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Air bagsPart report

2009 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems

Complaints
30about this part
Share
28%of 106 total for the year
Median mileage
72,752miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Subaru Outback, 28% of the 106 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 72,752 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“The airbag light on the dash would intermittently turn on. If I turned the car off and then right back on the light would go out. Eventually the light would come back on, so I took the car to the dealer who had a technician check the computer codes. It listed (code 26-right front seat belt error). The technician reset the computer and the computer error code was cleared. …”

NHTSA complaint #10593644, filed 2014-05, 56,209 miles

“My airbag light on the dashboard has been turning on and off with no apparent consistency since the beginning of january. Sometimes, its on, sometimes not, I made an appt to take it to a Subaru dealer, months ago, then a couple days before, it went off and stayed off for many weeks. (I had cancelled the appt.) then it came on again, so I took it to a Subaru dealer that day and they diagnosed it as a problem with the overhead map light assembly. They scanned the system and found code 26. …”

NHTSA complaint #10983507, filed 2017-05, 85,000 miles

“Takata recall. On 7/29/16 we received notice of the recall from Subaru of america. We contacted hansel Subaru in santa rosa to schedule the replacement. They said they did not have the replacement parts and put us on a waiting list. I've tried to call them again 10/13/16 & left voice message, sent them email 10/14/16. Hansel is not returning calls or answering calls to their service dept. I called the Subaru of america number today, 10/17/16 and only got a busy signal. As instructed, we are not using the front passenger seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #10916526, filed 2016-10, 75,000 miles

“The driver airbag in multiple models of Subaru are disabled because of an apparent fault in the passenger airbag indicator light in the overhead console.this requires replacement of the part. I have researched the topic in multiple auto websites and it appears to affect a lot of model years of all makes of the Subaru.the problem is also intermittent and occurs while driving . I think that disabling the airbag is a serious safety issue and that Subaru has not fessed up about this or fixed the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10604466, filed 2014-06, 142,000 miles

“The red light on the dashboard (where the speedometer is) for driver's air bag comes on when the temperature goes below about 44 degrees. It stays on 95% of the 8 winter months. I bought this used (2014) from a dealer, and told the service manager about it. He said unless it comes on 100% of the time, then dont worry about it. I came back 1 time and complained again, hoping a sensor check might be covered since I had bought the extended warranty on it. He again said dont worry about it. -- the passenger red light on the overhead box also stays on all the time. …”

NHTSA complaint #10945224, filed 2017-01, 40,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202556%
202466%
202322%
202261%
2021165%
2020182%
2019131%
201881%
2017162%
2016102%
2015143%
20143818%
20134214%
20123913%
20117311%
20104412%
20093028%
200810446%
20074736%
20064014%
20053814%
20042528%
20031920%
200254%
200132%
200052%
199976%
1998119%
199723%
1996817%

Other parts of the 2009 Subaru Outback

Electrical system
23 complaintsEngine
15 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 Subaru Outback

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