Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Subaru Impreza owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Was involved in a side swipe accident, the other vehicle hit me in the front quarter panel and both air bags immediatley deployed, causing the windshield to break and causing me to run into a sign, rather than being able to correct myself. Due to the airbags being deployed the car was totalled vs. Being fixable had they not gone off as there is no front end damage or engine damage.
Vehicle hit a curb on the right front tire at approximately 5 MPH and both frontal air bags deployed. No injury reported. Also, no damage to the vehicle, except the right front tire. Vehicle was towed to the repair shop, and mechanic confirmed that the vehicle did not sustain any damages, and the right front tire needed to be replaced. The dealer was not notified.
While driving 35-40 MPH had a direct frontal impact, and driver's/ passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupants in this crash. There was no previous problems with airbag system. Please provide further information.
Consumer drove over railroad tracks at approximately 10-12 MPH when dual airbags deployed without undercarriage or any kind of impact, which could have caused injuries. Cause unknown. Repairs for recall 98V315000/ towing apparatus was done in 2/2000, and it was removed prior to this incident.
Air bags depoyed by hitting a small dip in the road at approximately 5-10 MPH or less. Dealer contacted. Due to deployment of the air bags damage to interior of the vehicle, windshield exploded the rearview mirror flew through the car and shattered the rear window, knobs came off the dashboard.
Air bags deployed during a u-turn near a curve. Put the vehicle in reverse, speed less than 5 MPH. Dealer contacted, and stated not to drive the vehicle and check it for investigation. Extended warranty effective. No response in reference to the problem.
Air bags: driving approximately 30-35mph and hit a deer . Driving a t a slow speed and by a deer, being a lightweight object, do not feel that the air bag should have deployed.
The consumer was in an accident and the driver and passenger side air bag did not deploy and the driver side seat belt did not lock. Tt
The air bag deployed at 5mph fender binder. It broke the windsheild and broke off the rearview mirror. Please describe.
False deployment of driver's/passenger's airbag when hard braking, resulted in loss of control/accident/injury.
Related recalls
Air bags
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Inadvertent air bag deployment can occur after undercarriage contact of the tow hooks with curbs, dips, speedbumps, potholes, etc.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the front tow hooks.
NHTSA investigations
Oversensitive air bag deployment
Odi has reviewed 33 complaints of oversensitive' air bag deployment (I.e., any non-crash deployment) received by odi and Subaru involving model year 1995 Subaru impreza & legacy vehicles and all other impreza & legacy vehicles equipped with air bag systems identical or similar to those in the 1995 impreza & legacy; they are late 1994-1996 impreza and all1995 & 1996 legacy (33 complaints out of 165,385…
Oversensitive air bag deployment
In its letter dated December 21, 1998, Subaru stated that the vehicles identified above will be recalled.Subaru dealers will remove the front towing/tie-down hooks.refer to NHTSA recall no. 98v-315 for details.
Airbag complaints in other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1995 Subaru Impreza?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 1995 Subaru Impreza, 43% of the model year's 46 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Subaru Impreza airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-315 (air bags, Dec 11, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Subaru Impreza airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 141,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 0 fires and 14 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.