10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 16 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 11 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 28,398 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The passenger airbag light switches to ON when no one is in the seat, and switches to OFF when I have a passenger. The seat is completely stock (no back support pads or cushions or baggy clothing) and my passengers sit in the seat normally. Restarting the vehicle does not fix the issue. There is an associated recall for this specific issue, but my forester is a few months outside of the covered range. The listed fix for this is replacing the entire seat bottom, and is incredibly expensive, especially for such a crucial design flaw regarding passenger safety in the event of an accident.
- Clearwater, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. While the contact's wife was driving at 30 MPH, she crashed into another vehicle causing damage to the front driver's side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's wife was injured. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that "there are many types of collision that are not necessary for the deployment of the air bag". The manufacturer used "if the vehicle hits a parked vehicle it would not deploy" as an example. The failure mileage[ was 80,000.
- Reno, NV, USA
First the sensor for the passenger seat failed and I had to keep the seat belt buckled even when no one was in the seat because the alarm would sound. Then the air bag light came on and says it is not operational. When I checked with Subaru I was told we must have spilled a drink on it. Once the airbag light came on and stayed on the seat belt alarm stopped going off. The interior seats are also frayed and I do not know if that is part of the problem??
- Fairbanks, AK, USA
The SRS warning light came on, indicating that the car be taken to the dealer for inspection. The light was not on by the time the car arrived at the dealer, but they were able to find code DTC B1760, indicting that the Occupant Detection Sensor Mat on the passenger side was not working properly. This is the system used to determine whether the air bag should deploy in an accident and at what force it should deploy. After following a diagnostic tree, they suggested replacing the passenger seat bottom. I called Subaru of America on 12/13/2021 to discuss the issue before telling the dealer to proceed and after being on hold for 23 minutes I left a number for callback. I then sent an email using their online contact form. As of 12/15/2021, I have not received any response from Subaru. This was obviously a safety issue that had to be fixed immediately, regardless of cost, so I told the dealer to complete the repair while I waited to hear back from Subaru. No passenger was in the seat when the warning light came on. After doing some research, it appears that I am not the only Subaru owner with this exact issue and I even found recalls for other Subarus made the same year as my vehicle.
- Yorktown, VA, USA
Subaru dealership in Rockvile, MD diagnosed a defective airbags' occupant detection system (ODS) mat harness on my 2015 Subaru Forester. Recommend replacing part for $1200. Subaru America issued a recall WUM-98 (NHTSA 19V-701) on Oct 3, 2019 to adress this very issue on 2015-2018 vehicles. Dealer states my vehicle not covered by this recall... This is a very serious safety issue and I question whether Subaru has recalled a sufficient number of vehicles beyound the stated 336,282.
- Rockville, MD, USA
The passenger airbag light has been on and has been disabled whether there is someone in the passenger seat or not. This is due to the sensor in the passenger seat malfunctioning. Because of this malfunction, there is no access to the passenger airbag which poses a risk to the passenger in the vehicle in the event of an accident. The problem has been confirmed by Charlie's Subaru in Augusta, Maine. The airbag light came on in September 2021. It went on and off for a few weeks and has been on since.
- Vienna, ME, USA
Front passenger seat doesn't detect passenger. Airbags off and come up with warning signs stating that they are off. "SRS airbag system needs to be checked."
- Ponchatoula, LA, USA
The passenger side airbag warning light goes on and off. It came on when I went for a state inspection and caused a rejection. Computer reading listed 3 possible codes for repair investigation. When I took it to a repair center, the light did not come on and stay on and was told that it should pass inspection. I took it back to the inspection station, and the previous 3 codes did not come on the computer, but a different one did suggesting it may be in the sensor in the passenger seat. (The front driver and passenger seats have independent seat heating elements--not in use at this time, but was listed in Subaru recall information for 2015-2018 Forester's.
- Blacksburg, VA, USA
Airbag warning light comes on when passenger is in seat. Information panel indicates that the passenger airbag is deactivated. This issue appears the same as NHTSA 19V701, but the VIN for my car does not appear to be included. When this occurs it is necessary for the passenger to move to the back seat. Currently this issue only happens occasionally. An appointment for the car has been made on Aug. 9 and a call has been made to Subaru of America.
- Liverpool, NY, USA
Pulling into parking spot, vehicle started to stall, gave a little more gas and vehicle launched forward and hit cement pole. No damage to pole car damage around 8K.air bags did not deploy. This has happened when pulling out into traffic also
- Palmer, MA, USA
I have continually been having the SRS light coming on telling me that someone is sitting in my passenger seat when there is no on there or when my 15 year old sits in the front seat it does not register that anyone is sitting in the front seat. I took it to our local dealership as I am the original owner and they want over 1600 to fix this issue
- Show Low, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the instrument panel showed that the front passenger's air bag was off. The contact became aware that other Subaru vehicles with heated seats were known to experience the failure. The contact called Subaru of morristown (175 ridgedale ave, morristown, NJ 07960; (866) 910-3466) and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.
- Morristown, NJ, USA
Driver was rear ended on the highway when at a dead stop by a vehicle going around 60-70 mph. The bottom of the driver's seat jerked forward and impacted driver leg causing contusions and the back support and head rest portion flew backwards, causing driver glasses and hat to come off and land toward the back hatch of the vehicle. Spare tire was dislodged from trunk area and impacted driver's head due to the seat back being in the reclining position. Air bags did not deploy at any level as well.
- Denton, TX, USA
When driving with a passenger in the front passenger seat, the "check airbag" message comes intermittently as if the passenger airbag switch is malfunctioning. When no passenger in front passenger seat, there is no alert/warning message. There is a recall notice wum-98 for the same problem by doesn't appear to apply to my VIN.
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to brandon tomes Subaru (1100 S. central expy, mckinney, tx 75070, (469) 907-2205) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bags sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the failure was like the failure stated in NHTSA campaign number: 19V701000 (air bags). The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 100,000.
- Allen, TX, USA
Been having repeated issues with the passenger air bag sensor thinking someone is in the passenger seat when unoccupied and the seatbelt light and tone beeps. Then the airbag SRS light illuminates on the dashboard showing passenger airbag off. My vehicle has heated seats but is not included in the current recall.
- Asheville, NC, USA
When the vehicle is in motion, the passenger airbag does not accurately sense when a passenger is in the seat. It sometimes senses a passenger when the passenger is present and sometimes it does not. The airbag turns off randomly when it should be on. There is an active recall, wum-98, which outlines the exact issue and shows my vehicle description (2015 Subaru Forester with heated seats), however, my VIN does not show it being affected by wum-98. I believe this is a severe safety issue and it needs to be included in the recall. I have called two Subaru dealerships and Subaru. No help. In addition, the passenger seat belt randomly dings when no passenger is in the seat. Please let me know what I should do.
- Nashville, TN, USA
The passenger airbag sensor cannot detect if there is a passenger in the seat or not. There is an active recall, wum-98, which outlines the exact issue and fits my vehicle description (2015 Subaru Forester with heated seats), however, my VIN does not show it being affected by wum-98. I believe this is a severe safety issue and it needs to be included in the recall and resolved by Subaru. I called the dealer and they said there is no recall. But there is a recall and my car should be in it.
- Enola, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the SRS air bag off light illuminated while driving at various speeds. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
- Portland, OR, USA
- Stanwood, WA, USA