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).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Subaru Legacy airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
1injury
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
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).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata Front Passenger Air Bag Inflator Replacement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 Legacy's airbag system troubles center on the Takata recall (Campaign 15V323000) and multiple failure modes that undermine passenger protection.
Recall execution problems were widespread. Owners couldn't get repair appointments for months; dealers refused to schedule work or delayed ordering parts. One owner in remote Alaska faced a $1,000–$2,750 ferry cost to reach the nearest Subaru dealer and got only a $500 reimbursement offer. Subaru refused to authorize local repair shops to do the work, trapping owners with unsafe vehicles indefinitely.
Actual deployment failures occurred in collision. One owner's Legacy was struck at 20 mph and the passenger airbag didn't deploy; the passenger was injured. A rented 2006 struck a moose at 55 mph—no deployment, no injuries reported. Both incidents suggest airbag system malfunction independent of the Takata issue.
Sensor and circuit board defects appeared outside the recall scope. One owner reported intermittent passenger airbag status light, especially in cold weather, linked to poor solder on the occupant sensor module (part #84621AG41A). Another owner described a faulty sensor that fails to detect front passengers, disabling airbag deployment when someone is seated there.
Replacement parts failed quickly. One owner's replacement airbag, installed under the recall, triggered a *second* recall within three years for the same type of safety hazard.
A recall-mandated repair caused collateral damage—a dealership damaged the keyless remote during airbag work.
Same Subaru Legacy airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag recall — parts shortage and service delays
2006 Legacy owners received NHTSA Campaign 15V323000 (Takata airbag recall) notifications, but repair shops could not complete the work due to part unavailability or unreasonable scheduling delays. Multiple owners reported dealers did not order parts promptly or refused to schedule repair work, leaving vehicles in a non-compliant state for extended periods.
When: 2015–2016 recall period
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to obtain repair appointment within reasonable timeframe; Parts unavailable at dealer for extended periods (months); Delayed parts ordering after owner contact
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V323000
Repairs/costs cited: Takata airbag replacement required; customers reported $500 reimbursement offered in limited cases; local repair shops willing to perform work if Subaru covered parts and labor, but manufacturer refused.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V323000 (Takata airbag recall); Subaru offered $500 reimbursement for travel in remote locations but did not authorize non-dealership repair.
Passenger-side airbag failed to deploy in collision
Owner reported that during a crash at 20 mph, the passenger-side airbag did not deploy when struck. A passenger sustained shoulder injury. In a separate incident, a rented 2006 Legacy struck a moose at 55 mph and airbags failed to deploy with no injuries reported.
When: At 106,000 miles (first incident); second incident mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy during side-impact collision at 20 mph; Airbag did not deploy during moose strike at 55 mph; Passenger sustained shoulder injury
Codes mentioned: Airbag deployment failure
Repairs/costs cited: First vehicle was destroyed; no dealer repair attempted. Second incident occurred on a rental vehicle (details unavailable).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the first failure; NHTSA campaign 15V323000 addressed Takata safety issues but did not prevent these reported deployment failures.
Passenger airbag status light intermittent — poor solder on occupant sensor module
Passenger airbag status light illuminates intermittently, particularly in cold weather, indicating an airbag fault. Owner identified poor solder in part #84621AG41A (occupant sensor module) as the root cause and noted other owners on Legacy forums reported the same issue. Actual airbag system function when the light is off remains unknown.
When: Cold-weather operation
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag status light intermittent; Fault light appears in cold weather; Light does not reliably indicate actual airbag system status
Codes mentioned: Airbag system fault code (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: Part #84621AG41A identified as defective (poor solder joint); repair would require replacement of occupant sensor module.
Passenger airbag sensor not detecting occupant — airbag disabled when needed
Faulty passenger-side occupant sensor fails to detect when a person is seated in the front passenger seat. As a result, the airbag system does not deploy in a collision, leaving the passenger unprotected.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag does not deploy on collision when passenger is present; Occupant sensor does not register front passenger presence
Codes mentioned: Occupant sensor fault
Replacement airbag (post-recall) triggered second safety recall
After Takata airbag replacement under NHTSA Campaign 15V323000, the replacement airbag itself became the subject of a second recall within three years. Dealership damaged the keyless remote during initial repair work, requiring a third visit.
When: Less than 3 years after initial replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Replacement airbag posed safety hazard requiring second recall; Keyless remote damaged during initial repair
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 15V323000 (initial); second recall campaign number not specified
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership repaired damaged keyless remote at no charge; second recall required another month-long wait for part and repair; dealership offered free loaner car on repair day (second recall only).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V323000; second replacement airbag subsequently recalled for same type of safety issue.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Takata recall got recall letter, emailed (no response) then called.... Told them we are on an island in se alaska-no road, only amhs ferry. The nearest Subaru retailer is in juneau (we had a retailer which closed a few years ago), juneau is only reachable by plane or ferry. The cost for us to take the car there is over $1,000.00 just to get there and return--no food, no lodging in juneau. The…
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 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 2006 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 138,667 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?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2006/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.