10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,389 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Subaru Legacy seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Subaru Legacy Owner Comments

problem #15

Jan 102020

Legacy

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Deadly defective passenger airbag! air bag recall. Reported on local news channel.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #14

Aug 022019

Legacy

  • 143,000 miles
I have an airbag recall on this vehicle and have received a notice to get it serviced. When calling my local Subaru dealership they told me I'd be put on a waiting list and that they are booked out through the end of the year. In the notice it states that this could kill me or my passengers. Waiting till the end of the year doesn't seem like they care about my safety. The dealership was gustman Subaru of appleton Wisconsin.

- Appleton, WI, USA

problem #13

Jul 022019

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (air bags). The vehicle was towed to hudiburg Subaru (210 E interstate 240 service rd, Oklahoma city, ok 73149, (844) 629-1630) where it was determined that the air bags were not takata air bags; therefore, they did not need to be replaced. The dealer stated that they would return the vehicle and wanted to charge the contact to tow the vehicle back to him. The manufacturer offered to possibly reimburse the contact for the towing cost. The contact felt that he was getting the run around and was out of a vehicle for a week. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Ratliff City, OK, USA

problem #12

Aug 162018

Legacy

  • 132,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to Suburban Subaru (14 hartford turnpike, vernon, ct 06066, 860-406-7281) where the contact stated that the air bag was inspected, but was not replaced. Approximately one month later, when the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the air bag illumination was unrelated to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 132,800.

- Hebron, CA, USA

problem #11

Mar 102017

Legacy

  • 97,000 miles
Are the dealers required to turn in the old air bags that they replace on recall" after the dealer "checked" my airbag serial number, which took all day, even though all they had to do is open the glove compartment and look, the dealer had me sign two identical pieces of paper with large dollar amounts on them. The piece of paper I received had all zeros for the dollar amounts, since the dealer lied to me about having to remove the dashboard to check the airbag, I am suspicious. Could the dealer use the papers I signed to claim to have replaced the airbag, but not done so??" the likelihood of them getting caught would be very low. I know that the dashboard was not removed because of cobwebs that were not disturbed between the dash and the car. The dealer told me that the airbag did not need to be replaced after they checked the serial number.

- Ithaca, NY, USA

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problem #10

Oct 282016

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. I am active duty military stationed overseas. I have been in touch with Subaru America for over a year at this point trying to get my airbag replaced, and they have been unable to deliver on this. I have been driving a potentially unsafe car around since I was notified in Sept 2016. I have called and emailed back and forth multiple times, and they have failed to do anything or follow through on their promises as well as treated me disrespectfully on the phone.

- Apo, AE, USA

problem #9

May 212017

Legacy

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Subaru of sonora in sonora, California was made aware of the recall and stated that the parts were currently unavailable and would become available in 90 days. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Los Banos, CA, USA

problem #8

Aug 102017

Legacy

  • miles
This system says my car is 2003 Subaru Legacy. This is not correct. My car is a 2003 Subaru outback and has been recalled at least once. The VIN as entered is correct.

- Yardley, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 212016

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V361000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Watertown, MN, USA

problem #6

Aug 092016

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Scotchtown, NY, USA

problem #5

Sep 132016

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 195,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall - I have been waiting for several months after responding to the recall notice and still no new airbag, dealership can't tell me when it will be fixed. This makes it difficult to keep driving this vehicle.

- Willard, MO, USA

problem #4

Jun 172016

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V358000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- West Seneca, NY, USA

problem #3

Jun 172016

Legacy

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2003 Subaru Legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V361000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- West Seneca, NY, USA

problem #2

Oct 092010

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 158,000 miles
Vehicle involved in one car crash on a graded dirt road at night; overcorrected to the left after right passenger front wheel went slightly into shallow ditch on right side of road. Extensive right front bumper damage, crush to right front passenger door, and displacement of console toward driver seat belt anchor. Air bags failed to deploy resulting in the drivers forehead hitting steering wheel with traumatic brain injury (concussion) and possible linear skull fracture. Seat belt was worn. (pictures of post-crash vehicle, driver and head strike-zone available). Updated 05/12 /11

- Poland, ME, USA

problem #1

Jul 162003

Legacy 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30 miles
Air bags failed to deploy in mva that probably totaled my 2003 Subaru Legacy wagon(no official word from adjuster yet). Hit by a drunk driver(blood alcohol level.3). Hit by an '83 Chevy citation with no front bumper. He was going 40-45 mph, I was braking madly from 42 mph. Subaru says sensors are mounted on bumper, but even so, what about SUVS and trucks. I was very lucky and walked away with minimal injuries, but this failure could have killed someone else. Please look into it asap.+

- Ashland, OR, USA

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