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 2010 Subaru Legacy owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. While reversing out of the driveway, another vehicle driving at approximately 55 MPH crashed into the front driver's side door of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained lacerations to the head, hematomas, amnesia, stuttering, damage to the nervous system, and severe head injuries. The injuries required medical attention and caused the contact to become an epileptic. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Another vehicle stopped directly in front of me ,hitting the front of my car with force. Then that car abruptly left the scene. The airbags did not go off and I was severely jolted. Then the car went up in flames. I was in a state of shock and confusion. Left the scene and ran home as my body was in turmoil. I had to use the bathroom immediately. I then called the police. Regarding the accident. The other car has still not been found. Progressive is my insurance. The car was towed to a lot in turnersville,n.j. My insurance company has all the information.
Vehicle was involved in a front-end collision in which the Airbag failed to deploy. The vehicle has been considered totaled by the insurance company. A police report is available.
I weigh 115 pounds. When I sit in the front passenger seat of the 2010 Subaru Legacy, the airbag indicator light does not come on. When someone heavier sits in the seat, the airbag indicator light comes on. I worked with my Subaru dealer, who had no remedy, so they referred me to Subaru of America [phone]). I opened case 1-25522457944. They tell me there is no available repair, and the passenger must "sit properly" in the seat. I am sitting properly. This was apparently an issue they knew about, as they corrected in in the 2011 legacies (we own one of those, too). I have no problems when I sit in the front passenger seat in the 2011 model. Subaru of America confirmed that if the indicator light is not lit, the bag will not deploy in an accident. So a person over 80 pounds sitting in the front passenger seat of a 2010 Subaru Legacy is not protected. …
Rear-ended by driver coming at fast speed, shoved us into car in front of us twice, although I had my foot firmly on brake. No airbags deployed. My right knee was rammed into the sharp, hard plastic area under the steering wheel, which resulted in a deep cut and bruises which ended up being diagnosed as torn acl/miniscus and a fracture. I underwent surgery in order to repair my knee. Shortly after surgery, I received a recall regarding the airbags in the car and a component was replaced in the steering column. I believe that the area under the steering wheel of the 2010 Subaru Legacy is dangerous and needs to be modified.
Frontal driver's airbag did not deploy when automobile struck a utility pole head-on with sufficient force to damage it beyond economic repair. Only occupant was operator, and was using seatbelt but was injured due to force of impact against the steering wheel. Note 1: mileage is unknown. Figure supplied is an estimate. Note 2: photographs of the damage are available and the vehicle is being preserved for further examination. Note 3: this report is being submitted by a professional motor vehicle accident reconstruction. The contact information in this form is that of the engineer who is investigating the accident.
I purchased a new 2010 Subaru Legacy. When my wife who weighs 120 lbs sits in the passenger seat the indicator light for the airbag that displays the system ?on? Does not always display. It remains in the off indication. I brought it back to my dealer twice who claims there is nothing wrong with the airbag and it is designed that way. Designed to sometime go on and other times not?makes no sense. I reported to Subaru America who gave me the same story and assigned a case number . I did further research on line and appears there are other reported instances, exactly the same scenario with 2010 Legacy and 2010 outback. If federal law requires passenger airbags, why would Subaru design a car where the passenger side airbag does not always go on. They claim my wife May be too light but 120 lbs is a full grown adult. Also does not explain why it sometimes works and other times not. …
The 2010 Subaru Legacy gt has a defect in the sensor that determines weight in the passenger seat. This sensors function is to turn the airbag on or off depending on the amount of weight in the seat. With a 114 pound woman in the passenger seat, the automatic airbag sensor does not signal for the airbag to be ready to deploy and continues to be in the off mode. After taking the vehicle to multiple Subaru dealerships, I was informed that the needed weight to turn the airbags to the on mode was 17 pounds. My 114 pound wife is far more than 17 pounds but the airbag sensor still does not trip to the on mode. I am worried that a passenger will not be protected in a possible crash.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V694000 (visibility/wiper) and 16V358000 (air bags) for the passenger side air bag inflator. The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Subaru Legacy outback. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the air bag warning light would illuminate. The dealer diagnosed the failure four times and replaced the air bag sensor but the failure recurred. The dealer was unable to duplicate the recent failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 150 and the current mileage was approximately 4,000. Updated 12/6/10
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 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York,…
Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Show 6 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska,…
Remedy: Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Remedy: Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. 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 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the…
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. 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 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.
Airbag complaints in other Legacy years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Subaru Legacy?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Subaru Legacy, 19% of the model year's 150 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Subaru Legacy 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 2010 Subaru Legacy airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 31,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 1 fire 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.