2017 Subaru Forester Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the vehicle had previously been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags); however, the failure recurred with the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s Occupant Detection System (ODS) and seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that the vehicle was out of warranty and offered a credit of $800 toward the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags), the passenger’s side air bags experienced intermittent functionality failure. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the front passenger’s side seat needed to be replaced; however, the parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags); however, the contact stated that intermittently, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred more frequently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Occupant Detection System (ODS) sensor mat harness needed to be replaced again. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
I have a problem with the recall issue that the service dealership said they completed but now its showing alert and it seems to be wasn't fixed good. Please help because I dont understand why it would have been completed when its an problem now. If anything happens to me when Im driving an the airbag dosent come out, its you guys fault because its not fixed good. I been calling Subaru Hawaii and letting them know this but they dont want to fix the recall now because its was done but still broken? I dont understand. The car services I have been going to and I been paying them but they dont seem to do a good work to fix it or completed it. They had so much mistakes on my car and I am so upset. I wish I never had this car. Please help me!
2017 Subaru Forester. Air bag sensor light for the occupant occasionally flashes on and off. We brought it to the dealer and was told the sensor was defective and would not deploy if an accident occurred. The Subaru service tech informed us that the air bags would not deploy in case of an accident. The car only has 55,500 miles. It is garaged and has had no front end problems or accidents. This is a safety hazard that could cause a death if the sensor is not working properly and the vehicle was in an accident.
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that the "Air bag Off" warning light was illuminated on the passenger’s side of the instrument panel; indicating that the passenger’s side air bag was deactivated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V701000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000. The VIN was not available.
The passenger seat air bag sensor failed. The seat cushion/ airbag sensor assembly was replaced under a recall at 43,000 miles. It was replaced with an identical assembly which has now failed at 113,000 miles. Subaru says they will not cover the cost ($1,150) of this 2nd replacement because the car is now out of warranty. I argued that the 1st part was defective and was replaced with an identical defective part. They (the Subaru customer advocate office) said the car was out of warranty so they were not responsible. The subaru tech who checked it said the seat may have been damaged by a spill since there were stains on the seat, tho he did note that the cushion was dry. It has worked correctly since he examined it. I think it is obvious that Subaru had a new design for this sensor and introduced it on the new model 2017 forester. The problem was limited to the Forester. I feel that they made a mistake on a vital piece of safety equipment and should own that mistake for the life of the car. Since I intend to keep this car for another 200,000 miles, and the part lasts an average of 56,000 miles, it will need to be replaced another 3 or 4 times and I do not feel that I should pay for Subaru's mistake. If the other 320,000 foresters that were recalled have the same part failure that I have and subaru charges them $1,150 each then subaru will be taking $368 million from their customers to pay for an engineering mistake. And then again. And again.
2017 Subaru Forester - Passenger airbag seat sensor intermittent failure. Does not detect passenger when seated and thus does not arm airbag while in motion. Safety of driver, passenger, and other drivers at risk due to product failure. Problem has been confirmed by local Subaru dealer and Subaru of America, but part is back ordered with no timetable for fulfillment. Multiple owners facing same issue, should be investigated for a full product recall.
This is for a 2017 Subaru Forester. The passenger airbag sensor in the seat keeps turning off the airbag when a passenger is in the seat. The problem is intermittent. The dealer couldn't replicate the problem and it wasn't repaired. I believe this car had a recall about this, but the problem keeps happening. This car has had the issue dozens of times and the problem needs to be investigated. There are many, many complaints about this issue.
Srs airbag system needs to be checked error. Airbag not going on sometimes when passenger is in seat
The contact owns a 2017 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle crashed into a second vehicle causing substantial front end damage to the vehicle. During the crash no airbags in the vehicle deployed. The driver sustained chest and rib injuries and was transported to the hospital. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified. The failure mileage was 33,000.
My vehicle was involved in a five car accident where is was completely destroyed and flipped upside and the two front airbags never deployed which caused head, back, and neck injuries to the two passengers that were in the two front seats. There was a recall on the the passenger front air bag which supposedly got fixed by Palm Springs subaru on July 13, 2020. This recall air bag never deployed during or after the major accident. I contacted the Subaru of America which they supposedly did an investigation on why the two front airbags did not deployed and they stated that there was not malfunction on either airbags which is hard to believe because my car was unrepairable because of the severe damages due to the accident. I would like this to be taken into consideration.
Vehicle was struck by a dump truck traveling approximately 50 mph that ran a red light. Impact was on the front passenger side. Although, the collision was violent and there was substantial frontend damage, no airbags deployed. Driver was only occupant.
2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WAS IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT WHERE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WAS DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. *JS
MY NAME IS [XXX] ADDRESS: [XXX] E-MAIL: [XXX] CELL: [XXX] I AM THE FIRST AND THE ONLY OWNER OF THE CAR, SUBARU FORESTER PREMIUM, 2017. VIN [XXX] PURCHASED FROM REEDMAN TOLL SUBARU, LANGHORNE, PA, ON 03/2017, AS A BRAND NEW. CURRENT MILEAGE: 63000 MY CAR IS TOTALED, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS SERVICED BY SUBARU REEDMAN THIS SPRING D/T MANUFACTURER RECALL. I WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH ON MAJOR ROAD, HAVING THE RIGHT OF WAY. A DODGE TRUCK CROSSED IN FRONT OF ME, SPEEDING FROM A CROSS ROAD. MY CAR HIT RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE TRACK. MY CAR'S FRONT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, FRONT END PUSHED WELL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS WAS A FRONT TO SIDE IMPACT. ALL LIQUIDS LEAKED AWAY ON THE SPOT. BOTH HEAD LITES AND FOG LITES WERE TORN AWAY FROM MY CAR AND THROWN AROUND THE ROAD. BOTH RIGHT DOORS ARE HAVING DENTS, TOO. INSURANCE COMPANY, AAA, DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NONE OF THEM. I SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH INJURY REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND INVESTING IN REHABILITATION MEASURES..... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I AM LOCATING IN VILSECK, GERMANY ON DOD US ARMY MILITARY OFFICIAL ORDER FROM MAY 2018 TO PRESENT. NOW! I AM SCHEDULE TO PCS FROM GERMANY BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WITH THIS RECALL I WILL HAVE PROBLEM OF SHIPPING MY CAR BACK HOME AND I CAN'T GET IT FIX DUE TO SUBARU, GERMANY IS NOT AVAILABLE TO GET IT DONE DUE TO LACKS OF SERVICE CONTACT WITH SUBARU USA.
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAME ON WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RESET ON ITS OWN BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THE COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING HAS COME ON AND WON'T GO AWAY. FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PUT TO TASK AS THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT DOING ENOUGH AND ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SUBARU OF GRAPEVINE) THEY OUTRIGHT WANTED MONEY FOR DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM THEY KNEW WAS PREEXISTING. THIS CLEARLY REFLECTS THE ATTITUDE OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER TOWARDS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE.
SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WITH NO OTHER PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START UP AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND LOCATED AT BEND 2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,199.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED FIRST TEAM AUTO MALL DEALER, (6520 PETERS CREEK RD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540) 362-4800) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FROM THE DEALER WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT ABOUT THE PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECTS.
2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION OF SOME SORT CAUSES AIRBAG SYSTEM TO BE SWITCHED TO "OFF" EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME, AND THE CODE WAS "RESET" IN THE MEMORY AND I WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT DID HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THIS TIME THEY SAID "THE CODE WASN'T IN THE MEMORY" AND THAT "WHEN IT HAPPENS, BRING THE CAR RIGHT IN WHILE THE LIGHT IS STILL ON." THAT HOWEVER, IS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT WAS RANDOM AND HAD BEEN HAPPENING ON A LONG DRIVE. THEY KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT IN THIS CASE, AND TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I MYSELF DROVE AROUND WITH THE WEIGHTS ON THE SEAT AND SEATBELT ENGAGED FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. THIS HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THE 2ND INSTANCE DESCRIBED ABOVE, HOWEVER I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE SENSOR OF WHICH EVEN THE WEIGHT OF A CELL PHONE ON THE PASSENGER SEAT COULD SET OFF THE OCCUPANCY DETECTION SYSTEM. THE FIRST OCCASION HAPPENED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES, WITH THE 2ND HAPPENING AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES. IT HAS NOT RECURRED OVER THE COURSE OF 10,000 MILES SINCE THEN. THE NEWS OF THE RECENT NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS EXACT ISSUE PROMPTED ME TO SUBMIT MY OWN COMPLAINT IN AN EFFORT TO BE ON RECORD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO R&G SUBARU (1140 HIGHWAY 59 S, DETROIT LAKE, MN) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,606. *BF*JB
SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, 4 DAYS APART. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THE SENSOR MUST HAVE GOTTEN WET. I DON'T BELIEVE THE SENSOR WAS EVER WET. HAPPEN AGAIN TWICE IN THE NEXT 2 WEEKS WHILE DRIVING. I HAD ALSO PREVIOUSLY HAD THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIKE COME ON WHEN THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO A BAD SENSOR.
SEAT BOTTOM OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM FAILED TO WORK. NOTICE THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICED APPEARED ON DASH MESSAGE. NOTICE OCCURRED BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN MOVING. DEALER REPLACED SEAT BOTTOM SENSOR UNDER A B1760 CODE. PART(S) USED:64139SG140VH. THIS IS A LEASED VEHICLE (PRIVATE).
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Quick Summary
The 2017 Subaru Forester has 108 Air Bags complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.