Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Subaru Legacy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 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.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
Vehicle was involved in a front-end collision in which the Airbag failed to deploy. The vehicle has been considered totaled by the insurance company. A police report is available.
TAKATA RECALL - SCHALLER SUBARU OF BERLIN, CT CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THIS RECALL UNTIL OCTOBER 8, 2019. CALL TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL ASAP WAS MADE JULY 15, 2019.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. STATELINE SUBARU (1451 BRAYTON POINT RD, SOMERSET, MA 02725) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN ITS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR. I HAVE NO HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, NO RADIO CONTROLS AND I DON,T KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WORKS. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SUBARU REFUSES TO REPAIR I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $200. PLUS JUST TO DIAGNOSE IT WHEN THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT IT IS. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
TAKATA RECALL
I WEIGH 115 POUNDS. WHEN I SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE 2010 SUBARU LEGACY, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. WHEN SOMEONE HEAVIER SITS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON. I WORKED WITH MY SUBARU DEALER, WHO HAD NO REMEDY, SO THEY REFERRED ME TO SUBARU OF AMERICA (800-782-2783). I OPENED CASE 1-25522457944. THEY TELL ME THERE IS NO AVAILABLE REPAIR, AND THE PASSENGER MUST "SIT PROPERLY" IN THE SEAT. I AM SITTING PROPERLY. THIS WAS APPARENTLY AN ISSUE THEY KNEW ABOUT, AS THEY CORRECTED IN IN THE 2011 LEGACIES (WE OWN ONE OF THOSE, TOO). I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WHEN I SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IN THE 2011 MODEL. SUBARU OF AMERICA CONFIRMED THAT IF THE INDICATOR LIGHT IS NOT LIT, THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. SO A PERSON OVER 80 POUNDS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY IS NOT PROTECTED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A REMEDY, BUT PERHAPS SUBARU DOESN'T WANT TO GO THERE. I WANT THE VEHICLE ATTRIBUTES I PURCHASED TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. THEY SAY IT IS, BUT IF IT DOESN'T DEPLOY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS 115, HOW DID THEY DESIGN IT? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN HELP WITH? WE FIRST NOTED THIS PROBLEM IN 2014, TOOK IT IN, SUBARU COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS TIME, WE PUSHED HARDER FOR A RESOLUTION, SO WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION. WHEN DID THIS FIRST HAPPEN DATE WILL REFLECT THE MOST RECENT DATE.
TAKATA RECALL: NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET. HOWEVER, THERE ARE A LOT OF RECALLS FOR THIS TYPE OF AIRBAG, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND I.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER) AND 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INFLATOR. 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TAKATA INFLATORS - I CONTACTED SUBARU AND THEY ARE STILL MONTHS AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE FOR OUR FAMILY BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V694000 (VISIBILITY) AND 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V694000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. 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.
ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME ,HITTING THE FRONT OF MY CAR WITH FORCE. THEN THAT CAR ABRUPTLY LEFT THE SCENE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF AND I WAS SEVERELY JOLTED. THEN THE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES. I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND CONFUSION. LEFT THE SCENE AND RAN HOME AS MY BODY WAS IN TURMOIL. I HAD TO USE THE BATHROOM IMMEDIATELY. I THEN CALLED THE POLICE. REGARDING THE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER CAR HAS STILL NOT BEEN FOUND. PROGRESSIVE IS MY INSURANCE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOT IN TURNERSVILLE,N.J. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS ALL THE INFORMATION.
AIR BAG SENSOR FOR PASSENGER SIDE READS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IN IN THE SEAT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE HEAD, HEMATOMAS, AMNESIA, STUTTERING, DAMAGE TO THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO BECOME AN EPILEPTIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.
OCCUPANCY DETECTION SENSOR FAILED, PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATING AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN A 5'4'' 112 POUND ADULT FEMALE IS IN THE SEAT. THE INDICATION LIGHT WILL SOMETIMES FLICKER FROM OFF TO ON BUT MAINLY REMAINS OFF FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR IN JUNE 2011 AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR EACH TIME MY WIFE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *KB
THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIR BAG IN OUR 2010 LEGACY IS TURNING OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY A 120-POUND PERSON. THE BAG IS DEACTIVATING EVEN THOUGH THE SEAT IS SECURELY LOCKED INTO POSITION AS FAR FROM THE DASHBOARD AS IT WILL MOVE, AND NOTHING IS PLACED BENEATH THE PASSENGERS SEAT. TO REACTIVATE THE AIR BAG, IT IS NECESSARY TO STOP, THEN TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THAT MANEUVER IS FREQUENTLY NOT FEASIBLE IN EITHER HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, OR ON REMOTE HIGHWAYS THAT LACK SHOULDERS. THE REBOOTING PROCEDURE INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT ANY SENSOR FOR THE SEAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER OPERATING THE AIR BAG. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO TREAT THIS PROBLEM. *KB
THE 2010 SUBARU LEGACY GT HAS A DEFECT IN THE SENSOR THAT DETERMINES WEIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS SENSORS FUNCTION IS TO TURN THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. WITH A 114 POUND WOMAN IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AUTOMATIC AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT SIGNAL FOR THE AIRBAG TO BE READY TO DEPLOY AND CONTINUES TO BE IN THE OFF MODE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO MULTIPLE SUBARU DEALERSHIPS, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEEDED WEIGHT TO TURN THE AIRBAGS TO THE ON MODE WAS 17 POUNDS. MY 114 POUND WIFE IS FAR MORE THAN 17 POUNDS BUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR STILL DOES NOT TRIP TO THE ON MODE. I AM WORRIED THAT A PASSENGER WILL NOT BE PROTECTED IN A POSSIBLE CRASH. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. PURCHASED NEW 2010 LEGACY FROM HUDSON SUBARU JERSEY CITY IN MAR 2010. FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS FREQUENTLY OFF WHEN I AM SITTING IN SEAT (5'7" & 135LBS). IS PROPERLY ACTIVATED HALF OF THE TIME. TRIED MANY THINGS TO GET AIRBAG TO TURN ON INCLUDING: 1. WITH CAR RUNNING, UNFASTENING PASSENGER SEATBELT AND REFASTENING 2. WITH CAR RUNNING, OPENING PASSENGER DOOR, EXITING CAR AND GETTING BACK IN 3. EXITING CAR, SHUTTING CAR OFF, RESTARTING CAR AND GETTING BACK IN 4. WITH CAR RUNNING LIFTING MYSELF UP AND OFF SEAT AND SITTING BACK DOWN AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. HUSBAND TOOK CAR TO HUDSON SUBARU ON 11/9/10 AND THEY RECALIBRATED SEAT MODULE AND SENSOR. PROBLEM PERSISTED SO HE CALLED HUDSON SUBARU ON 10/12/11. SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CALLS REGARDING THIS ISSUE, BUT THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SENSOR IS DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE AIRBAG WHEN 90LBS OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SEAT. IF A SMALLER PERSON IS NOT SITTING SQUARELY IN SEAT, SENSOR MAY NOT DETECT PERSONS WEIGHT AND AIRBAG WILL NOT BE ACTIVATED. CALLED SUBARU ON 10/12/11 AND OPENED A CASE. ALSO EMAILED SUBARU ON 10/20. RECEIVED EMAIL REPLY ON 10/26 REQUESTING I BRING CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND MEET WITH A FIELD REP. ON 11/1 REP INDICATED WEIGHT SETTING IS NOT 90LBS ITS CLOSER TO 112LBS. SAID HE MET WITH A COUPLE IN FLEMINGTON HAVING SAME ISSUE AND HAD TO REPLACE GEL BLADDER IN SEAT. HE ASKED TO SEE CAR AND CHECKED TO BE SURE SEATBACK NOT RECLINED AND THEN ASKED ME TO SIT IN CAR. POINTED OUT THAT BACKS OF MY THIGHS DID NOT TOUCH SEAT AND SUGGESTED MY FULL WEIGHT WAS NOT BEING DETECTED BY SENSOR. HE KEPT CAR OVERNIGHT AND PERFORMED DIFFERENT TESTS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. HE EMAILED ME A PAGE FROM OWNERS MANUAL WHICH DETAILED HOW SOMEONE SHOULD SIT IN SEAT AND STEPS AN OWNER SHOULD TAKE IF THE AIRBAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE. *TR
LEGACY 2010 GT - PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT OFF WHEN PASSENGER WEIGHS 125 LB OR LESS. ADULT IS A FULL SIZE ADULT: 120 LB, 5'5", 37 YEARS OLD WOMAN. *TR
FRONTAL DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK A UTILITY POLE HEAD-ON WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO DAMAGE IT BEYOND ECONOMIC REPAIR. ONLY OCCUPANT WAS OPERATOR, AND WAS USING SEATBELT BUT WAS INJURED DUE TO FORCE OF IMPACT AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. NOTE 1: MILEAGE IS UNKNOWN. FIGURE SUPPLIED IS AN ESTIMATE. NOTE 2: PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING PRESERVED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. NOTE 3: THIS REPORT IS BEING SUBMITTED BY A PROFESSIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION. THE CONTACT INFORMATION IN THIS FORM IS THAT OF THE ENGINEER WHO IS INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT. *TR
REAR-ENDED BY DRIVER COMING AT FAST SPEED, SHOVED US INTO CAR IN FRONT OF US TWICE, ALTHOUGH I HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON BRAKE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY RIGHT KNEE WAS RAMMED INTO THE SHARP, HARD PLASTIC AREA UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH RESULTED IN A DEEP CUT AND BRUISES WHICH ENDED UP BEING DIAGNOSED AS TORN ACL/MINISCUS AND A FRACTURE. I UNDERWENT SURGERY IN ORDER TO REPAIR MY KNEE. SHORTLY AFTER SURGERY, I RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR AND A COMPONENT WAS REPLACED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I BELIEVE THAT THE AREA UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE 2010 SUBARU LEGACY IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. *TR
I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 SUBARU LEGACY. WHEN MY WIFE WHO WEIGHS 120 LBS SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG THAT DISPLAYS THE SYSTEM ?ON? DOES NOT ALWAYS DISPLAY. IT REMAINS IN THE OFF INDICATION. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO MY DEALER TWICE WHO CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG AND IT IS DESIGNED THAT WAY. DESIGNED TO SOMETIME GO ON AND OTHER TIMES NOT?MAKES NO SENSE. I REPORTED TO SUBARU AMERICA WHO GAVE ME THE SAME STORY AND ASSIGNED A CASE NUMBER . I DID FURTHER RESEARCH ON LINE AND APPEARS THERE ARE OTHER REPORTED INSTANCES, EXACTLY THE SAME SCENARIO WITH 2010 LEGACY AND 2010 OUTBACK. IF FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES PASSENGER AIRBAGS, WHY WOULD SUBARU DESIGN A CAR WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT ALWAYS GO ON. THEY CLAIM MY WIFE MAY BE TOO LIGHT BUT 120 LBS IS A FULL GROWN ADULT. ALSO DOES NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT SOMETIMES WORKS AND OTHER TIMES NOT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. IT IS EITHER A LATENT DEFECT OR A DESIGN FLAW. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .