What 93 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Subaru Forester

I have a 2022 Subaru Forrester Touring vehicle purchased new. The front passenger seat airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) consisting of the front, knee, curtain and side airbags is not enabled (Indicator light) while my wife is sitting in it. My wife weighs 88 lbs. which should be enough to enable the SRS. I have brought the issue to 2 different Subaru dealerships several times and Subaru of Americas on 2 different occasions also contacting Subaru Japan Corporate. Larger individuals cause the SRS to be enabled (Indicator Light). The driver side SRS is continuously on. From the dealerships I have received the following responses: •The car is new and may work once seat is broken in •It is a federal crime to change the SRS •My wife did not weigh enough •Weight requirement was either 100 lbs or 34 kilos, not sure •Weight minimums not stated anywhere but best guesses •Tested limit is 100 lbs., not specification just test limit I contacted Subaru of America and asked them the weight limit but they could not provide one and was told they would make contact with Japan Corporate office and inquire there. I was told Corporate could not provide an answer and could only state that the SRS was tested at 100 lbs. It was not a limit but only a test specification. While in the passenger seat the SRS is off and my wife stands a higher than average chance of major injuries occurring without the front, knee, curtain and side airbags deploying during an accident. I consider this a major safety issue and causes her un-needed stress every time we are traveling. We have a 2004, 2nd vehicle and the passenger airbag system is on continuously. I do not understand why a 2022 vehicle can’t offer the same protection. I believe this safety issue requires immediate attention.

NHTSA ODI 11582856

Driving on the road a tire randomly blew out and upon that happening every airbag in the car went off despite there being no collision.

NHTSA ODI 11565328

I had adaptive cruise control set to the speed limit of 55, I looked down to input directions and then heard the collision warning tone. There was a large box truck sitting at the stop light ahead of me. I slammed on the breaks and swerved into the right-hand turn lane. The vehicle did not make it entirely out of the way and hit the back passenger corner of the lift on the box truck at a slight angle. The vehicle was shredded from the front driver's side bumper to the beginning of the driver's door frame and the hood went through the windshield. No air bags were deployed. --I believe the components/system that could have potentially failed if any, was the airbag system or the automatic emergency breaking system. --Unsure if the problem has been reproduced. --The vehicle was inspected by police & insurance representatives. Unsure if the manufacturer has completed an inspection. --The front collision warning tone & red warning image populated on the center screen of the instrument cluster ~3 seconds prior to collision.

NHTSA ODI 11482220

The contact owned a 2022 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while slowing pulling into the parking space the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove over a curb and traveled up a hill before crashing into a tree. During the crash neither the driver nor passenger-side air bags deployed. The driver and front passenger sustained chest injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 1800.

NHTSA ODI 11467960