1996 Subaru Legacy Air Bags:frontal Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · data through 07/12/2026

20Air Bags:frontal complaints

16.3%Of all 123 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags:frontal ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL20 · 16.3%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14 · 11.4%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE11 · 8.9%

Unspecified / other7 · 5.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR7 · 5.7%

Share of the 123 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1996 Subaru Legacy overview page.

What owners report

“VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND FORCE INTO THE BACK OF A PICK UP AND NEITHER BAG BAGS DEPLOYED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.”NHTSA complaint 8010897 — filed 06/02/2002

“WHILE APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 5 MPH, CONSUMER BUMPED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING.”NHTSA complaint 857143 — filed 02/17/2000

“CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND ANOTHER CAR HIT HIM, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.”NHTSA complaint 834336 — filed 02/01/1999

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags:frontal complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Subaru Legacy have air bags:frontal problems?

Air Bags:frontal is the most-reported problem area on the 1996 Subaru Legacy: 20 of 123 complaints on file (16.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1996 Subaru Legacy have in total?

123 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 26 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags:frontal category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS:FRONTAL category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.