Nine problems related to air bag not deploy have been reported for the 2008 Subaru Outback. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Subaru Outback based on all problems reported for the 2008 Outback.
My vehicle has a problem with an intermittent airbag light illuminating, indicating an issue with the airbag system. Specifically in my case, it indicates that the overhead airbag indicator system is in a fault state. This is extremely common in this vehicle and age, with many other owners reporting the same issue with no recall action from Subaru. This is a major safety issue with this car if not addressed and can result in the airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. Cost for an owner to repair (and in my case) is $300+ and should be covered by Subaru.
My 2008 Subaru Outback was in for routine maintenance when the dealer stated a trouble code was being produced by my vehicle. The specific code was 26. I was told this indicated a fault with the passenger side airbag and that it could fail to deploy in the event of an accident. Additionally, they stated that this code would have prevented my car from passing the annual massachusetts safety inspection and required a repair by replacing the overhead module for a total cost of $360. I find it unacceptable that a safety related issue such as a failure of the passenger air bag to deploy would result in the consumer having to pay the cost of repair.
The airbag light came on without any crash or front end impact. The diagnostic code indicates that it is the passenger air bag module. It is a hard fault since it is unable to be cleared. According to my research this is a well known problem that has not been addressed by Subaru. This is my daughter's car. According to technician, this is an unsafe condition in which the airbags will not deploy.
The airbag light on the front dash comes on without any crash or front end impact. My vehicle has 45k miles on it. According to my research, this is a well known problem that has not been addressed by Subaru. The Subaru dealer diagnoses this as a code 26 which requires the overhead console to be replaced at a cost of about $400. This is an unsafe condition in which the airbags will not deploy in an accident unless the overhead console is replaced. A safety recall seems warranted given the number of Subaru consumers experiencing this problem, and the compromise in safety that could result from neglecting to get it replaced.
Air bag warning light intermittently turns on. Likely due to a faulty electrical connection behind the map light console. Airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident! this is an incredibly common problem and Subaru refuses to address it.
Air bag light intermittently comes on while driving and stays on. I notice this more in the early morning when it's cold but it's been happening on a more frequent basis now. I've been told the airbags would not deploy in an accident if the light is on. This is a serious safety issue that Subaru is fully aware of.
Airbag light is intermittently coming on while driving. Checked online and found out this is a very common problem. When light is on vehicle air bags will not deploy in an accident. I don't understand why this problem was not handled by Subaru as a voluntary recall. This is a serious safety issue.
The airbag light on the dashboard came on. I also noticed the light that should have indicated that the passenger airbag was off was not lit. The airbags will not deploy when airbag light is on. After researching, I found several people with the exact problem and that it is related to faulty wiring in overhead map light console that contains the passenger airbag indicators. I purchase a new light console and the problem was fixed. This is a safety issue because the airbags won't deploy and should be fixed by the manufacturer.
I was involved in an intersection accident where my vehicle hit the other car. The impact was quite sever and the damage was about $11,000. However, the air bag did not deploy and I hit my head on the windshield. I reported this to the manufacturer so that any defect that may have caused the failure might be discovered and their action might prevent worse injury to the next person. However, they seem to be totally uninterested and told me to call my insurance company.