2010 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 44about this part
- Share
- 12%of 360 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 19,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 44 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Subaru Outback, 12% of the 360 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 19,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 10 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.
“Subaru website states no active recall. However, I received a recall notice and hassett Subaru ordered the replacement airbag and informs me that the airbag has been delivered. Hassett Subaru states that installing the airbag takes an entire day, and hassett Subaru only has one mechanic who is trained to install the new airbag. Hassett Subaru has not yet install the replacement airbag. I ordered it on february 9th, and hassett Subaru will not provide me an appointment until march 19. This is unacceptable.”
NHTSA complaint #11183396, filed 2019-03, 110,000 miles“No injuries or accidents but the passenger airbag does not stay activated consistently in my 2010 Subaru Outback when a female adulxt passenger weighing approx 125 lbs sits in it. I was told by Subaru mechanic that there have been problems with this sensor but there are no reset specs or recall for the seat from corporate yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10323640, filed 2010-04, 40 miles“I have a new 2010 Subaru Outback that seems to be a fine automobile except for one safety-related defect. We noticed soon after starting to drive the Outback that the air bag indicator light showed that the passenger side air bag stays off when my 140-pound wife or 135-pound daughter ride in the passenger seat. We took it to a dealer who said there is no adjustment that can be made, but they re-calibrated the airbag electronics to see if that helped. It did not. …”
NHTSA complaint #10312219, filed 2010-02, 3,500 miles“Almost every time I sit in the passenger seat the airbag sensor does not come on at first. I am a 5'2 , 120lb woman. I have to wiggle and set on one cheek just right in the middle of the seat, sometimes lift myself up and then sit back down again to get the passenger airbag sensor to show on. When this happens there is nothing under the passenger seat as the dealership has blamed it on that. The service department has re-calibrated the sensor but I still have the same problem. Heavier people do not have this problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10437767, filed 2011-11, 10,000 miles“Was driving on what appeared to be a clear, clean road at about 8 am the day after a snowstorm. My car started skidding off to the right side of the highway, when trying to turn wheel towards the left to straighten the car out, the car then started spinning around 360 degrees a few times until the car then rolled over to the left down the 100 foot ditch about 3 or 4 rolls before stopping. The drivers side airbag never deployed despite severe frontal and side damage. The car was totaled by the insurance company. I still have no explanation as to why this all happened. …”
NHTSA complaint #10583200, filed 2014-04, 93,000 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 Outback 2003–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2003–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2003–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2010–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2010–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2010–2014, Legacy 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 Outback 2009–2013, Forester 2009–2013, Legacy 2009–2013 +4 more
- 18V013000Jan 9, 2018Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the…Covers: Subaru Outback 2009–2010, Forester 2009–2010, Legacy 2009–2010 +3 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 Outback 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 Outback 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 | 5 | 6% |
| 2024 | 6 | 6% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 6 | 1% |
| 2021 | 16 | 5% |
| 2020 | 18 | 2% |
| 2019 | 13 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 2% |
| 2016 | 10 | 2% |
| 2015 | 14 | 3% |
| 2014 | 38 | 18% |
| 2013 | 42 | 14% |
| 2012 | 39 | 13% |
| 2011 | 73 | 11% |
| 2010 | 44 | 12% |
| 2009 | 30 | 28% |
| 2008 | 104 | 46% |
| 2007 | 47 | 36% |
| 2006 | 40 | 14% |
| 2005 | 38 | 14% |
| 2004 | 25 | 28% |
| 2003 | 19 | 20% |
| 2002 | 5 | 4% |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% |
| 2000 | 5 | 2% |
| 1999 | 7 | 6% |
| 1998 | 11 | 9% |
| 1997 | 2 | 3% |
| 1996 | 8 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2010 Subaru Outback
94 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsSteering
41 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsExterior lighting
35 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsSuspension
26 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsOther or unknown
19 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsVehicle speed control
13 complaintsTires
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2010 Subaru Outback
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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