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severe Owners of the 2016 Subaru Outback have filed 9 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Outback | 36 |
| 2013 Outback | 40 |
| 2014 Outback | 36 |
| 2015 Outback | 8 |
| 2016 Outback (this page) | 9 |
| 2017 Outback | 15 |
| 2018 Outback | 8 |
| 2019 Outback | 12 |
| 2020 Outback | 15 |
In the event of a crash necessitating passenger frontal air bag deployment, the air bag may not deploy properly, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
This bulletin announces availability of the one-time use mounting clip and spacer clip for the air bag curtain module.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Subaru is recalling certain 2016-2017 model year Outback vehicles in which an incorrect Airbag Control Module may have been installed as a replacement part. A total of 46 U.S. vehicles may be affected by this recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"This Service Information Bulletin announces IMPORTANT changes to the parts ordering and Service Procedures for replacement passenger airbag modules and airbag control modules used in the models listed above. The change is due to discontinuation of the original equipment passenger airbag module assemblies used in 2015-17MY vehicles. The replacement passenger airbag module assemblies for the 2015-17 MY Legacy and Outback will now be the same part used in 2018MY Legacy and Outback. The 2018MY Legacy and Outback also utilizes a different airbag control module than the 2015-17 MY Legacy and Outback. The 2018MY passenger airbag module assembly is now specified for 2015-18MY vehicles. As a result,
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Based on the 9 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 16,010 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.
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.
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.