CarRecallWatchThe 2008 Subaru Outback has 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA, including 12 crashes, 3 fires, 6 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (104 reports).
2008 Subaru Outback recalls
Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments
Some vehicles had their passenger frontal airbag inflators replaced under an earlier recall, but the replacement inflators use the same design.
Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these vehicles can rupture.
Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags
The ignition switch on these vehicles may have a ball spring inside that can break, weakening the switch.
Relay can fail, causing pump overheating and fire risk
A relay that controls the secondary air injection pump may fail, causing the pump to run continuously and overheat.
Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture and Injure Occupants
The passenger-side frontal air bag inflator in affected vehicles may be susceptible to moisture intrusion.
Most common 2008 Subaru Outback problems
Problem areas named in the 226 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 104 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Suspension | 12 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Structure | 6 |
What owners report
When depressing brakes in driveway pedal went to the floor and brake fluid went all over driveway and car struggled to stop. Upon inspection the junction in picture was heavily corroded and when brake line failed. Supposedly this vehicle was repaired in a former recall that obviously was not a fix.
Unknown why car sparked & ignited. Car was driven to grocery store 5min away then sat for approx. 2hrs before catching fire.
Lost use of my brakes. Could have been killed. Recall WQK-47 was improperly addressed by using rust inhibitor as band-aid. My opinion and that of a 25+ year ASE certified mechanic. I originally wanted the lines replaced and subaru refused, cheaped out and used the inhibitor. It obviously was an ineffective solution since the whole reason for the recall is now an issue with my car. The lines should have been replaced and really sealed, not cheaply coated with an aerosol spray. The car might be older but is far from rusted out. The other brake lines are just fine. I was expecting something from subaru, cover the parts or labor at least but nothing.. Their fix was only "preventative" not actu
The dash pad in the 2005 to 2009 Subaru Legacy and Outback models have a very common problem of deteriorating to where they become sticky and then sections start cracking and falling off. My concern is that this is happening in the area of the passenger air bag. There is a portion of the dash bad which says SRS AIRBAG imprinted in the pad material and mines actually about to fall off. If the air bag should deploy from a serious enough collision, these loose pieces will be one projectiles and could easily cause injury esp to someone eye. I reached out to SOA but they offered no help. The claim number was 250530-0001813. Subaru did extend the warranty on this a few years back but they have
Brakes failed suddenly while on the highway. Virtually no braking available. This could have easily resulted in death or serious injury. Took car to Subaru dealership in Appleton WI. Found split brake line. This is a know issue and recall. Subaru had performed recall by putting anticorrosion on brake lines. All this did was possibly delay the inevitable. The recall stated they could have replaced them at the time of recall. Essentially there are a lot of Subarus driving around now that are ticking time bombs. If they would have replaced the brake
2008 Subaru Outback questions
Does the 2008 Subaru Outback have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls for the 2008 Subaru Outback: Passenger Airbag May Explode, Sending Metal Fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal fragments; Passenger airbag inflator may explode, sending metal shrapnel; Ignition Switch May Turn Off Engine, Disabling Airbags; Relay can fail, causing pump overheating and fire risk. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Subaru Outback?
Based on 226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (104), Electrical System (34), Service Brakes (30).
How do I check if a recall on my 2008 Subaru Outback has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.