2004 Subaru Outback Airbags Problems
25 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Airbags Recalls (8)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, and Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, or "Zone C.". These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-16. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were not previously covered in 16V-358 for Zone A or 16V-359 for Zone B.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16. Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
AIR BAGS
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy and Outback vehicles, and 2003-2005 Baja vehicles sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Florida and adjacent counties in southern Georgia, as well as the coastal areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQP-51. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-471. This recall has been partially superseded by 15V-323. All 2005 model year Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles will now be repaired under recall 15V-323.
Owner Complaints (25)
You received recall notices about a defective airbag in your 2004 Subaru Outback that needs to be replaced. However, you no longer own the vehicle—it was picked up by an auction house and may have been scrapped. You're notifying NHTSA that you won't be responding to further recall notices about this car.
Parts you may need:
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Your Outback is subject to a Takata airbag recall, but replacement airbags are not currently available. You've been placed on waitlists at two local Subaru dealers and are waiting for parts to arrive so the repair can be completed.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback has a passenger-side airbag recall that was issued in July 2016, but you haven't received notification that repair parts are available even 14 months later. Your Subaru dealer said they'd contact you by mail when parts arrived for the repair, but that communication never came. Until this recall is completed, it's unsafe to have passengers sit in the front seat. The repair will involve replacing the defective airbag unit once the dealer receives the replacement parts from Subaru.
Parts you may need:
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Your car is subject to a Takata airbag recall that Subaru notified you about months ago, but the dealership hasn't contacted you to schedule the repair. You've been advised not to allow anyone to sit in the front passenger seat until this is fixed, which severely limits how you can use your vehicle. The repair will involve replacing the faulty airbag unit with a safe one.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback was part of a Takata airbag recall issued in July 2016, but the manufacturer has not provided replacement airbags to fix the issue. The recall notice warns you not to let anyone sit in the passenger seat until the repair is completed, which makes your vehicle unusable as a normal passenger car. The fix will require the manufacturer to supply and install a replacement airbag assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your car is subject to a Takata airbag recall, and you've been notified that your airbags need to be replaced. However, you're being told not to let passengers sit in the affected seats, and there's no scheduled replacement date or parts currently available. This means you cannot safely use your rear seats until the repair is completed, which limits your ability to transport your full family.
Parts you may need:
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Your car is affected by a Takata airbag recall, and the manufacturer's interim recommendation is not to drive with passengers until replacement parts become available. You're concerned about not knowing when replacement parts will be in stock, which makes it difficult to use your car normally. The fix will require replacing the defective airbag components with recalled-specific Takata airbag units once they become available.
Parts you may need:
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The airbag system is not functioning as expected. No crash or fire was involved in this complaint.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback is subject to a recall affecting the front passenger airbag. This is a safety-related recall that Subaru has identified and needs to be addressed by a dealer.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback has a Takata passenger side front airbag that's part of a safety recall. You reported that the manufacturer took longer than a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair.
Parts you may need:
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Your airbags are part of a Takata recall, and you received the recall notice in July 2016 but haven't had the repair completed yet. The passenger seat is disabled as a safety precaution while waiting for the recall service, which is causing significant inconvenience. The fix will involve your dealer replacing the faulty airbag inflator with a safe one.
Parts you may need:
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Your Subaru is subject to a Takata airbag recall that was issued in July 2016, but you haven't received notification that the replacement part is available yet. You've contacted both Subaru and your dealer and have been waiting for three months without resolution. Getting the airbag inflator replaced will require scheduling service with your Subaru dealer once parts become available.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback was subject to a safety recall (Campaign 16V361000) for airbags, but the replacement parts have been unavailable for an extended period. You've notified the manufacturer about the delay in getting the repair completed. While you haven't experienced an airbag failure yet, the repair will likely involve replacing the affected airbag component once parts become available.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback was subject to a safety recall (campaign 16V358000) for the airbag system, but the manufacturer hasn't been able to provide the replacement part within a reasonable timeframe. You haven't experienced an airbag failure, but the recall repair remains incomplete. The fix will require the manufacturer to supply and install the recalled airbag component.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2004 Subaru Outback is subject to a Takata airbag recall (NHTSA campaign 16V361000), but the replacement parts needed to fix it have been unavailable. You've been waiting longer than a reasonable amount of time for the manufacturer to complete the repair, and you've notified the manufacturer of this delay. Your airbags haven't failed yet, but the recall work remains incomplete.
Parts you may need:
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SUBARU HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON PASSENGER AIRBAGS (NHTSA RECALL NO. 16V-359). THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, THERE IS NO SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY MAY BE, AND THE VEHICLE OWNER IS INSTRUCTED TO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE, UNSAFE SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, THE WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION LISTED DOES NOT WORK. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REMEDY MY VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
I CANNOT DETERMINE IF MY VEHICLE IS ON THE TIKATA AIRBAG RECALL LIST. THE DEALER SAYS IT ISN'T. THE NHTSA SITE SAYS IT IS, THE VIN SHOWS IT ISN'T SPECIFICALLY. MY QUESTION IS IF THE 2004 OUTBACKS ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR IF THE NHTSA INFO IS WRONG....PLEASE ADVISE.....UPDATED 10/02/15*BF UPDATED 12/28/15*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
MY SUBARU HAS THE TAKATA AIR BAG AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. SUBARU HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST TO REPLACE THIS DANGEROUS, DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *TR
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEB SITE REFLECTS MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER AS ONE LISTED IN THE AIR BAG RECALL ALERT. CHECKING WITH MY DEALER'S SERVICE MANAGER AT GOLDSTEIN SUBARU, IN ALBANY, N.Y. AND HE ASSURES ME MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. LAST WEEK I SENT TWO E-MAILS TO SUBARU REQUESTING CLARIFICATION AND HAVE RECEIVED NO REPLY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS GOING ON. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 10 AND 1/2 YEARS AND IT IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE. MY WIFE WILL NOT SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT UNTIL THIS IS CLEARED UP. ' *TR
SUBARU HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIR BAG IN MY CAR. *TR
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE REQUESTING A NATIONAL RECALL ON ALL CARS THAT HAVE OR MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAGS. *SMD
WITH YOUR APPROVAL, I HAD AN AOI ELECTRICAL AIR BAG SWITCH INSTALLED ON MY 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK. THE AIR BAG ERROR LIGHT WILL NOT RESET AND SUBARU HAS INFORMED THEM THAT ALL AIR BAGS MAY BE IMMOBILIZED AS WELL AS THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS. I CANNOT SEEM TO GET AOIELECTRICAL TO ATTEND TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
2002 L.L. BEAN OUTBACK ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, MAKING THE VEHICLE VIBRATE. VEHICLE WENT UP OVER PARKING BARRIERS AND SHRUBBERY AND ROLLED OVER. *KB THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF BODY PAIN, BUT REFUSED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED IN HIS REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND IN THE REVERSE POSITION. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE NEVER TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER AND HER HUSBAND HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A HESITATION IN SHIFTING AND VARIATION IN ENGINE SPEED. *JB
MY 2004 SUBARU OUTBACK COMES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SIDE AIRBAGS. WITH ONLY 900 MILES ON MY CAR, I WAS "T-BONED" BY A FORD EXPLORER UNDER FULL ACCELERATION. WE WERE STRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WITH ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE MY WIFE, IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, TO HIT HER HEAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR POST CAUSING A CONCUSSION. SUBARU CLAIMS THAT THE SIDE AIRBAGS PERFORMED CORRECTLY BY NOT DEPLOYING. TOTAL DAMAGE TO DATE INCLUDING DRIVE TRAIN REPLACEMENT PARTS IS $9000. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT TESTED THE SIDE IMPACT BAGS ON THE SUBARU MODELS. IF THAT IS TRUE, HOW CAN SUBARU CLAIM THAT THE BAGS RESPONDED CORRECTLY? *NLM