The passenger side seat airbag sensor has quit sensing when someone is seating in the seat and turns off the airbag. After taking it in to the dealership and them running diagnostics they said, -??it isnt working.-?? They quoted me a repair of $1182 to replace the whole seat. I know Subaru has issued a recall on certain models, but my car was not one of them. It seems like the same problem though. There appears to be a lot of people having the same faulty sensor system and having to pay high repair costs that only the dealership can do.

- Champaign, IL, USA

Since January, the occupancy airbag warning light would turn on and off. Also, even with no passenger in the passenger seat, I would have to engage the passenger side seatbelt so the reminder bell would stop dinging. On 15 June, I took my vehicle into the Subaru dealership. The diagnoses what that the occupancy senor in the passenger seat was defective. I was informed that this defect also disables the entire car's airbag system. To answer the other questions above: 1) Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection. (2) The safety of my grandchildren, husband, and myself are at risk if the airbags will not deploy. (3) Subaru dealership has confirmed the problem. (4) No other agency has inspected the vehicle but I am willing to obtain a second opinion. (5) The seatbelt issue started January. In May of 2023, the ABS warning light would periodically turn on and off. Thank you.

- Tumwater, WA, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while reversing, the Back Over Prevention screen failed to display an image. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact also stated that after starting the vehicle or while driving at various speeds, the front passenger-€™s side seat belt and air bag warning lights would illuminate without an occupant seated in the seat. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 72,500.v

- Roanoke, VA, USA

Front passenger seat air bag sensor, front passenger seat occupancy sensor, front passenger seat airbag computer, red air bag warning light, yellow passenger airbag "on/off" light, seat belt warning and chime. Air bag disabled warning intermittently comes on. Specifically, air bag warning (red) light occurs and yellow pass airbag active light will indicate passenger air bag inactive/off. Sometimes for days, then Ok-€"whether passenger seat is occupied or not. Sometimes moving the seat up and back will reset this warning. When front pass seat empty or with weight as light as 2 pounds on the seat, seat belt warning light and chime comes on when speed exceeds 5 mph. Sometimes this alarm can be reset by sharply striking seat, sometimes not, and trip must be completed with the seat belt buckled. The seat belt issue and airbag light has been happening for about 2 years, getting more frequent. Appears recalls airbag issues with Forrester 2013 and earlier and after 2015. But not 2014. Note, front seats are heated.

- Worthington, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Forester. The contact stated while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly, went over a cement post, onto a sidewalk pavement, and crashed into a condo building. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact did not recall whether the brake pedal was depressed but failed to respond. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was informed by the emergency units who examined her at the scene that she had sustained high blood pressure. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to an autobody shop where it was repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was being diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

- Rockville, MD, USA

I have a 2014 Subaru Forester and I am having the exact same problem described in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000. The dealership wants to charge $1250 dollars to replace the seat bottom for a part that is recalled for all Subaru Foresters from 2015-2018. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) is causing the airbag sensor to remain in the OFF position even when there is a passenger in the car. This is unsafe! When I contacted corporate they were unwilling to pay for replacing the part. My only recourse is to hope that the recall is expanded to include the 2014 Subaru Foresters.

- Powhatan, VA, USA

The passenger occupant detection system sensor mat was diagnosed as needing to be replaced in order for the SRS air bag system to work. The dealership charged me $89 to diagnose the problem. They then told me the repair will cost $900. I noticed several other 2014 Subaru Foresters have the same issue. There was a very similar recall for 2015 through 2018 models. I emailed Subaru of America to see if they can cover the cost of the repair today.

- Belvedere Tiburon, CA, USA

September 6,2018 the vehicle suddenly unintentionally accelerated. Came off the highway.Pulled in to a parking lot to turn around. Reaching for the shifter with my foot on the brake. The vehicle went 42mph in less than four feet, a woman was directly in the front center of vehicle when a loud roar happened. The woman jumped out of the way. As the 2014 Subaru Forester shot forward hitting a suburban and then bounced off a fence to stop in the road next to us. Had to fight to get towed to Gresham Subaru. Pulled dtcs and box information.Subaru denies SUA, has a recall on BLS. No airbag deployed, brakes did not work. Skid marks and chunks of tires.

- Portland , OR, USA

Last week I had an issue when no one was in the passenger seat but the seatbelt chiming continued to go off. This happened even after turning off and restarting the car. The issue seemed to be resolved until I noticed the passenger airbag was off when I was driving my mom. Then a warning, "SRS airbag system needs to be checked", came on and has not turned off. I see a recall for 2015-2018 Foresters, but none with my VIN number. Of course, I've searched online and it seems to be a problem with others. I know moisture could be an issue, but I don't remember spilling anything recently. I wanted to report this in case another recall should be made.

- Columbia, SC, USA

Occupant detection system (ods) malfunctioning. Passenger airbag is off when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat. Sometimes the passenger airbag is on while there is no one (and nothing) on the seat, causing the seat belt warning chime to occur until seat belt is buckled. Supplemental restraint system (SRS) light appears on dashboard and shuts down airbag system while driving. These things occur somewhat randomly when starting the car, continue while driving in the city and highway, and don't go away until the car is turned off. Sometimes restarting the car will correct the problem. I brought my Forester to the dealership back in 2017 and they reported that the sensors of the ods system were not working properly and will need to be replaces. Cost estimate is about $1,100. They said the likely cause is moisture or the seat got wet. I live in a dry climate area and have not gotten the seats wet at all recently (and barely ever in the past). Through research, I have found a very similar problem has occurred in the 2015-2018 models and there is a recall (wum-98) for those years. My Forester is a 2014 and is of the same generation but isn't included in the recall for some reason. Is it possible that the 2014 model should also be included if the same problem is happening? appreciate any help and insight you can offer!

- Northbrook, IL, USA

Occupant detection system (ods) malfunctioning. Passenger airbag is off when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat. Sometimes the passenger airbag is on while there is no one (and nothing) on the seat, causing the seat belt warning chime to occur until seat belt is buckled. Supplemental restraint system (SRS) light appears on dashboard and shuts down airbag system while driving. These things occur somewhat randomly when starting the car, continue while driving in the city and highway, and don't go away until the car is turned off. Sometimes restarting the car will correct the problem. I brought my Forester to the dealership today (1/26/2021) and they reported that the sensors of the ods system were not working properly and will need to be replaces. Cost estimate is about $1,100 and I have to wait until the part gets shipped in. They said the likely cause is moisture or the seat got wet. I live in a dry climate area and have not gotten the seats wet at all recently (and barely ever in the past). Through research, I have found a very similar problem has occurred in the 2015-2018 models and there is a recall (wum-98) for those years. My Forester is a 2014 and is of the same generation but isn't included in the recall for some reason. Is it possible that the 2014 model should also be included if the same problem is happening? appreciate any help and insight you can offer!

- Wheat Ridge, CO, USA

When turning on the car or while driving, a notification appears on the display indicating the passenger side airbag is off. Also a light illuminates on the dash indicating the same thing. This has happened 4-5 times in the last few months. The notifications/light usually stay on for the duration of the trip. It happens both when there is someone in the passenger seat and when the seat is empty. The dealer found a stored ods sensor code but since the light wasn't on the day I brought it in they wouldn't go further with correcting the issue. 2015-2018 Foresters currently have a recall for this issue. I believe my 2014 Forester to be affected by the same issue.

- Old Lyme, CT, USA

Warning light came on in the car indicating a problem with the air bag system. Subaru service determined that the air bags would not activate in a collision due to a malfunction with the passenger seat air bad mechanism..Subaru service said the the system needs replacement. No recalls for this model and year has been recalled but previous Subaru Forester models from 2010 to 2013 had a similar problem and a recall was made for them.

- Wantagh, NY, USA

We had the oil changed in July. In the middle of September I added nearly 1 quart of oil. The oil light came back on again October 15th and assuming it is low on oil again. After extensive on-line research, it seems an oil consumption program is an issue that is affecting out vehicle among countless other model years and other manfacturer's as well. It did not matter if the vehicles was turning, in motion, idle or driving location, the low oil light would remain on. The air bag light indicator has been coming on and off for the last 3 months. We brought the vehicle into the dealer the middle of July once this happened. Since the light was not on at the time, the dealer could not diagnose it. Since the indicator light is appears and then disappears, it has been difficult to get to the dealer and time when the indicator light decides to re-appear. The indicator light re-appeared and we scheduled the appointment to get for a diagnosis. The diagnostic confirmed there is a bad switch under the seat. We were asked if we have an I-phone and charge the phone while it is on the passenger seat. Yes, that may or may not have happened. We were told this is not an issue with an android phone. The dealer offered to replace this item but resulted in an approx. $1,000 bill. They mentioned they would pay approx. 90% of the cost. It does not matter if the car is on, turing, in motion city or highway driving.

- Ballston Spa, NY, USA

My 2014 Subaru Forester has recently started having warnings about SRS. Passenger seat sensor occasionally does not recognize a passenger is seated and therefore the airbag is 'off' even if seat is occupied. Both front seats are heated and it looks like this is the same issue that lead to a recall for 2015 Subaru Foresters. Please extend the recall to include 2014 models. Very unsafe and costly ($900-$1,200 according to other complaints) to repair this sensor in order to have the passenger airbag operational. Passenger seatbelt warning also occasionally comes on even if there is no one sitting in seat.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

My steering wheel air bag spontaneously deployed as I was slowly driving in the lot of a sheetz gas station after just getting off the interstate (estimate my speed at 5 mph in the gas station lot) there was no inciting incident. I was wearing my seat belt so only injury was a burn and bruise to my left hand. The vehicle remained on and otherwise functional.

- Richmond, VA, USA

Airbag light came on while on long road trip. The light remained on for the 5 hours remaining on the drive. The entire passenger seat had to be replaced. The part, labor and taxes came to a total of $1007.22.

- Pensacola, FL, USA

My airbag SRS popped up when on a road trip and said the passenger airbag was off so I freaked out as my boyfriend was driving and then driving back it just turned off and the airbag light said it was on. Very weird called my Subaru and charged me for them to go on and look and said it would be over $1000 to fix but they really didn't know where the issue was coming from and I would be out of a car for a week.

- Polk City, FL, USA

** 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

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