2004 Subaru Outback Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Side/window
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  111%
• 25k–50k
  222%
• 50k–75k
  00%
• 75k–100k
  222%
• 100k–150k
  111%
• 150k+
  333%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Subaru Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

My 2004 Subaru Outback comes equipped with front side airbags. With only 900 miles on my car, I was "t-boned" by a Ford explorer under full acceleration. We were struck on the drivers side with enough impact to cause my wife, in the passenger seat, to hit her head on the passenger side door post causing a concussion. Subaru claims that the side airbags performed correctly by not deploying. Total damage to date including drive train replacement parts is $9000. It is my understanding that the NHTSA has not tested the side impact bags on the Subaru models. If that is true, how can Subaru claim that the bags responded correctly?

I get cards,I call,I get letters ,I call doesn't matter who sends them,you or Subaru dealer ,telling me I need to have an airbag swapped out as being defective,and me telling you I do not have the car anymore,it was picked up by an auction house but it needed alot done to it so they May have scrapped it,I don't know. What I do know is this is the last you will hear from me about this car, and you can waste as many trees sending me notices. From now on they go in the trash,no more calls from me,and don't call me about it,the car was junked,period

I received a recall notice on passenger side airbag in July 2016..I was told I would be informed by mail when parts were available for repair by my local Subaru dealer. It's 14 months later and I have not received any further notice. I do not believe this has been handled in a timely manner and still cannot have passengers in front seat.

I cannot determine if my vehicle is on the tikata airbag recall list. The dealer says it isn't. The NHTSA site says it is, the VIN shows it isn't specifically. My question is if the 2004 outbacks are included in the recall or if the NHTSA info is wrong....please advise.....updated 10/02/15 updated 12/28/15

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Subaru Outback. While attempting to start the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Takata recall: I was notified in July 2016. I have not received any notification from Subaru or the dealer that the part has become available. I have called both Subaru and the dealer. I have waited three months, that is too long .

2002 l.l. Bean Outback accelerated uncontrollably, making the vehicle vibrate. Vehicle went up over parking barriers and shrubbery and rolled over. The air bags did not deploy during the accident. The consumer complained of body pain, but refused medical treatment. The police officer stated in his report that the vehicle was found in the reverse position. The consumer stated she never took her foot off the brake. The consumer and her husband had experienced problems prior to the accident. The consumer experienced a hesitation in shifting and variation in engine speed.

The national highway traffic safety administration web site reflects my vehicle identification number as one listed in the air bag recall alert. Checking with my dealer's service manager at goldstein Subaru, in albany, n.y. And he assures me my vehicle is not subject to the recall. Last week I sent two e-mails to Subaru requesting clarification and have received no reply. Please let me know what in god's name is going on. I have had this car for 10 and 1/2 years and it is in very good shape. My wife will not sit in the front passengers seat until this is cleared up. '

Takata recall - I was notified of the recall in July of 2016. There has been no effort by the manufacturer to provide a remedy in the form of the replacement airbag. The recall notice stated I should not allow anyone to ride in the passenger seat until the recall work is complete. This is an unreasonable solution for a problem with a passenger vehicle as it prevents my use of the vehicle as designed and as purchased. The manufacturer must be required to commit to completing the recalls in a timely manner, such as 60 to 90 days.

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V361000 (air bags); however the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was unknown. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 05/16/17 updated 08/31/2017

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Outback years