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.
The passenger seat, passenger air bags, and occupant detection system are failing. YES! Available for inspection. Passenger occupants are put at risk riding in my passenger seat as the seat does not detect if the seatbelt is on, or even if someone is sitting in the seat. The AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN INTENDED! Issue was first brought to [XXX] at Subaru in Pasco WA, where they -??could not do anything because it was not YET a recall.-?? As of [XXX], it has been confirmed by an ISC (Subaru of Hermiston, OR) My vehicle has been there since!!! They have not been able to fix the issue or get the part. There is no date of when the part is expected to available. We have been working with Subaru Customer Advocates who have extended my loaner car out 30 days, but after that. I will be OUT OF A SAFE vehicle. I have three children and NEED my passenger seat to be working effectively and SAFELY! Yes, there were warning lights that came on. The lights were on the dash. The red square with an -??i-?? next to odometer and a red passenger air bag symbol below the other light that popped up. I have pictures and videos dated between June 2023 to March 2024 of the lights coming on. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Around 83,000 miles my passenger safety air bag warning sensor started coming on and off intermittently. It would happen both when a passenger was in the seat and when no one was in the seat. There have been no previous issues. I immediately scheduled my car to be diagnosed at the Subaru dealership and they notified me the passenger occupancy sensor pad is faulty and that it would cost $1,483.47 to replace. The dealer stated that the passenger airbag might not deploy if the sensor is not replaced. This puts the safety of the passenger at risk. I researched and found that there was a recall with 2016-2018 Subaru Forester SUV's with heated seats. Recall WUM-98. However, when I called Subaru they said that there were no open recalls on my car.
When there is a passenger in my Subaru Forrester, the Occupant Detection System deactivates the passenger airbag. When I researched the issue, I noticed there is a recall for Foresters but my specific vehicle doesn't fall into the recall. When reviewing Product Campaign Bulletin on the NHTSA website, the Harness Label Inspection Procedure states to inspect the label and if its has supplier code 6578 AND the date code before 18074, the harness must be replaced. My Forester has both the supplier code and the date code before 18074 but my vehicle doesn't have a recall associated with it so the Subaru service center won't replace it. I'm currently driving with a deactivated airbag and that can't possibly be safe. Please NHTSA, widen the recall!
The SRS passenger warning light comes on intermittently. Sometimes with a passenger the indication is the air bag is "ON" and everything seems to be fine. Sometimes with a passenger we get the message that the "SRS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED". And sometimes we get that message even without a passenger. This started at around 80K miles.
I'm unsure why this 2018 Forester wasn't one of the many manufactured that year recalled for an intermittent passenger seat air bag sensor malfunction since the focus of that recall remains the problem with this particular Forester: it has heated seats and displays an intermittent on/off passenger seat air bag light while a passenger is seated in that seat. The malfunction has been occurring for the past several years, however, our attempts to document and diagnose it have occurred much more recently. We took it to a dealership on 5/9/23; despite keeping it overnight and making numerous attempts to duplicate the problem (at a cost to us of $142) they were unable to do so. However, on 6/27/23, as I drove my wife a distance of approximately 150 miles and she sat in the front passenger seat, the airbag light displayed -??off-?? almost the entire trip. Also, she and our son traveled about 400 miles between 16-19 June; he drove, she sat -??front right-??. During that trip the sensor light showed intermittently on and off and my wife was able to take time and date stamped photos of the sensor light from her point of view in the passenger seat; both when it was on and when it was off. I reported "all of the above" to the dealership and received a reply referring me to the "apparent" minimum weight limit needed for a passenger to trigger the sensor (100 lbs; I've seen 75), together with the explanation that "electronics" could interfere with operation of that sensor. Although my wife at times weighs just under 100 lbs, that weight limit doesn't explain why the sensor light is INTERMITTENTLY on and off on the same trip. At the very least, since she's now always concerned about failure of the airbag to inflate in the event of an accident, a recall/replacement/addition to the previously issued recall applicable to the exact same malfunction should be required. Based on dealership response, it will take an order from you before any additional repairs/replacements are made.
- Cumberland, WI, USA
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My 2018 Subaru Forester should be included in a recall and subaru is denying that this recall exists. My SRS air bag light is on. The dealership wants to charge $1216.73 to replace the passenger side seat occupant detection sensor mat Information from https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/SUBARU/FORESTER/SUV/AWD#recalls October 3, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 Occupant Detection System May Deactivate Airbag If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash. NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 Manufacturer Subaru of America, Inc. Components AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected 366,282 Summary Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen. Remedy Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.
Since purchase in 2019, Subaru indicates that front passenger seat air bag will not turn on unless passenger is 65 lbs or more. My passenger seat air bag registers "on" if I place any item such as 1 gallon Milk (full bottle from store) in the passenger seat and furthermore, the Warning chime for passenger seat belt (not buckled) will sound continuously until I buckle the seat belt" Our local Subaru dealer will not look at issue unless we are willing to pay $100-$200 for diagnostic test" And then warns us we will have to pay labor and parts costs if sensor is found defective.
The contact's mother owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt warning light failed to illuminate and alert the passenger to fasten the seat belt. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side seat and sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that a credit towards the repair would be provided. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
The passenger sensor light is on and Subaru says I need to replace the seat. There was a recall for certain vehicles but my Vin was not part of the recall - however, if the issue persists why isn't the recall expanded" Do we really want drivers like me to have to replace seats because Subaru is not living up to the standards - due to their faulty wiring" Please expand the recall.
Similar to recall notice WUM-98R (NHTSA 19V-701). Passenger seat occupancy sensor is intermittent indicating no passenger when one is present or, at times, indicating a passenger when none is present causing the seat belt warning and air bag system to malfunction. Currently, this occurs about 80% of the time. When I queried the internet about this issue, I found the referenced recall. Subaru claims that my vehicle is not included in the recall group. I have asked them to review this claim.
The rear seatbacks fold forward by pulling a knob on top of the seat beside headrest. Recently, as I was driving, my 6 year old child, who was restrained in a booster seat, reached up and pulled the knob, thus unlocking the seatback. I'm glad she asked, "what's this do?" or I may not have known that her seatback was not locked into place. We immediately pulled over to lock the seat into place. I see this as a potential safety hazard, that especially puts young children at risk.
Repeatedly the passenger air bag turns off even when car is in motion (warning lights turn on) with passenger in front seat. We have heated seats but apparently are not part of the recall that covers other Foresters with the exact same problem. Anytime we are in the car and it is deactivated it puts the passenger at risk if an accident would occur. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to death from a problem that the company appears to be aware of. It used to be we could turn the car off, have the passenger get out, restart the car, and the sensor will work, but now that does not happen. We would love to get rid of this vehicle but that is not an option at this time.
Vehicles driver seat rail has become loose causing seat to slightly move when laying back.. could be hazardous while driving.. at initial take off, acceleration jerks, acceleration is not smooth, after slightly pressing on the acceleration pedal, I have to sometimes brake because acceleration is jerky and rough. I just purchased this pre-owned 2018 Subaru Forester with 14K miles and it is already blowing smoke at start up.
NHTSA recall 19V-701 (Subaru recall wum-98) includes only Foresters with seat heaters manufactured from 1/20/15 - 8/1/17. My Forester was manufactured on 6/6/18 and is not currently included. Page 3 of product campaign bulletin wum-98R revised 11/20/19 (copy attached) states if the date code on the front passenger seat cushion wiring harness is 18074 (74th day of 2018) or before and the supplier code is 6578, "the harness is ng and the seat cushion assembly must be replaced". as you can see from the attached photo (img_1295), the date code on the harness label in my vehicle is 18019 (19th day of 2018), the supplier code is 6578, and the Subaru part number (64084sg020) matches the part number on the defective harness label on page 3 of wum-98R. Also, how can the cut off date for defective wiring harnesses (74th day of 2018) be 7 1/2 months after the last recalled vehicle was produced on 8/1/2017" what happened to all the defective wiring harnesses made in that 7 1/2 month period " after several emails to Subaru customer service, Subaru still refuses to admit that the wiring harness in my vehicle is defective, stating only that the vehicle was not manufactured between 1/20/15 and 8/1/17, even though according to page 3 of wum-98R the harness is clearly defective. Note also that page 3 of part 573 safety recall report 19V-701 claims the wiring harness defect was corrected on 2/19/2018, and lists 17 recalled part numbers, but does not include the part number in the photograph of the defective harness label on page 3 of wum-98R (and the harness label in my vehicle). This recall clearly warrants further investigation by NHTSA.
The airbag system became disarmed and seatbelt warning light came on when smartphone weighing 3lbs was on front passenger seat. This occurred multiple times the passenger front seat sensor is supposed to become armed when a 40lb passenger sits in passenger front seat only. Reading through the owners manual states that both driver and passenger airbags may not deploy which puts driver and passengers at risk for injury.
Passenger side seat sensor detects person sitting in seat and turns on the airbag when the seat is empty. Notifications turns on at car startup and will turn on while vehicle is moving. Car was bought May 31st, 2018. This behavior started on the first cold day in my area (roughly late November/early December 2018).
My 2018 Subaru Forester is experiencing faulty activation of the passenger seat air bag light since June 2018. Vehicle was purchased new in August 2017. The dashboard reads that there is no airbag on for the passenger while someone was seated there and the car was sitting or in motion. This has happened on and off since June 2018. The light reads periodically that none of the airbags are on. After bringing it to my Subaru dealer in August 2018, I was told that a part would be ordered and that it was the passenger seat cushion that needed replaced. After waiting a month, I contacted the dealership and they stated that Subaru has to create and manufacture this seat cushion still, and they had no idea when this would be done. I have been unable to drive my Forester for almost 6 months now due to the safety issues of driving without the guarantee of airbags deploying. The dealership has no answer as to when Subaru will even start creating this new part. I am surprised it is not a recall since it is an airbag issue, and the dealership stated they had at least 7 other customers currently with the same issue. I have now been without my new vehicle and driving a loaner car from the dealer. There seems to be no end in sight as to when this issue will be fixed or even addressed by Subaru.
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. While driving at an unknown speed, the front passenger air bag indicator illuminated and flashed on and off. The vehicle was taken to prime Subaru hyannis (508-778-5066, located at 24 ridgewood ave, hyannis, MA 02601) where it was diagnosed that the seat was wet. The dealer reprogrammed the air bag indicator, but the failure recurred when a passenger occupied the front passenger seat. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensor underneath the seat needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the part was back ordered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
Oct. 25, 2018. Car in garage stationary/started vehicle/ dashboard red warning light of seat with belt/airbag. Turned vehicle off. 1/2 hour later, returned to car, saw headlights on, two front doors locked/didn't start car. Called dealer and took in. Said airbag problem and need passenger seat replacement-but on big backorder/months and months. No firm date. Said choice: Drive it at risk/ or take a rental. GM gave us loaner. GM said this is first one he has heard of at their dealership.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Umatilla, OR, USA