Side/window Air Bag Problems of Subaru Forester

When turning on the car or while driving, a notification appears on the display indicating the passenger side airbag is off. Also a light illuminates on the dash indicating the same thing. This has happened 4-5 times in the last few months. The notifications/light usually stay on for the duration of the trip. It happens both when there is someone in the passenger seat and when the seat is empty. The dealer found a stored ods sensor code but since the light wasn't on the day I brought it in they wouldn't go further with correcting the issue. 2015-2018 Foresters currently have a recall for this issue. I believe my 2014 Forester to be affected by the same issue. ## #vpic# 1 - check digit (9th position) does not calculate properly; 4 - VIN corrected, error in one position only (indicated by ! in suggested VIN), multiple matches found; 14 - unable to provide information for all the characters in the VIN. #vpic#.

See all problems of the 2014 Subaru Forester 🔎.

On November 7, 2020 around 630pm, I was driving on city street going NW on sunset in fair oaks, CA in a far right lane. I was driving about 35 to 40 mph with one other cars infront or besides me. Certainly while I was driving, I heard a loud boom. Immediately after the loud boom, I could not see and realized my steering wheel airbag deployed. Then I looked to my right I saw a deer limping. So I immediately knew I just hit a deer from my front left corner bumper after I pulled over to the side street. After I pulled over to the side street I notice all airbags in the car deployed including the seats, dashboard, roof and side airbags. I took my car to get estimate for the repair. I was told that base on the damage of the vehicle hit by the deer, there is no way that the entire airbags in the car shouldn't be deployed. So I comaint to Subaru. It is still under investigation. I believe hitting the deer should have not made the airbags to deployed especially the entire airbags system. The estimate came out to be over $15000 to fix. More than the value of the car.

See all problems of the 2016 Subaru Forester 🔎.

2015 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to passenger side airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the parts were unavailable to complete the recall repair.

See all problems of the 2015 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Passenger side air bags recalled again.

See all problems of the 2011 Subaru Forester 🔎.

2016 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to front passenger side airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair.

Passenger side air bag came on with no passenger in the seat. It would happen with the vehicle stationary or moving. Sometimes it would reset on its own but after a few days the complete airbag system warning has come on and won't go away. Found out online that it is common problem with the Subaru Forester and the manufacturer needs to put to task as they are definitely not doing enough and are playing with the lives of people. When I contacted a local dealership (Subaru of grapevine) they outright wanted money for diagnosing a problem they knew was preexisting. This clearly reflects the attitude of the dealership and the manufacturer towards this serious issue.

See all problems of the 2017 Subaru Forester 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2018 Subaru Forester 🔎.

According to media reports "there's an electrical connection under the passenger seat that may loosen over time, according to Subaru. That connection is necessary for the detection system to function. Subaru says that only cars equipped with heated front seats are subject to this recall, as those are the only ones equipped with the specific harness where this would be possible. " the recall in question applies to 2015 Subaru Foresters. However,my 2014 Forester IA a mid year model that has front passenger side air bags and seat heaters. The recall should be extendeded to the 2014 model.

Passenger side air bags are not enabled with a person sitting in the seat using a seat belt extender. There are flaws on the software that identify the passenger actions entering the car, when the seat belt is fastened and whether or not a seat belt extender has been used. If a seat belt extender is already in place, the car refuses to enable the air bags after a person sits in the passenger seat.

See all problems of the 2020 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The passenger side airbag does not function. The sensor cannot tell when a passenger is present. This began happening intermittently, shortly after I purchased the vehicle new. In the past month, the airbags have not been on at all.

My vehicle all of a sudden began giving me a passenger side airbag censor error. No accidents occurred it just out of the blue appeared. I had to take my Forester to the Subaru dealership to be serviced where they confirmed that there was a problem with the passenger air bag.

The passenger side airbags are intermittently being disabled when a passenger sits in the seat. I am alerted to this by my instrument cluster. It typically happens when within 30 seconds of starting the car and is usually still stationary.

The occupant detection sensor for the front passenger seat does not work properly. It will occasionally set a warning while the vehicle is in motion, saying that the air bag system needs to be checked out, but then you can turn the vehicle off and back on and the warning disappears. The 'cure' is to replace the entire front passenger seat assembly! the following text from another complaint perfectly describes my situation: "Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off. ".

I copied this message from another complaint which explains exactly what I am trying to complaint. Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off. My 17 teenager had no electronics but a sweater on and it shut off air bag while traveling on highway. How is this legal to knowingly sell a car with faulty safety equipment. . Read more...

Passenger side air bags shuts off while passenger is in the seat while driving. Reported to Subaru and was told seat covers and phone charging cables might be causing the problem . Upon further research others have been having the same problem with older Subaru models and Subaru will not fix so you have a 50/50 chance of your passenger air bag engaging in a accident.

Subaru is knowingly building its cars with faulty passenger side air bag sensors which will randomly turn off the air bag while the passenger seat is occupied under normal life driving conditions. It is in the 2016 and 2017 owners manual that if there is a cell phone or electrical device in the front area of the car then the air bag sensors could malfunction. It also states that if your passenger is wearing a jacket or sweater this could cause the sensors to turn the life saving air bag off. My 17 teenager had no electronics but a sweater on and it shut off air bag while traveling on highway. How is this legal to knowingly sell a car with faulty safety equipment . Attached is the pages from the 2016 Subaru Forester owners manual.

Tl the contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag sensor would turn off when the front passenger seat was occupied. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to sellers Subaru (23651 hall rd, mccomb, mi) where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor in the front passenger seat was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the failure was remedied. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000. The VIN was unknown.

Takata recall: I received notice of a recall from Subaru for the passenger side airbag but the recall action is wholly inadequate. They say it will be one year before the parts are available (March 2018) and until then don't let anyone ride in the front passenger seat. Are they serious? that completely destroys the value of the vehicle for resale and renders it fairly useless for most transportation as I frequently have a passenger. Tried calling Subaru but they simply took my phone number by automated response and have not called back.

See all problems of the 2009 Subaru Forester 🔎.

I received the recall letter from Subaru America, who described terrifying consequences about their defective passenger side airbag. However, what they could do at the moment is just to advice not letting anyone ride on that side before repair. There was not even a deadline for such a repair. This is so disappointing since there is no way to fit my family into the back seats. The reality is that Subaru is still producing new vehicles with competent airbags everyday. The company really should consider the feelings of their current owners and treat them better!.

See all problems of the 2012 Subaru Forester 🔎.

I received notification from Subaru that the passenger side airbag had been recalled. I called the Subaru dealership where I bought the car and they have not done anything. They said they would call me when they received the parts. Now I am unable to renew my registration.

Takata recall in June 2016 we received a recall notice, NHTSA campaign: 16v358000, regarding the passenger side air bags. We have not yet been informed when parts will be available. We have called the dealer and have written to the manufacturer without success. See attached reply from Subaru. We live in zone a and are concerned about being able to use the car safely.

See all problems of the 2010 Subaru Forester 🔎.

My car was parked. When I got in car and turned key, the passenger side airbag deployed. Car was not hit or in accident.

See all problems of the 2004 Subaru Forester 🔎.

The air bag system will not function in the event of a collision due to an electrical connector malfunction. The connector is located under the driver's seat and is constantly stressed by seat movement or contact by the driver's feet. As a result, the air bag warning light is chronically but intermittently on. This has been a problem since first identified when this vehicle was approximately 1 year old. The repair of the connector was eventually ineffective. When the air bag warning light is on the air bags are inactive and will not deploy in the event of a collision.

The contact owns a 2006 Subaru Forester. The air bag control module fails to activate at least once per week. On each occasion, the passenger side air bag off light illuminates. The occupant detection sensor does not recognize a passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. The passenger side air bag also does not activate when the vehicle is started approximately once out of 20-30 starts. The contact's wife weighs 120 lbs and is 5'5 inches tall. She sits erectly with the seat back nearly vertical. The failures have been reported and investigated by the dealer and manufacturer. The manufacturer stated that the "occupant protection system is working as its designed intent and as such we are unable to recommend a repair or modification". The current mileage was 28,000 and failure mileage was 13,421. Updated 01/03/08 oil was leaking onto the exhaust system, the engine would surge and sag during slight downgrades with the throttle held just off idle and speed held constant, the speed control over and under shoots on slight grades, it would not go to full throttle, or to closed throttle when speed control was activated. Updated.

See all problems of the 2006 Subaru Forester 🔎.

: the contact stated while driving at 35 mph on a gravel road a deer ran out in front of the vehicle. The contact tapped the brake pedal to miss the deer; this in turn caused the contact to lose control. The vehicle hit a double post head on, then slid down an embankment and stood on its nose. It then flipped onto the driver's side, rolled onto its top and then rested on its wheels. Seat belts were in use, but did not restrain the occupant. Frontal and side airbags did not deploy, injuries were sustained. The insurance company inspected the vehicle, but they could not determine why the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled, the manufacturer has been consulted.

See all problems of the 2003 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Consumer got into car accident and the side air bag on the passengers side of the vehicle did not deploy. While going approximately 15-20 mph another vehicle hit on the passenger side at 40 mph/.

See all problems of the 2005 Subaru Forester 🔎.

My vehicle was broadsided on the left side by another vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign traveling approximately 30-40 mph. Damage to the left side of my vehicle extended from the driver's door to the rear left side of the vehicle. The force of the impact spun my vehicle into a tree that damaged the right rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The vehicle is a total loss. Neither left nor right side impact airbags deployed. On November 29, 2004 I notified Subaru of America of the airbag failure. They assigned case #700-407 and senior representative rick pozniak. On December 3, 2004 Subaru of America through rick pozniak informed me that they would not investigate the air bag failure.

See all problems of the 2002 Subaru Forester 🔎.

My spouse had a minor accident with our 1998 Subaru Forester. The frontal impact caused both air bags to deploy. The passenger side air bag when it deployed broke the front right side (passenger side) door window and the rear view mirror. No one was seating in the front passenger seat. I believe this is a defect that may be a result of the air bag improperly installed or aligned.

See all problems of the 1998 Subaru Forester 🔎.

There is a four (4) inch long seam developing on driver's side airbag. The lower seam of cover which could blow out if air bag deploys was being replaced by the dealer.

While driving 35 mph was hit on front quarter, neither airbag deployed. Vehicle has side airbags. Likely to be totalled.

See all problems of the 2001 Subaru Forester 🔎.

Subaru replaced regular seats with leather after market seats. Also, Subaru stated that side impact air bags in rear may not deploy properly. Please describe details.

While driving 55 mph rear ended another vehicle and driver's side air bag did not deploy. Consumer was injured. Please provide further information.