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 ↗2007 Subaru Legacy airbags problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Subaru Legacy, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
Airbags accounts for 36% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 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
Owners of 2007 Subaru Legacies describe two distinct problems. First, the Takata airbag recall (NHTSA Campaign 15V323000) creates a severe logistics issue: replacement parts are unavailable for extended periods. Multiple owners say they contacted dealers and Subaru directly over months with no concrete delivery dates. One owner reported waiting two months to get on a service list for a dealer receiving only two completed repairs monthly, with over 400 vehicles ahead. A second owner received the recall notice in December 2015 but couldn't schedule repair because no parts could be sourced. During the recall delay, one owner questioned when they could safely transport passengers.
Second, airbag system faults appear independent of the recall. Owners report the airbag warning light staying on continuously—diagnosed as a faulty airbag sensor requiring replacement. One owner noted the passenger seat occupancy sensor fails in cold weather (below 60 degrees), disabling the entire system. Another owner reported airbags failed to deploy during a high-speed accident at 60+ mph resulting in a total loss, though Subaru was reluctant to investigate. Dealers lack clarity on the cause and cannot perform repairs while warning lights remain illuminated.
Same Subaru Legacy airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag recall parts unavailability
NHTSA Campaign 15V323000 issued replacement airbag inflators, but parts supply was severely constrained. Owners contacted dealers and manufacturer for months without receiving delivery dates; one dealer had a backlog of 400+ vehicles receiving only two repairs monthly.
When: Recall notice issued starting December 2015; delays extended through 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to schedule recall repair; No estimated parts availability provided by dealer or manufacturer; Owner concern about driving with passengers while recall awaits completion
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag inflators required; parts were not available from Subaru supply chain for extended periods
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V323000 (Takata airbag inflators); no specific action on parts distribution delays documented in these narratives
Airbag warning light remaining illuminated
Airbag warning light stays on continuously and will not extinguish. Dealer diagnosis points to faulty airbag sensor. While light remains on, the entire airbag system is disabled and will not deploy.
When: Reported at 80,000 miles; timing varies by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Red airbag warning light on dash constantly illuminated; Airbags will not deploy while warning light is active; System inoperative until sensor replaced
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag sensor replacement required; some owners did not pursue repair
Passenger seat occupancy sensor failure in cold weather
Passenger-side airbag sensor fails intermittently, particularly in cold temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Sensor malfunction disables the entire airbag system until the sensor issue is resolved.
When: Occurs during cold weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger seat occupancy sensor does not work; Sensor failure triggered by cold weather below 60 degrees; Entire airbag system disabled while sensor malfunction exists
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement needed; dealer confirmed system cannot operate while sensor is faulty
Airbags failed to deploy during high-speed accident
During a high-speed accident at 60+ mph involving emergency maneuver and car fishtailing on highway, no airbags deployed despite total-loss impact. Subaru was reluctant to investigate the cause of non-deployment.
When: August 2, 2008, accident event
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during 60+ mph high-impact accident; Vehicle declared total loss; Manufacturer reluctant to investigate cause
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
I have received over 40 notices regarding my 2007 Subaru legacy that I have not owned since 2015. The car is sitting in a junk yard and I have called the number on these notices roughly 15 times and each time I am told something different. I do not own this car. Please take me off this list. I am being harassed for a vehicle I have not owned in over 5 years. Please work on your processes so that…
The red air bag light on my car's dash is constantly on, and will not turn off. I am concerned because my car is a 2007 Subaru legacy, and I know that there has been a recall on cars that have the takata air bags installed in them. I am not sure why my car's year and model have not been included in this national recall. I have an appointment tomorrow with a Subaru dealer to have them diagnose…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2007 Subaru legacy. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v323000 (air bags). However, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Subaru legacy. The contact stated that the driver side air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The dealer stated that the air bag sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000.
On august 2nd, 2008, I was in an accident in 2007 Subaru legacy, sw, as a result of car ?fishtailing? After emergency maneuver on a highway. None of the airbags deployed, even though I was traveling with speed of 60+ MPH and car was declared total loss. Subaru is very reluctant with following up on reasons why airbags have not deployed. *tr
1. Takata -tried to see if my car is part of class action autoairbagsettlement.com wouldn't take my VIN; glitch. 2. Head gaskets - it was know that their head gaskets are an issue causing (me & many) to have to have them replaced costing $2000+; it seems this should be reimbursable and a recalled item. Respectfully request you consider this.
Safety|service campaign: wqr53|NHTSA campaign: 15v323000 05-08 leg/out pass. Air bag inflator:: sent this email to Subaru today: been calling albany Subaru (albany, ca) and downtown Subaru (oakland ca) for 2 months for service on this recall. Both say they have no parts, will call me, I'm on the list, they get parts to do 2 services a month, there are over 400 on the list... Don't you think…
Takata recall: my complaint #10894596, just submitted, seems to be part of the takata recall
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 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 2007 Subaru Legacy?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 44,600 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/2007/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.