The vehicle began showing symptoms of a faulty "occupant detection system". the indicator would change from on to off randomly. Then there was an official recall, but no fix was available and they instructed to wait until the dealers contacted us. A couple of months, tired of waiting to be able to use the front seat of the car, I called Subaru of America. They told me the replacement was available. Dealer had to get parts and installed it. It seems now it still does not work under our typical use case. We found out what appears to be the cause. A different occupancy detection sensor in the replacement works using an "electrostatic" method. My wife was using a standard relatively thin seat cushion that apparently prevents the new sensor from working. I believe this is a significant liability to automobile passengers who drive in cars equipped with such equipment. Nowhere in the manual (or the recall paperworks) is there a note to not use a seat cushion of any kind. It also would not be intuitive to think this would be a hazard from a passengers perspective. You could have an impale setting on the car that just ends it for you (for those no helmet bikers). It would similarly be deemed acceptable, so long as there is an indicator light that says "impaler active" for people get to impaled by the vehicle when the ai system gathers their preference is dnr in an accident via their music selection. Many people wouldnt think to look at the airbag on or off light. Also you can use a seat cushion on the drivers side without any issue which further confuses things for the general public in terms of having any idea that a cushion is endangering them. I understand the need to protect children, but who puts their kids or baby seats in the front seat these days? there should be a way to turn the bag on or off, or at least on so that you can override a faulty sensor

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that a red warning indicator icon flashed intermittently inside the vehicle. The contact drove to Subaru of rochester (4840 Maine ave SE, rochester, Minnesota 55904, (507) 285-4777) and was informed that the occupant detection system sensor failed. The contact was provided a cost estimate for repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 55,000.

- Rochester, MN, USA

Keep getting message "SRS airbag system needs to be checked" while driving. Dealer wants to replace the set sensor at my cost. The vehicle only has 41,000 miles. This is a known problem with this vehicle and Subaru is not fixing the issue leaving driver in danger. This needs to be a recall!

- Tujunga, CA, USA

The front passenger seat airbag occupancy sensor is malfunctioning and switching off the airbag when someone sits in the front passenger seat.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

SRS message and warning light coming on. Message SRS system needs to be checked. Made an appointment with my local Subaru dealer I explained the issues showed them three pictures of the warning and indicators when the issue occurs. Was told that their was nothing wrong. No active codes found. Unable to have someone in the passengers seat in case the air bag does not deploy. Contacted Subaru have not responded. The waring and indicator light comes on when someone is setting in the passengers seat, with no one in the seat and with no one in the car in park with engine idling. The vehicle could be moving or parked idling and the warning and indicator light will come on.

- Ocala, FL, USA

The occupant detection sensor for the front passenger seat does not work properly. It will occasionally set a warning while the vehicle is in motion, saying that the air bag system needs to be checked out, but then you can turn the vehicle off and back on and the warning disappears. The 'cure' is to replace the entire front passenger seat assembly! the following text from another complaint perfectly describes my situation: "Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off."

- Little Rock, AR, USA

Passenger detection system to turn on airbag has been intermittent since shortly after purchasing. Will turn off passenger air bag with an adult present in the seat, or not turn it on initially. Now it is almost always off at some point in a driving experience. Several attempts to get it checked out were made but required too long and no loaner was available. After getting a second car, it was taken to the dealer where it was purchased be tested October 2, 2018 and parts were ordered. When I tried to find when the part may come in after about 2 weeks, no information was available. The system acknowledges the presence of a passenger because it gives a warning on the display that it needs service but it leaves airbag off anyway. I believe it has been too long waiting for parts for a safety system problem. This has obviously been a known issue for several model years according to complaints to NHTSA and on Subaru owner's forums.

- Aguanga, CA, USA

This used vehicle was purchased from a dealer as a "great buy", with 74589 miles on May 23, 2018. Less than one week later, bells and dings began sounding while driving, light indicators indicated that the SRS system needed to be checked; that the passenger airbag was not on sometimes, other times it was..intermittent. Car in motion both on city streets and on highway. No recalls were reported at that time, and I never knew while driving whether either side seatbelts were engaged when I knew they were, nor whether airbags were viable. Dangerous for driver and for passenger. Independent dealer and service departments were perplexed, dealerships had no available parts.....here it is, Oct. 2, 2018, over 4 months later, and no parts available to dealers or authorized repair companies to comply with safety regulations. This vehicle is unsafe; Subaru needs to provide parts at no expense to this customer to assure safety. And, they need to issue a recall or face potential lawsuits.... ## VIN passed ## Subaru Forester 2016 ##

- North Little Rock, AR, USA

I copied this message from another complaint which explains exactly what I am trying to complaint. Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off. My 17 teenager had no electronics but a sweater on and it shut off air bag while traveling on highway. How is this legal to knowingly sell a car with faulty safety equipment. This link to Subaru's website explains how their airbag sensor works www.stanleysubaru.com/blog/2012/August/6/how-does-the-occupant-detection-system-ods-work-in-my-Subaru.htm

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off. My 17 teenager had no electronics but a sweater on and it shut off air bag while traveling on highway. How is this legal to knowingly sell a car with faulty safety equipment. Attached is the pages from the 2016 Subaru Forester owners manual.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA