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 Outback owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown repairs to be completed. The vehicle was repaired however, after the repairs she started to hear an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing unknown repairs to be performed. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was informed that the front passenger's side ball joint and power steering rack needed to be replaced. Additionally, the rear differential fill plug and the transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired however, the transmission was not replaced. …
The contact owns a 2008 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the passenger's side air bag sensor light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was also flashing. The failure became constant. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact's husband had inspected the air bag sensor under the front passenger's seat and determined that the sensor was functioning. The contact stated that her husband replaced the air bag sensor in the front passenger's seat sun visor. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.
The dash pad in the 2005 to 2009 Subaru Legacy and Outback models have a very common problem of deteriorating to where they become sticky and then sections start cracking and falling off. My concern is that this is happening in the area of the passenger air bag. There is a portion of the dash bad which says SRS AIRBAG imprinted in the pad material and mines actually about to fall off. If the air bag should deploy from a serious enough collision, these loose pieces will be one projectiles and could easily cause injury esp to someone eye. I reached out to SOA but they offered no help. The claim number was 250530-0001813. Subaru did extend the warranty on this a few years back but they have since expired. The missing piece in the image is towards the bottom but the area directly over the airbag is severely cracked.
Airbag dashboard warning light stayed on while driving on 1/31/2022 and 2/1/2022. Dealer (Autofair Subaru in Haverhill Massachusetts) confirmed there was a problem in the overhead console. Researching the problem, I came across https://www.subaruoutback.org/threads/2006-obw-airbag-light-on-my-fix.42574/ which identified a loose component on the printed circuit board caused by a crack in the solder. Cold weather seems to exacerbate the crack and cause the component to fail intermittently. Many have reported this problem with their Subaru and have made repairs by touching up the solder. Subaru states that the collision system may not function when this condition causes the Airbag Warning Light to remain on.
Subaru has an extremely common faulty wiring issue with an LED printed circuit board that is part of the airbag warning light system that resides in the maplight assembly above the rear view mirror. This problem has been reported by countless vehicle owners across a number of models (including Outback and forester) across a number of model years. A simple google search using the keywords: "Subaru code 26 airbag" reveals a treasure trove of information pertaining to this issue. It is clear that this problem is frequent, persistent and widespread. This issue has spanned a number of models and model years. The company and its dealers cannot help but be aware of the issue. There appears to be a problem with inadequate soldering of the electronics on the printed circuit board (pcb) related to the airbag warning light display. …
[2008 Subaru Outback with 82,000 miles, takada airbag replacement July 2020]. Airbag warning light (red) illuminated on the dashboard instrument panel as soon as the car is turned on and remains on as long as the engine is running whether moving or stationary. This is notifying the driver that the airbag system is inoperable as stated by multiple mechanics, Subaru mechanics and Subaru service managers over dozens of blogs and even the Subaru website. Overhead console (in map light group) shows proper notification of seatbelt need and airbag activation when weight is exerted on passenger seat surface, but with the airbag red warning light lit on the dashboard, the passenger, and possibly driver airbag, is totally inoperative. This is a serious safety issue and neglect by Subaru in addressing this safety problem is of immediate concern. …
Airbag light comes on intermittently on my 2008 Subaru Outback. I?m not sure under what specific conditions, sometimes the light stays on for days. And recently it has been on continuously. The airbag LED indicator for the passenger seat does not work. I took the Outback to the Subaru dealer, and they said I needed to replace overhead console module due to shorting and charged me $117 for the inspection, $137 for the part, $148 for service and tax. The total will be $402. I researched the problem online and found many people had solved this problem with simply soldering the connection for almost no cost. The Subaru dealer service never offered to try soldering, only warned me that the airbag wouldn't work when light was on. The sheer number of complaints filed and subject discussions online show that this problem is predictable and could be solved cheaply. …
Airbag warning light system is on intermittently, especially following cold weather. Keywords: "Subaru code 26 airbag". It is clear that this problem is persistent and other Subaru owners report the same problem. There appears to be a problem with inadequate soldering of the electronics on the printed circuit board (pcb) related to the airbag warning light display. It is unclear whether this defect impairs the ability of an airbag to deploy in the event of an accident. It can present itself when the vehicle is moving or stationary. Many web-based accounts of the problem have reported that changes in vehicle temperature due to weather (particularly on cold days) May be related to the soldering joint to malfunction. It is not clear to me whether a passenger is in danger if this light is on or if it is a faulty signal that I can ignore. I want clarity regarding safety.
Airbag light comes on intermittently on 2008 Subaru Outback, not sure under what specific conditions, sometimes the light stays on for days. Dealer service said I needed to replace overhead console module due to shorting and charged me $350. After researching the problem I found many people had solved this problem with simply soldering the connection for almost no cost. Dealer service never offered to try soldering, only warned me that the airbag wouldn't work when light was on. The sheer number of complaints filed and subject discussions online show that this problem is predictable and could be solved cheaply. I would like to see Subaru held accountable for all the money owners have spent on this avoidable and simple problem.
Takata recall tried to schedule this recall repair and the local dealership states they don't have parts to fix this, even stating that the part hasn't been designed yet. On the recall notice it says, "what you should do . . .until this repair is performed, do not allow passengers to ride in the front passenger seat." this means to me that Subaru owes me a loaner car until the part can be replaced, because my current car is not safe to drive. I have a family of four, including two young children in car seats in the back. They owe me a car, if they can't replace the part yet they say this car is not safe to drive. Subaru recall campaign wqr53 NHTSA recall no. 15v-323
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 model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback…
Remedy: Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015.
Airbag complaints in other Outback years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 Subaru Outback?
NHTSA has 104 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 Subaru Outback, 46% of the model year's 226 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Subaru Outback 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 Outback airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury 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.