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2021 Subaru Outback Airbags Problems

15 owner-reported airbags complaints from NHTSA data

15
Complaints
1
Recalls
Jan 2022Dec 2024
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Airbags Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #24V227000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Outback and Legacy vehicles. A capacitor in the sensors for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may crack and short circuit, which can prevent the front passenger air bag from deploying in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the ODS sensors on the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed February 3, 2025. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WRA-24.

Owner Complaints (15)

highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2026

Your airbag warning light is on even though the airbags haven't deployed. A diagnostic scanner shows error code B1784, which indicates a problem with the right front occupant detection sensor. Subaru has issued a safety recall for this exact issue on your model year, but your vehicle's VIN isn't showing as eligible for the recall, and the dealer says they can't help. The fix would likely involve replacing or recalibrating the occupant detection sensor, though you may need to work with Subaru customer service or explore other repair options.

NHTSA #: 11712489
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Sep 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is subject to a safety recall (Campaign 24V227000) involving the airbag system, but the replacement parts needed for the repair are currently unavailable from your dealer. You've notified Subaru that the delay has exceeded a reasonable timeframe, though you haven't experienced any airbag failure yet. The repair will likely involve replacing or reprogramming airbag system components once parts become available.

NHTSA #: 11686038
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is subject to a recall (Campaign 24V227000) for the airbag system, but the manufacturer hasn't yet released the parts needed to fix it. Your dealer has confirmed the parts aren't available and you've been waiting longer than expected for this recall to be completed. The manufacturer is aware of the delay, though you haven't experienced any actual airbag failure yet. The fix will involve installing replacement airbag components once the manufacturer makes them available.

Parts you may need:

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NHTSA #: 11668568
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jun 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is subject to a safety recall (Campaign 24V227000) affecting the airbags, but the replacement parts aren't currently available from the manufacturer. You've been waiting longer than expected for the recall repair to be completed, and your dealer has confirmed the parts remain unavailable. The manufacturer is aware of the delay. Your airbags are currently functioning normally, but you'll need replacement airbag components once they become available.

NHTSA #: 11664758
highAIR BAGS
Filed: May 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is subject to a safety recall (NHTSA Campaign 24V227000) for the airbag system, but the manufacturer hasn't yet made the replacement parts available. You've notified both the dealer and Subaru about the delay, and they've confirmed parts are still unavailable. While you haven't experienced an actual airbag failure yet, the repair will likely involve replacing one or more airbag components once they become available.

NHTSA #: 11663369
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Mar 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is part of a recall (Campaign 24V227000) affecting airbags, but the replacement part needed for the repair is currently unavailable from the manufacturer. You've been waiting longer than what you consider reasonable for the part to become available, and Subaru is aware of the situation. Your airbags are still functioning normally at this time. The repair will involve replacing the affected airbag component once the part is back in stock.

NHTSA #: 11650810
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Feb 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is subject to a safety recall (Campaign 24V227000) for the airbag system, but the replacement parts aren't currently available from the dealer. You haven't experienced an actual airbag failure, but Subaru has taken longer than expected to supply the parts needed to complete the repair.

NHTSA #: 11645573
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2025

Your airbag warning light came on while driving, and you heard a chime with a passenger in the front seat. Your dealer informed you that a required recall repair part isn't yet available, and the manufacturer hasn't been able to complete the repair despite what you feel is an unreasonable delay. The airbag system should be inspected and the recall part installed once it becomes available from the manufacturer.

NHTSA #: 11638838
highAIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2025

Your 2021 Subaru Outback is part of a safety recall (Campaign 24V227000) affecting the airbag system, but the replacement parts needed to fix it aren't currently available from Subaru. You've been waiting longer than expected for the repair to become available, and your dealer has confirmed that parts remain unavailable. The fix will require Subaru to supply and install replacement airbag components once they become available.

NHTSA #: 11637683
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA #: 11630055
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Dec 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA #: 11628519
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jul 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V227000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA #: 11603103
mediumAIR BAGS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Jun 2023

Yet to be diagnosed but possibly the cockpit control computer. Dealer service department has not been able to diagnose. No components have been replaced yet except for a software update that did not correct the issue. Safety systems all report as not functioning, These include all "eyesight systems";the air bags, automatic emergency braking, lane departure and lane keeping. Additionally all center console functions are not functional, including HVAC and radio. The vehicle has been to the dealer twice where the problem could not be reproduced. No other inspection has been performed. No warnings or other messages appear prior to the failure. The failure persists for approximately 10 minutes, after which normal operation resumes. I write this following the fourth occurrence of the failure.

NHTSA #: 11528573
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Apr 2023

Passenger seat air bag system does not recognize my wife at times. She weighs some where around 100 pounds. Sometime the “The passenger is here light” comes on right a way, sometimes with in a mile and sometime never. Talk to the Subaru services rep. He said there was nothing they could about it. I told him I would bring the car in and leave for days so they could check it out, he told if I wanted to waste my time to go a head. Looking online this has been a safety problem for sometime that Subaru won’t do anything about. Like most safety issues someone will have to die before something is done.

NHTSA #: 11516593
mediumAIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2022

The passenger air bag alert on the dashboard indicates the air bag is off when my wife who is elderly and weighs approximately 95 pounds is seated in the front passenger seat .Sometimes it changes to " air bag on" during our journey but other times it remains off .I am concerned the air bag won't deploy in the event of a crash potentially causing serious injury .I have e mailed sales representative who sold us the car at Maple Hill Auto Group Kalamazoo ,MI in March 2021 who responded that seat sensor was designed to alert "off " at 65 pounds or less .Two subsequent e mails to Subaru Customer Service about this issue have not been acknowledged or generated any response which concerns me . At this point car has not been tested by technician as my wife is frail and not in position to go to dealer for demo . Not sure what next steps to take since Subaru Customer Service is not responding to my concerns .

NHTSA #: 11446683

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