Table 1 shows one common seats related problems of the 2014 Subaru Outback.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Seats problems |
The ods in our 2014 Subaru Outback has failed, and there is a constant beeping indicating that the air bag system is not functioning properly. This was definitely an issue the last two winters, too, but with covid quarantine and illness, we were not able to address it then. The airbag warning lights and sounds persist whether the seat is unoccupied or occupied by a child (14 or 16) or adult. The dealer has diagnosed that the passenger seatbelt switch is also not working properly. Their recommended remedy is replacing the entire seat base (~$1,300). This vehicle also had a recall of the passenger side airbag inflator, which was replaced in may 2019 when our mileage was 88,000. The issue started when weather turned cold in the winter of 2019. When it is below about 45 degrees, the beeping starts, and it only ceases when the vehicle is warmed up and the engine is turned off then on again. Our temperatures here in eastern washington get up to 115 in summer and down to 10 in winter. We are thinking that this ods defect may be due to a loosening of the components during the airbag service or the exact same faulty ods component that was recalled in the Subaru forrester recall (NHTSA campaign number 19v701). It is important to us to have a functional airbag in case of a crash.
The seat sensor for the passenger side is not working causing the airbag to be deactivated. The seatbelt indicator signal beeps regardless of whether someone is sitting in the seat with the seatbelt on or no one is sitting in the seat. It is failing to sense any weight. I bought this car brand new on 9/9/13 and this should not be faulty.
I used the optional seat warmers and turned the engine off at the end of a trip. When I started the engine again later that day, the seat warmers were on. When I felt the heat, I was confused, and thought there might be a fire, until I noticed the seat warmer light was on. I think when the car is stopped and turned off, the seat warmer function should be cancelled.