What 488 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Subaru Forester Wilderness

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.

NHTSA ODI 11166156

TL* 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.

NHTSA ODI 11151957

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.

NHTSA ODI 11143434