10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
43,695 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Subaru Outback seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2006 Subaru Outback Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #37

Mar 242021

Outback

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2006 Subaru Outback head gaskets went bad at about 35,000 miles.had to replace those called Subaru and they help me get those replaced. Thought all was well soon after, the electrical system including the air conditioner and the heater.then I was told that the airbags were defaulted and to bring it into replace them which I did. The final straw is that they called me again two weeks ago to bring the rigging to replace that same airbag again. I asked them why they gave me a car that wasn't safe. The wheel bearings also wore out very early around 50 miles. This car has been so expensive. And now they informed me that there was a second recall on the airbag. So I bring it in for the second time realizing that now in 2021 this car has not been safe the whole time I've been driving it with my family my daughter learned how to drive in this car and so did my son. As they were repairing the faulty airbag they cracked the dashboard and then informed me that it would be $300 to fix it because it had a tiny crack in it. Please note that they were the ones that took the dashboard off in the first place. Super rude! I called Subaru of America and they decided to reimburse me for the dashboard. They were talking about gluing it back together last I heard I'm very much hoping this is not the case my daughter ensures me that it isn't but we'll see. Also he informed me that my head gaskets were leaking again. The mechanic said that this is common once you've had your gaskets replaced. This makes no sense to me. My car has about 160,000 miles on it and it seems like it's already played out and not safe. What a joke. I'll never buy a Subaru again.this has been the worst car and apparently the most unsafe car I've ever owned. Note:this car was consistently unsafe while driving for the last 15 years. I bought it because it had a five star rating for safety what a joke!

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #36

Jan 202020

Outback

  • 49,000 miles
Subaru dealership refused to discuss safety issue recalls selling vehicle with open safety recalls and other safety issues that could have been easily remedied. The vehicle had been in for service and problems were not addressed. Dealership claims "sold as is" and buyer beware, after we had leased a new 2019 vehicle and purchased a like new used vehicle that had gone through their extensive multipoint inspections. Issues for air bags, fuel system leaking, potential fire and explosion, faulty seat latches as safety recall. Dealership has violated trust and exhibited no concern for anyone's safety. We can not trust this dealership for repair or service of our vehicles.

- Willoughby Hills, OH, USA

problem #35

Jan 012020

Outback

  • miles
The car's air bag light came on. It was recalled for an air bag issue one or two years ago so I took the car to the Subaru dealership to fix the issue. But now this light came on about a month ago. It turns off at times, but it comes back on eventually.

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #34

May 022019

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I got a recall notice for fixing passenger sear air bag. But it does not appear on this NHTSA website. It still say 0 unrepaired recalls. How can anyone trust this website?

- Calgary, MT, USA

problem #33

Mar 102016

Outback 6-cyl

  • miles
2006 Subaru legacy Outback ll bean. Consumer writes in regard to airbag recall notices being sent to them though they no longer own vehicle.

- Puyallup, WA, USA

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problem #32

May 302018

Outback

  • 118,000 miles
Air bag light stayed on after engine start. Research indicated that the solder joints on the circuit board located in the overhead console fail over time (the same board that contains the indicator lights for the passenger air bag status). Apparently the air bag system is disabled when the air bag light stays on - meaning that none of the air bags may work if the circuit board becomes defective. Replacement board, if found, is over $300. I repaired mine by re-soldering the various bad contact points on the board.

- Little Rock, AR, USA

problem #31

Oct 102016

Outback

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car intermittently loses all power as you are driving and RPM gauge goes up as cruise control and check engine light go on. A very dangerous situation that Subaru customers have complained about, but Subaru ignores need for recalls. Money spent on troubleshooting is ridiculous! car works fine after pulling over and restarting after a couple of minutes, only to happen suddenly weeks later. Gas pedal accelerator assembly and or throttlebody issues. Also Subaru cars from 2006 and older all have head gasket leaks. They never recalled cars for that problem. That costs $1600. They used a different gasket material after 2007

- Merrick, NY, USA

problem #30

Jun 162017

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall we have been on the waiting list for the replacement airbag since September 20, 2016. The dealer tells us we are still number 45 on the list and will not predict when they will be able to service the car.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #29

Jun 272017

Outback

  • miles
The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V323000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the morehart murphy dealer (30 parker ave, durango, co 81303) and the contact was informed that they only received ten parts per month. The manufacturer was contacted, but did not respond. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Aztec, NM, USA

problem #28

Jun 082017

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall - first contacted Subaru at beginning of December 2016 about scheduling repairs. Recall has still not been completed. Dealer is waiting for parts.

- Tananger, AK, USA

problem #27

May 192017

Outback

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V323000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer confirmed that the parts were not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Spokane, WA, USA

problem #26

Nov 022015

Outback

  • 120,000 miles
Hi, I'm writing you to to inform you of a safety issue with the 05-09 Subaru Outback airbag system. The passenger airbag notification board, located in the dome light assembly is assembled with poor quality solders between the board and diodes, this results in failure of the board, this is often seen in lower temperatures when the solders crack due to thermal contraction. When one of these solders fails, it causes 2 issues, 1, the indicator lights don't come on correctly, and 2, the entire airbag system is disabled. This is an issue known to the Subaru owners community. My dealer wants about $260 to fix it. Thanks.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #25

Jul 112016

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V323000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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. The VIN was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Chevy Chase, MD, USA

problem #24

Dec 062016

Outback 4-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
Takata recall I received written and email notification from Subaru this week (12/6/16) that my front passenger air bag inflator was subject to recall. Although the note claimed to be a "2nd notification", it is not. I have received no previous notification from Subaru that my airbag was dangerous and so have been driving with passengers. I now see that Subaru knew my airbag was dangerous one year ago but failed to inform me. I assume this was deliberate as they knew they did not have parts and did not want to have to provide me with a car that was safe to drive while they waited for the parts. This has put my family members at risk.

- Palo Alto, CA, USA

problem #23

Dec 312015

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V323000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Princeton, WV, USA

problem #22

Dec 182015

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V323000 (air bags) and 14V311000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The part to do the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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.

- Glennwood Spring, CO, USA

problem #21

Jan 222016

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall I received notification in January, 2016. Subaru has not yet performed the repair.

- Sandusky, OH, USA

problem #20

Feb 012016

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V323000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Part distribution disconnect.

- Clancy, MT, USA

problem #19

Oct 062016

Outback

  • 148,655 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Outback. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of power and all the warning indicators illuminated. After pulling the vehicle over to the side of the road, waiting a brief period, and manually restarting the vehicle, it became operable again. The failure occurred on three occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,655.

- Bangor, ME, USA

problem #18

Sep 012016

Outback

  • miles
Takata recall. Was notified 02//2016 of passenger side front airbag recall. Letter stated that there were no parts and would be notified by second letter when parts were available. As of 9/1/16, no second letter. Called dealer and was told parts are available sporadically and that I should have called to be put on a waiting list. This is not what the letter from Subaru stated. If I had not called dealer, would not have known that parts are available and that I needed to on waiting list. I could have been waiting forever for a second letter as Subaru stated they would send but apparently they were not sending.

- West Chester, PA, USA

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