RoadVitals

2010 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.
42
Latest Jan 9, 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.
16%
of 262 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.
2

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 2010 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 42 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 42, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2025
Crash reported

Had a collision with another vehicle and my airbags never deployed. The other vehicles airbags did deploy.

NHTSA ID
11635035
Incident
Dec 20, 2024
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2024

Subaru of America refuses to authorize dealer Beyer Subaru of Alexandria Virginia to do the stipulated safety repair

NHTSA ID
11576911
Incident
Feb 13, 2024
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed May 25, 2023

On 5/24/2023 while driving with a front passenger, the passenger seat belt warning light, chime and airbag warning came on for no reason. Stopped the car at a red traffic light and turned ignition off and then on to hopefully clear the warning. There was no power to any system. The ignition switch did not work and I could not get the transmission out of park to push the car off the road. Could not activated anything on the dash including the hazard warning. Being in a single lane road, traffic was traveling around us on both sides. We could have been rear ended. I opened the driver's door and all power to the dash came back. It took 4 attempts to start before the engine started. All settings and radio had to be reprogrammed. Stopped at the dealer and they ask if this was the first occurence. (It was) They said if it happened again to bring the car in. The car has been normal since.

NHTSA ID
11523919
Incident
May 24, 2023
Airbags
Filed Jun 19, 2020

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE INTO A SUBARU DEALERSHIP FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. APPARENTLY THEY DIDN'T DO IT OR FAILED TO REGISTER THAT THEY DID THE WORK, AS I AM RECEIVING MAIL INDICATING THAT THE REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11329760
Incident
Nov 20, 2019
Airbags
Filed Oct 24, 2019

GALLATIN SUBARU IN BOZEMAN MONTANA REFUSES TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR ON THE AIR BAG BECAUSE I HAD A MOUSE TRAP IN MY VEHICLE. THE MANAGER REFUSED TO LET ME RECORD WHY THEY WOULD NOT IN THE END I DID SAY GREAT YOU ARE WILLING TO RISK MY F-ING LIFE IN THE PAST WE HAVE PURCHASED 3 NEW VEHICLES FROM THEM. THEY NOW HAVE ON FILE DO NOT WORK ON MY VEHICLE OR ALLOWED ON THE PROPERTY. PERSONALLY I DO NOT WANT THEM TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE NOW.

NHTSA ID
11270625
Incident
Sep 30, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Mar 28, 2019

NHTSA RECALL NO 14V-830 (BRAKE LINES) AND RECALL TKC19 (PASSENGER AIR BAGS) DAVE WRIGHT SUBARU WILL NOT RETURN CALLS FOR ME TO SCHEDULE REPAIRS FOR THE BRAKE LINE RECALL

NHTSA ID
11192308
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. TODAY IS 23 MARCH 2019. THE FIRST DATE FOR A SERVICE APPOIONTMENT FOR A TAKATA BAG RECALL IS IN OCTOBER 2019. IS A 7 MONTH REPAIR DELAY ACCEPTABLE? THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS NOT USING THE PASSENGER SEAT IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. 7 MONTHS IS A LONG TIME TO PUT ME OR MY WIFE IN THE REAR SEAT.

NHTSA ID
11191386
Incident
Mar 25, 2019
Mileage
105,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2019

TAKATA RECALL - SUBARU USA IS NOT ABLE/WILLING TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY FASHION TO AIRBAG RECALL. 3 DEALERS CALLED ALL HAD A LEAST A 4 WEEK WAIT TO FIX RECALL. LETTER STATES NO-ONE SHOULD RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. NO LOANERS OFFERED IN THE MEANWHILE.

NHTSA ID
11181124
Incident
Feb 4, 2019
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2019

TAKATA RECALL SUBARU HAS SAID IT WILL BE AT LEAST 3 MONTHS BEFORE THEY WILL HAVE THE PARTS TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG, AND IN THE MEANTIME NO ONE SHOULD RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LONG WAIT, SUBARU OF AMERICA SAID I SHOULD ASK FOR A LOANER, WHICH MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER IS UNABLE TO DO. I NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE MY FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TO FIT EVERYONE IN. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT THREE MONTHS.

NHTSA ID
11181066
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Airbags
Filed Feb 8, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V009000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. CITYSIDE SUBARU (790 PLEASANT ST, BELMONT, MA 02478, (617) 826-5000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY AND THE NEXT APPOINTMENT WOULD BE APRIL 5, 2010. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11175176
Incident
Jan 9, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 28, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON GETTING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG REPLACED. THE NOTICE SPECIFICALLY STATES IN BOLD LETTERS "UNTIL THIS REPAIR IS PERFORMED, DO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT". WHEN I CONTACTED THE MY SUBARU DEALER, MINOOKA SUBARU, THE FIRST APPOINTMENT I COULD GET WAS FRIDAY JUNE 8, 2018. THAT IS 7 WEEKS AWAY ! THAT IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR, IF I HAVE TO TRANSPORT 5 PASSENGERS IN MY CAR (MY WIFE AND GRANDCHILDREN, I'LL HAVE TO TAKE TWO CARS ! AGAIN THAT IS UNREASONABLE.

NHTSA ID
11081800
Incident
Mar 28, 2018
Airbags
Filed Dec 4, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL, THE CAR WAS DRIVING AND HIT A PARKED CAR IN THE CITY, AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED TO THE SIZE OF A SOCCER BALL, POPPED, AND JUST SAT THERE. THE CURTAIN NEVER OPENED OR CAME DOWN.THE AIRBAG NEVER REACHED MY FACE NOR DID IT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I RECEIVED SEVERAL INJURIES BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA ID
11052397
Incident
Nov 4, 2017
Mileage
99,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PRESTIGE SUBARU IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, HUNTERS SUBARU IN HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA AND BICK BAILEY IN SPARTENBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA WERE MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11050976
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Nov 1, 2017

TAMARA RECALL: I RECENTLY CALLED A NEARBY DEALERSHIP IN ATLANTA GA ABOUT RECEIVING A NOTICE ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL. I GAVE THEM MY VIN BUT THEY SAID THAT MY PARTICULAR CAR DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG. HOWEVER, WHEN I CHECK ONLINE AT AIRBAGRECALL.COM, I HAVE THE RECALL LISTED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID INSTEAD, I HAVE A BRAKE LINE CORROSION UP FOR RECALL. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS IS TRUE.

NHTSA ID
11042212
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2017

I HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE LEGAL ACTION THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THE TANAKA AIRBAG RECALL. HOWEVER, ON MY VIN SEARCH I DO NOT SEE THE NOTIFICATION FOR A RECALL AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN THE MAIL. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ID
11041547
Incident
Oct 31, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2017

TAKATA RECALL BUT SUBARU DENIES THIS.

NHTSA ID
11041004
Incident
Aug 29, 2017
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 16, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" THIS LETTER IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY INITIAL COMPLAINT # 10983517 DATED 5/4/2017.AS OF TODAY,OCTOBER 16, MY 2010 SUBARU FORESTER HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. LOCAL SUBARU DEALERS INFORM ME I DO NOT HAVE A DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG;I FIND THIS SUSPECT. DO YOU HAVE A DATABASE THAT IDENTIFIES THE MANUFACTURER AND MODEL NUMBER OF MY PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG AND IF NOT WHO HAS THAT DATABASE? I HAVE BEEN TOLD CONFLICTING INFO. FROM SUBARU CORPORATE AND LOCAL DEALERS THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE SEATING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO "NO WORRIES".I NEED TO KNOW DEFINITIVELY IF ANYONE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY CAR IS AT RISK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY. VERY TRULY YOURS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
11033839
Incident
Oct 16, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2017

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11020883
Incident
Jul 26, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2017

I WAS CONTACTED BY AN ATTORNEY REGARDING MY AIRBAGS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN THIS VEHICLE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEMS LEADING TO DEATH? HOWEVER MY SUBARU DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THERE IS NO CURRENT RECALL FOR MY AIRBAG? I HAVE A CHILD AND DO NOT WANT TO PUT HER LIFE IN JEPRODY? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

NHTSA ID
11020116
Incident
Aug 23, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 28, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET.

NHTSA ID
11020114
Incident
Aug 28, 2017
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: 2 MONTHS AGO PURCHASED A USED 2010 SUBARU FORESTER FROM OR, I LIVE IN GA. AFTER CONTACTING SUBARU USA, THEY SAID I WOULD GET A RECALL LETTER 1/2018; I FEEL SINCE I LIVE IN ZONE 1, I SHOULD BE MOVED UP FOR AN AIR BAG REPLACEMENT. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

NHTSA ID
10983517
Incident
Apr 10, 2017
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE 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 MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10971919
Incident
Jul 15, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS) HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE HOWEVER; THEY SHOULD HAVE THE PART WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10967469
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V358000 (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 NOT AVAILABLE. IN MARCH OF 2016, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, BUT NO SECOND NOTICE WAS RECEIVED ADVISING THE OWNER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A THREE MONTH WAIT TO HAVE THE PART DELIVERED AFTER THE ORDER WAS PLACED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10958344
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Feb 28, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 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
10957681
Incident
Jun 10, 2016

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .