2008 Subaru Outback air bags problems
104 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2008 Subaru Outback — 46% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Jun 28, 2025
“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…”
filed Jul 28, 2022
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to…Campaign 20V002000 · Jan 2, 2020
- Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators…Campaign 20V001000 · Jan 2, 2020
- Inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to…Campaign 20V003000 · Jan 2, 2020
- Affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be…Campaign 15V323000 · May 28, 2015
Air Bags problems in other Outback years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Outback | 5 | 7% |
| 2024 Outback | 6 | 6% |
| 2023 Outback | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 Outback | 6 | 1% |
| 2021 Outback | 16 | 5% |
| 2020 Outback | 18 | 2% |
| 2019 Outback | 13 | 1% |
| 2018 Outback | 8 | 1% |
| 2017 Outback | 16 | 2% |
| 2016 Outback | 10 | 2% |
| 2015 Outback | 14 | 3% |
| 2014 Outback | 38 | 18% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2008 Subaru Outback
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.