Air Bag Problems of Subaru Forester - part 1

On 9/2/2016, my 2019 Subaru Forester was involved in a right-front collision. During the collision, the driver's frontal airbag did not deploy. Actually none of the airbags deployed. As a result, the driver's chest and upper abdomen struck the steering wheel. And sustained significant bruising and other injuries and required evaluation and treatment at an emergency department. The vehicle has substantial damage and may be considered a total loss. I am reporting this because the driver's frontal airbag did not deploy during an injury-producing collision. Actually  no airbags deployed. I would like NHTSA to document the incident and determine whether the airbag/srs system may have malfunctioned or whether there may be a safety defect affecting this vehicle or other vehicles of the same type. I can provide photographs of the vehicle and damage, medical documentation, the crash/police report if available, the vehicle identification number (VIN), mileage, and additional information about the collision if needed. I am not making a determination about why the airbag failed to deploy; I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the circumstances and determine whether a safety defect may be involved.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The passenger occupant detection system (ods), including the occupant detection sensor system in the passenger seat, has malfunctioned. The srs/airbag warning light is illuminated. The vehicle produced diagnostic trouble codes b1650 and b1760. The affected passenger seat and components remain installed in the vehicle and are available for inspection upon request. As the srs light is on, none of the airbags may not deploy as intended in a crash because the occupant detection system is incorrectly classifying an adult passenger as “empty or crs. ” with an adult seated normally and wearing the seat belt, the system continues to display “pass air bag off. ” this could prevent or improperly control deployment of vehicle airbag during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Yes. The problem was confirmed by a Subaru dealership. The dealership diagnosed the passenger occupant detection system/srs issue and confirmed that the passenger occupant detection system is malfunctioning. The vehicle produced diagnostic trouble codes b1650 and b1760. The vehicle has been inspected/serviced previously by a Subaru dealer in connection with the passenger occupant detection system recall. The recall repair was completed before I purchased the vehicle. Subaru of America has also been contacted regarding the current srs issue and opened a case. The srs/airbag warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster. The passenger airbag indicator also displays “pass air bag off” when an adult is seated normally in the passenger seat. The srs warning light appeared after I had purchased the vehicle. A subsequent diagnostic scan reported codes b1650 and b1760. The vehicle had previously received the applicable passenger occupant detection system recall repair before I purchased it.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Forester 🔎.

While driving my grandbaby home I was unable to avoid hitting a deer when it ran into the road. Neither the automatic braking nor the airbags deployed when I hit the deer at the front left side. It destroyed the headlight and damaged the fender and quarterpanel lightly and slightly bent the hood. I was able to pull over safely. When I got out to look at the damage, I could not open the hood but I could see a small flame on the passsenger side of the engine (this would be on the other side of the engine from where I hit the deer. ) I grabbed a fire extinguisher from the back of my car but could not get the fire out. I got my grandbaby out safely at that point. Another driver stopped and tried to get the fire out with his fire extinguisher but to no avail. We called 911 and the fire department promptly got there. By then the entire car was in flames. The fire dept put out the car and nearby weeds that were burning. Besides the safety equipment not working, what concerns me most is that a minor accident caused the entire car to become engulfed in flames within 3-4 minutes. I had enough time to get myself and my grandson out but not his carseat base or diaperbag. The car was burnt down to the frame.

See all problems of the 2024 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Srs airbag error warning appears randomly when driving. It turns off passenger side airbags with a passenger in the seat and makes it unsafe to drive. Narrowing it down to the wiring harness seems to be an issue with a loose connection in the airbag seat sensor. Unplugging and re-plugging plus restarting the car seems to fix it at least temporarily. Others have posted about this issue online as well. No liquid has been spilled on the seat (some dealerships have accused others of this and causing the issue themselves).

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Vehicle reported an srs passenger problem intermittently, as displayed on the dashboard, the car's information system, and a diagnostic trouble code (the car's aftermarket radio is connected to the obd-ii connector and can pull codes). The problem would appear, and then disappear upon subsequent startup cycle, over the course of a two-week road trip. In total, the problem occurred three times over the course of 3,750 miles. Our mechanic verified the issue with a scan tool, and determined that this was a fault in the sensor mesh in the seat that failed to reliably detect the presence of someone seated in the passenger seat. To correct this problem, we had to replace the passenger seat of the car (the seat alone cost $1,100; labor was approximately $400). Since the repair, we have not seen the problem recur.

I brought my vehicle to an authorized Subaru dealership (byers imports, llc in columbus, ohio) to diagnose the reason for the airbag warning lamp illuminating. The dealer had the manufacturer's wum-98 safety recall (NHTSA campaign number 19v701000) performed to remedy a defective occupant detection system (ods) sensor harness. Despite the recall remedy being completed, the supplemental restraint system (srs) airbag warning light re-illuminated on the dashboard, completely disabling the front passenger-side airbag. The dealership confirmed that the passenger-side airbag remains completely disabled and inoperable due to a hardware failure of the internal occupant detection sensor mat. Because the initial wum-98 recall was previously marked as "closed" in Subaru's automated system, the manufacturer refused to cover the repair under the recall. I was forced to pay $1,258. 34 out of pocket up front to order a replacement front passenger seat cushion assembly (part #64139sg061ll) to restore basic airbag safety to the vehicle. The initial federal safety recall remedy failed to permanently correct the underlying safety hazard. The vehicle continues to exhibit the exact same life-threatening defect (disabled passenger airbag) targeted by the original recall, and the manufacturer is shifting the financial burden of this failed remedy onto the consumer.

I am filing a formal complaint against Subaru of America for refusing to remedy an active federal safety recall (NHTSA campaign 19v701000 / Subaru recall wum98). My passenger airbag is currently disabled (dtc b1760). Srs light goes on and off and visit to the sheehy fredericksburg Subaru location confirmed that the occupant detection system is failing and I need a cushion assembly replacement. Subaru customer advocacy department claims they already performed the initial wire harness replacement for this recall back in March 2020, but unable to provide me with the invoice or documentation of where this repair was done, and they are using this as their sole justification to refuse proceeding with step 6 on page 8 of the official recall bulletin—which explicitly mandates the replacement of the complete seat cushion assembly if the condition persists. When I referenced federal law (49 u. S. C. § 30120(g)(1)) regarding the 15-year statutory limit for free recall remedies, the representative denied coverage claiming 'it has been 6 years. ' Subaru is actively denying a mandated safety remedy, ignoring its own technical guidelines, and endangering passenger safety.

- the passenger-side occupant detection system (ods) sensor, which is part of the supplemental restraint system (srs) airbag system, has failed. This component was previously replaced under a Subaru safety recall completed in may 2020. The srs airbag warning light is now illuminated again, indicating a failure of the same system. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection upon request. - the failure of the ods sensor directly impacts the functionality of the passenger airbag system. This creates a significant safety risk because the airbag may not deploy correctly—or at all—in the event of a crash. This puts both the driver and any passenger at increased risk of serious injury or death. Since this is a critical safety system, its failure compromises the overall crash protection of the vehicle. - the issue is indicated by the illuminated srs airbag warning light and has been identified as related to the occupant detection system. A dealership has confirmed that the ods sensor requires replacement. The failure is consistent with known issues related to the prior recall repair. - I contacted Subaru of America regarding this issue, but they declined to provide assistance. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no accident has occurred. - the srs airbag warning light illuminated. There were no prior symptoms before the warning light appeared. The light has remained on consistently since then, indicating a persistent fault in the airbag system. - this issue is especially concerning because the component that failed was previously replaced under a safety recall. A recall repair should resolve a safety defect, not temporarily mask it. The failure of a critical airbag system component only a few years after a recall repair suggests that the original remedy may not have been a permanent fix. This raises serious safety concerns not only for my vehicle but potentially for other vehicles that received the same recall repair.

Airbag sensor does not work. It is not activated when someone sits in the passenger seat. This was recalled in other Subaru Foresters but for some reason our specific VIN number is not eligible for repair.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The passenger airbag occupant detection system (ods) has failed on my 2017 Subaru Forester (VIN: [xxx]) at 78,255 miles. This failure completely deactivates the front passenger airbag, creating an immediate, severe safety hazard for any front-seat passenger. This vehicle previously had federal safety recall wum-98 performed in 2020 to resolve this exact ods engineering defect. However, the safety recall remedy has failed. The red srs/airbag warning light is permanently illuminated, and the passenger airbag indicator status remains stuck on "off" even with an adult seated in the vehicle. A diagnostic scan performed on xxx by lithia Subaru of oregon city confirmed active code dtc b1760 (occupant detection sensor mat malfunction). I was forced to pay a $100. 00 diagnostic fee just to retrieve my vehicle, and the dealership quoted an additional $2,171. 12 ($1,371. 12 for parts and $800. 00 for labor) to replace the entire passenger seat bottom cushion assembly and harness (part 64084sg23a) to resolve the failed internal sensor. The dealership attempted to claim the seat got wet to excuse the failure, but the seat is bone dry and has never sustained any liquid spills, window leaks, or detailing. According to Subaru’s official technical service bulletin filed with the NHTSA (document mc-xxx, page 8, step 6), the manufacturer explicitly documents that if dtc b1760 persists or returns after the recall harness is installed, the proper factory remedy is to replace the seat cushion assembly. Because the original safety recall failed to permanently resolve the safety defect, and the dealer is refusing to repair this deactivated safety system without a massive out-of-pocket consumer charge—after already charging a fee to diagnose a known, recurring safety defect—I am requesting an investigation into failed safety recall remedies for this vehicle generation. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Airbag light came on - dealership confirmed it is an occupant detection system failure - wiring harness has gone bad. No history of moisture exposure, which would leave faulty part as the problem. Similar to Subaru recall from 2020 on heated passenger seats - this vehicle was not included in that recall, but is in the same year range and has heated seats. Entire bottom piece of front seat must be replaced, including wiring harness and seat mounting bracket; otherwise air bags may not deploy in case of accident. Quick online search reveals this problem has been prevalent in other 2018 Foresters not included in the original recall.

Had recall completed for passenger airbag prior now srs airbag on since 6/7/2026 per dealer code b1650 & b1760 as history codes. States found passenger side airbag sensor has erratic operation, recommended replacing seat bottom with integrated sensor for $2015 at spreen Subaru of san bernardino. Why is the sensor failing again? unable to drive vehicle due to potential of airbags not deploying, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. No other issues with vehicle no one in front passenger seat when srs airbag illuminated on dashboard, no spills, have seat covers to protect from ant fluids. No accidents that would cause this issue.

My 2017 had the passenger airbag sensor recall in 2020. It went into for repair. It began going off again where the passenger seat airbag is off when a passenger is in the seat in 2023 on and off. It consistently began going off again in August 2024. I spoke to Subaru corporate and they said they needed to replace the whole seat and wouldn't cover the cost of the whole repair of 1600. The part had a long backorder because so many cars are affected. I didn't receive a new part until June 2025. The local dealer replaced the seat. Now not even a year later the passenger airbag sensor is off with a passenger. This is our only car that fits our whole family and my family has to sit in the seat. This is a massive safety issue that Subaru is not taking responsibility for ongoing repairs even after the 2020 recall. I'm extremely concerned for the safety of my passengers.

The airbag sensor in the passenger front seat has malfunctioned and it is indicating that the passenger airbag will not deploy. This is after the recall that was completed on the ods from service campaign 19v701000.

On Wednesday, may 6, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle while traveling on I-270. After the impact, the vehicle continued down the highway lane and crashed into the highway divider. During the crash, the front hood opened and fumes/smoke came out from the front of the vehicle. Despite the severity of the collision and secondary impact with the highway divider, the airbags did not deploy. The failure of the airbags to deploy placed the driver at significant risk of injury during the crash. Law enforcement officers at the scene also expressed concern that the airbags did not activate given the magnitude of the accident. The vehicle and airbag system are available for inspection upon request.

See all problems of the 2025 Subaru Forester 🔎.

2017 Subaru Forester with heated seats. Recall wum-98 / NHTSA campaign 19v701000 was completed in 2020 by previous owner, replacing the ods sensor mat harness. The same passenger airbag off condition has now returned. Dealer has diagnosed failure of the ods sensor mat (seat bottom subassembly), quoting $1,800 for repair. This is the same safety defect — same system, same symptom — that the recall was intended to fix. The vehicle has approximately 17,000 miles and has been garage-kept. Subaru of America (case #260512-1901206) offered $1,000 goodwill toward the repair, acknowledging partial responsibility, but has not responded to further communications in over two weeks. I am filing this complaint to document that the wum-98 remedy was incomplete and that this safety defect remains unresolved.

I was involved in a front-end motor vehicle collision while driving straight through an intersection. Another vehicle entered perpendicular to my path and stopped directly in front of me, resulting in a collision primarily impacting the front-left (driver’s side) of my vehicle. The impact appeared significant, and the front airbags did not deploy. Additionally, there appeared to be a partial or unclear deployment of the passenger-side airbag system, which did not resemble a full and typical deployment. The vehicle sustained substantial front-end damage, particularly on the driver’s side. I am concerned that the airbag system may not have functioned as expected for the severity and nature of the crash. I am requesting that this incident be reviewed to determine whether the airbag system, sensors, or deployment logic performed within appropriate safety standards. No warning lights or prior issues with the airbag system were observed prior to the incident.

1. The passenger seat air bag turn on mechanism malfunctions in a 2023 Subaru Forester limited. The seat mechanism can be tested (and has been tested) upon request. 2. An adult that weighs 104lbs is not detected when in the seat, so the air bag is not turned on. 3. The problem has been reproduced by two dealers. 4. No other parties have inspected the car seats or the mechanism. 5. The problem indicator is the status light that shows the air bag as off or on. 6. Testing of the car by the dealer found no problems with the setup of the srs and seat detection technology. Employees weighing more than the customer getting into the seat turned on the air bag. 7. Testing with the customer reproduced the problem 100% of the time. Testing was done by having the adult get into the seat multiple times after a restart of the vehicle. The air bag light never turned on. 8. The same test was performed with the adult customer using a different Forester. The detection mechanism of the other Forester also failed to detect the customer 100% of the time.

See all problems of the 2023 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The driver's side air bags, and seatbelt restraint system deployed while the vehicle was stopped without a collision occurring. The doors had not been opened. This occurred February 10, 2026, and the vehicle was taken to the local Subaru dealership for troubleshooting. The local dealership did not find and fault and reported this to Subaru. Subaru sent a technician and reported that a gouge was present in the door jamb and that this caused the fault which reset. There was no object in the door at the time to cause a problem. This seems unlikely to me as a collision fault should have remained active according to professionals I have spoken with. The safety issue paramount to this event is as follows: if the air bags had deployed while the vehicle was in motion on a highway the sudden and unexpected deployment could have an accident. If a deployment occurs and causes a fatal accident or even an accident with severe injuries, the root cause of the event might not have been diagnosed as in the subsequent crash the air bags would be expected to have deployed. Accidents such as this may have been incorrectly diagnosed and an improper cause attributed. I do not know how widespread this issue may be when it comes to other manufacturers. I do know that common technology and designs are used throughout the automotive industry. The gouge specified looks like it could have been made by a seatbelt that got caught in the door. This would have occurred some months prior to the event. Seatbelts do get caught in doors raising concerns that this is a more widespread issue than is publicly known. I say this because the Subaru technician did not spend much time at the local dealership and left without reporting any findings to the dealership I have been told,.

There is intermittent failure of the passenger air bag occupancy detection system (ods). This shows up as aporadic display of the passenger air bag failure code in the car, and became more frequent until the code rained on. This was previously an issue, but a couple years ago I performed the Subaru issued recall related to this sensor and it went away for a time. Now the same issue has come back. It is pretty clear that the issue has persisted and the recall did not adequately address the issue, but Subaru refuses to address the issue, citing the completed recall. In searching online, it seems that many others have this same experience. \n\nif the passenger air bag fails to deploy in a crash this is clearly a major safety issue that Subaru should take steps to resolve, even if it means replacing the sensor multiple times.

Passenger airbag system doesn’t detect occupancy in seat.

On the morning of December 13, 2026, an incident occurred involving our 2024 Subaru Forester. While attempting to make a right-hand turn, the vehicle failed to decelerate as expected and subsequently struck a utility pole. The vehicle’s safety systems did not appear to activate in an effort to prevent the collision, and the airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries, including a concussion. No vehicle inspections have been completed at this time. We are currently coordinating with the manufacturer to arrange a formal inspection. There were no warning indicators, malfunction lights, or known mechanical issues present prior to the incident.

The contact owned a 2019 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving and merging onto the highway in the rain approximately 62 mph, the contact’s vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle that was driving erratically. Due to the impact, the vehicle spun out of control approximately 3-4 times and the vehicle bounced off the concrete highway sound barrier. The vehicle continued to spin out of control and struck the barrier wall on the passenger’s side before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the rear driver’s axle fractured and ended up on top of the wheel, and the wheel was flat on the ground. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy upon impact or during the crash. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact and his wife were transported to the hospital and were both treated for whiplash, body pain, and pain to the head and neck. The contact also had a throbbing headache from the crash. The contact and his wife both received CT scans that showed no signs of injuries. The other driver also spun out of control and struck the metal guardrail located in the middle of the highway. The contact stated that the other driver had not received medical attention at the scene. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision yard where it remained. The insurance company had not inspected the vehicle; however, the contact expected that the vehicle would be deemed a total loss. The contact stated that the driver who caused the accident was cited by the police for causing the crash. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,400.

I had a family member driving an 2013 Subaru Forester all-wheel drive with a manual transition. The car had crash and rolled. The car at the most rolled twice and none of the air bags never deployed. I have photos of the accident and of the vehicle at the towed yard and its clear as day that the air bags are still rolled up.

See all problems of the 2013 Subaru Forester 🔎.

There was a recall on this vehicle from 2022, and we did not own this vehicle at that time. Recall passenger side airbag contact under seat can cause fire or electrical issues. I contacted Subaru and they said the recall was satisfied in 2022. If that's the case, the repair piece must have been faulty as the issue has come back. The dealership I took the car to said they have seen about 4 of this same issue within the last two weeks. Subaru is unwilling to assist in this, and I cannot pay the 1800. 00 dollars the dealership wants to repair this vehicle. I've asked more questions of Subaru since their answer and have not received a response. I would like to know why their website says this was complete July 15, 2025, not 2022. It was not complete in 2025, or we would have had the repair done. Any help in getting someone to see if this is in fact another recall and how to tell if the recall was truly completed in 2022, possible faulty recall parts now. This is crazy if numerous folks have gone in with the same issue. We need Subaru to take a good look at this.

My 2017 Subaru forrester has experienced a second failure of the front passenger occupant detection system (ods) sensor mat, error code b1760. This system controls whether the passenger airbag is active — when the warning light is on, the airbag will not deploy, creating a serious safety risk for passengers. This is the second occurrence of this failure. The first repair was completed approximately six years ago. The vehicle has now been quoted $2,800 for repair at an authorized Subaru dealership. This appears to be a widespread and recurring defect across multiple Subaru models. I am concerned that a single repair does not resolve the underlying issue, and that many owners may be driving with a non-functional passenger airbag without realizing it.

Passenger airbag safety intermittently turns on stating that the passenger airbag is not able to deploy. If I turn the car off and on it goes away and doesn't turn until another time I start the car. Also detects a passenger in the seat when there is no passenger or weight in that seat. Overall some sort of issue with the airbag safety system in the front passenger seat. I will state no liquids have been spilled on the seat.

The recalled part which was apart of the wum-98r didn't fix the problem and dealership saying im the caused for the ods for front passenger airbag not to work and I fed up with them trying to charge me for a recalled part failure and I'm very aware that I'm not the first person who has the recalled part replaced and after the recalled the part starting to malfunction. They are trying to charge me 2k after they trying to blame me for spilling drinks on the seat when I don't let anyone drink in my car.

Previous recall for passenger ods. Having continued issues with passenger airbag ods not recognizing someone sitting there. Intermittently turns on and off even if no one is sitting there. Took it to a dealer and they want me to pay out of pocket for diagnostic and possible parts. Very high concern for even allowing someone to sit in the car (even my pregnant wife) in the case there was ever an accident.

I had an occupant detection system replaced under recall in my 2017 Forester. Five years later it went bad. Obviously, still faulty. Cost $1,800. 00+ (you read that right) to have it replaced. Contacted Subaru twice about this and both times denied for replacement cost. Really unfair and absurd. Will never own another Subaru for this reason. Not standing behind a sub par part. Unwilling to help out customers.

I just noticed today that the air bag warning light was illuminated. There was an adult in the passenger seat and the car indicated that the passenger air bag was off. This vehicle had a previous air bag recall applied that was to correct these same symptoms. I noticed that a zip tie was cut and not replaced that secured the underseat wiring. I checked the underseat connectors and they all appear to be securely connected.

Currently getting a reoccurring warning, "srs airbag system needs to be checked" which disables the front passenger airbag. This means if I have a passenger sit in the front seat of my vehicle, they don't have the protection of an airbag in the event of a car accident. In 2021, I had this exact same issue and the Subaru dealership diagnosed the airbag needing to be replaced. I had to pay for this replacement, but it did fix the issue. Now that it is back, I am now working with Subaru of America with case #251030-2001271 and they are refusing to acknowledge that this second air bag replacement should be covered by them because my car is over 10 years old and over 100k miles. There is no telling how long this new air bag will last since the one replaced in 2021 is already bad.

In 2020 my ods wireharness had been replaced. I'm now having the same issue in 2025 with the ods system. I had the ods recall fixed but the dealership is telling me it is the ods seat mat not the harness that needs repair and that is not covered under the recall. The airbag light is showing it is off even when I have a passenger. This is very dangerous because if I were to get in an accident my passenger is not protected. I have not gotten it replaced or fixed because they are quoting me over $2000 for the repair. This repair should be covered under the ods recall.

Airbag light came on intermittently at first, then constantly in 2023. It was determined to be a defective ods in the passenger seat, and was repaired at Subaru’s expense “goodwill” on November 2 2023. Again in 2025, the srs alert appeared intermittently at first, then continuously that the system needed service. The car was at fox Subaru for 8 days, and eventually I was told by Subaru customer advocacy they would not cover the expensive repair for a second failure, and I’m reluctant to pay for it based on my concern for its reliability. The defective component is still in the car, but I cannot accommodate a front seat passenger safely. Both times, I was told “probable” moisture damage, although the first repair in 2023 revealed no moisture, and this seat has never gotten wet. A failure of the front passenger airbag would put a front seat passenger as higher risk in a collision. In 2020 a recall of the ods electrical harness was repaired under recall. There has been a recall of Subaru outback, for a similar failure of the ods sensor. Other 2017 Subaru forrester owners have posted online of similar issues and excuses from Subaru.

Getting an srs airbag system needs to be checked. Took the 2015 Subaru Forester to williams Subaru in lansing mi and they stated the code b1760 for the occupant detection system mat was determined. The seat has not been wet and nothing spilled on it and was also determined dry by the repair specialist at time of service. They were able to reset sensor and did a test drive. Less than a week later when a passenger was in seat the warning srs airbag needs to be checked is back on. They stated if this happens then part cost will be approx $1000 not including service/repair (approx total $1700) they also state this part is on backorder. I have concern for previous recall completed in 2019 for the passenger seat sensor matt harness. Is this a continuation of a problem that should be recalled with the sensor harness. Service states passenger front cushion frame and assembly needs replaced.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.