Sensor for air bag in passenger seat not working correctly. Works 80% of the time, but will put a warning on my dashboard randomly while I'm driving and disable airbag. It could happen when stationary or driving. Doesn't seem to matter the speed or if anybody is in the seat or not. It's been happening on and off for almost 3 years. Please help, the fix is very expensive and it seems like this is not the first time there have been problems with subarus passenger side airbag sensors. The k you very much.
2013 Subaru Impreza airbags complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 79, newest first, as owners wrote them.
On a hot, long drive with a sweaty friend in the front passenger seat, the passenger airbag turned off according to the dash indicator. The airbag error indicator also turned on. It was a long, highway drive and outdoor temperatures were 80-100f, though I was running AC inside.
Air bag is disabled when moisture or humidity is present on the passenger seat. Specifically the airbag red light illuminates and the amber passenger side air bag off light illuminates. This is a problem that presented itself soon after purchase. It has happened while stationary & while driving. It has been triggered by both humidity in the air & perspiration by the passenger. I believe the problem has to do with moisture compromising the passenger seat switch. The incident has happened many times. Most recently I had left the rear window open it was humid but there was no rain, when I went to work in the morning the red airbag light was on. The problem may be getting worse over time, in the past a towel or trash bag would prevent it but no, as mentioned it is being triggered by humid air. I videoed one example and have attempted to include it but it is too large I would be glad to email it if you are interested, my daughter is in the front seat, the airbag light is on and the passenger side airbag indicator shows off. The video was taken on sept 30th 2014, the vehicle had 35,212 miles on it at the time.
After cleaning front seats with upholstery cleaner and seats damp air bag light red comes on also shows passenger air bag as off even though someone in seat. Happens if car stationary or moving.
Cleaned upholstery and seats slightly damp, when I started car the red air bag light came on and passenger seat showed air bag off even though a passenger was in seat. It has been two days and air bag light is still on and passenger bag shows as off even if passenger is in seat. As soon as I start the car the air bag light comes on and stays on while driving.
6/1/2018-driving from kc to st. Louis-drove 1.25 hours-stopped for break-drove another 1.5 hours and air bag light came on unprovoked. Turn car off and back on fixed. Return trip 6/3/2018 from st. Louis to kc - same scenario-drove approx 2.5 hours-stopped - drove additional 1 hour and air bag light came on. Turn car off and on and is off currently. Was driving around 70 MPH when both instances occurred.
Every time it rains or is wet outside my air bag light comes on and acts as if I dont have a passenger next to me, but I do. They are sitting with seat belt on in passenger seat. But the lights on my dash say otherwise. This issue only happens when its wet out. And it shows the light on dash when im driving, not when I first start the car.
Takata recall. Having cell phone on seat will activate the airbag on and will set off seat belt light and sound. After getting the seat wet, airbag would not go on with someone sitting in it and light would be on the dash. I had to let the seat dry and that seemed to make it work again after getting wet. This is passanger seat. I see that there's a recall for that on the 2012 model. The 2013 model is equipped with the same sensors as the 2012. Would like to see this get updated and moved to a recall just like the 2012 models.
The passenger seat sensor that controls airbag is faulty. Sometimes with a passenger in the seat, the airbag light will go on indicating that the airbag is disabled even though passenger is in seat and belted. This can always be reset by turning igniotion off and on again. Also sensor incorrectly thinks there is a passenger in the seat even when very light packages or groceries are on the seat weighing 2-12 pounds. I've called subaru and they claim sensor is set to 27 punds or more, which is clearly not working here. Subaru will not fix this under warranty so I think the federal safety agency should look at all the similar complaints here and investigate.
I purchased my 2013 subaru impreza as a certified pre-owned vehicle with ~54,000 miles on it in august 2016. Over the last year, I've noticed an intermittent problem with the occupant airbag sensor in the front passenger seat. Sometimes, when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat and when the vehicle is in motion, whether on a highway or on a side street, the passenger airbag off light will come on, and the red air bag light in the driver information center will come on- meaning that the airbag is off when someone is sitting in the seat and the vehicle is in motion. Initially, I thought this could have been a fluke so I took the wait and see approach. This past spring, the problem started happening more, so I've since started documenting the problem every time it happens. I noticed that this problem happens more when the passenger side is damp, whether it is because I'm driving in a hot and humid location, or passenger has damp clothes due to coming back from the beach or river, exercising, or just being plain warm & sweaty. There is a recall for other 2012 imprezas for this exact problem, but my car, which I believe has the same sensors as the recalled ones for the 2012 impreza, is not covered by the recall.
I purchased my 2013 subaru impreza as a certified pre-owned vehicle with ~54,000 miles on it in august 2016. Over the last year, I've noticed an intermittent problem with the occupant airbag sensor in the front passenger seat. Sometimes, when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat and when the vehicle is in motion, whether on a highway or on a side street, the passenger airbag off light will come on, and the red air bag light in the driver information center will come on- meaning that the airbag is off when someone is sitting in the seat and the vehicle is in motion. Initially, I thought this could have been a fluke so I took the wait and see approach. This past spring, the problem started happening more, so I've since started documenting the problem every time it happens. I noticed that this problem happens more when the passenger side is damp, whether it is because I'm driving in a hot and humid location, or passenger has damp clothes due to coming back from the beach or river, exercising, or just being plain warm & sweaty. There is a recall for other 2012 imprezas for this exact problem, but my car, which I believe has the same sensors as the recalled ones for the 2012 impreza, is not covered by the recall.
I purchased my 2013 subaru impreza as a certified pre-owned vehicle with ~54,000 miles on it in august 2016. Over the last year, I've noticed an intermittent problem with the occupant airbag sensor in the front passenger seat. Sometimes, when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat and when the vehicle is in motion, whether on a highway or on a side street, the passenger airbag off light will come on, and the red air bag light in the driver information center will come on- meaning that the airbag is off when someone is sitting in the seat and the vehicle is in motion. Initially, I thought this could have been a fluke so I took the wait and see approach. This past spring, the problem started happening more, so I've since started documenting the problem every time it happens. I noticed that this problem happens more when the passenger side is damp, whether it is because I'm driving in a hot and humid location, or passenger has damp clothes due to coming back from the beach or river, exercising, or just being plain warm & sweaty. There is a recall for other 2012 imprezas for this exact problem, but my car, which I believe has the same sensors as the recalled ones for the 2012 impreza, is not covered by the recall.
I purchased my 2013 subaru impreza as a certified pre-owned vehicle with ~54,000 miles on it in august 2016. Over the last year, I've noticed an intermittent problem with the occupant airbag sensor in the front passenger seat. Sometimes, when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat and when the vehicle is in motion, whether on a highway or on a side street, the passenger airbag off light will come on, and the red air bag light in the driver information center will come on- meaning that the airbag is off when someone is sitting in the seat and the vehicle is in motion. Initially, I thought this could have been a fluke so I took the wait and see approach. This past spring, the problem started happening more, so I've since started documenting the problem every time it happens. I noticed that this problem happens more when the passenger side is damp, whether it is because I'm driving in a hot and humid location, or passenger has damp clothes due to coming back from the beach or river, exercising, or just being plain warm & sweaty. There is a recall for other 2012 imprezas for this exact problem, but my car, which I believe has the same sensors as the recalled ones for the 2012 impreza, is not covered by the recall. I do not think that I should have to pay for a repair of something that is a known, widespread issue among subaru imprezas. I think that my car should be repaired under this recall. This problem is alarming, given that the air bag may not function properly if the car was involved in an accident.
While driving on the highway with a passenger, the air bag light came on and the passenger air bag indicator switched from on to off. I had already driven probably 35 miles at highway speed (65mph) at the time this occurred. I was in motion at the time, changing lanes as I prepared to exit the highway. After the vehicle was turned off, the lights behaved as expected but the vehicle had to be turned off to fix.
I received a legal notice from auto airbag settlement about takata recall on the airbags in my car and I should make an appointment for repairs by a local retailer as soon as possible.
The SRS sensor was lighting up and the airbag indicator light began to switch to off even when the passenger seat was occupied. I took my car into the dealership and they confirmed the switch has gone back and needs replaced. Luckily the car is still under warranty so I am only responsible to pay for the $100 warranty deductible. After much research, I have found that this is the same SRS switch used in the 2012 subaru impreza that has been replaced due to a recall.
When a passenger is in the seat, when driving or parked, the airbag sign illuminates off. Occasionally the airbag indicator will illuminate on the dashboard. At times the sensor will sense the smallest things, such as a small box of tissues, and the airbag will turn on without a passenger. This is an ongoing problem for the last 3-4 months.
Srs airbag warning light illuminates and passenger airbag turns off even with passenger in the front seat. Car was in motion. This is a well known defect and a recall was issued for the exact same reason for the 2012 model, which has the same components as the 2013. Is the federal safety agency going to issue a recall or ignore a known and very dangerous fault?
When the passenger seat is damp, the passenger occupancy sensor stops working and deactivates the passenger airbag when an adult is occupying the front passenger seat. When this happens, the front passenger's frontal airbag indicator (located in the center display) turns "off" (even if an adult is sitting in the seat). The red SRS airbag system warning (light located in the instrument cluster) turns on when this issue occurs. Eventually the light shuts off by itself. This issue happens regardless whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion.
The dashboard 'airbag malfunction' light turns on and the passenger airbag light switches to 'off' while there is an adult passenger in the front passenger seat of the car. This happens upon starting the car and continues until the car engine is shut off. I am afraid if there is a crash that the passenger air bag will not deploy.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 subaru impreza. The contact stated that the occupant detection system malfunctioned. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v419000 (air bags). The contact experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 30,000.
Multiple sporadic issues with the front passenger air bag indicator. 1) when a passenger is seated with seatbelt fastened in the front passenger seat, once the car is in motion the passenger airbag indicator will change status to off and a red airbag/balloon indicator light will show on the dash as if there is no-one in the passenger seat. 2) when someone sitting in the front passenger seat exits the car, after driving away the passenger air bag indicator will turn on as if someone is sitting in the seat and the fasten seat belt chime will continue sounding even through the passenger seat is empty. 3) with no passenger in the car, if you place a cell phone directly on the passenger seat while it is plugged in to the USB port charging, the passenger air bag indicator will switch status to on and the fasten seat belt chime will sound. If you pick up the cell phone from the seat (still plugged in to USB port charging), the indicator will change back to off and the fasten seat belt chime will stop. If you place the cell phone back on the seat, the air bag indicator will switch back to on and the fasten seat belt chime will sound. Issue #1 seem to occur most often in high humidity or rain. Issue #3 occurs if the cell phone is greater than 35% charged.
When passenger ( adult over 130 lbs) sits in front passenger seat the airbag sensor enables. While driving with the passenger the airbag sensor will disengage thus rendering the airbag useless. Also happens if seat is slightly wet. This was a recall to the 2012 subaru impreza's and the 2013 models use the same airbag sensor.
Passenger airbag light activates/ illuminates/ stays on when passenger with wet/ moist clothing sits in passenger seat. This also occurs after cleaning the passenger seat with upholstery cleaner and the seat has not fully dried. Upon reading about this problem, I found that a recall was issued for 2012 models. Please include 2013 model as this is a serious safety issue.
My car is having the same exact behavior described in a recall for the 2012 model year (the federal safety agency campaign number 15v419000, subaru recall number wqt-55). My car is not covered by the recall, but it seems like it should be since my problem appears to be identical to that which is described.
Passenger driver airbag is off even though somebody seating . This is safety issue and I discover it recently. Subaru dealer charged me for inspection and repair because item is out of warranty.
Passenger airbag not engaged when the passenger is in the seat with the belt on/off. Continues even after the vehicle is turned off and started on again. Occurs most often if the humidity is high, seat is moist, or raining. Brought to the attention of subaru dealership while having service performed. Was told this is normal. Recall only issued for 2012 impreza even though the same sensor and airbag is installed in this model year.
When the passenger seat is unoccupied and no electronic devices or personal belongings are in the seat, the seatbelt alarm comes on and the airbag goes from the off position to on, this is same thing that was happening in with the 2012 passenger-airbag occupancy sensor, recall.
Our subaru impreza air bag & seat belt censor malfunctions regularly when the car is in motion. When no passenger is in the front passenger seat, the sensor buzzes to indicate the presence of a passenger. The sensor malfunctions when my purse is on the seat. It malfunctions and buzzes when I simply touch the seat with slight pressure. Once it seemed to go off because of condensation from a cold beverage bottle resting on the seat (that is it buzzed after the bottle was no longer on the seat, but it was damp to the touch). Conversely -- and less frequently -- the sensor malfunctions when a passenger is in the front passenger seat. While the car is in motion, the sensor will change its status, suggesting that there is no occupant in the seat. This seems to imply that the air bag will not go off in the event of an emergency. This seems like a malfunction with potential to be life-threatening.
The front passenger airbag turns off when there is a passenger in the seat and the car is in motion.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2013 Subaru Impreza?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history