An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-16.
Note: This notice is only for vehicles that were not covered by 16V-358 for Zone A.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2017. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-17.
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).
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 2008 Impreza's airbag system shows two recurring problem clusters.
Passenger occupancy sensor miscalibration is widespread: lightweight adults (95–130 lbs) find the passenger airbag deactivates or flickers intermittently during normal seating, despite being well above any reasonable safety threshold. Multiple owners report identical behavior across different Impreza models tested at dealerships. Subaru service states the vehicle is designed this way per federal standards and cannot be recalibrated; some dealers replaced seat cushions and sensors without fixing it.
Takata inflator recalls (campaigns 16V358000, 16V359000) left owners in limbo starting in mid-2016. Owners were instructed not to let anyone sit in the passenger seat but received no timeline for parts. Months passed—often until fall or winter 2016—with no progress. Some dealers could not estimate when repairs would happen; one owner was told repairs could take a year.
Non-deployment complaints surface in several crash narratives. In a 50–60 mph impact, a 35 mph head-on collision, and a 55 mph drunk-driver crash, front airbags did not deploy despite substantial damage and occupant injuries. One owner had the Takata recall service performed in December 2018 but returned an hour later because "hosing wasn't correctly reinstalled," then the airbag failed to deploy months later in a collision.
Same Subaru Impreza airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Occupancy Sensor Miscalibration — High Weight Threshold
Passenger-side airbag remains off or cycles on and off intermittently when lightweight adult passengers (95–130 lbs) are seated normally. Owners report the sensor threshold is set too high, deactivating protection for occupants well within the safety weight range. Multiple owners found identical behavior across multiple Impreza test vehicles at dealerships.
When: Present from new vehicle delivery; occurs during normal seating
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag off light stays illuminated for adults weighing 95–130 lbs; Airbag on/off indicator cycles intermittently while passenger remains seated; Light turns on reliably only for passengers over ~130 lbs; Cannot be toggled back on by normal seat adjustment; requires weight redistribution
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru dealerships report the sensor cannot be recalibrated and states the vehicle is designed to operate this way per government standards. One dealer replaced the seat cushion and sensor assembly without resolving the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru service confirmed the airbag is operating per government standards. Subaru corporate stated no remedy is available; the car is designed as intended.
The passenger airbag on/off indicator light illuminates intermittently or fails to illuminate reliably even when the occupant weight should trigger activation. Issue occurs independently of actual sensor calibration, suggesting a wiring or display circuit fault.
When: Present from new vehicle delivery; occurs during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag on/off light flashes or cycles on and off repeatedly during single drive; Light behavior inconsistent with occupant weight; Occurs even when passenger seated correctly per owner's manual
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have examined vehicles twice or more without identifying root cause. One dealer reported this as a 'light issue only' and advised owner not to worry about it despite safety implications.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru told dealers that the light issue is separate from airbag function and that deployment will occur regardless of light status. No fix offered.
Airbag Non-Deployment in Frontal Collisions
Front airbags failed to deploy in multiple documented frontal and oblique impact crashes where occupants sustained injuries and vehicle damage was substantial. Owner reports indicate impact severity exceeded typical deployment thresholds, but some impacts appear sufficient to warrant protection.
When: During collision events; mileage ranged from 8,000 to 80,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in head-on collision at 35 mph with significant dash damage and passenger head contact; No deployment in frontal impact where drunk driver struck at 55 mph at traffic light; vehicle sustained large damage, occupants airlifted; No deployment in vehicle-to-vehicle collision at estimated 50–60 mph impact speed on driver side; No deployment in side-impact collision in inclement weather; driver suffered concussion
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported the airbag recall service was performed in December 2018 but required a return visit one hour later because 'hosing wasn't correctly reinstalled.' Vehicle subsequently failed to deploy in collision.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru stated in one case that the impact did not meet deployment specifications. No recalls issued for deployment failures apart from Takata inflator safety defect.
Takata Inflator Recall — Delayed Parts Availability
NHTSA campaigns 16V358000 and 16V359000 issued recalls for defective Takata passenger-side frontal airbag inflators. Parts have been unavailable for extended periods (several months to over a year after notification), leaving owners unable to complete repairs and instructed not to use the passenger seat.
When: Recall notification 2016; repair delays persisted into late 2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Owner notified of defect but told to avoid passenger seat occupancy; No timeline provided for parts availability; Dealerships unable to estimate when repair can be performed
Codes mentioned:NHTSA 16V358000, NHTSA 16V359000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report parts unavailable from Takata. One owner was quoted $1,700 to replace the airbag sensor, separate from the inflator recall repair. Subaru initially offered no rental vehicle or compensation.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru issued recall notifications but could not confirm parts availability timelines. Takata Holdings Inc. filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Subaru directed owners to contact dealerships with no resolution.
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
2 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/29/2008
Front passengers sitting correctly that weigh between ~95 and 120lbs do not activate the airbag or the airbag light is intermittent. *tr
airbags
· filed 12/10/2016
I was notified by Subaru in june or july of 2016 that the passenger side airbag in my vehicle may have a defective takata inflators. I was instructed to not have anyone ride in the passenger seat until it is replaced. I have contacted my dealer (where I purchased the car) several times (in person and over the phone) and been told there are no replacement parts available from takata and no…
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Subaru Impreza?
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 2008 Subaru Impreza?
It's a meaningful issue. 39 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?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 3,856 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 12,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,856; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2008/Subaru/Impreza.
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.