RoadVitals

2009 Subaru Forester Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
40
Latest Mar 12, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 178 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 40 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 40, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2025

Airbag lights have been going on and off ever since I took it into to get my airbags recalled and Subaru will not take a look at it with out me signing a form saying I am liable to pay 200 dollars if it happens to be anything else unrelated to the recall warranty.

NHTSA ID
11647932
Incident
Apr 10, 2024
Airbags
Filed Apr 30, 2024

No local dealer to complete recall NHTSA Recall Number 20V002000. Vehicle is too old, too high miles to be trusted to take on an extended road trip to a dealer. Contacting Subaru wasn’t any help.

NHTSA ID
11586148
Incident
Apr 30, 2024
Airbags
Filed Feb 3, 2021

2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG IS ON RECALL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO SEND A CERTIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO THE CONSUMERS. INSTEAD, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMERS SEND THE VEHICLE FRO LANA'I, HAWAII TO OAHU, HAWAII TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRIP WOULD COST AT LEAST 900.00 PER OWNER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE A REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO COME TO LANA'I. *JS *JS

NHTSA ID
11394234
Incident
Feb 3, 2021
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2020

SUBARU DEALER (MARK SHAW SUBARU 1650 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, PHONE (720) 724-9280) REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS ON RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS DEPLOYED. THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON WHY OR WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ID
11315933
Incident
Feb 27, 2020
Mileage
106,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 5, 2018

WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN OUR 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. ESPECIALLY FRUSTRATING IS THE FACT THAT, EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO, WE GET A NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS WARNING US ABOUT THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AIRBAG (AS IF WE DIDN'T KNOW) AND URGING US TO CONTACT OUR DEALER FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT. EACH TIME WE GET THAT NOTICE, WE AGAIN CALL OUR DEALER, FOX MOTORS IN MARQUETTE, MICH., AND ARE TOLD THAT OUR REPLACEMENT AIRBAG WILL BE ORDERED. MONTHS PASS WITH NO WORD. THEN WE GET ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. THEN WE CALL FOX MOTORS AGAIN. MONTHS PASS. REPEAT. REPEAT. WE APPRECIATE THE NEED TO REPLACE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN HOT, HUMID PLACES FIRST. IF WE LIVED IN THE SOUTH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT PRIORITY IN THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. BUT IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST TAKATA AIRBAG DEATH, AND FIVE YEARS SINCE TAKATA ADMITTED THE DANGER. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH DO TRAVEL IN THE SOUTH WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS LURKING IN THEIR DASHBOARDS. IT'S TIME TO GET THIS DONE FOR ALL OF US! AND, ON THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN GENERAL: WE ARE SCANDALIZED BY THE FACT THAT TAKATA (OR ITS BANKRUPTCY MANAGER) IS HANDLING THIS DEADLY ISSUE IN SUCH A LEISURELY MANNER, WHILE VOLKSWAGEN WAS REQUIRED TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROMPTLY REPLACING PERFECTLY FUNCTIONAL, NON-LETHAL CARS BECAUSE THE COMPANY FUDGED ITS POLLUTION NUMBERS. THESE TWO RECALLS ARE GROSSLY OUT OF PROPORTION TO THE RESPECTIVE OFFENSES. WE HAVE NO CONNECTION TO VOLKSWAGEN; HAVE NEVER EVEN OWNED ONE. BUT WE KNOW UNFAIRNESS WHEN WE SEE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS CRITICAL MATTER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11083426
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Airbags
Filed Mar 28, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. THE VERY DAY THAT I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THAT THIS REPAIR WAS 'URGENT' AND WITH AN EXPLICIT WARNING OF 'DO NOT LET ANYONE RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ' UNTIL THIS REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR, (SERRA OF TRAVERSE CITY MI) AND THE EARLIEST THEY COULD SCHEDULE ME WAS SIXTY (YES, 60) DAYS AWAY!!!! WE ARE A SINGLE CAR FAMILY, AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON OUR JOBS, AND ASSORTED FAMILY COMMITMENTS. SO I CALLED SUBARU BY THE BAY, A SUBARU DEALER ABOUT 65 MILES AWAY, AND FROM WHOM I HAD NEVER PURCHASED ANYTHING, AND THEY GOT ME IN FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT WITHIN FOUR DAYS!

NHTSA ID
11081846
Incident
Mar 22, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 22, 2018

TAKATA RECALL : I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE, CALLED THE ONLY SUBARU DEALER IN THE AREA, AND WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET MORE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AND I AM UPSET ABOUT THE HARDSHIP NOT HAVING A USEABLE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUSES FOR MY FAMILY WITH NO TIMELINE FOR REMEDY.

NHTSA ID
11080795
Incident
Mar 21, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jan 5, 2018

TAKATA AIR BAG: I AM WRITING TO COMPLAINING ABOUT SUBARU'S INABILITY TO COMPLETE TWO NHTSA RECALL NOTICES: IN THE FALL OF 2016 WE GOT TWO RECALLS ON OUR CAR, 16V738000 (AIR INJECTION PUMP) AND 17V026000 (PASSENGER AIRBAG). WE HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR OVER 16 MONTHS WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL TO GET THE REQUIRED PARTS SHIPPED TO A GERMAN SUBARU DEALERSHIP TO GET OUR CAR BACK ON THE ROAD. OVER THIS TIME WE HAVE SEEN NOTHING CONCRETE, HAD A LACK OF FOLLOW UP, HAD OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIM NUMBER DELETED IN THEIR SYSTEM AND REINSTATED AGAIN AND WERE TOLD ALL THE BLAME WAS ON YOUR PARENT COMPANY IN JAPAN AND THEIR INABILITY TO EITHER RESPOND TO YOUR RECALL DEPARTMENTS PERSONNEL EMAILS AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD HOW DANGEROUS IT IS TO SHIP THESE PARTS. I HAVE ANOTHER JAPANESE CAR WITH ME IN GERMANY, A HONDA. HONDA OF AMERICA CONTACTED HONDA OF GERMANY AND HAVE AUTHORIZED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO ORDER AND REPLACE THE PART ON MY HONDA'THAT PROCESS ONLY TOOK 6 WEEKS VERSUS 16 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN WAITING WITH SUBARU. MY PATIENCE HAS RUN VERY THIN. I KNOW THAT GETTING AMERICAN SERVICEMEN'S VEHICLES SERVICED OVERSEAS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LONG. CAN YOU PLEASE INQUIRE WITH SUBARU AND PUT PRESSURE AT THE RIGHT LEVEL TO GET THESE PROBLEMS FIXED.

NHTSA ID
11060717
Incident
Jun 3, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 24, 2017

TAKATA RECALL LOCAL DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THEIR ONLY SUGGESTION IS TO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE, YET NEW CARS ARE BEING PRODUCED, WITH [SUPPOSEDLY GOOD INFLATORS]. APPARENTLY PROFIT COMES BEFORE SAFETY.

NHTSA ID
11039171
Incident
Oct 24, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 25, 2017

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL-NOTICE IN THE MAIL THAT MY VEHICLE IS IN THE LIST. LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO.

NHTSA ID
11025484
Incident
Sep 22, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 21, 2017

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SUBARU DEALER SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTH. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WE'RE NOT USING THE FRONT SEAT SINCE WE LEARNED OF THE RECALL. I'M GETTING PUSHED OFF TIME AFTER TIME LISTENING TO THE SAME EXCUSE: "I WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TILL WE GET THE PARTS IN". THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID
11024784
Incident
Apr 5, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 26, 2017

TAKATA RECALL - MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ID
11019861
Incident
Aug 26, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 11, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: SUBARU HAS STILL NOT FIXED OUR AIRBAGS. WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE. WE WERE TOLD BY SUBARU THAT THEY WILL NOTIFY US - BUT IT IS HAS BEEN SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'VE RECEIVED NO NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
11014576
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 2, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10983138
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Apr 5, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10970764
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10969332
Incident
Mar 2, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10968409
Incident
Mar 20, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 24, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A RECALL FROM SUBARU FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG BUT THE RECALL ACTION IS WHOLLY INADEQUATE. THEY SAY IT WILL BE ONE YEAR BEFORE THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (MARCH 2018) AND UNTIL THEN DON'T LET ANYONE RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ARE THEY SERIOUS? THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYS THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE FOR RESALE AND RENDERS IT FAIRLY USELESS FOR MOST TRANSPORTATION AS I FREQUENTLY HAVE A PASSENGER. TRIED CALLING SUBARU BUT THEY SIMPLY TOOK MY PHONE NUMBER BY AUTOMATED RESPONSE AND HAVE NOT CALLED BACK.

NHTSA ID
10968335
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HAVE REMEDY PARTS AVAILABLE TILL MARCH OF 2018. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10967477
Incident
Mar 21, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V026000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10967124
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 10, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10960033
Incident
Jun 10, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10958518
Incident
Mar 3, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS RECALL IS INCOMPLETE. MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH SUBARU'S FAILURE TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM. MY INSURANCE COMPANY RECENTLY SUGGESTED I CHECK FOR TAKATA RECALLS FOR MY SUBARU. I WAS SURPRISED BY TWO THINGS; 1) WHEN I LOGGED IN TO THE OWNER SECTION OF THE SUBARU WEBSITE (MYSUBARU), UNDER RECALLS SUBARU INDICATED THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS GLAD TO KNOW THAT. 2) HOWEVER, I DECIDED TO CLICK ON THE "VIEW ALL RECALLS" BUTTON BELOW IT, AND WAS TAKEN TO A PAGE WHICH CLEARLY SHOWED THE OPEN TAKATA PASSENGER AIRBAG RECALL, SINCE JULY OF 2016. TO DECEIVE THE CUSTOMER BY SAYING THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS, AND THEN TO DISCOVER NOT ONLY THE RECALL, BUT THE FACT THAT I HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED IN THE SEVEN MONTHS SINCE IT WAS LISTED, IS WRONG IN MY OPINION. IN THOSE MONTHS, I HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF PEOPLE RIDE IN THAT PASSENGER SEAT. I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM SIT IN THE BACK IF I HAD KNOWN OF THE RECALL. FOR SUBARU NOT TO INFORM OWNERS IS TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE SAFETY AND LIVES OF OCCUPANTS. SUBARU CLAIMS TO HOLD SAFETY AS THEIR HIGHEST COMMITMENT. THIS KIND OF ACTION DOES NOT CONVINCE ME OF THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK AT NHTSA IN HOLDING MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS TO PROPER STANDARDS FOR AUTOMOBILE SAFETY. AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS AVENUE FOR OWNERS TO EXPRESS CONCERNS.

NHTSA ID
10955692
Incident
Feb 14, 2017
Airbags
Filed Feb 5, 2017

I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM SUBARU THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD BEEN RECALLED. I CALLED THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PARTS. NOW I AM UNABLE TO RENEW MY REGISTRATION.

NHTSA ID
10949612
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE ATTEMPTED THROUGH 3 SEPARATE SUBARU DEALERS TO COMPLETE MY AIR BAG RECALL COMPLETED. ONE DEALER CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT OBTAIN THE PART, ANOTHER STATED IT WAS BACK ORDERED FOR MONTHS & WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN PART WAS AVAILABLE, ANOTHER STATED THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE 3-4D AYS & I WOULD BE W/O MY CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT SUBARU NATIONAL WITHOUT RESOLUTION OR SUPPORT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 1 YR FOR REPAIR WORK. THERE ONLY ADVISE IS NOT TO HAVE ANYONE SIT IN THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT. REALLY!! HOW ABOUT COMPLETEING THE NECESSSARY WORK?? PLEASE ADVISE

NHTSA ID
10947452
Incident
Jan 24, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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