Of the 18 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Subaru Legacy,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
1 (100%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
All 2 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is WQP-51. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-471. This recall has been partially superseded by 15V-323. All 2005 model year Subaru Legacy and Outback vehicles will now be repaired under recall 15V-323.
The left and right side curtain air bags in certain vehicles involved in this campaign may not fully deploy rapidly enough when activated in a side impact collision
This may result in failure to provide the intended head protection, increasing the risk of injury to a seat occupant.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side curtain air bag modules. The recall began on june 11, 2004. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinTKA-20R, TKB-20RDec 2023
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model year Baja vehicles, 2009-2013 model year Forester vehicles, 2004-2011 model year Impreza vehicles, and 2004- 2014 WRX (including STI) vehicles equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger-side frontal air bag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN).
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model year Baja vehicles, 2009-2013 model year Forester vehicles, 2004-2011 model year Impreza vehicles, and 2004- 2014 WRX (including STI) vehicles equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger-side frontal air bag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN).
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The most pressing issue is the Takata inflator recall affecting front passenger and driver-side airbags on 2005 Legacies. Inflators were subject to rupture risk with potential metal fragment ejection during deployment, prompting NHTSA campaigns 15V323000 and 16V343000. Owners received recall notices starting in February 2016, but replacement parts became chronically unavailable. Dealerships reported 2-3 month waits that stretched to one year or longer, leaving owners unable to schedule repairs. Subaru advised owners not to allow passengers in the front seat pending repair—an impractical and frustrating directive. No loaner vehicles were offered, and communication channels were described as blocked or unresponsive. One owner noted Subaru support refused to deactivate the problematic airbag as a temporary measure.
Separate from the recall, two crash incidents documented complete airbag system failures. One vehicle crashed at highway speeds; the other at 40 MPH on ice. Neither front nor side curtain airbags deployed in either crash, resulting in head, chest, back, internal bruising, and pelvis injuries. Neither vehicle was diagnosed post-crash to determine failure causes.
A third distinct issue involved a faulty passenger seat belt sensor that triggered false warning lights and chimes with an empty seat, worse in winter. Dealer calibration attempts failed, and Subaru's only solution was to permanently disable the warning.
Same Subaru Legacy airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Takata inflator rupture risk
Front passenger and driver-side airbag inflators subject to Takata recall due to rupture risk. Inflators could rupture and eject metal fragments during deployment, posing serious injury or death hazard.
When: Recall campaigns 15V323000 and 16V343000; owners received notifications starting February 2016 timeframe
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning lights remaining on after dealer service; No actual deployment failures reported in most cases; Two crash incidents where airbags failed to deploy entirely
Repairs/costs cited: Manufacturer recall repair required inflator replacement; parts chronically unavailable—dealers reported 2-3 month waits extending to one year or longer; owners incurred costs for workarounds and temporary fixes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall issued; Subaru advised owners not to use front passenger seat pending repair; no loaner vehicles or deactivation options offered; communication channels blocked or unresponsive
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Two reported incidents where front and side curtain airbags failed to deploy during motor vehicle crashes, resulting in occupant injuries.
When: Crash 1 occurred at highway speeds; Crash 2 occurred at 40 MPH, both after loss of vehicle control
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on impact; Head, chest, back, and internal bruising sustained in first crash; Back, hip, and pelvis injuries sustained in second crash; Vehicle destroyed in first crash; second crash at 100,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in either incident; campaigns issued but no follow-up diagnostics
Passenger seat belt warning light malfunction
Faulty seat belt sensor triggers false warning light and chime in front passenger seat after 7 miles of driving, even with no occupant or objects present.
When: Observed during normal operation; worse in winter conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt warning light illuminates; Warning chime sounds; Occurs with empty seat; Repeats after multiple dealer calibration attempts; Seasonal variation (worse in winter)
Repairs/costs cited: Reno dealer attempted recalibration at least twice; service advisor suggested seat back angle adjustment (ineffective); Subaru support suggested permanent disabling of warning as only solution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru support claimed behavior was normal vehicle operation; offered only option to permanently disable warning chime
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
1 most recent
airbags · 100,000 mi
· filed 12/11/2013
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Subaru legacy outback. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, he attempted to avoid a crash and haphazardly traveled over an ice patch. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment. The front and side curtain air bags failed to deploy. The front passenger sustained injuries to the back, hip and pelvis. The contact suffered injuries to…
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Subaru Legacy?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 72,931 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Subaru/Legacy.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.