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 ↗2009 Subaru Impreza 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
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Takata airbag recall compliance dominates these complaints. Multiple owners holding NHTSA recall notices (campaigns 16V358000 and 17V026000) waited four to six months or longer with dealers unable to source replacement parts. Owners reported contacting both dealerships (Bay Ridge Subaru in Brooklyn, Lithia Reno Subaru in Reno) and the manufacturer directly, receiving no firm parts-delivery timeline. No loaner cars or compensation were offered during the delay. One owner also faced a dealer demand for payment to remove aftermarket gauges before performing the free recall work.
Separately, owners reported a passenger-side occupant detection malfunction where the airbag light fails to illuminate and the system does not reliably activate for occupants weighing under 120 lbs. One owner stated a 105-lb passenger must physically bounce to intermittently trigger the airbag. Subaru declined service, stating the vehicle passed federal standards. One collision complaint alleges airbag non-deployment during a frontal impact, resulting in vehicle total loss and injuries, though few details are provided. The complaint cluster reflects both systemic recall logistics problems and specific sensor or system reliability questions on this model.
Same Subaru Impreza airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall Part Shortage
Multiple owners reported inability to complete NHTSA-mandated Takata airbag recalls (campaigns 16V358000 and 17V026000) due to persistent unavailability of replacement parts from dealers and the manufacturer. Owners waited months with no estimated time for parts arrival.
When: May–September 2016 and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall parts unavailable at dealership; Manufacturer unable to provide ETA for parts; Multiple contacts with dealer and manufacturer yielded no resolution; Vehicle remained unrepaired months after recall notice
Codes mentioned: 16V358000, 17V026000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair required replacement of Takata airbag; parts were not in stock at dealerships (Bay Ridge Subaru Brooklyn NY, Lithia Reno Subaru Reno NV reported).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaigns 16V358000 and 17V026000 for Takata airbag recall; Subaru manufacturer was contacted but could not confirm part availability dates; no rental car or compensation offered during delay.
Passenger Occupant Detection System Malfunction
Passenger airbag occupant detection system fails to reliably activate for occupants below approximately 120 lbs. Owner reported passenger weighing 105 lbs cannot reliably trigger the airbag; system requires manual bouncing to intermittently activate.
When: Not specified; operational issue
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag does not illuminate/deploy with occupant under 120 lbs seated; Occupant detection light does not turn on reliably; Requires physical movement (bouncing) to trigger intermittent activation; Inconsistent performance; sometimes works, sometimes does not
Repairs/costs cited: Subaru claims vehicle passed federal safety standards and states there is nothing to fix despite owner assertion of malfunction.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru declined to service the vehicle, stating it passed federal safety requirements and manufacturer felt there was nothing to repair.
Airbag Deployment Failure in Collision
Owner reported front-end collision in which airbags failed to deploy despite frontal impact. Vehicle was totaled; multiple injuries were sustained. Complaint also cited seat belt and brake failures, though primary component focus is airbag.
When: Not specified; collision event
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags failed to deploy on frontal collision impact; Vehicle totaled; Multiple occupant injuries sustained
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; no repair information provided.
Dealer Surcharge for Aftermarket Equipment Removal
Dealership conditioned Takata recall repair on customer payment to remove aftermarket gauges or refused responsibility for damage to them during service. Owner was told free recall would incur out-of-pocket costs.
When: Not specified; during recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer demanded payment to remove aftermarket gauges prior to recall work; Dealer refused liability for accidental damage to aftermarket gauges during recall; Free recall service tied to customer expense
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer requested payment for aftermarket gauge removal or signed waiver of liability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; dealer-level issue.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Subaru impreza. The contact stated that the recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v358000 (air bags) was received in may. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions, the contact was informed that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be…
Takata recall - I am very disappointed with how Subaru is handling my recall repair. I made an appointment with bay ridge Subaru in brooklyn ny on 11/21/16 to have the work done to replace my airbag on 12/19/16, they took my vehicle make, model and VIN and assured me they had the part in stock and were holding it for this apt. I even received an email confirming this information. I received…
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 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 2009 Subaru Impreza?
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 78,000 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/2009/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.