Passenger airbag occasionally shows as 'off' even though an occupant is in the seat. The info center (as shown in the attached pictures) also indicates an issue with an airbag and to check the owner's manual. A similar airbag defect was reported in NHTSA bulletin - 19V701000 - Subaru wum-98, however for whatever reason my vehicle was not included even though it has similar symptons.

- Valrico, FL, USA

There is a current recall affecting 2018 Subaru Forester's (NHTSA campaign number: 19V701000). I currently own a 2018 Forester that the VIN number does not match the recall. However my vehicle I doing the exact thing that the recall is for, the passenger side airbag turns off, light comes on and an SRS airbag warning message comes on. Took my vehicle to the dealer while still under warranty, they said there was nothing wrong with it, even though there was a trouble code for the passenger side airbag that they just cleared. Six months later and now not covered under warranty, vehicle is doing the same thing, turning the airbag off, error message coming on. I feel as though Subaru didn't include all of the correct VIN number of vehicles that were affected. It creates a safety issue for the passenger, being that the airbag turns off and will not work in the event of a crash. I also don't feel like I should have to pay to fix something that is obviously a problem with other vehicles of the same year model having the same problem just cause my VIN number is not included. They should extend the VIN's to all 2018 models.

- Kingsport, TN, USA

Dealer is unable to get parts for the recall. Safety recall: Wum98|NHTSA campaign: 19V701000 autonation Subaru is saying it's going to be about 2 months for them to get parts. This recall has been active since October 2019. Address. 9955 E arapahoe rd centennial, co 80112

- Denver, CO, USA

NHTSA recall 19V-701 (Subaru recall wum-98) includes only Foresters with seat heaters manufactured from 1/20/15 - 8/1/17. My Forester was manufactured on 6/6/18 and is not currently included. Page 3 of product campaign bulletin wum-98R revised 11/20/19 (copy attached) states if the date code on the front passenger seat cushion wiring harness is 18074 (74th day of 2018) or before and the supplier code is 6578, "the harness is ng and the seat cushion assembly must be replaced". as you can see from the attached photo (img_1295), the date code on the harness label in my vehicle is 18019 (19th day of 2018), the supplier code is 6578, and the Subaru part number (64084sg020) matches the part number on the defective harness label on page 3 of wum-98R. Also, how can the cut off date for defective wiring harnesses (74th day of 2018) be 7 1/2 months after the last recalled vehicle was produced on 8/1/2017" what happened to all the defective wiring harnesses made in that 7 1/2 month period " after several emails to Subaru customer service, Subaru still refuses to admit that the wiring harness in my vehicle is defective, stating only that the vehicle was not manufactured between 1/20/15 and 8/1/17, even though according to page 3 of wum-98R the harness is clearly defective. Note also that page 3 of part 573 safety recall report 19V-701 claims the wiring harness defect was corrected on 2/19/2018, and lists 17 recalled part numbers, but does not include the part number in the photograph of the defective harness label on page 3 of wum-98R (and the harness label in my vehicle). This recall clearly warrants further investigation by NHTSA.

- Hewlett, NY, USA

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