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

Passenger side air bags shuts off while passenger is in the seat while driving. Reported to Subaru and was told seat covers and phone charging cables might be causing the problem. Upon further research others have been having the same problem with older Subaru models and Subaru will not fix so you have a 50/50 chance of your passenger air bag engaging in a accident.

- Tallahssee, FL, USA

The passenger side airbag will not deploy if there is a cushion on the seat. This was not explained to me until after I complained and I was then told that I should have read the owner's manual. Unfortunately, the owner's manual is not available until after the car's purchase and even then I would have had to know that my arthritis was going to get severe enough to need a cushion. The non-deployment of my passenger side air bag is very dangerous. The consumer stated the also would not deploy in the passenger sits in the seat while wet. The consumer requested an update.

- Brooklin, ME, USA

Keep getting message "SRS airbag system needs to be checked" while driving. The passenger airbag turns off when message displays. When the message comes up, it will stay for a few hours to a few days. My passenger is left without protection in case of an accident.

- Bell, CA, USA

My Subaru has experienced a malfunction of the passenger air bag restraint system since July of 2017. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased it in 2016, joseph Subaru in florence, ky on August 2, 2017. The technician diagnosed a switch malfunction under the passenger seat. The service manager assured me that the part would be ordered and the vehicle would be scheduled for repair. After three weeks with no response, I called joseph Subaru to ask about the status. He assured me me that the part had been ordered on August 2 and that I could expect the part to be available after one month. The part was never made available. I contacted Subaru of America on October 2, 2017 to register a complaint. I got no response. I contacted Subaru electronically on October 23, 2017. I received a claim number sr #:1-27120984562. It is now December 6, 2017 and I have received no repair and no clarification. No one has made any effort to correct the fault. It is a hazard to me and any riders in my vehicle.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

My passenger airbag light go on and off to signal if the passenger seat airbag system is activated or not. Dealer diagnosis is that the sensor in the seat is bad. The replacement part and labor is over $1000 because it is integrated into the seat. I called Subaru and they are willing to pay for half, however this is an unacceptable solution. The airbag system on such a new car should be fully functioning and Subaru should take full responsibility for such a problem as the sensor in the seat since they made it so expensive to replace due to the integration into the seat, you can't just replace that one sensor.

- Galt, CA, USA

My airbag light goes on to signal the airbags are not working. It goes off and on at will. I have taken the car to the dealership 4 times now and finally they think they know what is wrong, but will not have the part to fix the problem until sometime in the future. The bluetooth is so bad that the people I talk to cannot hear me. Big safety concerns.

- Morongo Valley, CA, USA

My accident involved hitting a tree head-on traveling at least 10-15 mph. I would have thought at least 3 airbags would have deployed (side curtain, steering, and dash for knees) preventing me from hitting my head.

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

Front end total collision traveling approximately 30mph on a residential section of a main street. Hit, and broke, a telephone pole. Car deemed totaled. No airbags deployed.

- Seven Valleys, PA, USA

"takata recall" vehicle accellerated, brakes did not stop vehicle, accident took place injuring my wife, physically, emotionally & psychologically. Air bags did not deploy. Wife was trying to park, when vehicle sped up and her braking had no effect and she crashed into a parked vehicle.

- Sonoma, CA, USA