2008 Subaru Impreza Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/14/2026

24Air Bags complaints

13.6%Of all 176 complaints

#2Most-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

POWER TRAIN51 · 29%

AIR BAGS24 · 13.6%

VISIBILITY18 · 10.2%

STRUCTURE:BODY18 · 10.2%

SERVICE BRAKES14 · 8%

Share of the 176 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2008 Subaru Impreza overview page.

What owners report

“2008 SUBARU IMPREZA FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR TURNS OFF AND ON WHILE MY WIFE 5'1" 110 LBS SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY…”NHTSA complaint 10246821 — filed 10/27/2008

“THE PASSENGER AIR BAG ON MY NEW 2008 SUBARU IMPREZA HATCHBACK WHICH I PURCHASED JULY 27, 2008 IS SET FOR A 125 POUND PERSON ACCORDING…”NHTSA complaint 10245216 — filed 10/13/2008

“SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT KEEP THE AIRBAG ARMED AT ALL TIMES. PASSENGER WEIGHS 110 POUNDS.”NHTSA complaint 10240284 — filed 08/29/2008

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

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2008 Subaru Impreza: 24 of 176 complaints on file (13.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2008 Subaru Impreza have in total?

176 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 9 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 07/14/2026.