10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 7,604 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
When my husband shuts off the car, gets out and refuels, I remain seated in the passenger seat. He starts the car and drives off. The passenger airbag light reads that the airbag is off even though I am seated in the passenger seat. The first time it happened starlink told us to take the car in to be checked, but the didn't find anything wrong with it. This has happened so many times that I get out when he gets gas, so we don't have to pull over on the highway and shut off and get out to reactivate the airbag. I have taken the car in to the dealership at least 3 times for this.
- Park Falls, WI, USA
The airbag system became disarmed and seatbelt warning light came on when smartphone weighing 3lbs was on front passenger seat. This occurred multiple times the passenger front seat sensor is supposed to become armed when a 40lb passenger sits in passenger front seat only. Reading through the owners manual states that both driver and passenger airbags may not deploy which puts driver and passengers at risk for injury.
- Exton, PA, USA
Front passenger airbag has been intermittently on and off, with and without a passenger, with and without items on the seat. This is the third or maybe fourth occasion vehicle is at the dealer. One of the first times they inspected the car, and their solution was to relocate the "module" (whatever the module is) for that seat. They stated it will solve the problem. A month later the car started to do the passenger airbag warning light on and off again. Car back again to dealer but then light was gone off. Yesterday, Sep 23, 2019 car was dropped again at dealer with light on and the car still on, in order not to lose the situation at restart. They just called me and state the seat airbag was replaced $1,100 under warranty, car is 6500 miles or so. That we could not locate anything other than a passenger on that seat. Any item, cellular, tablet, computer, battery, bags, pursues, shopping items, papers, documents on that seat will possibly cause the situation again and they wont cover it under warranty. Also nothing in front of that seat by the floor.."?? not possible to recline the back of the seat.... what" this is my first car doing that. I don't care what they say to us, it's their responsibility and a deadly risk drive this car with the passenger light on and a passenger in it and been involved in an accident. This happens with the car on, but parked, stopped waiting for a light to change, moving, going forward, going reverse, and is intermittent.
- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
Ever since I purchased the car, the passenger air bag indicator light has shown 'off.' The NHTSA site shows numerous people have had the same experience. Some of those people were advised by Subaru service technicians that they must have spilled something on the seat, affecting the sensor. I was told the same when I took my car in. Subaru techs ran a diagnostic that indicated no error codes. I discovered on my own the apparent cause of the problem with my car. I have dogs and customarily place a towel on all seats to keep them clean. When I removed the towel my human passenger was seated on, the air bag indicator showed 'on.' If you look at the 2018 Subaru manual, this is mentioned in section 1-56. In addition to not using seat covers, cushions, etc., the passenger is advised to take off 'unnecessary items' or sit in the back seat to ensure the air bag will activate. This seems to be a serious design flaw, one which should be brought to Subaru service techs and customers' attention.
- Lutherville, MD, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact took the vehicle to annapolis Subaru (149 old solomons island rd, annapolis, md 21401, 888-409-1189) because the air bag warning indicator illuminated intermittently when the vehicle was started. Although the vehicle had been serviced at the dealer, the failure continued. While the contact's wife was driving 55 mph, the preceding vehicle suddenly slammed on the brakes. During this incident, the contact noticed that both the side passenger air bag and the driver's air bag warning indicators were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that a representative would call him back. The contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The dealer was not notified of the recent failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 8,300.
- Annapolis, MD, USA
SRS warning light comes on while vehicle is stationary or in motion at random intervals. Based on my knowledge this means the SRS airbag system is completely deactivated. When bringing it to Subaru's attention they blamed moisture on the seats messing with the sensors, but the seats have never had a spill on them.
- Spring, TX, USA
I was in an accident in which a car T-boned my passenger side. No airbags deployed and we suffered injury as a result. The other car that hit us had all air bags deployed. This was a malfunction in the Subaru I drive. The accident occurred while I was in motion going 40mph and a car hit me after running a red light going 45mph
- Clifton, VA, USA
Airbag light comes on, passenger side airbag says 'off' on panel when person is on seat. Starlink emails me that there is an airbag issue.
- Columbia, PA, USA
Front passenger seat airbag sensor began not recognizing passengers sitting in the seat shortly after purchasing my brand new 2018 Subaru Forester. This started occuring while driving, turning off and on. After a while, it completely stopped recognizing any person sitting in the seat even after only just turning the car on. The dealership replaced it since it was in the warranty period but blamed us for it malfunctioning saying that we must have gotten the seat wet, causing the sensor to fail. We told them that we hadn't ever gotten the seat wet. One year and 3 months after we'd gotten our Forester back from the dealership after the airbag sensor repair, a passenger that sat in the seat brought to our attention the fact that the part of the seatbelt that sits to the left of the front passenger seat was loose. We took it to the same dealership again and they told us that the technician had reinstalled the seat belt incorrectly after the airbag sensor repair and that it was missing a part and that's why it was loose and not anchored properly. They were ordering the part and it would arrive within a week. When we returned a week later they informed us that they ordered the wrong part and now we'd have to wait another week for the seat belt to be anchored properly. Still waiting for the correct part to arrive for the seat belt to be anchored properly.
- Newnan, GA, USA
The passenger airbag system intermittently turns off even if someone is sitting in the seat. It can be while parked or during driving. There's no set cause or circumstances that trigger this.
- Warsaw, MO, USA
Airbag alert issued by car computer: 'airbag system needs to be checked'. passenger was in seat and buckled in. Came on when car was started and remained on for duration of drive. Intermittent. Turned off when I went back to take a photo of the message.
- Wyoming, MN, USA
2018 Subaru Forester: Passenger airbag system fails & turned itself off. Happen 4-5 times in fall 2018. 10/23/2018 I took to northend Subaru service code B1650, part back ordered. 04/05/2019 passenger airbag system fails & turned itself off again. Called northend Subaru service. Part still back ordered more than 5 months. They say 60+ are awaiting parts in new england. Is Subaru reporting to you this type of safety issue" will I hear that you received my notification to you"
- Gardner, MA, USA
Passenger side seat sensor detects person sitting in seat and turns on the airbag when the seat is empty. Notifications turns on at car startup and will turn on while vehicle is moving. Car was bought May 31st, 2018. This behavior started on the first cold day in my area (roughly late November/early December 2018).
- Austin, TX, USA
My 2018 Subaru Forester is experiencing faulty activation of the passenger seat air bag light since June 2018. Vehicle was purchased new in August 2017. The dashboard reads that there is no airbag on for the passenger while someone was seated there and the car was sitting or in motion. This has happened on and off since June 2018. The light reads periodically that none of the airbags are on. After bringing it to my Subaru dealer in August 2018, I was told that a part would be ordered and that it was the passenger seat cushion that needed replaced. After waiting a month, I contacted the dealership and they stated that Subaru has to create and manufacture this seat cushion still, and they had no idea when this would be done. I have been unable to drive my Forester for almost 6 months now due to the safety issues of driving without the guarantee of airbags deploying. The dealership has no answer as to when Subaru will even start creating this new part. I am surprised it is not a recall since it is an airbag issue, and the dealership stated they had at least 7 other customers currently with the same issue. I have now been without my new vehicle and driving a loaner car from the dealer. There seems to be no end in sight as to when this issue will be fixed or even addressed by Subaru.
- Selinsgrove, PA, USA
The passenger seat airbag has not been working for about 9 months making it dangerous for a passenger (or not available for passenger seat occupancy). The parts have been on order for months but still not delivered. There are many of these on backorder indicating to me a significant safery problem.
- Boca Raton, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger air bag indicator illuminated and flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to prime Subaru hyannis (508-778-5066, located at 24 ridgewood ave, hyannis, MA 02601) where it was diagnosed that the seat was wet. The dealer reprogrammed the air bag indicator, but the failure recurred when a passenger occupied the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor underneath the seat needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the part was back ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
- Nantucket, MA, USA
Some time in August 2018 I noticed that the air bag warning light would randomly come on indicating that the air bag on the passenger side of my new 2018 Subaru Forester was turned off even when an adult passenger was seated. I called the dealer who at first couldn't explain it. It happened again a few times, after which I notified the dealer who determined the passenger side indicator switch was likely faulty, and around October 1, 2018 they ordered a replacement part. The indicator light comes on randomly (indicating the bag is turned off) when an adult is in the seat - I have had the passenger shift positions which sometimes turns it back on; I have pulled over, turned off the engine, had passenger get out of the vehicle and get back in, turn on the engine and sometimes that turns the bag back on. Sometimes the indicator shows the bag is on (with passenger in seat) but in the middle of the drive, the bag will suddenly turn off and we have to do the "in-and-out" dance to get the bag to turn on again. At least one time, the bag turned on when no one was in the seat! these things happen sometimes when the car is still in park (but engine turned on), and sometimes when the car is in motion. Totally random. This occurs (so far) during city driving. The dealer originally said the part would probably arrive mid October, then late October, etc. I called Subaru hq and talked to them about the issue. They will "attempt to expedite" but said the part is "on back order" with eta mid November, then late November "maybe, " but they really aren't sure when they can get the part. In the mean time, I am nervous about driving with passengers in the front seat without proper protection in the event of a crash. I have been in touch a number of times with both the dealer and Subaru hq in NJ regarding this issue.
- Pensacola, FL, USA
Oct. 25, 2018. Car in garage stationary/started vehicle/ dashboard red warning light of seat with belt/airbag. Turned vehicle off. 1/2 hour later, returned to car, saw headlights on, two front doors locked/didn't start car. Called dealer and took in. Said airbag problem and need passenger seat replacement-but on big backorder/months and months. No firm date. Said choice: Drive it at risk/ or take a rental. GM gave us loaner. GM said this is first one he has heard of at their dealership.
- Summerfield, FL, USA
The Forester has an automatic system that turns off the airbags for the right side front passenger seat when no-one is sitting there or when they do not weigh enough to activate the system. Should a person need to sit on a cushion in that seat for whatever reason, the system does not think anyone is there and turns off the airbags. I know several people that need various cushions for back support or other health related reasons or because they have short torsos and feel more comfortable sitting highter. If they use their pillows or cushions, they are not protected by the airbag system. If they don't use their cushions, they are in pain. I have contacted Subaru and they say they cannot change the system. I feel this is a safety issue in that passengers will usually use their cushions to avoid pain and hope there is no accident that would need airbag protection. In my opinion, there should be an override to the airbag disable system so adults needing seat cushions can still be protected by the airbag system.
- Santa Clara, CA, USA
- Hewlett, NY, USA