2018 Subaru Forester Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 97 airbag complaints for the 2018 Subaru Forester, 20% of all complaints filed for that year. Most describe the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) misreading seat occupancy, tied to a recall (19V701000) for the ODS sensor mat harness. Median mileage at failure is 14,000 miles, with 2 crashes and 3 injuries reported.
- Airbags complaints
- 97
- 20% of 495
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 14,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Passenger-side Occupant Detection System (ODS) falsely reports the seat empty even when occupied, disabling the airbag.
- Airbag warning light and passenger airbag 'off' indicator flash on and off intermittently, often triggered by cold weather or moisture in the seat.
- Dealers frequently diagnose a faulty ODS sensor mat or seat and report the replacement part is on extended backorder for months.
- Some owners report the airbag failed to deploy during an actual crash, including one incident with injuries and no deployment despite a T-bone collision.
- A separate complaint links the passenger airbag indicator issue to the original Takata airbag recall shortly after purchase.
- Sitting on a cushion in the passenger seat can trick the ODS into thinking the seat is empty, turning off that airbag.
When 2018 Subaru Forester airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 9, 2018, latest Sep 22, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2018 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 2018 Subaru Forester have?
- NHTSA lists 97 airbag-related complaints for the 2018 Forester, which is 20% of the 495 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2018 Subaru Forester?
- Yes. Recall 19V701000, reported in October 2019, covers 2015-2018 Foresters with heated seats where the Occupant Detection System's electrical connection may loosen. Subaru dealers inspect and replace the ODS sensor mat harness free of charge.
- What mileage do airbag problems typically show up at?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 14,000 miles.
- Did the airbag issue cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this complaint area shows 2 crashes and 3 injuries for the 2018 Forester, with no fires reported.
- Is the 2018 Forester worse than other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2018 model's 20% share is lower than the 2017 Forester's 28% and 2016's 24%, but higher than most years from 2019 onward, which dropped to 2%-8%.