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 2008 Subaru Impreza owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Subaru Impreza. While driving in inclement weather, the vehicle was involved in a side impact collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The driver suffered from a concussion from hitting the driver side window. Medical attention was required. The failure mileage was approximately 80,500.
Takata recall- I was driving in the slow (right side) of the freeway going about 68 MPH (between 65-70), there was a small amount of traffic. There was an extra lane (temporary 3 lane for entrance, but normal 2 lane freeway) to my right and I began merging (or possibly swerved from looking over shoulder...and a bee flew into me while I was driving also causing me to swerve a bit). I ended up in the fast (left) lane that was going slower due to an unknown reason...which caused me to slam on the breaks, but I rear ended the car in front of me at an angle (my driver side front to their passenger side back) because I swerved back into the luckily empty spot next to me, but it wasn't fast enough to not hit the car in front of me. …
Tl contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. While stopped at a red light, a drunk driver struck the contact's vehicle head on towards the front passenger side. The drunk driver was traveling 55 MPH at the time of impact. The vehicle sustained a large amount of damage and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact filed a complaint with the manufacturer of the vehicle. The vehicle is currently located at a shop being repaired. The driver and one adult passenger were both airlifted to the hospital; however, the injuries were non critical. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 15,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that another vehicle came across three lanes of oncoming traffic and caused a crash. The other vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle and the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained major injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the impact did not meet the specifications that would warrant air bag deployment. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000.
Takata airbag. Took the vehicle to the Subaru of richmond located at 9177 west broad street 23294, where tried to get the airbag replaced. The airbag sensor was flashing and they said they wouldn't replace the airbag with the sensor blinking, saying that the airbag sensor and the airbag recall had no correlation. They then proceeded to try and charge $1700 for the sensor to get fixed.
Passenger airbag failures in 2008 Subaru Impreza outback sport: I purchased a 2008 Subaru Impreza outback sport one month ago, 4/17/08. I realized a few days after owning the car that the passenger airbag is only activated by passengers over 130 pounds. I am 49 years old, 5'4" and weigh 125#. The airbag is off anytime I am in the passenger seat, no matter how I sit in the seat. Same result (off) happens with my 16 year old daughter who is 120# and a couple of her friends who are between 105-115#. I then had two children, 87# and 95# sit in the passenger seat. The passenger airbag was off. The passenger airbag light is on when my sons are in the seat. They weigh 150# and 160#. I called Subaru service and they said the passenger airbag is set to be on for persons over 80# and they recommended I bring the car in to get checked. …
I was notified by Subaru in June or July of 2016 that the passenger side airbag in my vehicle May have a defective Takata inflators. I was instructed to not have anyone ride in the passenger seat until it is replaced. I have contacted my dealer (where I purchased the car) several times (in person and over the phone) and been told there are no replacement parts available from Takata and no time-line for reveiving them. This is my 25 year old daughter's only transportation. She has been driving this potentially life-endangering car since she was 17 years old. ?this is ridiculous!!! How long will we need to wait to correct this flagrantly negligent act on the part of Takata and the auto industry? There has been no offer from Subaru or Takata to compensate us or provide another vehicle. …
Immediately after purchasing a new 08 Subaru Impreza, I noticed that the passenger airbag on/off warning light will intermittently switch back and forth from on to off when a person 5'11' and 160 lb was sitting on the passenger seat. I went to the dealer and they recalibrated the cushion seat weight sensor. This did not solve the problem. I went back and, according to the dealer, following Subaru's instructions, they replaced the seat cushion (including all the sensors in it). This again did not solve the problem. The dealer maintenance manager told me that the weight sensors are very sensitive and all the imprezas exhibit this (don't know why they would replace the seat cushion if they all exhibit this). I requested to meet the regional service manager, which has not happened yet. This is a severe safety failure with potential catastrophic consequences. …
Passenger air bag light goes on and off. My wife weights 120 and it some time goes on and stays on then the next minute it goes off. I have had the dealer address this issue twice now and same response. "don't worry it will deploy regardless if the light goes on or off". Honestly can't believe that. They also said (sherman oaks Subaru" that they have addressed the problem to Subaru and they said its a light issue and don't worry about it. That is not a good answer since this is a safety issue. Plus they say they can't duplicate the problem. In the iwsti chat room their are about 10 complaints of the same problem for the 2008 Subaru wrx sti. This needs to get addressed!
The front passenger airbag off light turns on and off randomly when my wife is in the seat....she is 5ft 2in and 119lbs. Often as we are traveling down the road with her in the front seat the airbag is off. This failure occurs frequently and despite the fact that she is restrained and seated as outlined in the owner's manual. After multiple discussions with the dealer and Subaru customer service we are advised that there is nothing they can do as the car is designed this way. For our purposes this vehicle does not consistently provide the safety benefits of a front impact airbag.....is the manufacturer not responsible to remedy this?
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2006-2008 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), Tribeca, and 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…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2006-2008 Impreza, Tribeca, 2006 Saab 9-2x, and 2003-2006 Baja vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri,…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016.
Airbag complaints in other Impreza years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Subaru Impreza?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Subaru Impreza, 21% of the model year's 176 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Subaru Impreza airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-001 (inflator module, Jan 2, 2020); NHTSA recall 20V-003 (inflator module, Jan 2, 2020); NHTSA recall 20V-002 (inflator module, Jan 2, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Subaru Impreza airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 1,000 miles, and 81% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 6 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.