Problems · by component

2008 Subaru Impreza air bags problems

41 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Subaru Impreza cite air bags, 20% of all 209 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 8 recalls on this component.

Complaints
41
20% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TAKATA RECALL- I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 68 MPH (BETWEEN 65-70), THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC. THERE WAS AN EXTRA LANE (TEMPORARY 3 LANE FOR ENTRANCE, BUT NORMAL 2 LANE FREEWAY) TO MY RIGHT AND I BEGAN MERGING (OR POSSIBLY SWERVED FROM LOOKING OVER SHOULDER...AND A BEE FLEW INTO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALSO CAUSING ME TO SWERVE A BIT). I ENDED UP IN THE FAST (LEFT) LANE THAT WAS GOING SLOWER DUE TO AN UNKNOWN REASON...WHICH CAUSED ME TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, BUT I REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT AN ANGLE (MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT TO THEIR PASSENGER SIDE BACK) BECAUSE I SWERVED BACK INTO THE LUCKILY EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO ME, BUT IT WASN'T FAST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DIDN'T SEE MY EXACT SPEED WHEN I HIT THE CAR BUT I WAS GOING OVER THE DOCUMENTED (ON PREVIOUS PAGE) SPEED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITH THE AMOUNT OF IMPACT OUR CARS STRUCK...THIS VEHICLE WAS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH AND I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50-60 MPH AND THE IMPACT WAS ALL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SO FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF....ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD THE RECALL FIXED/SERVICED IN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2019Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11221633
“TAKATATA AIRBAG RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE TK HOLDINGS INC. WAS FILING A CHAPTER 11 AND DOING AN AIRBAG RECALL THAT MAY AFFECT MY CAR. I LOOKED IT UP ON AIRBAGRECALL.COM AND WAS THEN DIRECTED TO THIS WEBSITE. THERE IS NO EXTERIOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR NOR WAS IT DAMAGED AT ALL WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS ALL TO CHECK IF I NEED MY AIRBAGS REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2017Air bagsODI 11041328
“TAKATA AIRBAG. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SUBARU OF RICHMOND LOCATED AT 9177 WEST BROAD STREET 23294, WHERE TRIED TO GET THE AIRBAG REPLACED. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS FLASHING AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE THE AIRBAG WITH THE SENSOR BLINKING, SAYING THAT THE AIRBAG SENSOR AND THE AIRBAG RECALL HAD NO CORRELATION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY AND CHARGE $1700 FOR THE SENSOR TO GET FIXED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2017Air bagsODI 11040624
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). 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 WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2017Air bagsODI 11022641
“TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A NOTICE MONTHS AGO THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG RECALL. THE NOTICE STATES THAT CURRENTLY, PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND THAT SUBARU IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACQUIRING PARTS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. ANY IDEA WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2017Air bagsODI 11014985
“I WAS NOTIFIED BY SUBARU IN JUNE OR JULY OF 2016 THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE TAKATA INFLATORS. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO NOT HAVE ANYONE RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL IT IS REPLACED. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) SEVERAL TIMES (IN PERSON AND OVER THE PHONE) AND BEEN TOLD THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT PARTS AVAILABLE FROM TAKATA AND NO TIME-LINE FOR REVEIVING THEM. THIS IS MY 25 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S ONLY TRANSPORTATION. SHE HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE-ENDANGERING CAR SINCE SHE WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ?THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! HOW LONG WILL WE NEED TO WAIT TO CORRECT THIS FLAGRANTLY NEGLIGENT ACT ON THE PART OF TAKATA AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY? THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFER FROM SUBARU OR TAKATA TO COMPENSATE US OR PROVIDE ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT YET 25 AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THAT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN OFFER A RENTAL VEHICLE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND TAKATA SHOULD BE HELD MORE ACCOUNTABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2016Air bagsODI 10934369

Showing 6 of 41 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

8 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules 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.

Air bagsReported Jan 11, 2017NHTSA 17V026000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX 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. These vehicles are 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.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V014000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V016000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 25, 2016NHTSA 16V359000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported May 25, 2016NHTSA 16V358000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.