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Air bagsPart report

2013 Subaru Outback Air bags Problems

Complaints
42about this part
Share
14%of 297 total for the year
Median mileage
47,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 42 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Subaru Outback, 14% of the 297 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 47,000 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 7 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.

“Takata recall called dealer-(gustman Subaru, appleton, wi) tried to make early appointment to replace passenger side air bag. Dealer is swamped and my scheduled appointment is for september 25, 2019, which is a long way off from today march 18, 2019. Want to make sure someone knows about the delay if something happens to me or my family. Consider this situation unacceptable!!!!!”

NHTSA complaint #11187462, filed 2019-03, 35,000 miles

“Takata inflators. I keep getting notices from tk holdings telling me our Subaru might be involved in a recall. Just tell me if it is or isn't. I'm tired of fighting websites designed by morons where I never get an answer and phone numbers only lead you to recorded messages that tell you to to check a website. So far nothing has happened because we have not driven into another object.”

NHTSA complaint #11042599, filed 2017-11, 55,000 miles

“When my wife sits in the passenger seat the majority of the time the passenger side air bag will not be turned on. My wife is roughly 5'2 and 120 lbs. Dealer claims there is nothing wrong but that the sensors can be overly sensitive with smaller people. This is a safety issue as the bag will not deploy in an accident if it is off.”

NHTSA complaint #10532614, filed 2013-07, 40 miles

“Takata recall- we had a car accident 4-4-2016. We were turning into a parking lot and another car did not stop at the stop light and hit our car on the left side. Police were called and a report was filed. Our air bags did not open up.”

NHTSA complaint #11014951, filed 2017-08, 40,000 miles

“My friends' son and wife had a crash on I 55 north near meadowbrook road on january 28, 2018. The car hit a highway barrier and spun around and resulted in an extreme fire after impact and the side airbag, nor the side curtain airbag did not deploy on drivers' side. The insurance company did not get consent from my friend to take it from the towed destination to another destination. She has yet to receive information regarding her claim status which she was informed of only when she initiated the call. …”

NHTSA complaint #11067175, filed 2018-02, 54,000 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 2013 Subaru Outback

Engine
67 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
60 complaintsSteering
34 complaintsBrakes
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
26 complaintsOther or unknown
25 complaintsElectrical system
23 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsSeats
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Subaru Outback

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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