2008 Subaru Outback air bags problems

“The dash pad in the 2005 to 2009 Subaru Legacy and Outback models have a very common problem of deteriorating to where they become sticky and then sections start cracking and falling off. My concern is that this is happening in the area of the passenger air bag. There is a portion of the dash bad which says SRS AIRBAG imprinted in the pad material and mines actually about to fall off. If the air bag should deploy from a serious enough collision, these loose pieces will be one projectiles and could easily cause injury esp to someone eye. I reached out to SOA but they offered no help. The claim number was 250530-0001813. Subaru did extend the warranty on this a few years back but they have since expired. The missing piece in the image is towards the bottom but the area directly over the airbag is severely cracked.”

“The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the passenger’s side air bag sensor light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was also flashing. The failure became constant. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact's husband had inspected the air bag sensor under the front passenger’s seat and determined that the sensor was functioning. The contact stated that her husband replaced the air bag sensor in the front passenger’s seat sun visor. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.”

“Airbag dashboard warning light stayed on while driving on 1/31/2022 and 2/1/2022. Dealer (Autofair Subaru in Haverhill Massachusetts) confirmed there was a problem in the overhead console. Researching the problem, I came across https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/2006-obw-airbag-light-on-my-fix.42574/ which identified a loose component on the printed circuit board caused by a crack in the solder. Cold weather seems to exacerbate the crack and cause the component to fail intermittently. Many have reported this problem with their Subaru and have made repairs by touching up the solder. Subaru states that the collision system may not function when this condition causes the Airbag Warning Light to remain on.”

“The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown repairs to be completed. The vehicle was repaired however, after the repairs she started to hear an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown repairs to be performed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the front passenger’s side ball joint and power steering rack needed to be replaced. Additionally, the rear differential fill plug and the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however, the transmission was not replaced. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure of the transmission. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated recently the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer and independent mechanic were made aware of the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the…”

“[2008 SUBARU OUTBACK WITH 82,000 MILES, TAKADA AIRBAG REPLACEMENT JULY 2020]. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT (RED) ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT PANEL AS SOON AS THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND REMAINS ON AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHETHER MOVING OR STATIONARY. THIS IS NOTIFYING THE DRIVER THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE AS STATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS, SUBARU MECHANICS AND SUBARU SERVICE MANAGERS OVER DOZENS OF BLOGS AND EVEN THE SUBARU WEBSITE. OVERHEAD CONSOLE (IN MAP LIGHT GROUP) SHOWS PROPER NOTIFICATION OF SEATBELT NEED AND AIRBAG ACTIVATION WHEN WEIGHT IS EXERTED ON PASSENGER SEAT SURFACE, BUT WITH THE AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT LIT ON THE DASHBOARD, THE PASSENGER, AND POSSIBLY DRIVER AIRBAG, IS TOTALLY INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEGLECT BY SUBARU IN ADDRESSING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM IS OF IMMEDIATE CONCERN. HUNDREDS OF SUBARU OWNERS, MANY NOT DIRECTLY REPORTING TO NHTSA, HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.”

“PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ABOVE MAP LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2012 TWICE FOR THIS ISSUE (STILL ONGOING). SERVICE WRITER SAID COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY. HE INDICATED THE AIRBAG WOULD STILL DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, BUT THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS NOT ABLE TO READ THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER AND IF I HAD A SMALLER AND SHORTER ADULT IN THE FRONT SEAT, THEY COULD BE INJURED BECAUSE THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND WITH GREATER FORCE POSSIBLY INJURING THE PASSENGER. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING AND PREVALENT ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE, DRIVING OR PARKED, AND IF THERE IS OR IS NOT A PASSENGER. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE THAT WARRANTS A RECALL. *TR *BF*JB”