Problems · by component

2011 Subaru Legacy air bags problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2011 Subaru Legacy cite air bags, 15% of all 167 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 9 recalls on this component.

Complaints
25
15% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BURLINGTON SUBARU (351 SHELBURNE RD, BURLINGTON, VT 05401, (802)448-3880) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER A PORTION OF THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 12, 2021Air bagsODI 11395968
“I HAVE OWNED MY LEGACY SINCE '14 AND MY BROTHER OWNED IT BEFORE THAT. HE RARELY HAD PASSENGERS RIDE WITH HIM AND SINCE I'VE OWNED IT THE FEW PASSENGERS I'VE HAD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HEAVIER THAN ME. (I USUALLY DID ALL THE DRIVING). ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I TOOK A ROAD TRIP WITH A FRIEND AND HE DID MOST OF THE DRIVING. WE STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD SAY OFF. I TRIED ADJUSTING MY SEAT AND CHANGING POSITIONS AND OCCASIONALLY I COULD GET IT TO TURN BACK ON. WE SWITCHED SEATS AND IT IMMEDIATELY WORKED FOR HIM. I AM 5' 9" AND WAS ABOUT 150 # AT THE TIME. HE IS 5'8" AND ABOUT 165. I TOOK IT IN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED SOMETHING WAS INDEED WRONG AND TOLD ME THAT I MUST HAVE SPILLED LIQUID ON THE SEAT THAT HAD RUINED THE SENSORS. THIS DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME BECAUSE WHILE I COULD NOT ACTIVATE THE SENSORS, THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE BEING HEAVIER THAN ME ACTIVATED IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY BROTHER AND I ARE VERY PARTICULAR WITH OUR VEHICLES AND NO SUCH THING EVER OCCURRED. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. I COULD NOT AFFORD THAT EXPENSE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2020Air bagsODI 11372495
“2 CAR COLLISION ON A CITY STREET. BOTH CARS IN MOTION. OUR CAR WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD AND WAS HIT IN THE LEFT FRONT AREA CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF BOTH VEHICLES. THE DRIVER OF OUR CAR WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE DRIVER OF OUR CAR SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY ON THE LEFT SIDE RESULTING IN PAIN AND IN PARTICULAR SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. THE ACCIDENT REPORT IS AVAILABLE THRU THE KIRKLAND, WA POLICE DEPARTMENT, CASE #20-19103. ALTHOUGH THE REPORT DOES CONTAIN ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IT MOSTLY DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED AND INCLUDES SEVERAL PHOTOS. THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS WE ARE WONDERING WHY THE AIRBAGS (SIDE ONES IN PARTICULAR) DID NOT DEPLOY? WE FEEL IT'S VERY LIKELY THE HEAD INJURY WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE AIRBAG(S) DEPLOYED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2020Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11338393
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE PART WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME CONCERNING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHEN DON MILLER SUBARU EAST (5401 HIGH CROSSING BLVD, MADISON, WI 53718, (608) 258-3600) MAY BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT AS THEY INDICATED THAT THE PART MAY NOT BECOME AVAILABLE FOR OVER FOUR MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO ADDRESS PART AVAILABILITY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2019Air bagsODI 11194059
“TAKATA RECALL!! SUBARU DEALER-GANLEY SUBARU NORTH OLMSTED OHIO,TOLD ME IS NO RECALL ON THIS VIN NUMBER......PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IS TRUE OR WHAT.THANKS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2019Air bagsODI 11185563
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUBARU LEGACY. 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. GLENWOOD SPRINGS SUBARU (175 STORM KING RD, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO 81601, (970) 945-7447) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL TWELVE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2019Air bagsODI 11184877

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

9 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 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 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 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2019NHTSA 19V009000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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 used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2019NHTSA 19V007000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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 passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2019NHTSA 19V008000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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 used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V012000

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 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 Nov 11, 2026

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

Other 2011 Legacy problem areas