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 received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V701000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Council Bluffs, IA, USA

When driving with no one in the passenger seat and sometimes when there is someone in the seat I get an SRS airbag fault but it never stays on after I shut down the SUV. Sometimes when I restart the SUV after about 5 minutes it will come back on and it stays on until I shut off the SUV. Then nothing for weeks. I've wanted to take it to the dealer but every time I start to head over to then the fault goes out or never comes on? I'm sure if I just head over I'm just wasting my time. The last two months it's been much more active with the fault happening. I'm listing the last time it has happen as 01/10/2020. I keep nothing on the passengers seat and I am unsure if the air bag light (yellow light on the dash) shows that it is on or off when it comes on. My wife was driving about a week ago and I was in the passenger seat (6' 225 lbs) and the SRS fault come on and the yellow airbag light showed it was still on. I have a trip to pittsburgh pa from allentown pa and I'm worried that if I'm in an accident they won't go off and protect us. This car is just out of warranted and I have about 44K on the vehicle. Purchased it new Feb 12 2016 steve moyer Subaru

- Northampton, PA, USA

2016 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to front passenger side airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair.

- North Andover, MA, USA

Received recall notice about seat sensor and airbag defect. Need to, get, this repaired as a recall, but parts supposedly not yet available. Error messages since August when dealer told me that it was an air bag issue.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

For the past month, my passenger airbag light will indicate it is "off" intermittently when a passenger is sitting in the seat, and the car's ignition is turned on and driving. I brought my Subaru to the dealer to have it looked at and they quoted me a price of over $1,500 in repairs due to the need to replace the seat. The technician told me not to worry about it unless the light is on continuously. At that point, he said to contact the Subaru corporation as this is a safety issue and to file a claim. As of yesterday (10/26/19) my passenger airbag light is "off"continuously with a passenger riding in the seat. The red airbag icon is lit up when the car's ignition is turned on and while driving. On the dashboard it indicates that my passenger airbag is "off". I have received an email from starlink stating to take it to a Subaru retailer to have it checked as soon as possible. Since I have already done this, I will be contacting Subaru tomorrow. After researching, I saw that there was an investigation open to this problem and wanted to add my name to this list.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

I turned my vehicle on in the morning and a red 'I' appeared and a warning that SRS airbag system needed to be checked. The panel on the dashboard has an airbag light blinking. The passenger airbag light continues to say 'off' despite there being weight in the seat. There has been no damage to the seat including moisture or anything to damage the seat. Happened completely at random.

- Bountiful, UT, USA

When I start the car, this indicator turns on: SRS airbag system needs to be checked passenger airbag remains "off" even person sits on the passenger seat. This happens when car is stopped or moving while the car is started.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

On October 2nd 2019 I was traveling on the express way at highway speeds when I was involved in an accident. Damages to my car were so bad that the claims department deemed it as a total loss. The front of my car was completely smashed in. Neither of my airbags deployed. I always thought that Subaru were supposed to be safe so this is very disappointing. I'm not sure where to go from here about this but it is scary that this happened.

- Cary, IL, USA

The front passenger air bag turns off while a 130 lbs. Passenger is riding in that seat. Adjusting the seat forward or backward while traveling turns the sensor back on (indicating the passenger air bag is on), but as of today, 4-5 minutes later it would turn off again...occuring 5 times in 35 minutes. I fear that if we are involved in an accident, the airbag to protect my wife as a passenger may fail to deploy.

- Cornelia, GA, USA

Airbag warning light registers off when passenger in seat. Subaru dealer found codes B1650, occupant detection, and code B1760, sensor mat abnormal. Determined that seat bottom with sensor needed to be replaced. 10/2/19 quote to replace airbag was $1168. Is this issue covered under recall?

- Atlanta, GA, USA

Passanger airbag is off no matter if someone is sitting in the seat and will not turn back on. This happens if it is sitting still or moving so not safe for passangers

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

Front seat airbag sensor light came on and won't go off. Code says that the seat sensor is not working and airbag stays off. Moving, stationary and code will not reset

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

Passenger air bag dash board warning light reads "passenger air bag off" regardless of a passenger being in the seat or not. This occurs while the car is being driven. The airbag system shuts off without cause.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. When the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated. The next time the vehicle was started, the indicator did not appear. When the indicator illuminated again, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who suggested the contact take the vehicle to a dealer because the defect may be included in a recall. The contact took the vehicle to #1 cochran Subaru of butler county (340 new castle rd, butler, pa 16001, 888-230-0231) where it was diagnosed that a sensor failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by letter. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 39,767. Consumer stated no edits except to say Subaru reimbursed me the entire amt I paid for the repairs at #1 cockran in butler. VIN number ######## 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Cranberry Township, PA, USA

Took suburu in for 30,000 mile check a couple of months ago. Told dealership that the passenger airbag was inactivated (caution light on) while my wife sat in the seat. Dealer said "it probably got wet". I told dealer rep we always garage our cars and we haven't spilled anything on the seat. They told us it would cost over $1000 to fix it. As we left they said the caution light went out, but it was on again before we got home (about 40 miles). At this time the caution light stays on almost continually. Seems like a safety/recall issue to me.

- Port Orchard, WA, USA

Airbag sensor for front passenger seat is defective. SRS warning light remains on most of the time that the car is running. Lights indicate airbag is off even with passenger in seat. Dealer has checked computer; told me that I may have caused damage to the sensor, usually with water. Seat has never been wet nor have we done anything that could damage the sensor. Google search brings up numerous cases of same issue, indicating a possible widespread problem. I am advocating for a recall to repair this defect.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. When the vehicle was started, the SRS indicator illuminated. The contact called flatirons Subaru at 877-464-2714 located at 5995 arapahoe ave, boulder, co 80303) and scheduled an appointment to have the vehicle checked. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. The consumer stated Subaru found the occupant classification system malfunction code and will be repaired by Subaru, but the consumer does not have the vehicle back.

- Superior, CO, USA

Intermittent dash light saying the passenger seat belt and air bag is turned off with passenger in the seat and when car is being driven. Comes on in city and highway driving both..

- Spring Lake, MI, USA

I purchased this vehicle early 2016, currently under 40K miles. The side passenger airbag warning suddenly came on stating the SRS system needs checked. The warning comes and disappears sporadically. I tried wiggling and tightening the connection underneath the seat and the light was gone for over a month but it came back again.

- King Of Prussia, PA, USA