WOULD REIMBURSE US $500.00! IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THE SUBARU RETAILER ISN'T LOCAL ANYMORE, NOR IS IT OUR FAULT THE AIRBAGS ARE BEING RECALLED, BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO HAVE IT FIXED. WE HAD A PLACE LOCALLY THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE REPLACEMENT-IF SUBARU WOULD REIMBURSE THEM THE COST OF THE AIRBAG AND LABOR, BUT SUBARU SAID NO!! SO WE HAVE A CAR WE CAN'T USE FOR WHAT WE BOUGHT IT FOR!! NEITHER OF US CAN RIDE IN THE BACK AND BUCKLE UP DUE TO SPACE AND OUR PHYSICAL ISSUES (WE ARE IN OUR 60'S)... THE RECALL ONLY SEEMS TO BE DONE IF IT IS CONVENIENT FOR SUBARU! THIS WAS MY 2ND SUBARU, IT WILL BE MY LAST! WE ARE AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT...

NHTSA ID
10935580
Incident
Dec 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 18, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (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 REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10896924
Incident
Aug 18, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jun 30, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10881750
Incident
Feb 3, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jun 28, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10881235
Incident
Dec 18, 2015
Airbags
Filed Oct 4, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10546773
Incident
Sep 25, 2013
Mileage
106,000 mi
AirbagsSuspension
Filed Aug 31, 2013

JUNE 2012 - REPLACED FRONT CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WHICH WERE WORN AFTER ONLY ~80,000 MILES, EARLIER THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED. REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE ALSO WEARING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. AUGUST 2013 - AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON AND STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE SHOP WHO INFORMED ME IT WAS A FAULTY MAP LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH SUBARU'S WHICH RESEARCH ONLINE CONFIRMED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10538188
Incident
Jun 5, 2012
Mileage
94,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 10, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

HELLO IN MARCH 2007 WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM BOSTON,MA I WAS 14 MILES FROM HOME WHEN A CAR CAME AROUND A CORNER IN MY LANE I LOOKED TO MY RIGHT AND THERE WAS A TELEPHONE POLE, SO I HAD TO GO IN TO HIS LANE I THOUGHT I HAD IT MADE BUT WE CLIPPED BACK BUMPERS SO I HAD SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND WHEN I DID THE CAR SEEMED TO GO FASTER AND NOW WITH RECALL I WONDER IF MY BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING. ALSO NONE (ZERO) OF THE 6 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS ODD AND THE SEATBELT GAVE ME ALL MY INJURIES BROKEN RIBS,THUMB AND A BURST FRACTURE OF MY L2 VERTABRAE.THE LAST INJURY WAS CRUSHED LT FOOT FROM THE TIRE AND ALLOY SHE'LL CAME THROUGH THE FIRE WALL THE OTHER FACTOR WAS THE DEALERSHIP WERE I BOUGHT MY CAR WAS TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER CAR FOR MY CAR BECAUSE IT HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS I CONTACTED SOA TALKED MANY TIMES TO [XXX] AND THE MOST THEY WOULD DO WAS GIVE ME AN EXTRA $500.00 IF I BOUGHT A NEW SUBARU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10516157
Incident
Mar 19, 2007
Mileage
9,388 mi
Airbags
Filed May 18, 2013

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS LIGHT IS INTERMITTENT. IN COLD WEATHER, IT DOES NOT WORK, GENERATING AN AIRBAG FAULT. THE PROBLEM IS POOR SOLDER IN PART #84621AG41A. OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://LEGACYGT.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/AIRBAG-LIGHT-SOMETIMES-CONSOLE-PROBLEMI-149073P2.HTML IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONAL THOUGH THE LIGHT IS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512662
Incident
Feb 17, 2013
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2006 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A MOOSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10219934
Incident
Feb 27, 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .