RoadVitals

2005 Subaru Outback 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.
38
Latest Jan 16, 2026
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.
14%
of 273 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
7

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 2005 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 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 38, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 16, 2026

The contact had received several recall notifications of an air bag recall for a 2005 Subaru Outback. The contact never owned the vehicle and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that the removal request could not be processed without the complete VIN. The contact had provided a partial VIN.

NHTSA ID
11711440
Incident
Jan 16, 2026
Airbags
Filed Oct 1, 2020

2005 SUBARU OUTBACK, CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, BUT CONTINUED TO RECEIVE LETTERS CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE LETTERS TO BE A SCAM. *JS

NHTSA ID
11361831
Incident
Oct 1, 2020
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Apr 24, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V311000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); 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 DEALER (SERRA SUBARU OF TRAVERSE CITY, 1747 S GARFIELD AVE, TRAVERSE CITY, MI) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED 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
11089817
Incident
Apr 3, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 2, 2018

2005 SUBARU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE AIRBAG COULD NOT BE REPLACED DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING AN INTOXALYSER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROCESS TO HAVING THE INTOXALYSER REMOVED AND THE RECALL COMPLETED WAS DIFFICULT. *JS

NHTSA ID
11065191
Incident
Aug 22, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 24, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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 (COLE SUBARU, RT 460 GREEN VALLEY SUITE 4, BLUEFIELD, WV 24701 (304) 305-4090) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. TWO MONTHS AGO, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND CONTACT HER ONCE THE PARTS ARRIVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A POSTCARD FROM TK HOLDINGS, ALERTING HER THAT THEY FAILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11048238
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 16, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11023793
Incident
Sep 9, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 19, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS). 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 VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10990630
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Dec 21, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10936751
Incident
Sep 19, 2016
Airbags
Filed Nov 25, 2016

MY PASSENGER SIDE TANAKA AIRBAG WAS REPLACED IN APRIL. WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THIS RECALL, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR'S BUZZER AND LIGHT (ERROR CODE 26) CONTINUE TO INDICATE A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WITHOUT A PASSENGER PRESENT. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY SUBARU MECHANIC THAT THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY". I HAVE FOUND VARIOUS BLOGS AND FORUMS INDICATING THAT I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS TO THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THIS ISSUE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE FIXED AT THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
10927911
Incident
Nov 18, 2016
Mileage
149,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 18, 2016

TAKATA RECALL WE CALLED IN MAY 2016 AND WERE PUT ON A "LIST" AND TOLD IT WOULD BE 7-8 WEEKS. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO HAVE ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR CAR, RENDERING IT FAIRLY USELESS. NOW IT IS NOVEMBER, MORE THAN 6 MONTHS AND WE ARE STILL ON THE LIST AND REPAIR IS STILL QUOTED AT 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
10926851
Incident
May 5, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 21, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. 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
10917804
Incident
May 2, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 5, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, 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 NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10913992
Incident
Feb 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 3, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. 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.

NHTSA ID
10911335
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 28, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN DECEMBER OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10910158
Incident
Dec 1, 2015
Airbags
Filed Sep 26, 2016

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY SUBARU BACK IN FEBRUARY. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS NASHVILLE SUBARU, 1512 BROADWAY NASHVILLE, TN 37203. THEY ADVISED ME IT WOULD BE TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS BEFORE THEY COULD REPAIR MY VEHICLE, AND I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AFTER THAT. THEN, I CALLED BACK MAY 9TH, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO ORDER PARTS. AND NOW, TODAY'S SEPTEMBER 26TH AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT REPAIRED MY VEHICLE, AND I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE BY PUBLIC SERVICE.

NHTSA ID
10909811
Incident
Sep 26, 2016
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2016

SUBARU RECALL WQR-53, CALLED LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT IS ON EXTREME BACK ORDER WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A LOANER VEHICLE AS THE POTENTIAL FOR METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING A PASSENGER RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA ID
10904369
Incident
Sep 6, 2016
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2016

I NEED TO AVE THE AIRBAG REPLACED ASAP.

NHTSA ID
10898907
Incident
Aug 26, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 23, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10870308
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 19, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V613000 (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. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF UPDATED 07/21/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10865835
Incident
Jan 29, 2016
Airbags
Filed May 7, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - IT IS COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE TO GET A RECALL AND TO HAVE THE PASSENGER RISKING DEATH AND FOR SUBARU TO NOT PRIORITIZE THIS IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE WHO HAVE ORDERED BACK IN FEBRUARY HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE REPLACEMENTS. UNACCEPTABLE. WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO USE THAT SEAT????

NHTSA ID
10863753
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10861489
Incident
Feb 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 21, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARA OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V323000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 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. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10860654
Incident
Feb 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2016

TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST 1 1/2 MONTHS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS RECALL! I CALLED THEM THE DAY I RECEIVED THE NOTICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER! MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT WITHOUT THE RECALL BEING DONE. SHE WON'T ALLOW ANYONE TO RIDE WITH HER. HOW IS IT THAT MY DAUGHTER ACTS SO RESPONSIBLE BUT THE MANUFACTURER AND OEM DEALER WON'T! WHEN I CALL THE DEALER, THEIR ENTRY LEVEL RECEPTIONIST WON'T EVEN ALLOW ME TO TALK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO VOICE MY CONCERN. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO BE INJURED BEFORE THIS RECALL IS CARRIED OUT. I FOR ONE, PRAY IT IS NOT ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS!!! VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THIS IS BEING HANDLED!!!

NHTSA ID
10855030
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 3, 2016

TAKATA RECALL. DESPITE BEING CONTACTED 2 MONTHS REGARDING THIS RECALL, AND BEING TOLD THAT WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW A PASSENGER TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM ANY SUBARU DEALERSHIP. AS A SINGLE CAR HOUSEHOLD, THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

NHTSA ID
10853143
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 22, 2016

TAKATA RECALL SUBARU CASE# [XXX] I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ABOUT THE ONGOING TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. UPON CONTACTING SUBARU MY WIFE WAS INFORMED BY "[XXX]" THAT : 1) THAT ONLY A "DEALER" COULD DO THE REPAIR WORK 2) SUBARU WOULD ONLY COVER $500 IN TRANSPORTATION COSTS PER THE LETTER RECEIVED: 1) "SUBARU WILL REPLACE THE INFLATOR FOR YOUR FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AT NO COST TO YOU." 2) "UNTIL THIS REPAIR IS PERFORMED, DO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT" GIVEN THAT I AM IN ALASKA (ZIP 99901) AND THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT SUBARU DEALER AVAILABLE IN MY AREA I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO EITHER JUNEAU ALASKA, OR SEATTLE WASHINGTON, BOTH ARE ONLY AVAILABLE BY BOAT AND AFTER CHECKING WITH MULTIPLE SHIPPING AND FERRY SERVICES THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $1800 ROUND TRIP TO TRANSPORT MY VEHICLE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I COMMUNICATED THIS TO "KYLE" AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THEY WOULD ONLY COVER $500. I PROCEEDED TO OFFER ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS HAVING A CERTIFIED LOCAL SHOP DO THE WORK, OR THAT BECAUSE MY AREA HAS A FAIR NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT THEY SHOULD SEND SOMEONE. I WAS BASICALLY TOLD NO AND NOT PROVIDED ANY OTHER REMEDY. COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND FIND OUT WHY THERE IS ANY ISSUE IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED? IN THE MEANTIME MY FAMILY OF 5 IS HAVING TO TAKE TWO CARS, AND NOW I AM UNABLE TO SELL MY VEHICLE OR TRADE IT IN UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED. I AM NOT UPSET ABOUT THIS, ANNOYED YES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN MY AREA THAT SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY TO HAVE THEIR CARS FIXED IF SUBARU WILL NOT HONOR THEIR OWN COMMITMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10850930
Incident
Mar 21, 2016
Mileage
125,000 mi

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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Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .