2016 Subaru Forester Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 99 airbag complaints for the 2016 Subaru Forester, 24% of all complaints filed for the year, including 9 crashes and 7 injuries. A related recall (19V701000) covers a loosening occupant detection sensor mat harness in front passenger seats with heated seats.
- Airbags complaints
- 99
- 24% of 414
- Crashes reported
- 9
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 7
- Median mileage
- 40,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy in frontal or head-on collisions, including impacts with trees, telephone poles, and parked vehicles.
- Some describe airbags not deploying even in high-speed highway crashes that resulted in the vehicle being declared a total loss.
- Several owners report the passenger seat occupant detection sensor malfunctioning, causing the passenger airbag to intermittently disable itself.
- Owners describe recurring airbag warning lights (SRS system alerts) that come and go over hours or days, sometimes tied to a faulty seat sensor switch.
- Some owners note dealers diagnosing a bad sensor under the passenger seat that required part replacement to restore airbag function.
When 2016 Subaru Forester airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 24, 2016, latest Sep 16, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2016 Subaru Forester
- NHTSA 19V701000Oct 3, 2019Airbags366,282 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
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.
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.
Airbags complaints by Forester model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does the 2016 Subaru Forester have?
- NHTSA lists 99 airbag complaints for the 2016 Forester, which is 24% of the 414 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2016 Subaru Forester?
- Yes. Recall 19V701000 covers 2015-2018 Foresters with heated seats, where an electrical connection in the front passenger seat's Occupant Detection System may loosen. Subaru dealers inspect and, if needed, replace the ODS sensor mat harness free of charge.
- Did the 2016 Forester's airbag problems cause crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area show 9 crashes and 7 injuries among the reported airbag complaints for the 2016 Forester.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2016 Forester?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on the 2016 Forester is 40,000 miles.
- How does the 2016 Forester compare to other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2016 Forester's airbag complaints made up 24% of its total complaints, higher than most other model years except 2017 (28%) and 2024 (24%), based on NHTSA data.