Table 1 shows one common seat belt related problems of the 2013 Subaru Outback.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Seat Belt problems |
Middle seatbelt continues to tear in multiple placed . Very disturbing.
The contact owned a 2013 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a metal guard rail on the driver's side along the length of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle had bounced off of the rail and the front end on the passenger side had crashed into a metal post on the right side of the road. The contact stated that the force of crash ejected him through the windshield. The contact stated that ems and fire men were on scene but there was no police. The contact stated he had not lost consciousness. The contact was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The contact had lacerations on his forehead, scalp, nose and chin. The contact had bruises on his chest, shoulders, both arms and both legs. The contact stated that he was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. The contact stated that his insurance provider declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact was advised by his insurance provider that the air bags and the seat belt had failed to function. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The passenger occupant detection system (ods) malfunctioned or shorted out for no apparent reason. As a result, the passenger airbag will not enable even when occupied by an adult passenger. The passenger airbag is constantly in “off” mode. In addition the ods apparently controls the seatbelt warning feature. Regardless of whether or not an adult passenger is occupying the seat the ods is constantly detecting a passenger and the passenger seatbelt warning light and chime continuously are on. When the passenger seatbelt is buckled the warning light and chime remain continuously on. The vehicle has 40,000 miles and this system is not covered under the manufacture’s extended warranty or the extended service contract sold by Subaru through cna. The dealership is recommending a new ods be installed and calibrated at a cost of $1,200 plus applicable tax and fees.
When my wife sits in the passenger seat the majority of the time the passenger side air bag will not be turned on. My wife is roughly 5'2" and 120 lbs. Dealer claims there is nothing wrong but that the sensors can be overly sensitive with smaller people. This is a safety issue as the bag will not deploy in an accident if it is off.