Red airbag indicator in instrument cluster begun coming on/off once or twice a week then became constant. Observed passenger airbag indicator had no lights on(no illumination at all) searched forums and found multiple similar cases with no resolve from the dealership. As a mechanic myself I began my own diagnosis, cause: removed overhead control panel and performed electrical testing on passenger airbag circuit. Found open circuits between component contacts. Correction: retinned contacts and added solder. Haven't had an airbag light since the repair.. I have heard the dealer wants 300+$ to repair. This is such a common and serious issue that it should be considered for a recall... I have seen and performed far more trivial recalls. That said; if you take your car to a decent subaru or independent shop they should be able to diagnose this and fix it for alot less than the dealer
2008 Subaru Legacy airbags problems
25 complaints (38% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 82,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 25
- of this car's complaints
- 38%
- typical mileage
- 82,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 4
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Subaru Legacy airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Subaru Legacy airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
Recall number 20V001000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
Recall number 20V002000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
Recall number 20V003000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to July 21, 2004, 2004-2005 Impreza vehicles manufactured January 28, 2003, to May 31, 2005, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy vehicles manufactured January 22, 2003, to May 2, 2008, 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles manufactured February 18, 2003, to May 5, 2008, and 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles manufactured February 11, 2004, to March 17, 2005. The affected vehicles are equipped with a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Subaru will notify their owners and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V‑399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V‑763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed the federal safety agency of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.
Recall number 15V323000 · Recall details
What 2008 Subaru Legacy owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Airbag warning light on the dashboard comes on intermittently , but now stays on the majority of the time. Took car to dealer for passenger airbag recall and they told me the airbag light on the dash is fault code 26. Many other subaru owners reporting this exact same issue, which is related to faulty soldering of components in the overhead map light console. As this is a critical safety issue (passenger airbag may not deploy in an accident), subaru should issue a recall to repair or replace the faulty component(s). Beware- serious safety issue. Also feel that the takata inflators is related to theis issuse. I have had this airbag issue since I owened the subaru complained to the dealership but I would have to pay for the fix when I no that there is fault in the way the components were welded.
Takata recall
"takata recall"
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 subaru legacy. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Suburban subaru (14 hartford turnpike, vernon, ct) diagnosed that an air bag sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided case number: 1-27240483127. The failure mileage was 110,099.
Takata recall I received a notice in december 2016 that my passenger airbag had a recall and that there were plenty of parts so I could call my subaru dealer and have them fix it. I did call them and they said that they did not have parts yet and that it would be a few weeks and they would call me to make an appointment. I called agan today, 3/31/17 and I got the same story that they won't have parts for a few weeks and that they will call me. I mentioned that I had already heard that three months ago and she said that it was because of takata and there was nothing they could do. This is a ridiculous amount of time for me to be expected to not be able to use my car, or to drive a potentially dangerous vehicle. The first time I called they said I might be provided with a rental car but every one I talked to said it was fine to drive my car. It is only fine to drive it if I do not end up in a wreck that causes the airbags to go off, which is not something that a person can really plan for. Subaru has not been able to fix this problem in a timely manner like they said they would.
Airbag warning light on the dashboard comes on intermittently , but now stays on the majority of the time. Took car to dealer for passenger airbag recall and they told me the airbag light on the dash is fault code 26. Many other subaru owners reporting this exact same issue, which is related to faulty soldering of components in the overhead map light console. As this is a critical safety issue (passenger airbag may not deploy in an accident), subaru should issue a recall to repair or replace the faulty component(s). Beware- serious safety issue.
In february, I received a recall notice regarding the passenger side air bag. The notice mentioned a parts shortage, and that I would be notified when the supply improved. I have not yet received that second letter. In the meantime, I am not able to allow passengers in the front passenger seat which is a significant inconvenience.
Airbag warning light on the dashboard comes on intermittently when starting the vehicle (fault code 26 - passenger air bag indicator failure) many other subaru owners reporting this exact same issue, which is related to faulty soldering of components in the overhead map light console. As this is a critical safety issue (passenger airbag may not deploy in an accident), subaru should issue a recall to repair or replace the faulty component(s).
Air bag dashboard light lights up intermittently when starting and driving. Problem has been occurring since 2013. Subaru dealer said problem is faulty soldering in the overhead console that controls airbag operation. Many internet complaints about this subaru problem. Airbags won't work when dash airbag light is on. Subaru won't take responsibility for this safety issue. Charges $300+ to replace defective console.
Questions about the 2008 Subaru Legacy airbags
Does the 2008 Subaru Legacy have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 25 complaints about the airbags of the 2008 Subaru Legacy, 38% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2008 Subaru Legacy airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 82,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Subaru Legacy airbags?
Yes, 4 recalls: 20V001000, 20V002000, 20V003000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Subaru Legacy have bad airbags?
The Subaru Legacy model years with the most airbags complaints are 1995 (45 complaints), 2009 (31 complaints) and 2010 (28 complaints).
Other 2008 Subaru Legacy problems
Brakes 13Electrical 9Transmission 6Acceleration 5Engine 4Fuel system 3Lights 3Visibility 3Wheels 3Driver assistance 2Tires 2Seat belts 1
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