Passanger air bag warning light does not go off when 90 lb person sits in front passenger seat. Dealer says unit is working with larger adult sitting in seat.
2010 Subaru Outback: airbag warning light
10 of the 360 complaints about the 2010 Subaru Outback describe airbag warning light.
- owner complaints
- 10
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 20,000
- recalls
- 10
Is there a fix? There are 10 recalls and 15 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Airbag warning light by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. While seated in the front passenger seat, the air bag warning light failed to turn on. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30. Updated 5/5/15*cn the consumer stated the air bag light would come on sporadically or fail completely when she is sitting in the passenger seat, due to her height and weight. The dealer noted it was an issue, but nothing could be done. Updated 05/12/15
The passenger airbag is disabled when there is a passenger. On a trip to ga with my wife, who weighs 135 lbs, sitting in the passenger seat, the air bag light will indicate 'not enabled'. At times it will display enabled, then disabled all while driving. Shifting in the seat doesn't do anything. In summary sometimes its on, sometimes not. We took this to the dealer and their response is they were unable to duplicate with a mechanic (probably a heavier person) in the passenger seat. Their recommendation is to add weights(!!), replace the seat ($1400). Their recommendations are unacceptable. They did tell my wife there may be dust or the contacts may be faulty. I don't know why they couldn't check for dust or remove, clean and re-connect contacts. Nothing was mentioned about the switch. Big safety issue not to be taken lightly, especially by the dealer.
The front passenger air bag does not indicate 'on' predictably when I am seated. I am a 125lb woman. The airbag sensor sometimes comes on. Other times it remains off. Being an engineer, I spend time moving my weight distribution, seat back position, picking my weight up and reseating myself, and other factors trying to get the airbag light to turn on during long car trips. Sometimes this works, but it is unpredictable. On the last car trip the airbag remained off for our 4 hour drive even though I tried various positions. It scares me to think that the airbag is probably not going to work if we are ever involved in a crash. We have brought the car into the dealer and they say the airbag is working properly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently at various speeds. The dealer stated that the seat pressure sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000. Updated 10/28/14
Tl*the contact owns a 2010 subaru outback. While the vehicle was being driven at approximately 45 MPH, the contact observed that the passenger air bag warning indicator illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. The technician informed that the air bag warning indicator operated normally. The contact stated that the failure had occurred since the purchase date of the vehicle. The failure mileage and VIN were unavailable.
The incident involves a 2010 subaru outback and deals with SRS airbag system. We will be driving down the road with a person in the passenger seat and the passenger airbag is on. Then all of a sudden the passenger airbag will shut off. Then the SRS airbag system warning light on the dash will come on. Reading the owners manual there is a malfunction in the airbag system and it may not function correctly. We are suppose to take it to a dealer immediately but everytime it has occurred we have not been close to a dealer or they are closed. We have owned the car for 9 months and it has occurred 5 or 6 times so far. The issue has always seemed to go away when it is shut off and sets overnight. The computer has never recorded a error code until this last time. The error code that the dealer retrieved was code 29 ods fault. They checked out the airbag components and system and everything checked out ok. They opened a case with the tech line and all they seem to want to do at this time is continue to monitor the situation. I have reported the problem and my concerns with the safety of the car to subaru customer service several times and it is be handled by a senior rep. My understanding is that subaru switched from a weight sensor to a gel pack in the passenger seat. I am aware of one other 2010 outback that has had a similar problem but not sure if it was resolved yet or not.
We recently purchased a 2010 subaru outback for it's safety rating. My wife has been in two bad accidents and needed a car she feels safe in. We purchased this car in march and recently noticed that when I am driving and she is in the passenger seat that the airbag indicator goes on and off. She weighs 125 pounds and is 5'3" tall. We contacted the dealer and are getting the run around. They say there is nothing wrong with it. They tell us the seat belt works fine and not to worry. I didn't buy this car for a seat belt. I wanted the best safety equipment and if it doesn't work, I do not want this car. This needs to be fixed before a passenger is killed in a wreck. I would rather the airbag is on all the time. On the toyota my wife just wrecked there was an on and off switch.
2010 subaru outback 2.5i premium, purchased 3/23/10. When my wife, who weighs 130 pounds, sits in the front passenger seat, most of the time the airbag light says "off", only occasionally and unpredictably does it say "on". I have had the vehicle in for service several times. The sensor was recalibrated, and the seat bottom was replaced. Both the dealership and subaru of america say the system is operating as designed. I say I paid for an airbag that works and I want an airbag that works.
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. I took the car back to the same dealer a couple of weeks later and was again told that there was nothing that could be done to make the passenger airbag work properly and that they have several of the new outbacks in for the same problem and nothing can be done to fix it. Just as a test I took my wife out to the lot and had her sit in the passenger seat of another outback to see if that one worked. It did not . I conclude that there is a design flaw in the airbag sensors in the new outbacks that keep the passenger airbags from turning on when 135 to 140-pound adults sit in the passenger seat.
Service bulletins that may apply
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 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 module
- 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 module
- 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 module
- 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 module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback 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 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 TKB-18.
Recall number 18V013000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- 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: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in 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 may be 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 their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1‑856‑488‑8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1‑800‑955‑9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.
Recall number 16V358000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2010 Subaru Outback airbag light
Is airbag warning light a common problem on the 2010 Subaru Outback?
10 of 360 owner complaints about the 2010 Subaru Outback (3%) mention airbag warning light. The model year with the most reports is 2008.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2010 Subaru Outback?
There are 10 recalls and 15 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2010 Subaru Outback
Stalling 94Headlights 37CVT failure 24Shudder 18Check engine light 15Adaptive cruise 11Hesitation 11Brake failure 10Power steering loss 10Transmission failure 10Loss of power 8Jerking 6Sudden acceleration 6Grinding brakes 5Overheating 5Pulling 5Warning lights 5
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