Seats Problems of Subaru Forester - part 1

My recalled ods sensor went out.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Forester 🔎.

No damage or water spill to the car whatsoever, but now the srs passenger airbag light is on. This is a recurrent issue with suabru, and there was even a recall for this part a few years ago, which was replaced in my vehicle during that period. Less than 5 years later, there is already an issue with it. This is not an oil change or a tire replacement; it is an airbag sensor!! I cannot find any definite information indicating that my own driver's airbag will go off while the srs light is on. To think that my airbag may not go off, from no fault of my own, due to an issue with the passenger airbag, is unacceptable. Subaru claims this is out of warranty, will not pay for it, and is charging me over $1000. This is no cosmetic issue; this is incredibly dangerous, and Subaru is aware of this. There needs to be some warranty in place for this part in particular, considering it is a model-wide issue among all Subaru vehicles. This is not something that the vehicle owner should need to pay for when it could end their lives. Some diagnostic codes claim the sensor got "wet" after their cars were just detailed! unacceptable! if the airbag sensor cannot withstand daily wear and tear, then it should not be allowed to be produced and purchased. Not only can the part be damaged way too easily, but it also impacts the safety of all passengers involved. I am so upset with this outcome, in all honesty. My car is unsafe to drive because the recall piece continues to have issues.

The passenger airbag sensor often, but not always, malfunctions in my 2017 Subaru forrester. Often it says passenger airbag off when there is a passanger. Occording to kbb kelly blue book there is a current recall in place for 2017 Subaru forresters for exactly this issue, including for my car - but when I typed in my liscnese plate in the NHTSA website, no unrepaired recalls showed up for my car.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Subaru recall wum98 was issued in 2019 to replace the ods harness on my 2018 Subaru Forester. The part replacement was completed in in April 2020. The harness failed again in oct 2024. It was replaced for the 2nd time. Now, my passenger air bag light is on for the 3rd time, and the dealership is indicating that the ods mat is the culprit (not the harness). Subaru is not covering this under any open recall. Note that Subaru currently has an open recall wra-24 for certain 2020 - 2022 Forester & outback models to replace all (four) of the occupant detection system sensors in the front passenger seat. Since Subaru is saying that the issue in recall wra-24 is the same as my issue, it is my belief that other models should also be included in this recall. It should also be noted that for wra-24, they still don't have parts for many of the vehicles that need the seat assembly replaced, which may indicate supply issues. I was also told that Subaru does not have the seat assembly for my vehicle. The length of time for Subaru to get parts is unacceptable. Recall wra-24 was issued by letter on may 21, 2024. It is my belief that they should also cover costs for rental vehicles until the issue is fixed.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Forester 🔎.

1) the seat is cracking on the drivers seat. The vehicle only has 64,000 miles on it. No word from Subaru. 2) parking collision warning system works part of the time. Dangerous when the system does not detect a person or vehicle in the blind spot.

See all problems of the 2019 Subaru Forester 🔎.

My airbag warning light comes on intermittently. My mechanic found it is due to a recalled part but my VIN number is not listed on the recall even though it meets the criteria. Subaru safety recall wum-98 NHTSA recall id 19v 70. The person in the passenger seat's safety is at risk if the airbags don't deploy in the event of a crash.

My vehicle has a capacitive sensor in the passenger seat that determines if someone is sitting in the seat and turns the airbag on or off accordingly. Starting towards the beginning of March, my vehicle stopped detecting if someone was sitting in that seat and permanently disabled the airbags. I took the vehicle in to a Subaru dealer to get this fixed, as I view airbags as necessary to the safety of passengers in the vehicle. As it turns out, there was a previous recall for a part in this airbag system related to a wire harness. However, the dealer replaced this wire harness (at their expense) and it did not re-enable use of the passenger airbags. The dealer believes that the root cause of the issue is with the capacitive seat sensor. Not only was there an extended lead time on replacing this part (originally up to 1-year but luckily came in after a couple of months) but they would not pay for the cost of this part. Since there is no way for me to bypass this sensor to re-enable the airbags on my own, I believe that this part should be covered by Subaru. Furthermore, I don't understand how this part wasn't covered under a recall, either past or future, if it permanently disables a safety system. I was able to find a workaround online that involves installing a capacitor that makes the airbag system think someone is always present but Subaru would not perform this. This would mean that the airbag would go off even if someone is not sitting in the seat, but that seems like a small price to pay for potentially saving someone's life in the case of a potential accident. My case number with Subaru's customer advocacy group is case # 250528-1300198 for any follow-up with them.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Airbag alert for front passenger seat is lit and disabling the airbag. The seat was empty and dry with nothing in it.

A warning light will randomly light up indicating a problem with the airbag or airbag sensor in my front passenger seat. I have had it looked at by multiple Subaru dealerships and shops and have had various quotes in the thousands of dollars to repair it. The technicians have told me that the sensor likely has an issue because of potential spillage on the seat that would seep into the sensor and cause it a problem, however there have not been recent spills on the seat and the light has only been turning on in the past year or so. I recently heard from another Subaru Forester owner that a similar maintenance issue happened in their car so I felt it was appropriate to report this issue.

The passenger seat sensor intermittently turns on and off as indicated by the warning light on the dashboard and the "passenger airbag on off" light indicating it is off when an adult passenger is sitting in the seat. This put the passenger at risk of serious injury if a collision would have occurred or could occur. I took my car to the dealership on January 1, 2025 where they inspected the vehicle and said that the seat sensor needed to be replace costing ~$1,700. The above warning first occurred on December 19, 2024 and then on December 26, 2024, which both occurred on a 250-mile trip. The passenger airbag wiring harness was replaced under recall in August 2020 but failed to correct the problem. Internet searches have indicated that this is a continuing safety issue, but currently there is no recall on the seat sensor.

The wum-98 recall fix did not address the problem with the front passenger occupancy detection system. We, and many other Subaru Forester owners are continuing to experience problems post recall repair with the srs airbag light on, indicating error code b1760 "occupant detection sensor mat" failure. Subaru is not covering the cost of addressing this problem, and the entire seat frame and bottom cushion (that includes the sensor mat) are required to be replaced at the consumer's expense, with bills for repair in excess of $2,000. And, due to the high demand for this repair, parts are not available to perform the repair for as much as 6 months! this is jeopardizing the safety of occupants in the front passenger seat for extended periods of time while waiting for parts, whereby the airbag is not active due to the sensor mat problem. The original recall should have encompassed not only the harness cable component, but also the sensor mat.

I called Subaru made an appointment for service. I was not aware of the recall, although the dealership said it was repaired. No water damage to the seat bottom, the airbag sensor in the bottom of my passenger side seat cushion was bad. It’s attached to the seat. They gave me a loaner for three months and then called to say the part is on back order until “sometime” in 2025. The part is not covered under the recall and it will be approximately $2000 to fix. This has been a complaint from many owners of the recalled airbag years. At this point it is being replaced so often the part is on back order with an undetermined in stock date.

My 2018 Subaru Forester has a faulty passenger air bag sensor, which has been diagnosed by my local Subaru dealer, with a repair cost of $1,500+ for labor and parts. It has intermittently turned on and off again, but after getting a separate issue fixed by my dealer, they diagnosed this problem, and every time the car is turned on, the warning light is constantly displayed, and the passenger seat airbag light shows "off" even when someone is in the passenger seat. Upon research, this is a known and common issue with other Subaru Foresters with heated seats in the same model year (my Forester does have heated seats), but my VIN is not included in the Subaru recall for this specific repair. This greatly puts the passenger in my car at risk, as the sensor does not recognize that a person is in the seat while they are riding, and if we were to be in an accident, their airbag would not deploy. I am frustrated that this is a known, common safety issue that affects my model and year of car, but my VIN is not included on the recall list. I would expect that my car should also be included in the recall and fixed by the dealer at their expense as it is clearly documented many times on other 2018 Subaru Foresters.

The ods is not properly determining the status of the right front seat occupant. The airbag warning light is illuminated, and the front passenger airbag is deactivated even with a person sitting in the passenger seat. The ods is also unable to determine if someone is in the seat and triggers the seatbelt alert when anything (even a purse) is on the seat. This exact issue was part of a Subaru recall wum-98r, for 2015-2018 Subaru Foresters produced between January 20, 2015 – August 01, 2017. Subaru is claiming my vehicle doesn't qualify as it was not part of the recall even though I having the same issues as the recall and I own a 2018 Subaru Forester. Furthermore, as listed in the recall if a vehicle is part of the recall and is brought in for inspection "the part identification label affixed to the yellow sensor mat wiring harness is the focus of this inspection. If the date code is 18074 or before and has the supplier code 6578 (red box in photo) on it, the harness is ng must be replaced. Proceed to harness replacement procedure as outlined below. " the date code on my label is before 18074 and the supplier code is 6578. I am asking for your assistance in holding Subaru accountable to add my vehicle to the recall.

The passenger seat occupant detection system (ods) sensor failed, turning off the airbag and illuminating the srs light. This is a known safety defect covered by Subaru recall 19v701 / wum-98 for 2015–2018 Foresters built through August 1, 2017. My vehicle, a 2018 Forester xt touring (VIN [xxx] ), has the same defect but Subaru and NHTSA do not list it as part of the recall. I waited nearly a year for the replacement seat to arrive, and Subaru of America only offered $500 goodwill assistance. I paid about $900 out of pocket for the repair. Given that this is a critical airbag safety system, I believe this vehicle should have been included in the recall population. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Airbag/seatbelt system failure August, 2024. Passenger occupant detection system (ods) failure. Detection system fails to correctly detect passenger in the seat. Sometimes it thinks there is no passenger, when there is one (will fail to deploy airbag in a crash); sometimes it thinks there is a passenger when there is none (requires seat belt to be buckled with no one in the seat). Recall (19v-701 -- ods harness replacement) repairs were done to this vehicle Feb. 2020. New solution is different than for the 19v-701 recall. For this issue, dealer recommends replacement of seat frame bottom (seat sensor). The seat sensor is failing. Repairs can not be made because replacement seat sensors are not available. Backordered. Subaru USA estimates July, 2025 first availability. This means critical safety issue for passengers in this vehicle will exist for nearly a year--even if parts become available in July.

My issue (which started a week ago) is that the occupant detection system (ods) shows the passenger airbag as off and gives an srs airbag warning when my spouse is sitting in the passenger seat. When I sit in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag shows on. But then when the car is driven with no passenger, the system dings until the driver hooks the passenger seatbelt--it thinks the passenger is still there. (I weigh 190; my spouse weighs 125). The consequences are that if the vehicle is involved in a crash and my spouse is in the passenger seat, her airbag will fail to deploy. If anyone is driving without a passenger (after I have been in the passenger seat) the passenger airbag may deploy unnecessarily, should a crash occur. My ods harness was replaced in Feb. , 2020 as part of ntsa safety recall id 19v-701 (Subaru safety recall wum-98) to address faulty ods issues. (I was not having an issue then). Yesterday my local Subaru dealer recommended "seat frame bottom replacement and ods harness dtc b1760, 17067" to address this "ods internal failure. " "part is on back order" so repair is pending.

The front passenger seat and the seat belt attached to that seat suddenly started making creaking noises as if the seatbelt or the seat itself are not properly secured whenever a passenger is sitting and seatbelt fastened while the vehicle is moving (no noise exists when the seat is empty). The noise is loudest and most prevalent when the weight of the passenger is lower, when outside temperature is cooler, when the vehicle is driven on roads that are not smooth, when the vehicle breaks and is going uphill. The vehicle has not been in any accidents and the noise appeared suddenly without any warning lights or any indications. The vehicle was bought brand new about a year ago and has just under 5000 miles. Since the noise first appeared it has been regularly occurring. The dealership has inspected the vehicle on three occasions but claims they cannot hear it or replicate it despite the fact that they agree that videos shown by the owner clearly point to this noise.

See all problems of the 2023 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Passenger air bag light on dash coming on, started off dinging even with no one sitting in the passenger seat. Now the air bag light stays on constantly. I was told by the Subaru dealership near me that they found a b1650 in the system for occupant detection malfunction. Tested the seat with a human and the scan tool and they found the sensor is not picking anything up. The mechanic told me the seat appeared to be wet, which it was not and has never had water damage. The vehicle is garage kept and has low mileage so minimal exposure. The dealership told me I would have to pay $160 for diagnostic and $1200 before tax to have the seat base replaced. I know there was a recall for the passenger air bag in the past which I did take into the same dealership who says the replaced the defective part. I feel the Subaru company should stand behind their product and correct this issue. I was told they would not guarantee the airbag would work, which is a huge safety issue.

Airbags and passenger seatbelt lights are on. Possibly recalls.

Issue with the front passenger seat airbag sensor. The airbag warning light, indicating an issue with the passenger side airbag, has been illuminated recently. Passenger seat is also occasionally registering as occupied even when no one is sitting in it. Previous recall on the same seat's wiring harness was completed previously. Took the vehicle to the dealer and they told me that the seat must have gotten wet to cause the issue. The seat has not been wet. Dealer said a new seat is needed at a price of roughly $1500. This is a safety issue, as I am uncertain whether the airbag will deploy if needed. Googling "2016 Subaru Forester passenger seat airbag sensor issues" indicates that this is a systematic issue across Foresters of this model year and not isolated to my car.

Srs failure passenger airbag default to off.

Around 83,000 miles my passenger safety air bag warning sensor started coming on and off intermittently. It would happen both when a passenger was in the seat and when no one was in the seat. There have been no previous issues. I immediately scheduled my car to be diagnosed at the Subaru dealership and they notified me the passenger occupancy sensor pad is faulty and that it would cost $1,483. 47 to replace. The dealer stated that the passenger airbag might not deploy if the sensor is not replaced. This puts the safety of the passenger at risk. I researched and found that there was a recall with 2016-2018 Subaru Forester SUV's with heated seats. Recall wum-98. However, when I called Subaru they said that there were no open recalls on my car.

The error message for air bag/seat belt warning comes on and off. It turns the passenger side air bag to off. It seems to be activated by weight on the seat.

The bracket on the front right side of the drivers seat (if you're looking at the seat from the sunroof) that connects the seat (where you sit) to the seat frame (which moves the seat forward and back) has separated from the seat frame. The two tack welds have failed so the seat can move freely up and down on the right side of the seat. . Read more...

See all problems of the 2010 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Left front of drivers seat collapsed while driving 60mph on freeway. This caused a surprise that could have resulted in an accident. . Read more...

Passenger airbag light on seatbelt light on passenger front airbags inactive.

When there is a passenger in my Subaru forrester, the occupant detection system deactivates the passenger airbag. When I researched the issue, I noticed there is a recall for Foresters but my specific vehicle doesn't fall into the recall. When reviewing product campaign bulletin on the NHTSA website, the harness label inspection procedure states to inspect the label and if its has supplier code 6578 and the date code before 18074, the harness must be replaced. My Forester has both the supplier code and the date code before 18074 but my vehicle doesn't have a recall associated with it so the Subaru service center won't replace it. I'm currently driving with a deactivated airbag and that can't possibly be safe. Please NHTSA, widen the recall!.

The passenger side seat airbag sensor has quit sensing when someone is seating in the seat and turns off the airbag. After taking it in to the dealership and them running diagnostics they said, “it isnt working. ” they quoted me a repair of $1182 to replace the whole seat. I know Subaru has issued a recall on certain models, but my car was not one of them. It seems like the same problem though. There appears to be a lot of people having the same faulty sensor system and having to pay high repair costs that only the dealership can do.

See all problems of the 2014 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The passenger seat, passenger air bags, and occupant detection system are failing. Yes! available for inspection. Passenger occupants are put at risk riding in my passenger seat as the seat does not detect if the seatbelt is on, or even if someone is sitting in the seat. The airbag will not deploy when intended! issue was first brought to 7/2023 at Subaru inpasco wa, where they “could not do anything because it was not yet a recall. ” as of 3/14/24, it has been confirmed by an isc (Subaru of hermiston, or) my vehicle has been there since!!! they have not been able to fix the issue or get the part. There is no date of when the part is expected to available. We have been working with Subaru customer advocates who have extended my loaner car out 30 days, but after that. I will be out of a safe vehicle. I have three children and need my passenger seat to be working effectively and safely! yes, there were warning lights that came on. The lights were on the dash. The red square with an “I” next to odometer and a red passenger air bag symbol below the other light that popped up. I have pictures and videos dated between June 2023 to March 2024 of the lights coming on.

I noticed that the airbag light was continuously illuminated on the dashboard of my Subaru Forester. I promptly took my vehicle to a certified Subaru dealership to have the issue diagnosed and resolved. After a thorough inspection, it was determined that the passenger seat bottom occupant seat mat required replacement to rectify the problem. Otherwise, my airbags would not inflate in the event that I would need them. I would like to emphasize that I have always maintained my vehicle in excellent condition and followed all recommended maintenance procedures. I have never exposed the seat to moisture or allowed any foreign objects to be shoved under it. Furthermore, I am the primary driver of the vehicle and rarely have passengers, which makes it highly unlikely for any undue stress or wear to be placed on the seat mat. Considering the circumstances, it is evident that this issue is a result of a manufacturing defect or premature failure, rather than any negligence or misuse on my part. I find it disconcerting that a critical safety component such as the airbag system would fail within a relatively short period of time and with minimal use. There was a significant repair cost as well.

The srs airbag light is coming on and off due to a manufacturer defect.

My 2018 Subaru Forester should be included in a recall and Subaru is denying that this recall exists. My srs air bag light is on. The dealership wants to charge $1216. . Read more...

Sensor on passenger side airbag stays off at times when there is a passenger in the seat. The notification on the dash and above the gps screen notifies the driver that the airbag is off. This was a previous issue and pertains to a recall that was completed. This has not resolved since the recall has been completed and the problem still continues only 3 years after being "fixed".

My 2010 Subaru Forester's driver seat does not raise up on with the power buttons. I can hear the motor but the front of the seat will not move. Last week, the right side was not moving and now both sides are not. I can physically move the front half of the seat up and down. I can see that the welds on the front arms are off of the frame of the seat rails. If I was in a collision, the whole seat might come off if it is not secured and my safety would be compromised. I called Subaru of America and received a case number. I also plan on taking the car into dealer for an inspection. No warning lights appeared. When I move the seats with the buttons, I sometimes hear a grinding noise. This collapsing seat issue with 2010 Foresters has been found on internet sites. The car was not involved in an accident and I am the primary driver and weigh under 160 lbs.