<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-08-20</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001038898</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARONSON PER OLOF</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AUTOLIV INC WORLD TRADE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>KLARABERGSVIADUKTEN 70 SE-111 64</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STOCKHOLM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SWEDEN</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>618</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7485</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>


    <remarks>This amendment is made solely for the purpose of correction of holdings previously reported in column 5. The transaction as such was correctly reported on August 20th 2003.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Per-Olof Aronson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

