The 1996 Subaru Legacy has 25 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 16% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.
25
Airbags complaints
16%
Share of year
18
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN OCCUR AFTER UNDERCARRIAGE CONTACT OF THE TOW HOOKS WITH CURBS, DIPS, SPEEDBUMPS, POTHOLES, ETC.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FRONT TOW HOOKS.
“WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE IDLED HIGHLY W/NO WARNING. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE HUSBAND DROVE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HIS WIFE PUSHED ACCELERATOR. AGAIN, VEHICLE ACCELERATED, RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISION W/NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DETECT DEFECT. *AK”
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 1996 Subaru Legacy airbags — 16% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 98V315000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.