<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001034670</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUTOLIV INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001038896</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELIN PER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AUTOLIV, INC. WORLD TRADE CENTER,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>KLARABERGSVIADUKTEN 70</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SE-11164 STOCKHOLM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>346</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3831</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Welin, a non-employee director of the Company, is entitled to receive an annual grant of shares of Common Stock with a market value of $15,000 at the time of grant as part of his compensation for serving on the Board of Directors of the Company.  These shares were granted to Mr. Welin on April 28, 2004, for serving on the Board of Directors for the period beginning on the 2003 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the 2004 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. The number of shares of Common Stock acquired by the Company for the benefit of Mr. Welin was calculated by dividing $15,000 by the average of the sale prices of the Common Stock on April 28, 2004, which was $43.41 per share.  Accordingly, Mr. Welin was entitled to receive 346 shares of Common Stock from the Company.  No independent investment decision has been taken by Mr. Welin in connection with the acquisition of these securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Per Welin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

