FaultScore

1996 Subaru Legacy airbag problems

25 of the 161 complaints about the 1996 Subaru Legacy are about the airbag system — 16% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 103,483 miles.

F

25

Complaints

18

Crashes

0

Fires

8

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 20 80.0%
AIR Bags 4 16.0%
Side/Window 1 4.0%

Airbags across every Subaru Legacy year

1993 10 2.7%
1995 50 13.7%
1996 25 6.8%
1997 10 2.7%
1998 11 3.0%
1999 11 3.0%
2003 16 4.4%
2004 26 7.1%
2005 22 6.0%
2006 13 3.6%
2007 12 3.3%
2008 25 6.8%
2009 31 8.5%
2010 29 7.9%
2011 25 6.8%
2012 11 3.0%
2013 14 3.8%
2014 14 3.8%
2015 10 2.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 108,000 miles Lawrenceville, NJ Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS BUMPER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AIR BAGS AND THE WINDSHIELD REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

NHTSA complaint #10430912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,966 miles Rochester, NY

AIR BAGS

MY 1996 SUBARU OUTBACK EXPERIENCED AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION ON 6/14/2005. WHILE DRIVING DOWN OUR LOCAL HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE THEY REFUSED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REPAIRS. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO INDICATE A 55 MPH CRASH. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10128579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kansas City, MO

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND FORCE INTO THE BACK OF A PICK UP AND NEITHER BAG BAGS DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8010897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Reynoldsville, PA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN IT WAS HIT HEAD ON. FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UNTIL PASSENGER WENT THROUGH WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER HAS NOT YET MADE ANY CONTACT WITH MANUFACTURER OR DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #893395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kaunakakai, HI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS FORCED OFF OF ROAD WHERE SHE IMPACTED A TREE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS EVENT.

NHTSA complaint #880887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Troy, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON 35MPH FRONT-END IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CAR SUSTAINED $7000 DAMAGES, FRONT-END IS CRUSHED.

NHTSA complaint #738162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Great Falls, MT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE HIT DEER, MINIMUM DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. BUT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER'S AIR BAG BROKE, PASSENGER INJURED FACE. PASSENGER HAD SEATBACK ALL THE WAY, AND WAS LEANING BACK AT TIME OF DEPLOYMENT.

NHTSA complaint #877309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monument, CO Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #857143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Princeton, WV Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE HIT A POLE HEAD-ON AT 30 TO 35MPH AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #837319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Broomfield, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING FRONT IMPACT AT LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSING PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. 838195 DUP OF 824824; POSTED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #824824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #834336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Broomfield, CO 1 injured

AIR BAGS

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S AIR BAG RESULTING IN A CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND INJURY. (QCAW)

NHTSA complaint #538195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BOTH AIRBAG'S DEPLOYED DURING FRONT END COLLISON. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, BROKE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FREE OF IT'S MOUNTING BRACKET, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.534534 DUP OF 540917; POSTED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #540917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, NY

AIR BAGS

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING FRONT END COLLISION. DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD/BROKE REARVIEW MIRROR, AND SENT GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #534534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Womem, UT Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH , BEGAN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, OR SLOW DOWN, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION, AIRBAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #821088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Culpeper, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING GLASS TO FLY ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT SHATTERED THE DOOR OPENER WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE VISOR.

NHTSA complaint #518465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Culpeper, VA Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING GLASS TO FLY ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, IT SHATTERED THE DOOR OPENER WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE VISOR.

NHTSA complaint #518465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milltown, NJ Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE SLIDING ON SNOW IN PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 5MPH, VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT VERY LIGHTLY TAPPED ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #814132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS.

NHTSA complaint #517782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS.

NHTSA complaint #517782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hopatcong, NJ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON CRASH GOING ABOUT (55) MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #810844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW London, WI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE IDLED HIGHLY W/NO WARNING. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE HUSBAND DROVE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HIS WIFE PUSHED ACCELERATOR. AGAIN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISION W/NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #807026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Musk, MI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #508255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Traverse CIT, MI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #979909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Traverse CIT, MI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #979909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Subaru Legacy problems

← Full 1996 Subaru Legacy report