Check a VIN

2012 Subaru Legacy airbags problems

11 complaints (12% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 53,000. 4 crashes reported.

owner complaints
11
of this car's complaints
12%
typical mileage
53,000
crashes
4
recalls
9

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Subaru Legacy airbags problems in other years

19911995200020052010201520202025

Related recalls

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 2, 2020 · 258,813 vehicles affected
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 moduleReported January 2, 2020 · 127,547 vehicles affected
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 moduleReported January 2, 2020 · 111,562 vehicles affected
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 moduleReported January 9, 2019 · 43,394 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Forester, 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, Legacy, and 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-19.

Recall number 19V007000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2019 · 330,120 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Outback, and Legacy vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-19.

Recall number 19V008000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2019 · 452,630 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2010-2014 Tribeca, WRX, Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2010-2011 Impreza vehicles and 2010-2013 Forester vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru is notifying owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2019. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑844‑373‑6614. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-19.

Recall number 19V009000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 64,179 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.

Recall number 18V012000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 10, 2017 · 53,480 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX 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. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑800‑782‑2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.

Recall number 17V014000 · Recall details

Air bags: side/windowReported February 9, 2012 · 381 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Subaru is recalling certain model year 2012 legacy and outback vehicles, manufactured from december 1, 2011, through december 23, 2011. These vehicles may be equipped with side curtain air bags that contain an incorrect propellant mixture for the initiator component used, resulting in insufficient output of compressed gas.
Risk
The side curtain air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bag modules, free of february 21, 2012. Owners may contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.

Recall number 12V047000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureOpened February 14, 2012, closed May 8, 2012

The summary for this investigation, labeled EQ12-002 Autoliv Closing Resume, can be found attached separately to this resume.This EQ is closed.

EQ12002

What 2012 Subaru Legacy owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Feb 16, 2022 · Airbags · NV

Contacting Subaru going on 4 years to get airbag recall completed. Subaru has Persistently promised to call back to set appointment BUT NEVER CALLS. Just did 2 chats again today both MYSTERIOUSLY disconnected AS USUAL. Please record for legal purposes my absolute frustration at trying to get Subaru to fulfill this Critical RECALL for Deadly Airbag Repair

Filed Apr 26, 2019 · Airbags · NC

2012 legacy outback, consumer write sin regards to passenger side frontal airbag safety recall. *ld

Filed Mar 22, 2019 · Airbags · NY

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 subaru legacy. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v009000 (air bags); however, the part for the repair was unavailable until november 7, 2019. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Hassett subaru (located at 3520 sunrise hwy, wantagh, ny 11793, (516) 785-7800) and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Mar 19, 2019 · Airbags · MO

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 subaru legacy. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 19v008000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lee's summit subaru (2101 ne independence ave, lee's summit, mo 64064, (816)-251-8600) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Jun 15, 2018 · Airbags · 169,298 miles · VT

Airbag light on. Open circuit found. Needs airbag main harness, body harness and left front sub sensor to correct concern. In motion when light came on.

Filed Mar 12, 2018 · Airbags, Visibility · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 subaru legacy. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 16v694000 (visibility) and 17v014000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Subaru of kennesaw (905 ernest barrett pkwy nw, kennesaw, ga) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Sep 5, 2017 · Airbags · 92,000 miles · WA · crash

I was hit in the rear end of the car and hit the car in front of me, but the airbag did not deploy. I was at a complete stop during rush hour on a highway.

Filed Mar 21, 2017 · Airbags · CA

Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 subaru legacy. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v014000 (air bags). The parts needed for the repairs were not available. The contact believed that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the recall repairs. The dealer and manufacturer were notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Feb 16, 2017 · Airbags · 50,000 miles · OH · crash · 2 injuries

Hit head on driving our 2012 subaru legacy by a nissan maxima both traveling opposite directions at 40 miles per hour. All air bags in other vehicle were deployed while none deployed in the subaru contributing to extensive impact injuries, seal/lap belt injuries and closed head trauma. This accident occurred on a city street, dry road conditions with no contributing factors except negligence on other drivers part.

Filed Jun 1, 2016 · Airbags · 53,000 miles · PA · crash · 2 injuries

The car was pulling out from a stop sign and traveling at 5 MPH when the driver side door was hit by another vehicle traveling 45-50 MPH with enough damage to be considered for total loss and the driver side airbag did not deploy. None of the airbags deployed. The passenger in the other car was taken to the hospital for evaluation and the driver of my car had a mild head injury from hitting her head on the driver door window.

Questions about the 2012 Subaru Legacy airbags

Does the 2012 Subaru Legacy have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the airbags of the 2012 Subaru Legacy, 12% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2012 Subaru Legacy airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 53,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2012 Subaru Legacy airbags?

Yes, 9 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 2012 Subaru Legacy problems

Transmission 34Engine 23Brakes 7Steering 7Acceleration 4Electrical 4Suspension 4Visibility 4Lights 3Fuel system 2Tires 2Body 1Driver assistance 1

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2012 Subaru Legacy?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history