2011 Subaru Legacy Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 15%of 167 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Subaru Legacy, 15% of the 167 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 9 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“2 car collision on a city street. Both cars in motion. Our car was turning left onto the main road and was hit in the left front area causing significant damage resulting in the total loss of both vehicles. The driver of our car was taken by ambulance to the hospital to be checked out. The driver of our car suffered a head injury on the left side resulting in pain and in particular short term memory loss. The accident report is available thru the kirkland, wa police department, case #20-19103. …”
NHTSA complaint #11338393, filed 2020-07, 167,000 miles“I have owned my Legacy since '14 and my brother owned it before that. He rarely had passengers ride with him and since I've owned it the few passengers I've had have always been heavier than me. (I usually did all the driving). About a year and a half ago, I took a road trip with a friend and he did most of the driving. We started noticing that when I was in the passenger seat the airbag light for the passenger side would say off. I tried adjusting my seat and changing positions and occasionally I could get it to turn back on. We switched seats and it immediately worked for him. …”
NHTSA complaint #11372495, filed 2020-11, 85,000 miles“I had a 2011 Subaru legacy2.5;at 1130 am,I was pulling into a parking space at a local convenience store near us that we often go to,when suddenly on turning right into the space I heard the engine rev at a fast speed even though I had lifted my foot from the accelerator.(I used to drive a manual shift,and it reminded me of the sound an engine would make when trying to upshift too fast between gears)before I could react the car surged forward into the space,and I was barely able to slam the brake before it covered the 6 to 8 feet and hit a guard post,crumbling the front end to where the…”
NHTSA complaint #10898386, filed 2016-08, 24,350 miles“Subaru of america's recall campaign: tka-16, NHTSA no. 16v-358 states that: the parts are not available to fix the airbag problem. Their letter also states: 'until this repair is performed, do not allow passengers to ride in the front passenger seat.' however they have not authorized the dealerships to manually turn the airbags off while they wait on parts. The NHTSA should immediately enact a ruling that Subaru do this immediately.”
NHTSA complaint #10892565, filed 2016-08, 98,000 miles“No airbag protection, airbag fail indicator on - dealer anticipates $1500 repair. No accidents, never flood damage. And Subaru's selling point is safety at as prime directive!.”
NHTSA complaint #11055033, filed 2017-12, 75,000 milesRelated recalls
- 20V001000Jan 2, 2020Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2003–2014, Outback 2003–2014, WRX 2004–2014 +4 more
- 20V002000Jan 2, 2020Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2003–2014, Outback 2003–2014, WRX 2004–2014 +4 more
- 20V003000Jan 2, 2020Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2003–2014, Outback 2003–2014, WRX 2004–2014 +4 more
- 19V007000Jan 9, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2010–2014, Outback 2010–2014, WRX 2010–2014 +4 more
- 19V008000Jan 9, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2010–2014, Outback 2010–2014, WRX 2010–2014 +4 more
- 19V009000Jan 9, 2019Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2010–2014, Outback 2010–2014, WRX 2010–2014 +4 more
- 18V012000Jan 9, 2018Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2009–2013, Forester 2009–2013, Outback 2009–2013 +4 more
- 17V014000Jan 10, 2017Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2009–2012, Impreza 2006–2011, Tribeca 2006–2011 +5 more
- 16V358000May 25, 2016Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca…Covers: Subaru Legacy 2003–2004, 2009–2011, Impreza 2006–2011, Tribeca 2006–2011 +4 more
Related service bulletins
- 11005609Jul 15, 2024This announcement provides information on Takata Recall Escalated Towing Program.
- 10248224Dec 28, 2023SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed, equipped with a non-desiccated…
- 10248223Dec 28, 2023SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model…
- 10244915Oct 30, 2023SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model…
- 10237234May 2, 2023Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
- 10235277Apr 4, 2023Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
- 10171869Feb 4, 2020SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model…
- 10171076Jan 15, 2020SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model…
- 10171075Jan 6, 2020Takata Like for Like recalls- TKA20 (Zone A), TKB20 (Zone B), TKC20 (Zone C).
- 10160205Apr 10, 2019SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed above, equipped with a non-desiccated…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 17% |
| 2024 | 3 | 18% |
| 2023 | 2 | 20% |
| 2022 | 2 | 6% |
| 2021 | 6 | 19% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 3 | 3% |
| 2017 | 7 | 6% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 10 | 6% |
| 2014 | 14 | 26% |
| 2013 | 14 | 21% |
| 2012 | 11 | 12% |
| 2011 | 25 | 15% |
| 2010 | 28 | 19% |
| 2009 | 31 | 48% |
| 2008 | 25 | 38% |
| 2007 | 12 | 36% |
| 2006 | 13 | 15% |
| 2005 | 21 | 11% |
| 2004 | 26 | 53% |
| 2003 | 16 | 27% |
| 2002 | 1 | 2% |
| 2001 | 3 | 4% |
| 2000 | 3 | 3% |
| 1999 | 11 | 12% |
| 1998 | 11 | 10% |
| 1997 | 10 | 7% |
| 1996 | 22 | 18% |
| 1995 | 46 | 25% |
| 1994 | 5 | 8% |
| 1993 | 10 | 13% |
| 1992 | 2 | 4% |
| 1991 | 2 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2011 Subaru Legacy
47 complaintsEngine
22 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsExterior lighting
18 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Subaru Legacy
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology