2003 Subaru Forester: airbag warning light

Filed Dec 8, 2013 · Airbags · 45,568 miles · HI

The air bag warning light on my subaru forester is on yet again. It has done this several times. In reading online there are wired brought together at a connector that when both ends are pushed together then the airbag warning light will go out. Just using google online to search I have come across dozens of complaints. As this is a vehicle safety component, subaru should repair this at no cost. Why subaru could not have implemented a much more secure, reliable connector for such a critical safety subsystem is baffling as a more reliable connector should not cost but a couple of dollars more. Subaru should be repairing this at no charge to vehicle owners.

Filed Jan 4, 2013 · Airbags · 95,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they advised that the occupancy sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 95,000.

Filed Jul 19, 2012 · Airbags · 90,000 miles · KY

Air bag light remains on. After 3 attempts to repair in the shop, still remains on.

Filed Jun 21, 2012 · Airbags · 63,450 miles · NC

2003 subaru forester. Passenger side airbag light on. Dealer stated that airbag on passenger side harness wires were corroded and required harness repair. Subaru parent company said there is only a 30000 mile warranty on the airbag wires.... This is a design defect and safety issue. Should be covered u der 100,000 warranty.

Filed Jun 13, 2011 · Airbags · NM

I have a 2003 subaru forester and have had an ongoing problem with the air bag light coming on. Sometimes it comes on and goes off by itself. Most recently, it went off after I changed the passenger seat position. I have been advised that it is due to the airbag sensors under the front seats being jostled or detached either by changing seat positions or sliding something down alongside the seat (like a magazine or newspaper.) I've had the sensor on the passenger side fixed at considerable cost to me. It's annoying and clearly a design problem that should be remedied by the dealer at no charge.

Filed Jun 8, 2011 · Airbags · 87,300 miles · NH

Air bag light has been on for about a month. It went out once for a bit but has been on since. I had one service dept. Say the problem was in the passenger side air bag sensor. Ths subaru dealership said it was the air bag sensors under front seats.- caused by changing the position of the seats freqently and made the wires break. I have 88.000 miles on my car. I am the only driver so I do not change my seat position often. There was nothing noted at time of purchase about limiting change of seat position. This is actually rediculos. They stated it would cost $370 to fix and they had packet pars available and could easily replace them. They stated this is an uncommon problem - if so uncommon problem why did they have to come up with these replacement packets? I read they reengineered this part for the next year model. I did some checking and found serveral complaints from other owners of 2003 foresters with the same problem but not enought complaints to force a recall. . It is a definite "common" problem. In the end the dealership charged me $150 and replaced only one sensor which resolved the problem. I've read that such "safety parts" should be replaced at no cost? Is this true? Then I think I am owed a refund I am printing out a few of the same complaints and also the statement that this repair should cost nothing as it is a safety issue. Could you please advise.

Filed Dec 15, 2010 · Airbags, Engine · 101,570 miles · WI · crash

Frontal impact while striking a deer at this speed should have deployed both air bags. The air bag light sometimes would remain on, but mostly it was off. From what I have found through other complaints is that this year vehicle is known for this issue, but a recall has not been issued. Is it going to take a death to force subaru to correct this issue? The other issue found while repairing the vehicle is that both head gaskets are seeping coolant, the drivers side is seeping more just like the recall describes on 1999-2002 models. Even though this a 2003 it was purchased in the fall of 2002, subaru failed to contact me and advise me to add the $1.44 coolant additive to save the head gaskets. How is a consumer supposed to know these little details? Now the vehicle has too many miles for them to care, sticking me with the estimated $2000 repair.

Filed Aug 28, 2009 · Airbags · 44,195 miles · CT

My check engine light came on and I brought my car to my local subaru dealer. The service technician examined the car and determined that the engine light had come on because of a problem with my airbag. However, upon examination, he was unable to find anything wrong with the airbag and the engine light went off. I was then told not to worry about it since it was probably nothing. Luckily, the manager overheard the conversation and remembered a service bulletin (#17-07-04) that had been issued by subaru regarding this very problem for 2003 subaru foresters. He explained to me that oxidation on the contacts in the wiring harness for the airbag sensor was causing the airbag light to come on and that I needed to have the necessary work completed (per the service bulletin) or else the airbags might not activate in an emergency. Since this is a protected part located inside the vehicle I feel that it was not designed appropriately to resist oxidation and that such a factory defect could potentially result in a very serious safety issue to owners of this model subaru car. (we have a 2001 forester with 112,000 miles and have never experienced any problem of this nature.) I looked online and found numerous similar complaints ' all related to the 2003 forester and only to the 2003 forester. In fact, there is a complaint on the national highway transportation safety association website http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/complaintsummary.cfm?odi_id=10' dating back to 2005, involving a death when the air bags in a 2003 forester failed to activate. Based upon all the similar complaints for this very model car that I see online, I am concerned that this could potentially be a serious safety issue. When I called subaru to explain my concern, they reimbursed me for the cost of the repair, which was $186.47. However, I feel that I need to advise this association of the matter as well since I fear this could be more widespread than is now known.

Filed Sep 6, 2008 · Airbags · VA

Airbag warning light illuminates when drivers seat is moved. It appears that the electrical connector beneath the drivers seat is defective. I have found many complaints on the internet of this problem for the 2003 subaru forester. It is an obvious manufacturing defect. Why no recall? This is a serious problem with the cars SRS.

Filed Nov 25, 2007 · Airbags · 63,589 miles · MA

Air bag light would come on and stay on for a few days and then go off. This condition would occur at random, with no warning. Finally the light stayed on long enough for me to get it to the dealer. Subaru dealer indicated that the wiring harness under the driver's seat for the airbag sensor had oxidized contacts leading to a failure of the airbag system. Dealer could not explain why contacts "inside" car in a protected area could "oxidize", but indicated that they had learned from service bulletins that this was a known problem with cars in the northeast. Wiring harness part cost $17.13 but the labor to replace was $207.13 failure of such a critical part due to simple oxidation, especially where the part is protected inside the vehicle suggests that the part was not designed appropriately to resist oxidation/corrosion. This is a safety issue that could result in a failure of the airbag system with possible injury.

Filed Jul 18, 2007 · Airbags · PA

After pickingthe car up from an oil change I noticed the air bag light was on. I drove the car back to dealership, and technician told me that from adjusting the seat the wires had become bent/loose, and they would have to take out seat and resolder the wires so the airbags could fire properly. Are you supposed to be able to adjust your seats?

Filed Sep 14, 2006 · Airbags, Electrical · 57,000 miles · MO

Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light illuminated. The dealership determined the harness assembly underneath the floor board was not long enough to maintain a connection and recommended a kit be installed. After the kit was installed, the air bag light went off.