10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,345 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #43

Jul 212015

Impreza

  • 13,000 miles
Passenger airbag indicator light went on as I was driving with a passenger. First 10 miles had no problem, then all of a sudden, the last half mile of the trip it went on. I dropped the passenger off and the light remained on another 2 miles as I reached my destination. Shut off the car and turned it back on, the light was no longer on.

- Forest Hills, NY, USA

problem #42

Jul 082014

Impreza

  • 22,120 miles
The passenger airbag turns off while passenger in the seat. It will turn on for approx. 10-15 minutes than deactivates the passenger airbag while occupant is still seated causing the warning light to come on the dash. Has happened consistently while on drives more than 15 minutes. Passanger airbag system turns off while passanger seat occupied. Could cause fatality. Subaru will not cover replacement despite being obviously defective.

- Clearwater, FM, USA

problem #41

Jul 092015

Impreza

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. While driving 75 mph, the air bag warning lights illuminated and the passenger side air bag off indicator illuminated when a passenger was seated in the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer in 2012 and repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Mt Airy, NC, USA

problem #40

Mar 042015

Impreza

  • 52,000 miles
When a passenger sits on passenger seat the air bag light does not go on indicating air bag engaged. I am fearful that if I did have a crash that the air bag would not deploy and passsenger get seriously injured or die.

- Enfield, CT, USA

problem #39

Jun 202015

Impreza

  • 33,600 miles
Passenger airbag turns off with adult in passenger seat weighing 260 lbs

- Stevens Point, WI, USA

problem #38

May 252015

Impreza

  • miles
My front passenger seat doesn't register the passenger and disables the airbag.

- Stacy, MN, USA

problem #37

Sep 142012

Impreza

  • 4,554 miles
Dashboard light would occasionally indicate that the passenger airbag was disabled while I had a passenger in the front seat. Issue would resolve upon turning the car off and back on, but it recurred frequently. The issue was determined to be caused by a faulty occupancy sensor, which used a new capacitive technology rather than the older style weight sensors. Occupancy sensor was replaced under warranty in September 2012. Following the repair, the new occupancy sensor detects a passenger and activates the passenger airbags if I place a small electronic device such as a cell phone on the seat, or even just rest my hand on it. I am not sure if this new issue is a significant safety concern or not.

- Berwyn, PA, USA

problem #36

May 162015

Impreza

  • 65,000 miles
The airbag light for the passenger seat went off while occupied by a passenger. The dealership has determined that the passenger seat capacitive sensor has failed and has ordered a new seat. This appears to be related to your newly opened investigation NHTSA action number: PE15012 date investigation opened: Apr 10, 2015. I will seek to retain the seat if you would like to have it. My repairs are scheduled for 6/1/2015.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #35

May 102015

Impreza

  • 32,500 miles
While driving on the highway at about 65 mph, the alerts indicating the front passenger airbag system was off lit up on the dashboard and central console in our 2012 Subaru Impreza. My husband was in the passenger seat, and we had been driving continuously for over an hour already when this happened. When we left to return home later that day, the alerts were off when I turned the car on. However, after about an hour and a half of driving on the highway with my husband in the passenger seat, the alerts indicating the front passenger airbag system was off lit up again.

- Williamsburg, MA, USA

problem #34

May 042015

Impreza

  • 55,672 miles
Problem with the passenger side air bag. When passenger seat is occupied the air bag will randomly turn on and off. Occurs with both light and heavy passengers. Subaru service retrieved a code B1650 from computer. Subaru estimated cost to replace is $300 for control unit replacement.

- Cortland, NY, USA

problem #33

Apr 112014

Impreza

  • miles
The sensor that determines whether the passenger seat is occupied or not isn't working properly. When there is a passenger the air bags sometimes won't turn on. I have taken my car into the Subaru dealership, where they replaced the sensor and it continues to have the same problems.

- College Place, WA, USA

problem #32

Mar 272014

Impreza

  • miles
With a passenger in the front seat the airbag dash light came on and the passenger airbag sensor light illuminated the off signal.

- Albuquerque , NM, USA

problem #31

Dec 162013

Impreza

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. While driving on an icy road at approximately 30 mph, the brakes were engaged and failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle and the frontal air bags failed to deploy. It was unknown if any injuries were sustained or if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an impound yard and then to the dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Raspid City, SD, USA

problem #30

Mar 102012

Impreza

  • 20,000 miles
Driving down mountain after day of skiing. Roads were treacherous and icy. 20 minutes into the drive, driver and passenger airbag lights turned on, indicating that airbags would not deploy in the case of a collision. Several months later I was wearing a damp bathing suit while driving and the same situation occurred, indicating that the airbags would not deploy in the event of a collision. On another occasion, I was driving on a hot day with the windows down. I was sweating quite a bit and the airbag light on my Subaru Impreza turned on yet again. This issue was brought up with the dealership while the car was still under warranty. The dealer's service department simply reset the sensor, not solving the issue or comprehending the severity of this issue. The occupant detection sensor in the seat must have faulted and turned off the airbags when a small amount of snow/water/sweat on my rear caused a fault in the elecrostatic sensor. The occupant detection sensor is an electrostatic sensor that will fault when it senses an arbitrary amount of moisture. An internal memo in August 2012 from Subaru to it's dealers in North America acknowledged, but not solved this problem with the airbags not engaging when the seat is wet. From Subaru's internal memo: "when water or anything with high moisture content is spilled on the front passenger seat cushion, the airbag is designed to remain off until the seat cushion is dry".

- Arroyo Grande, CA, USA

problem #29

Mar 062013

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 6,000 miles
Passenger airbag randomly turns off when passenger is in the car. Took to a dealer and they couldn't repeat. Was told it was probably just a weight issue. If the airbag doesn't go off with a passenger there it could be fatal.

- Lexington, VA, USA

problem #28

Oct 012014

Impreza 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
On 2 separate occasions airbag warning light on dash lit and airbag light stated passenger airbag was off despite seat being occupied..Subaru states cant find issue but I have a pic of the warning light on(looks like pregnant women!!). worried car /airbag unsafe.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #27

Sep 152014

Impreza

  • 30,000 miles
The contact leases a 2012 Subaru Impreza. While driving approximately 35 mph, the front passenger air bag warning lamp illuminated even though there was an occupant in the front seat. The dealer stated that the jumper cables under the passenger seated resulted in the sensor not operating properly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Sioux Falls , SD, USA

problem #26

Oct 262014

Impreza

  • miles
To whom it may concern: I have a 2012 Subaru Impreza prez, and am concerned that my airbag may fail on impact. When will the recall make it to the dealerships so they may be able to service my, family members and friends cars to make them safe with fear-free driving! the country would appreciate your departments response to our valid concern for safety, as I'm sure all of the humans working in this department are concerned for themselves, their families and friends. Thank you for your valuable time and effort to remedy this most important concern the United States population has.

- Readsboro, VT, USA

problem #25

Oct 162014

Impreza

  • 58,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 58,000.

- San Fernando, CA, USA

problem #24

Sep 172014

Impreza

  • 40,000 miles
At any speed, while carrying a passenger, the passenger airbag on light will turn to the off position. Passenger airbag is disabled while passenger is in vehicle at any given speed randomly. Could potentially cause severe injury/death in an accident. I have owned multiple 2012+ Imprezas with this exact issue.

- Sedona, AZ, USA

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