1998 SUBARU OUTBACK Air Bags Problems

MY CHILD CARE PROVIDER WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS WHEN SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE. THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN AND HIT A SECOND TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE MOST DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT END AND THE DRIVER SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SHE WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS SUSTAINING A SEVERE HEAD INJURY. *JB

Mileage: 120,000

THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON MY 1998 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT WENT OUT AT 76,000 MILES WITHOUT EVER DEPLOYING OR ANY OTHER INDICATORS. THE LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS THE ONLY SIGN THAT THE BAGS WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THE DEALER SAID TWO MODULES WENT OUT. THE ONE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE OVER $300 TO REPLACE AND THE ONE IN THE FLOOR OVER $700. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SAFETY FEATURES DON'T HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THEM FIXED! *JB

Mileage: 70,000

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE STRUCK STATIONARY OBJECT AT APROX. 15 MPH. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. SIGNIFICANT FRONT END AND UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE. *JB

Mileage: 43,000

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A LIGHT POLE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S DESIGNATED REPAIR FACILITY. *AK THIS WAS QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY 2-3 MORE ACCELERATIONS IN WHICH THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE BEING SHIFTED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. *SC *JB

Mileage: 40,691

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE AIR BAG COULD BE INOPERATIVE IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT AT 15 MPH, AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK AND KNEE INJURIES.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WON'T WORK.*AK THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED. *YH

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, HOWEVER THE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *SLC

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. YH

THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TRUCK THAT HIT VEHICLE AT 50MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR IS TOTALED. *AK

MANUAL STATES THAT NO CHILD YOUNGER THAN AGE 12 BE SEATED IN FRONT BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE INJURY WHICH CAN OCCUR DURING DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. CONCERN ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY (OTHER THAN SHORT PERSON). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK