10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,928 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.

2009 Subaru Legacy seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2009 Subaru Legacy Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Apr 172014

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 60,456 miles

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

After the vehicle is started the air bag light stays on while driving and will sometimes turn itself off when the car is turned off with the ignition key. Then I restart the car and the air bag light goes away. This is happening once or twice a week.

- Waukegan, IL, USA

problem #9

Jan 262015

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 41,273 miles
The airbag red light on the dashboard of our Subaru Legacy 2009 comes on intermittently. From reading personal accounts of other owners online, this appears to be a common problem with this model years 2005-2009 and has been commonly reported to be either a malfunctioning airbag control module or a faulty line or sensor in the diver's seat. Both of these result in a costly repair of approximately $2,000. Also happened to us, and another common complaint by other owners online with these models, is the passenger airbag light automatically turns on or off regardless of whether the passenger seat is occupied. Despite the abundance of personal accounts online by owners, Subaru has not acknowledged this problem and dealerships are asking owners to pay for this fix. Please note that our car for example has only 41K mies on it, and other reports also indicate this occurring with relatively low miles and vehicle age. I hope that NHTSA with investigate and I look forward to hearing back on this issue.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #8

Nov 012012

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
My airbag warning light has periodically gone off & on over the last 2 years. I currently have less than 45,000 miles on it. Of course the day I had an appointment with Subaru, the light would not appear. Hoping airbag will work if ever in an accident.

- Paris, PA, USA

problem #7

May 012014

Legacy

  • 55,000 miles

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

Air bag light came on. No accident. On smooth road. It has gone off and than comes back on. Will go off for a couple of days and than stay lit for a couple of days. Independent auto shop that services Subaru's states this is common and can send it out to Subaru for service. Contacted Subaru dealer and they stated it is common. They will test and diagnosis, but may need to remove and replace. I have extended warranty that will not cover diagnosis, only failure. Subaru should replace at no charge. 2nd. Item. Took car in due to exhaust systems vibration. Was told is common problem. Dealer offered me temporary fix for $100 to put screws and adhesive to correct problem. Or pay $700 to remove and replace with new. I elected for the $100 fix. As this was diagnosed over the phone and is common, this should be a manufacture fix.

- Neptune City, Nj, NJ, USA

problem #6

Jun 022014

Legacy

  • 23,000 miles
2009 Subaru Legacy 2.5 I SE. The air bag warning light illuminated. Notified dealership. I was told to brig the vehicle to be checked if eventual is covered by warranty. I already new it's not- they just tried to get me in and make some money out of their safety problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 23,000. Researched on internet and seems like many people have the same problem and the repair is $1900- 2000, which is ripoff for safety problem and should be fixed by Subaru of America for free.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

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problem #5

Jan 222014

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 74,972 miles
My 2009 Subaru Legacy airbag module became defective at approximately 74,970 miles. While driving the vehicle, I noticed that the red airbag light suddenly came on the instrument panel indicating a problem. As this vehicle was never in an accident, and is seldom driven as I purchased another vehicle, the vehicle was brought to the Subaru dealer. I did take note that the airbag light would come on and go off. The dealer found the error code while running diagnostics on the vehicle, and contacted Subaru to determine what needed to be replaced. I was informed that the airbag module needed to be replaced. Fortunately, the airbag module was covered by an extended warranty covering the vehicle until 75,000 miles. The diagnostics, labor and deductible were not covered by the extended warranty. Is this a known failure for Subaru vehicles, or an isolated incident/module failure due to the miles on the car?

- North Branford, CT, USA

problem #4

Apr 012013

Legacy

  • 40,000 miles

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

Air bag light turns on. Sometimes will not be on but now is starting to be on most of the time. Multiple people having the same problem.

- Centennial, CO, USA

problem #3

Jun 012013

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Legacy. The contact stated the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 30,000.

- Lyndonville, VT, USA

problem #2

Mar 202011

Legacy 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
I drive a 2009 Subaru Legacy sedan. The air bag light began to turn on since about 52,000 miles. When I shut off the car, the airbag light goes away but then periodically comes on every now and then. Subaru is unable to answer as to why this is happening as a generic code is produced. I searched online forums regarding this issue and believe that there is a trend with the air bag system in the 2005-2009 Subaru Legacy's. multiple people have complained about this problem and says it has something to do with the air bag within the seat that connections could possibly come loose or the air bag module has gone bad. Most report this happening around 45,000-60,000 miles. Some report with this, sometimes the passenger air bag automatically turns off despite a passenger occupying the seat. A vehicle's safety system should not be compromised this early or at all. I strongly believe that this should be investigated before a casualty or injury results and a recall is issued regarding the air bag system. If Subaru cannot answer to why their air bag light comes on, this raises some concern and needs to be looked into. Only forums have been helpful and some say the seat needs to be replaced, which is estimated at $1900-$2100 because the air bags are built/sewn in the seat. This should not be the customer's responsibility if its the seats or safety system of the vehicle. This is the manufacturer's responsibility to keep its consumers safe and thoroughly resolve the matter before it regrets it did not do so in result of someone being injured or a casualty results.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

problem #1

Nov 022010

Legacy

  • 18,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Subaru Legacy. While driving approximately 50 mph the vehicle was involved in a crash and the air bags did not deploy. The seat belt also failed to hold her firmly. A police report was filed. The contact as well as the passenger of another vehicle were reported injured. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an insurance lot. The vehicle was not examined for the cause of failure and was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 18,000.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

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