2005 Subaru Outback Air Bags Problems

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

36Air Bags complaints

13.2%Of all 273 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 ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS36 · 13.2%

SUSPENSION36 · 13.2%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32 · 11.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM26 · 9.5%

SERVICE BRAKES22 · 8.1%

Share of the 273 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2005 Subaru Outback overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE…”NHTSA complaint 10380186 — filed 02/04/2011

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

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Subaru Outback have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the most-reported problem area on the 2005 Subaru Outback: 36 of 273 complaints on file (13.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2005 Subaru Outback have in total?

273 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 13 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS 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.