2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
74,967 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #6

Feb 092020

Forester

  • 118,000 miles
** airbag system needs to be checked*** this warning has has occurred at least 5-6X's now in the last two months. Every occurrence there has been a passenger seated and occurs immediately as I go from park to drive. A recall was issued for 2015-2018 Foresters equipped with heated seats due to an airbag sensor defect. Details of the recall are identical to the problems on my 2014 Forester. It's the passenger side airbag having issues and my passenger seat is heated. I have two children and often Transport my mother to medical appointments. When the warning message illuminates the passenger airbag will not deploy in an accident. This is serious safety issue and $1200 to fix a safety issue on a vehicle 5-6years old is absurd. The investigation which was done for passenger airbag sensor recall wum-98 needs to be revisited and I guarantee it will find the number of affected vehicles will grow.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 242020

Forester

  • 160,000 miles
While my son was driving normally with a passenger in the right front passenger seat 2 days ago, the red airbag sensor light came on and passenger airbag sign went to "off". I took it to the Subaru dealer in olympia, wa and they claimed this was caused by water damage (we had never spilled water in that seat) and they wanted $2100 to fix the problem by replacing the entire right passenger seat assembly. We are going to have it fixed elsewhere, but then while driving on the way home from the Subaru dealership yesterday, the airbag sensor light went off and the right passenger airbag started working again. Right now it is working again. While it was not working, it didn't matter whether the car was in motion or stopped. This is a very unsafe condition if a passenger is riding in the front seat. We can't depend on the airbag being there if needed in an accident.

- Tenino, WA, USA

problem #4

Jan 172020

Forester

  • 61,800 miles
Passenger airbag was off with passenger on seat. It corrected itself for a while and now is off whether there is or isn't a passenger aboard.

- Oakland, AR, USA

problem #3

Jan 012019

Forester

  • miles
Vehicle driving down the interstate when the passenger airbag warning light first came on and it has been on ever since. Have taken it to local Subaru dealership and they said that the airbag sensor/passenger seat need to be replaced. They determined that there was no damage (water or blunt force) that occurred to the feature and that it was nothing we had done; however, it would not be replaced under any type of warranty. Since Subaru prides themselves in safety, it seems odd that they wouldn't do anything to remedy this complaint that has been cited repeatedly, especially since it is no fault to the owner but rather a manufacturing issue.

- Lone Tree, CO, USA

problem #2

Dec 312016

Forester

  • 110,000 miles
My vehicle has a problem with the airbag system. I was first alerted by my cars warning system, which states 'SRS airbag system needs to be checked' and gives me a red warning symbol of the airbag being inflated. Secondly it shows my passenger airbag is off even when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. This warning did not come on due to a collision as my vehicle has never been in a collision or involved in an accident otherwise. It simply appeared seemingly out of nowhere for no reason at all. I have taken my vehicle in several times to different Subaru dealerships to ask what the problem is. I was first told there was no problem with the system that perhaps it was just a malfunction in the sensor. Then the other dealerships told me that there was an issue with the passenger seat sensor, but that they are unable to confirm if this is the source of the problem causing the airbag light to come on and the passenger airbag to be turned off. They said I would need to replace the entire passenger seat, but they were unsure if this would fix the issue. I took it to an independent machanic and they also were unable to verify the source of the problem and referred me back to the Subaru dealership. I contacted Subaru of America about the issue and I never received any communication from them, although they promised to get back to me about the issue. I just know there is nothing I could have done to make this problem appear. I believe this is a manufacturer issue, just based on the fact that Subaru could not identify what the problem is or it's cause. So far I just have been told the passenger seat sensor is somehow defective and that it is not covered under any warranty.

- Camas, WA, USA

problem #1

Oct 042018

Forester

  • miles
My 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0 xt has had some issues with the warning lights come on. One of them has been the passenger side airbag light. When no one is sitting in the seat the seatbelt warning will chime the entire time I'm driving, then eventually the airbag sensor light will come on and I'll receive an indicator to have it checked. Upon taking it to the Subaru dealer they informed me that I would need an entire bottom seat at the cost of $1,000 plus $400 for install. I was told the part would take a month to come in as it has to be custom made. I was told that when the light is on none of my airbags would function on the vehicle. With two children I can't be driving a car that doesn't have working air bags. I've been borrowing a family vehicle for the last week while I try and work with Subaru corporate to get the cost of the repair fixed. It seems to me there should be a cheaper option to replace the computer sensor that's under the passenger seat. I've also read on some online forums that apple products, in particular iphones laid in the seat can impact this sensor. That seems like an issue as well. I'm hoping Subaru ends up paying for my seat or covering part of the repair since it sounds like a malfunction that doesn't have an easy fix, and the impact of the malfunction is to not have any functioning airbags.

- Normal, IL, USA