10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 14 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 14 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 19,864 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 airbag fault light comes on steadily.
- Marblehead, MA, USA
I understand the NHTSA is investigating possible passenger airbag defects in 2016-2018 Subaru Foresters. The passenger airbag sensor in our 2017 Forester is not working on a consistent basis and has been defective since we bought the car.. my wife needs a seat cushion for her bad back and many times, when my wife sits in the seat, the air bag stays in the "off" status. We also found that the same issue comes up when she does not use the cushion. Also, when she is wearing a winter coat and not using her cushion, the sensor stays in the "airbag off" position. Also, we find that the air bag stays "off" if the car is running before she gets into the seat. If she gets into the seat before the car is turned on, we find that the airbag sensor seems to work (not always, but some of the time). The dealer has looked at this issue several times and cannot fix the sensor. I understand that the sensor is in the lower seat back and not in the flat part of the seat so my wife needs to adjust her sitting posture for 5-10 minutes before the airbag "off" light goes off. My wife does not have any issues when she is driving with her seat cushion - we assume the drivers airbag is always on. Once we are moving and the "off" light is gone, we have no issues while driving until the next time the car is turned off/on. Again - sometimes it works -- sometimes it doesn't. not safe !!! the consumer stated the vehicle has yet to be repaired.
- Edgewater, MD, USA
The passenger air-bag is malfunctioning as the gel layer in the seat is malfunctioning.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
Purchased our 2017 Subaru Forester on 09/24/16. On 09/05/17 the warning light on dashboard came on warning that the passenger airbags were not functioning. This happened when a passenger was in the passenger seat and the car was on a highway. The warning light has come on 40-50 times when the car is on the road and a passenger is in the passenger seat. The car was brought into dealer and I was told multiple times codes were not there so no problem. We were told do not place anything electronic near the seat. Told we had spilled liquid on seat and seat dirty. Nothing has ever been spilled on the seats. I find it troubling that a major safety system of a vehicle is malfunctioning on a regular basis and the Subaru is not actively trying to fix the vehicles. I went into dealer today on 3 Oct 2019 to again have the problem looked at only to be told that the car is no longer under warranty and they can order part. I have searched online and it is interesting to see that so many other Subaru Forester owners have the same problem and there are law groups lining up class action suits. I would just like Subaru to take ownership of the problem and fix the airbag systems before someone is injured or killed.
- Churchville, MD, USA
Involved in a car accident that was where the Subaru was T-boned on the passenger side, resulting in extensive damage. Both front and rear door and all paneling on the passenger side had to be replaced. The side airbags failed to deploy upon impact. My vehicle was moving at 40mph and the vehicle that hit me was going 20-30mph and accelerating.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
The passenger side air bag sensor does not always know when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat. The passenger side airbag will remain off even when an adult is seated with the seat belt on. The airbag light will light up on the dash randomly but clears once the vehicle is shut off. This occurs while the vehicle is in motion and is concerning as the front passenger airbag would not deploy in a crash.
- Cambridge, IA, USA
2017 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration. The consumer stated while attempting to park the vehicle, it accelerated in reverse. The vehicle drove over a curb and crashed into a tree. The brakes were inoperable. The key was removed from the ignition in order to bring the vehicle to a stop. The airbag did not deploy.
- Wantagh, NY, USA
2017 Subaru Forester with 45,000 miles - air bag sensor went out unexpectedly (as shown by a red airbag light on the dashboard) air bag would not deploy if the car were to get into an accident even when there was a person in the passenger seat of the car. Light would indicate that there was an issue while driving at any speed. Light would turn off on occasion and then turn back on, even with no change in weight on the seat, indicating that the sensor was faulty. Nothing was spilled on the seat where the sensor is located nor should there be any other reason that the sensor should stop working at only 45,000 miles. This was purely an equipment malfunction.
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA
This is the second car referenced under complaint 11258187. The SRS airbag system warning light began to occasionally alert and turn off the passenger airbag at about 25,000 miles in both of our 2 year old 2017 Subaru Foresters. Now the passenger airbag turns off when just about anything is put into the front seat. This happens both when the car is running while it is stationary or when it is in motion. Neither car has been involved in an incident/accident.
- White Rock, NM, USA
The SRS airbag system warning light began to occasionally alert and turn off the passenger airbag at about 25,000 miles in both of our 2 year old 2017 Subaru Foresters. Now the passenger airbag turns off when just about anything is put into the front seat. This happens both when the car is running while it is stationary or when it is in motion. Neither car has been involved in an incident/accident.
- White Rock, NM, USA
My Subaru forrester 2017 airbag sensor came on for Friday and Saturday September 20 and 21 while driving and stationery in my driveway.took it to the dealer and no one was available to perform a diagnostic test. Schedule this Monday 23 and the sensor required to one. Cost $961. Called Subaru headquarters and asked about my extended warranty and does not cover. However since this was not my fault, they will do the repairs at no charge. Awaiting for parts to be delivered so that I can bring my car in for repairs.
- Columbus, NJ, USA
My sms manual airbag warning came on and told me to refer to the manual. I saw my passenger airbag was no longer on, even though I had a passenger in the front seat belted in. I noticed this seems to be a common issue, one that is being investigated. For a 2017 vehicle, this should not be happening.
- Mount Pleasant, WI, USA
While operating my Subaru Forester an icon appeared on the dash indicating there was an issue with the airbags, at the same time the warning light indicating that the passenger airbag was off even though my wife was seated in the passenger seat. I contacted the dealership and had the car examined and was told that the passenger occupancy sensor was failing and needed to be replaced. The vehicle is less than 3 years old but has 52643 miles on it as I travel throughout new england on business, most of those miles the passenger seat is unoccupied. They also told me the extended warranty we had purchased would not cover the repairs even though at the time of purchase we were told it was the best way to pay for any expensive electrical repairs that might pop up. I had the defective sensor replaced for $1.178.50. It is my belief that the sensor was in fact a defective product and the replacement should have been at no cost to me due to its failure to perform.
- Seymour, CT, USA
Red SRS airbag warning light on solid above the speedometer. 'SRS airbag system needs to be checked' message on multi-function screen. Amber " passenger airbag off" indicator lit while an adult passenger is present in the front passenger seat. Happens randomly, while vehicle in motion or stationary. Happens during routine driving. Indicators may or may not clear next time the vehicle is started. Took the vehicle to dealership and was informed a seat cushion pad needs to be replaced. Part not in stock, driving the vehicle in the meantime. Ticket open at dealership, so no hardcopy evidence until part is replaced.
- Maryville, TN, USA
Passenger airbag warning light comes on/ goes off intermittently. The light warns us that the airbag is off despite having a passenger in the seat. I have seen online that many people are having this problem so I wanted to log our issue with NHTSA as well. The vehicle has never deployed it airbags nor been in a front end collision.
- Knoxville, TN, USA
On several occasions since August 2019-present the passenger side airbag warning light comes on regularly without cause regardless of a passenger being present in the car.
- Lansdowne, VA, USA
While traveling at any speed, the passenger air bag will switch to off. An error message will appear indicating that the SRS airbag system needs checked. Issues appears to be located with the occupant detection system in the passenger seat.
- Tulsa, OK, USA
Usually while driving, the passenger airbag sensor will turn off and put an error code out that says not on even with an adult in the seat. Resetting the code can get it to go off but it returns. Has turned off on its own before and come back. Turning car off and on does not reset it.
- Newport News, VA, USA
Passenger airbag sensor indicated off, when it should've been on. There was an adult in the passenger seat. The indicator was on after starting the car. I was able to reset by turning car off and turning ignition back on and off. The indicator came back on. It turned off on subsequent starting of automobile. I received email from Subaru starlink the next day too.
- Portland, OR, USA
- Santa Clara, CA, USA