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 1996 Subaru Legacy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Subaru Legacy, 18% of the model year's 123 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Subaru Legacy airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-315 (air bags, Dec 11, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Subaru Legacy airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 108,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 16 crashes, 0 fires and 9 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.