RoadVitals

2011 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.
73
Latest Dec 30, 2024
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.
11%
of 651 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.
5
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 2011 Subaru Outback submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 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 73, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Dec 30, 2024

The contact owned a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V001000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ID
11633232
Incident
Dec 30, 2024
Airbags
Filed Sep 13, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Subaru Outback. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat near the hip area between the passenger and the door had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer confirmed that due to the mileage on the vehicle, the manufacturer was not obligated to assist with the repair. The failure mileage was 230,000.

NHTSA ID
11614440
Incident
Aug 9, 2024
Mileage
230,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed May 30, 2023

Loss of steering wheel electronic functions including paddle shifters radio volume and Airbag light illuminated. Looked up faults and found NHTSA campaign ID 10V283000 which describes cable damage from Subaru manufacturing. According to Subaru and NHTSA, our vehicle was manufactured 2 months after "Affected" vehicles. Subaru unwilling to work on problem as it is not listed in affect vehicles, yet clearly the problems found are exact match to campaign list. I will seek outside confirmation of failure and then request NHTSA to update the affect vehicles list so Subaru can fix a safety issue for all affected vehicles.

NHTSA ID
11524435
Incident
Jan 31, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jan 11, 2021

MY 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK IS PART OF THE AIRBAG RECALL. I HAVE PHONED SUBARU 6 TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY AIRBAGS. THE REASON IS THAT I LIVE ON A SMALL ISLAND IN HAWAII THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DEALERSHIP OR EVEN A CAR REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE MUST BE SHIPPED TO OAHU TO BE FIXED AND SUBARU REFUSES TO DO THIS.

NHTSA ID
11387561
Incident
Jan 2, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 24, 2020

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU IN MISSOULA, MT IN OCTOBER OF 2019 TO FIX THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. IN JULY OF 2019 I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED THE NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE 855-371-5406. I WAS INFORMED THAT SUBARU HAD PUT IN THE SAME NON-WORKING, UNSAFE PARTS THAT WERE IN THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THE 2019 RECALL. SUBARU DID THIS TO BUY TIME TO GET THE PARTS NEEDED TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM IN STOCK. TAKATA TOLD ME THIS. FOR NEARLY A YEAR I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AROUND THINKING THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SAFE. SUBARU WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS BUT THEY DO WANT TO INCONVENIENCE THEIR CUSTOMERS A SECOND TIME. SUBARU CUSTOMERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INFORMED. INSTEAD, SUBARU WAS DECEITFUL AND NOW INTEND TO STEAL MORE TIME FROM THE CUSTOMERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY SAID WAS 'LIFE THREATENING.'

NHTSA ID
11350902
Incident
Aug 20, 2020
Mileage
187,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 17, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT WHICH DISABLED THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE GANLEY SUBARU OF BEDFORD LOCATED AT 123 BROADWAY AVE, BEDFORD, OH 44146, AND THE TECHNICIAN DECLINED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT A CASE NUMBER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

NHTSA ID
11329364
Incident
Jun 13, 2020
Mileage
113,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed May 19, 2020
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE SHIFTED TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND SHE LOST CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR FACILITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO RAFFERTY SUBARU (4700 WEST CHESTER PIKE, NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA 19073 PHONE: (610) 353-6900) WHO STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED APOLOGETIC GESTURES REGARDING THE MATTER, HOWEVER, A CASE WAS NOT OPENED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN HIS STATE OF RESIDENCY REGARDING THE SAME FAILURE HIS WIFE HAD EXPERIENCED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID
11325109
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 25, 2019

I ACCEPTED A RECALL TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BY THE DEALER EVENSTON SUBARU, 3340 OAKTON STR, SKOKIE, ILL, 60076; AFTER THIS RECALL REPLACEMENT WAS PERFORMED, MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THE PASSENGER WINDOW DID NOT OPPERATE FROM THE COMMEND BUTTON OF THE SAME DOOR AND THE POWER OUTLET FROM THE MIDDLE CONSOLE DID NOT HAVE POWER. THE DEALER THAT PRODUCED THESE TROUBLES REFUSE TO SUPPORT THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11282284
Incident
Aug 7, 2019
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 26, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUBARU OF ROCHESTER (LOCATED AT 4840 MAINE AVE SE, ROCHESTER, MN 55904, (507) 285-4777) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR MAY OF 2019 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11203861
Incident
Feb 26, 2019
Airbags
Filed Apr 6, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED NOTICE AND RESPONDED. CALLED SUBARU DEALERS AND SOONEST THEY CAN SCHEDULE IS NOVEMBER 2019. ROUGHLY 7 MONTHS OUT. THIS RECALL IS A BIG DEAL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MATTER. 7 MONTHS IS TO MUCH. WITHIN A MONTH IS ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID
11194268
Incident
Apr 4, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED THE RECALL 3/3/19 MARKED "URGENT, IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL." MY SUBARU DEALER IN HYANNIS, MA INFORMED ME THAT I COULD GO ON A WAITING LIST SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THEY EXPECT TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AT THE END OF MAY OR IN JUNE. THIS DOESN'T FEEL URGENT.

NHTSA ID
11190492
Incident
Mar 21, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTHTOWN SUBARU (3930 SHERIDAN DR, AMHERST, NY 14226, (716) 992-6547) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT UNTIL AUGUST OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11187134
Incident
Mar 15, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CASCADE AUTO CENTER (148 EASY ST, WENATCHEE, WA 98801, (509) 888-2985) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE NEXT AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT WAS NOT UNTIL JUNE OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11187038
Incident
Mar 14, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 4, 2019

TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NORTH TOWN SUBARU (3930 SHERIDAN DR, AMHERST, NY 14226, (716) 992-6547) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE 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
11183970
Incident
Mar 4, 2019
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jun 1, 2018

TAKATA RECALL - ALSO, WIPER MOTOR SAFETY RECALL. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO WORK WITH SUBARU TO GET THESE TWO RECALLS ADDRESSED, AND MADE TWO PHONE CALLS IN EARLY APRIL, AND AFTER BEING TOLD TO WAIT AND BE CONTACTED BY AN APPROVED DEALERSHIP, THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP AND NO APPOINTMENT SET. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF WAITING I CONTACTED SUBARU AGAIN, THIS TIME THROUGH EMAIL ON MAY 20TH, AND WAS AGAIN TOLD TO WAIT TO BE CONTACTED BY THE CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS MORE THAN 40 MILES AWAY IN MY CASE. THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, SUBARU HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE THE DISTANCE OR TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. STILL, I'VE DONE AS THEY ASKED AND WAITED TO BE CONTACTED BY MY CLOSEST APPROVED DEALERSHIP (CHATHAM PARKWAY SUBARU), AND AGAIN THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP. I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET THESE RECALLS ADDRESSED SINCE APRIL 4TH, AND HAVE GROWN INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH HOW DIFFICULT ITS BEEN TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE AVENUE TO FILE SUCH A COMPLAINT, BUT I'M UNSURE OF EXACTLY WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AT THIS POINT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE TWO SAFETY RECALLS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID
11099224
Incident
Apr 4, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 8, 2018

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF MY CAR NEEDS A NEW AIRBAG. MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAS TO RIDE IN THAT FRONT SEAT AS THERE ARE 3 GRAND CHILDREN IN THE BACK. I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PUTTING HER IN DANGER (DATE BELOW IS DATE I WRITING THIS COMPLANT

NHTSA ID
11076903
Incident
Mar 8, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jan 27, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. A SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIRBAG (ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE RECORDS). HOWEVER, SUBARU CORPORATE CONTINUED TO SEND ME RECALL NOTICES. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED. 1) THEY REPLACED MY AIRBAG AND FORGOT TO TELL SUBARU. OK OUTCOME 2) THEY REPLACED MY AIRBAG, AND UPDATED A DIFFERENT CAR WITH SUBARU (WHICH WON'T GET RECALL NOTICES ANYMORE). PASSENGERS IN THAT CAR AT AT LETHAL RISK NOW. 3) THEY DIDN'T REPLACE MY AIRBAG, AND ACTUALLY PUT THAT AIRBAG INTO A DIFFERENT CAR. MY PASSENGERS ARE AT LETHAL RISK NOW. I ASKED THE SERVICE PERSON TO INVESTIGATE, BUT HE JUST SAID "IT'S DONE, DON'T WORRY" AIRBAG REPLACEMENT WAS NOVEMBER 2016. THE LAST SERVICE WAS THIS WEEK.

NHTSA ID
11065400
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

OUR 2011 OUTBACK WAGON WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A BUS. IT WAS TOTALED. THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11053675
Incident
Nov 16, 2017
Mileage
56,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 23, 2017

2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. UPDATED 10/23/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
11033752
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2017

TAKATA RECALL : MULTIPLE DEALERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THIS AIRBAG RECALL. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MORE THAN ONE DEALER IN MORE THAN ONE CITY WHO HAS GIVEN ME THE SAME RESPONSE. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING AROUND WITH THESE FAULTY AIRBAGS WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD HARM ME IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THEM REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
11020233
Incident
Aug 6, 2014
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11013968
Incident
Aug 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 23, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (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 CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (LITHIA RENO SUBARU 2270 KIETZKE LN, RENO, NV 89502 (775) 800-5534) WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10991213
Incident
Jan 31, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 16, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED US IN JULY 2016 ABOUT INFLATORS RECALL. THEY KEEP TELLING US THAT THEY ARE ON ORDER. SO THEY KEEP SELLING NEW CARS ALL THE TIME SO THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. WHY CAN'T WE GET OURS FIXED?

NHTSA ID
10986089
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL", NO NOTIFICATION FOR REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENT, CANNOT USE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT.

NHTSA ID
10968444
Incident
Mar 23, 2017
Mileage
61,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2017

TAKADA INFLATORS. I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SUBARU OF AMERICA THAT "PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE" TO REPLACE MY FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. PUTNAM SUBARU OF SAN FRANCISCO WILL NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS RECALL- THEY SAY I AM #80 ON A WAITING LIST AND THEY ARE ON #11. I TRIED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THEY CALLED ME. I'VE BEEN WAITING A YEAR. I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM SUBARU NOT TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETED (??!!) WHY AM I GETTING A LETTER SAYING "PARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE" WHEN THEY ARE NOT?

NHTSA ID
10967349
Incident
Jul 1, 2016

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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