Vehicle Data Hub

2010 Subaru Outback air bags problems

Owners reported air bags problems in 45 complaints for the 2010 Subaru Outback, 10% of the complaints on file. It is the 3rd most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
45 10% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
15,000 miles 20 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
3 and 0
Injuries and deaths
4 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When air bags problems show up

Air bags complaints by mileage, 2010 Subaru Outback Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 15,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 11 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 2 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 1 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 3 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 15,000 miles
Based on 20 complaints that include mileage. 75% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles11
20k to 40k miles2
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles1
80k to 100k miles3
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Of the 20 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 15,000 miles, and 75% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 3 crashes, 4 injuries.

What owners wrote

Traveling on icy road approx. 20MPH or less in 2010 outback 3.6 ltd. Very accustomed to driving severe mountain winter conditions & 8th subaru among family members. Seatbelt, shoulder restraint in place on driver. Oncoming driver in mid-size to large truck lost control at high speed, crossed center line and impacted subaru head-on, offset to left side of outback & 2010 outback was totaled. Subaru airbags did not deploy. Impact into front left side, crumpled hood up to windshield, which shattered.

Reported at 48,000 miles, December 2012 CrashInjury

The passenger airbag is disabled when there is a passenger. On a trip to ga with my wife, who weighs 135 lbs, sitting in the passenger seat, the air bag light will indicate 'not enabled'. At times it will display enabled, then disabled all while driving. Shifting in the seat doesn't do anything. In summary sometimes its on, sometimes not. We took this to the dealer and their response is they were unable to duplicate with a mechanic (probably a heavier person) in the passenger seat.

Reported at 60,000 miles, July 2014

Other problems reported for the 2010 Subaru Outback

Air bags problems in other years

Air bags problems across all Subaru models