Side/window Air Bag problems of the 2014 Subaru Impreza

The passenger side airbag shows off when an adult is sitting in the passenger seat. This happens at start up and while driving. There are many such problems for this model and year being reported online.

At about 30,000 miles the passenger side airbag occupancy sensor failed. It did not detect a passenger present despite an average sized adult being in the seat. The dealer replaced the sensor. The same thing occurred at about 75,000 miles.

In December 2014 and again (twice) in January 2018 I was driving (in motion) with a passenger when the passenger-side airbag system turned off. The only variable I know for the second time was that the passenger was damp from snow-sports. Each time it proved impossible to get the car to recognize a passenger in the front seat, so we had to drive without airbag protection for the passenger. The first time, the Subaru dealership replaced (8/6/15) the passenger seat-bottom with sensor free of charge; they have said they intend to do this again. The service technicians told me that Impreza passenger airbag sensors can turn off when the seat is damp/wet.

Passenger side airbag sensor does not operate properly. Airbag does not turn on when a passenger is sitting in the seat, both when stationary and in motion.

According to the dealer, the passenger side air bags in my 2014 Impreza stopped working due to a sensor malfunction after the passenger seat cushion got wet (e. G. , by people sitting in the seat after exercising or getting caught in the rain). An airbag sensor should not disable an airbag because of a wet seat. This is a safety defect, has been widely reported for the 2014 Impreza in online message boards, and is very similar to the defect that precipitated a 2012 Impreza safety recall (recall #wqt-55, safety campaign 15v419000) Subaru should recall the 2014 Impreza and pay for the cost of replacing defective airbag sensors.

Airbag fail, drivers side and passenger side. In November of 2016 the icon indicating "passenger airbag fail" starting coming on every time I picked up my son from school on a rainy day or after sports practice. He was not wet, just damp or hot. The icon coming on was totally predictable at first, only under damp conditions, then unpredictable. In speaking to the service person where I bought the car new, I was told that the lit icon was normal, then told that my son didn't weigh enough (he wrestles at 156 lbs). I brought the car to the dealership without an appointment and was able to demonstrate the problem. The passenger seat airbag sensor was eventually replaced replaced under warranty. The problem is now repeating itself with the drivers side airbag fail icon. The dealership was unable to find a problem code when diagnosed. I was told the technician called Subaru tech-support and that he was told that the problem is "normal". I am now told that the sensor can fail when the driver's seat is damp, but will work when it dries out, there is no repair possible. If this is true, I cannot safely drive my car in inclement weather or hot weather. I bought this car specifically for driving in less than ideal weather. The problem with the passenger side airbag sensor was addressed by the NHTSA in April 4015 under action number pe15012, and recall campaign # 15v419000, but I can testify that the problem still exits. It took three days for the drivers side airbag sensor, or icon, to stop showing failed, it stopped raining a day before. It is a highly unsafe situation if it is truly unrepairable.

The contact owns a 2014 Subaru Impreza. While driving at a low rate of speed to make a left turn, another vehicle was turning right and the contact bumped into the rear of the vehicle. The driver's side air bag deployed in the steering wheel and below the knees. The contact sustained injuries to the head, back, knees, neck, and face. Medical treatment was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center who repaired the cosmetic damages. The manufacturer was notified and did not provide a dealer as a referral to diagnose the air bag force issue. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received no solution from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unknown.