2018 Subaru Forester: airbags did not deploy in a crash

Filed Aug 9, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · VA

My 2018 Subaru Forester has a faulty passenger air bag sensor, which has been diagnosed by my local Subaru dealer, with a repair cost of $1,500+ for labor and parts. It has intermittently turned on and off again, but after getting a separate issue fixed by my dealer, they diagnosed this problem, and every time the car is turned on, the warning light is constantly displayed, and the passenger seat airbag light shows "OFF" even when someone is in the passenger seat. Upon research, this is a known and common issue with other Subaru Foresters with heated seats in the same model year (my Forester does have heated seats), but my VIN is not included in the Subaru recall for this specific repair. This greatly puts the passenger in my car at risk, as the sensor does not recognize that a person is in the seat while they are riding, and if we were to be in an accident, their airbag would not deploy. I am frustrated that this is a known, common safety issue that affects my model and year of car, but my VIN is not included on the recall list. I would expect that my car should also be included in the recall and fixed by the dealer at their expense as it is clearly documented many times on other 2018 Subaru Foresters.

Filed Oct 11, 2023 · Airbags · CA

We took the car in for servicing because the SRS light went off. Upon inspection, the Subaru service department found that the SRS sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. They said if not replaced, there is a chance the airbag would not go off in the event of an accident. The part is backordered until January, but Subaru won't ok a rental or car loan until the part arrives. Their solution is to inform us that there is nothing they can do until the part arrives, and released our vehicle with instructions to not have anyone in the passenger seat until then. This cannot be a safe and appropriate course of action.

Filed Mar 12, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · MI · crash

I took our 2018 Subaru Forester through a car wash. The usual washing procedure went just fine with me in the car idling in neutral as it went through. When it came to the end of the wash cycle, I coasted out and then shifted into drive. Instantly the car surged forward at an alarming speed and I could not stop it. The car crossed a busy street. I fortunately did not collide with cars. The car continued into a field next to a Ford dealer’s lot at a high speed and I was unable to stop it. I managed to swerve right to avoid crashing into the cars parked on the Ford lot. This sent the car back toward the road. Fortunately I hit a lone fire hydrant along the road, shearing the hydrant completely off. The hydrant was dragged along under the front left tire until it hit the curb stopping the car. The air bag did not deploy and I was not injured. This all occurred in a matter of seconds.

Filed Feb 21, 2022 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · NC · crash

Unknown system that failed but vehicle equiped with EyeSight and all of Subaru safety features. Air bag did not deploy. Pulling into curbed parking space at city park. Speed <10 mph while in parking lot. Applied brake while pulling in space to park and car accelerated jumping the curb. The car was out of control and luckily heading into the woods. Tried to apply brake again but car kept accelerating. Car went approximately 10-12 feet and crashed into a tree. I suffered only stiffness and sore muscles from the seatbelt. An accident report was filed with local police department. No warning lamps, messages or other messages appeared prior to the incident.

Filed Jan 15, 2021 · Acceleration, Brakes · 47,000 miles · IN · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 subaru forester. The contact stated that while attempting to switch from drive to reverse, when they pressed the brakes the vehicle suddenly accelerated forward. The vehicle crashed into the contact's garage door through the garage door and partially through the cement wall inside the garage. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed however it was still being determined whether the vehicle would be deemed totaled. The contact's wife received injuries the hip and leg area. Medical attention was needed. The contact had spoken to the dealer (castle subaru burnsharbor mi) who referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who requested the black box and opened a case regarding the matter. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.

Filed Oct 27, 2020 · Brakes · 35,000 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact leased a 2018 a subaru forester. The contact stated while driving at 25 MPH up a hill, the brake pedal was applied but failed to respond and vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into a tree. The door failed to open. There were no reported injuries. A police report was filed. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was taken to subaru sherman oaks (5747 van nuys blvd, van nuys, ca 91401 (818) 670-7450) where the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted however no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Filed Sep 2, 2019 · Airbags · 28,000 miles · VA · crash · 2 injuries

I was in an accident in which a car t-boned my passenger side. No airbags deployed and we suffered injury as a result. The other car that hit us had all air bags deployed. This was a malfunction in the subaru I drive. The accident occurred while I was in motion going 40mph and a car hit me after running a red light going 45mph

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Acceleration · 11,490 miles · MD · crash

As I was easing into a parking space in my townhome community in front of my neighbor's house, the car suddenly accelerated on its own and jumped the curb, landing on the sidewalk and pushing in the wall of the house. Airbags did not go off and luckily nobody was home or standing on the sidewalk. I was not injured. The car sustained minimal damage (bumper was askew) but the house wall needed to be replaced and the tenants were unable to live there for two weeks.

Filed Dec 18, 2018 · Acceleration · 2,000 miles · FL · crash

Vehicle was turning right into residential garage. Driver experienced sudden unintended acceleration and struck the wall of the garage, causing extensive damage to the structure and the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy, despite the fact that the vehicle struck the residence with sufficient force to shear several 2x6 studs and 1/2" osb siding. The front end of the vehicle sustained approximately $15k in damage the driver was well-rested and had 20+ years experience driving a similar size japanese SUV with no accidents.