2018 Subaru Forester Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2018 Subaru Forester, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 13,280 miles. The words owners use most often: “passenger seat” (39% of reports).
- 99air bags complaints
- 13,280median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 40%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Passenger seat: mentioned in 39 of 99 complaints (39%)
- Air bag: mentioned in 33 of 99 complaints (33%)
- Occupant detection: mentioned in 19 of 99 complaints (19%)
- Heated seats: mentioned in 14 of 99 complaints (14%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 30 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 99 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Subaru Forester air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2024 Forester | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2023 Forester | 6 | 8% | 9,000 |
| 2022 Forester | 4 | 4% | 1,800 |
| 2021 Forester | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2020 Forester | 11 | 2% | 5,350 |
| 2019 Forester | 17 | 2% | 13,099 |
| 2018 Forester | 99 | 20% | 13,280 |
| 2017 Forester | 165 | 28% | 30,000 |
| 2016 Forester | 99 | 24% | 40,000 |
| 2015 Forester | 102 | 17% | 59,900 |
| 2014 Forester | 57 | 14% | 75,000 |
| 2013 Forester | 13 | 17% | 28,000 |
| 2012 Forester | 20 | 19% | 39,000 |
| 2011 Forester | 29 | 20% | 35,140 |
| 2010 Forester | 42 | 16% | 42,000 |
| 2009 Forester | 40 | 22% | 60,000 |
| 2008 Forester | 6 | 12% | 81,500 |
| 2007 Forester | 6 | 8% | 50,355 |
| 2006 Forester | 6 | 7% | 52,711 |
| 2005 Forester | 5 | 5% | 57,000 |
| 2004 Forester | 21 | 10% | 68,000 |
| 2003 Forester | 25 | 13% | 59,287 |
| 2002 Forester | 10 | 11% | 30,356 |
| 2001 Forester | 12 | 9% | 56,000 |
| 2000 Forester | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1999 Forester | 2 | 2% | 61,500 |
| 1998 Forester | 6 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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. The repair required replacement of the entire seat bottom.
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. The contact was informed that the ODS needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had…
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 the repair was already done, then, I have…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Subaru Foresters have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 99 owner complaints about air bags for the 2018 Subaru Forester (20% of the 498 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Subaru Forester air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 13,280 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2018 Subaru Forester?
The most frequent phrase is “passenger seat”, in 39 of 99 complaints, followed by “air bag” (33).
Other 2018 Subaru Forester problems
See all 2018 Subaru Forester problems or air bags problems across all Forester years.