140 of the 2,453 complaints about the Subaru Forester (5.7%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's #5 problem area. That share is 1.5× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
140Complaints · Airbags & seat belts
5.7%Share of complaints
1.5×vs. all vehicles
21Last 12 months
16.4%Share involving a crash or fire
1Related recalls
Analysis
21 Airbags & seat belts complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 18 in the 12 months before — up 17%.
26 of these reports (16.4%) describe a crash or fire, with 24 injuries and 1 death mentioned.
1 recall campaign relates to this area, most recently campaign 19V701000 (2019-10-03, model year 2018).
On 9/2/2016, my 2019 Subaru Forester was involved in a right-front collision. During the collision, the driver's frontal airbag did not deploy. Actually none of the airbags deployed.
While driving my grandbaby home I was unable to avoid hitting a deer when it ran into the road. Neither the automatic braking nor the airbags deployed when I hit the deer at the front left side.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-08-15 · ODI 11757169 · Crash · Fire
I never ride in the back seat and very infrequently have back seat passengers. However, every time I do they all complain about how difficult it is to "buckle up", I never thought much about it until I started visiting my grandkids and would have to buckle…
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-10-05 · ODI 11769050
My SRS Airbag System warning light illuminated on the dashboard while driving. Subaru dealership service department informed me that the passenger airbag system occupant detection technology failed and the airbag function was disabled.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-10-02 · ODI 11768494
The contact owns a 2018 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with ODS failure.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-09-30 · ODI 11768155
The front passenger airbag of my Subaru Forester 2018 is deactivated, I brought my car to the Subaru dealer in white Plains, NY to check because I found out that there was a recall for malfunction of the airbag and I was told that I have to pay for it since…
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-09-22 · ODI 11766036
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION Campaign 19V701000 · 2019-10-03 · Model years: 2018
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.
