FaultScore

1997 Subaru Legacy airbag problems

10 of the 179 complaints about the 1997 Subaru Legacy are about the airbag system — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 64,941 miles.

F

10

Complaints

7

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 5 50.0%
AIR Bags 5 50.0%

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 80,000 miles Wentachee, WA

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH MEANS THAT SHE COULD EXPERIENCE SPORADIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR IMPROPER DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA complaint #10238404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lebanon, NH Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH WHILE TRAVELING 68-70 MPH. IN THE PROCESS, THE CONSUMER RAN THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, RUNNING HEAD ON INTO A TREE. DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10049965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 49,882 miles NEW Milford, CT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY 1997 SUBARU LEGACY WAS TOTALLED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT 30-35 MPH, MY 97 LEGACY'S ENGINE WAS DESTROYED IN THIS COLLISION, AND I WAS CRUNCHED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED INTERNAL INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. BOTH AIRBAGS IN MY 97 LEGACY FAILED. THE LEGACY WAS TOTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10002691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethesda, MD

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON. AFTER 2 YEARS, DEALER FOUND PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #786014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mccloud, CA Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 60 TO 65MPH VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT END HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN INJURIES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #852980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vancouver, WA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID NEEDS TO REPLACE AIRBAG SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #838163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

RED Bank, NJ Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE LOT BALANCE CONTROL DURING SWIFT STEERING RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN INJURIES TO CONSUMER (FOREARM AND FACIAL).

NHTSA complaint #542567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newberry, SC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR FACIAL INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #819943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT/REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES/ 5 CAR COLLISION. SPEED 50 TO 60 MPH., VEHICLE TOTALED, VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #816577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamden, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 30MPH, 10:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BUT, DID NOT INFLATE, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #810402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Subaru Legacy problems

← Full 1997 Subaru Legacy report