10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,412 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Subaru Forester seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2016 Subaru Forester Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #58

Aug 162021

Forester

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

In March 2020, I took my 2016 Subaru Forester to the dealership to fix the issues associated with the Subaru Safety Recall WUM-98 / NHTSA Recall 19V-701 (unstable electrical connections causing issues with the occupant detection system in determining the correct status of the right front seat occupant, which would prevent the front passenger-side airbag from deploying in the event of a crash). Service was performed and the ODS harness was replaced. In August of 2021, I took my Forester back into the Subaru dealership (where previous service was performed) because the -??airbag warning-?? light and the -??Passenger airbag off-?? indicator began to illuminate, however this occurred somewhat inconsistently. Sometimes both warning lights illuminate when someone sits in the front passenger seat, sometimes they do not illuminate at all and everything seems fine. Other times, the lights illuminate when no one is sitting in the front passenger seat. Additionally, sometimes the seatbelt alarm sounds when no one is sitting in the front passenger seat. However, this is also inconsistent. In August 2021, the Subaru dealership told me that the issue is likely caused by water damage (a spill) on the front passenger seat that has caused the sensors within the seat to malfunction. I told them that I did not recall spilling any liquids on the front passenger seat. Now the dealership is telling me to replace the passenger seat bottom assembly sensor for $1,211 USD.

- Meridian, ID, USA

problem #57

Aug 092021

Forester

  • miles
While returning home from a trip in our 2016 Subaru Forester the driver-??s side airbag warning light remained on; additionally, a SRS warning appeared briefly on the screen indicating that the airbag/seatbelt safety system could not be relied upon.This all occurred after restarting the Forester following a brief rest stop. Adhering to the Subaru owner-??s manual guidance we went to our Hendricks Southpoint dealership. The dealership scheduled an appointment for one week later. The occurrence of this problem without a timely resolution by Subaru creates a unnecessary safety situation for owners.

- Pittsboro, NC, USA

problem #56

Nov 072020

Forester

  • 100,000 miles
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.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #55

Feb 122020

Forester

  • 11,295 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Involved in accident to rh door and fende. Curtain air bag deployed, seat belt triggered, no other airbag system issues. After repair including curtain air bag replacement and module reset as well as all sensors replaced, air bag light still on. Issue traced to rh seat back air bag. Apparently while it was triggered but it did not deploy. Question is this an issue that should be taken up with the manufacturer since the air bag was triggered but did not deploy but never the less it needs to be replaced. Cannot tell if vehicle was in motion as it was purchased at an auction.

- Redmond, OR, USA

problem #54

May 192020

Forester 4-cyl

  • miles
2016 Subaru Forester. Consumer writes in regards to passenger side airbag safety recall. The consumer stated shortly after receiving the recall notice, the vehicle was involved in a head on collision with a tree. The airbag did not deploy. The vehicle was totaled.

- Greer, SC, USA

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problem #53

Mar 032020

Forester

  • miles
The vehicle began showing symptoms of a faulty "occupant detection system". the indicator would change from on to off randomly. Then there was an official recall, but no fix was available and they instructed to wait until the dealers contacted us. A couple of months, tired of waiting to be able to use the front seat of the car, I called Subaru of America. They told me the replacement was available. Dealer had to get parts and installed it. It seems now it still does not work under our typical use case. We found out what appears to be the cause. A different occupancy detection sensor in the replacement works using an "electrostatic" method. My wife was using a standard relatively thin seat cushion that apparently prevents the new sensor from working. I believe this is a significant liability to automobile passengers who drive in cars equipped with such equipment. Nowhere in the manual (or the recall paperworks) is there a note to not use a seat cushion of any kind. It also would not be intuitive to think this would be a hazard from a passengers perspective. You could have an impale setting on the car that just ends it for you (for those no helmet bikers). It would similarly be deemed acceptable, so long as there is an indicator light that says "impaler active" for people get to impaled by the vehicle when the ai system gathers their preference is dnr in an accident via their music selection. Many people wouldnt think to look at the airbag on or off light. Also you can use a seat cushion on the drivers side without any issue which further confuses things for the general public in terms of having any idea that a cushion is endangering them. I understand the need to protect children, but who puts their kids or baby seats in the front seat these days? there should be a way to turn the bag on or off, or at least on so that you can override a faulty sensor

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #52

Nov 202019

Forester

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V701000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Council Bluffs, IA, USA

problem #51

Jan 102020

Forester

  • 43,200 miles
When driving with no one in the passenger seat and sometimes when there is someone in the seat I get an SRS airbag fault but it never stays on after I shut down the SUV. Sometimes when I restart the SUV after about 5 minutes it will come back on and it stays on until I shut off the SUV. Then nothing for weeks. I've wanted to take it to the dealer but every time I start to head over to then the fault goes out or never comes on? I'm sure if I just head over I'm just wasting my time. The last two months it's been much more active with the fault happening. I'm listing the last time it has happen as 01/10/2020. I keep nothing on the passengers seat and I am unsure if the air bag light (yellow light on the dash) shows that it is on or off when it comes on. My wife was driving about a week ago and I was in the passenger seat (6' 225 lbs) and the SRS fault come on and the yellow airbag light showed it was still on. I have a trip to pittsburgh pa from allentown pa and I'm worried that if I'm in an accident they won't go off and protect us. This car is just out of warranted and I have about 44K on the vehicle. Purchased it new Feb 12 2016 steve moyer Subaru

- Northampton, PA, USA

problem #50

Dec 272019

Forester

  • miles
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.

- North Andover, MA, USA

problem #49

Aug 212019

Forester

  • miles
Received recall notice about seat sensor and airbag defect. Need to, get, this repaired as a recall, but parts supposedly not yet available. Error messages since August when dealer told me that it was an air bag issue.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #48

Oct 262019

Forester

  • 57,004 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

For the past month, my passenger airbag light will indicate it is "off" intermittently when a passenger is sitting in the seat, and the car's ignition is turned on and driving. I brought my Subaru to the dealer to have it looked at and they quoted me a price of over $1,500 in repairs due to the need to replace the seat. The technician told me not to worry about it unless the light is on continuously. At that point, he said to contact the Subaru corporation as this is a safety issue and to file a claim. As of yesterday (10/26/19) my passenger airbag light is "off"continuously with a passenger riding in the seat. The red airbag icon is lit up when the car's ignition is turned on and while driving. On the dashboard it indicates that my passenger airbag is "off". I have received an email from starlink stating to take it to a Subaru retailer to have it checked as soon as possible. Since I have already done this, I will be contacting Subaru tomorrow. After researching, I saw that there was an investigation open to this problem and wanted to add my name to this list.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #47

Oct 142019

Forester

  • 49,500 miles
I turned my vehicle on in the morning and a red 'I' appeared and a warning that SRS airbag system needed to be checked. The panel on the dashboard has an airbag light blinking. The passenger airbag light continues to say 'off' despite there being weight in the seat. There has been no damage to the seat including moisture or anything to damage the seat. Happened completely at random.

- Bountiful, UT, USA

problem #46

Oct 042019

Forester

  • 40,000 miles
When I start the car, this indicator turns on: SRS airbag system needs to be checked passenger airbag remains "off" even person sits on the passenger seat. This happens when car is stopped or moving while the car is started.

- Ellicott City, MD, USA

problem #45

Oct 022019

Forester 4-cyl

  • 45,000 miles
On October 2nd 2019 I was traveling on the express way at highway speeds when I was involved in an accident. Damages to my car were so bad that the claims department deemed it as a total loss. The front of my car was completely smashed in. Neither of my airbags deployed. I always thought that Subaru were supposed to be safe so this is very disappointing. I'm not sure where to go from here about this but it is scary that this happened.

- Cary, IL, USA

problem #44

Oct 022019

Forester

  • 51,550 miles
The front passenger air bag turns off while a 130 lbs. Passenger is riding in that seat. Adjusting the seat forward or backward while traveling turns the sensor back on (indicating the passenger air bag is on), but as of today, 4-5 minutes later it would turn off again...occuring 5 times in 35 minutes. I fear that if we are involved in an accident, the airbag to protect my wife as a passenger may fail to deploy.

- Cornelia, GA, USA

problem #43

Oct 022019

Forester

  • miles
Airbag warning light registers off when passenger in seat. Subaru dealer found codes B1650, occupant detection, and code B1760, sensor mat abnormal. Determined that seat bottom with sensor needed to be replaced. 10/2/19 quote to replace airbag was $1168. Is this issue covered under recall?

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #42

Sep 292019

Forester

  • 157,600 miles
Passanger airbag is off no matter if someone is sitting in the seat and will not turn back on. This happens if it is sitting still or moving so not safe for passangers

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

problem #41

Sep 292019

Forester

  • 157,600 miles
Front seat airbag sensor light came on and won't go off. Code says that the seat sensor is not working and airbag stays off. Moving, stationary and code will not reset

- Zephyrhills, FL, USA

problem #40

Mar 182018

Forester

  • 30,000 miles
Passenger air bag dash board warning light reads "passenger air bag off" regardless of a passenger being in the seat or not. This occurs while the car is being driven. The airbag system shuts off without cause.

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #39

Jul 162019

Forester 4-cyl

  • 39,767 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Subaru Forester. When the vehicle was started, the air bag indicator illuminated. The next time the vehicle was started, the indicator did not appear. When the indicator illuminated again, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who suggested the contact take the vehicle to a dealer because the defect may be included in a recall. The contact took the vehicle to #1 cochran Subaru of butler county (340 new castle rd, butler, pa 16001, 888-230-0231) where it was diagnosed that a sensor failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by letter. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 39,767. Consumer stated no edits except to say Subaru reimbursed me the entire amt I paid for the repairs at #1 cockran in butler. VIN number ######## 'parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Cranberry Township, PA, USA

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