Should I buy a 2008 Subaru Legacy with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2008 Subaru Legacy airbags problems

severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100

Complaints

Recalls

Crashes

Avg fix

$1,100

Related recalls

critical NHTSA 15V323000 28/05/2015

Subaru of America, Inc

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's 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 and General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The Subaru recall began on June 17, 2015. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. The Saab recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners of Saab vehicles may call 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is WQR-53. Note: The recall completely supersedes recall 14V-399 (WQL-48) and partially supersedes recall 14V-763 (WQP-51) in that model year 2004 through 2005 Subaru Impreza and model year 2005 Saab 9-2x vehicles are now only part of this campaign. Note: On December 18, 2015 Subaru informed NHTSA of an expansion of this recall to include certain model year 2003-2004 Subaru Baja, 2003-2008 Subaru Legacy and 2003-2008 Subaru Outback vehicles.

What owners are reporting 4 most recent

airbags · filed 11/19/2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD MOSTLY ILLUMINATE WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE OCCUPANCY AIR BAG MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAI…

airbags · filed 10/18/2017

"TAKATA RECALL"

airbags · filed 10/18/2014

AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JANUARY AND SPENT OVER $100 TO HAVE THEM TELL ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW IT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME AS OF JULY 2014 UNTIL NOW. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY REQUIREMENT BY LAW LIKES SEATBELT. *TR

airbags · filed 10/11/2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUBARU LEGACY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SUBURBAN SUBARU (14 HARTFORD TURNPIKE, VERNON, CT) DIAGNOSED THAT AN AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF…

Common questions

How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Subaru Legacy?

It's a meaningful issue. 21 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?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

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 — 1 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.