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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-09-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001745631</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Moloney Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AUTOLIV, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>KLARABERGSVIADUKTEN 70, SECTION B7</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STOCKHOLM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>V7</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SE-111 64</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>SWEDEN</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>See Remarks</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-09-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1.9516</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1.9516</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>271.8455</value>
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                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-09-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1.3466</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1.3466</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>187.5734</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-09-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2.8673</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2021-02-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-02-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2.8673</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>399.3863</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2019-02-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>365.0913</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>365.0913</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2019-02-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>88.83</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>88.83</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit (RSU) represents a contingent right to receive one share of ALV common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Dividend equivalent rights accrued in the form of additional RSUs to RSUs granted on February 19, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Per the award agreement, cash dividends with a record date on or after the grant date and paid on or before the vesting date yield additional RSUs subject to the same vesting schedule as the underlying RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The RSUs vest and convert to shares in one installment on the third anniversary of February 19, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">As reported in the Registration Statement on Form 10 filed by Veoneer, Inc. (&quot;VNE&quot;) with the SEC, in connection with the distribution by ALV of 100% of the outstanding shares of common stock of VNE on a pro rata basis to ALV stockholders on June 29, 2018 (the &quot;Spin-off&quot;), stock-based awards granted by ALV prior to the Spin-off were converted into adjusted stock-based awards relating to both shares of ALV and VNE common stock. With certain limited exceptions, the adjusted awards are subject to the same or equivalent vesting conditions and other terms that applied to the applicable original ALV award immediately before the Spin-off. For each holder of an RSU, 50% of the outstanding stock award value, as calculated immediately prior to the spin-off, was converted to an RSU of VNE, and 50% to an RSU of ALV, with an adjustment to the number of shares as required to preserve the value inherent in the stock award before and after the distribution.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">(Continued from footnote 5)Outstanding performance shares were converted to RSUs of both ALV and VNE as described above, with the number of performance shares so converting determined based on: (i) for the period between the beginning of the performance period and December 31, 2017, the actual level of performance measured as of December 31, 2017; and (ii) for the period following December 31, 2017 and the last day of the applicable performance period, actual performance measured as of December 31, 2017, or target level performance, whichever was greater. The conversion and adjustment described herein is referred to as the &quot;Spin-off Conversion and Adjustment.&quot;</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The number of RSUs held following the Spin-off Conversion and Adjustment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">RSUs received in connection with the Spin-Off Conversion and Adjustment of performance shares granted by ALV on February 19, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Dividend equivalent rights accrued in the form of additional RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Dividend equivalent rights accrued in the form of additional RSUs to RSUs granted on February 13, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The RSUs vest and convert to shares in one installment on the third anniversary of February 13, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">RSUs received in connection with the Spin-Off Conversion and Adjustment of performance shares granted by ALV on February 15, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">RSUs received in connection with the Spin-Off Conversion and Adjustment of RSUs granted by ALV on February 15, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Executive Vice President, Supply Chain Management</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Zachariah Miller as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
