RoadVitals

2012 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.
20
Latest Jul 12, 2022
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.
19%
of 105 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

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 2012 Subaru Forester submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Jul 12, 2022

My 2012 Subaru forester had a recall on my passenger air bag that I had completed February 2019. It is now July 2022 and it’s displaying the same codes for a faulty air bag per my mechanic. I contacted Subaru of America and they stated that it’s not their problem because they have already complied with the recall. Clearly there is still an issue with the air bag or it would not have the same safety air bag code as before. This is clearly a manufacturer issue that they need to rectify. I should not have the same issue 3 years later. This is a huge safety problem. Consumer was instructed to make an appointment with a licensed Subaru facility to inspect the air bag issue and to go from there.

NHTSA ID
11473562
Incident
Jul 8, 2022
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 6, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2012 Subaru Forester. The contact stated that while driving at a low rate of speed through a parking garage, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The vehicle initially crashed into a parked vehicle which caused a chain reaction with two other parked vehicles. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The police arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. The contact sought medical attention for a laceration to the head and a stiff neck. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,000.

NHTSA ID
11423566
Incident
Jul 2, 2021
Mileage
83,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 25, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V008000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2019. SUBARU OF RICHMOND (9177 W BROAD ST, RICHMOND, VA 23294) STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL OCTOBER OF 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11203744
Incident
Mar 29, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 23, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. OUR SUBARU DEALERSHIP TOLD US THAT THEY CANNOT GET US IN TO FIX OUR AIRBAG FOR AT LEAST A MONTH IF NOT MORE. I FIND THIS UNSAFE TO BE FORCED TO DRIVE A CAR THAT COULD EXPLODE ON MY PASSENGER AT ANY TIME AND UNREASONABLE TO HAVE TO AVOID DRIVING MY CAR DURING THIS TIME WITH A PASSENGER BECAUSE MY DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO PUT US AHEAD OF LESS PRESSING ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11191101
Incident
Mar 23, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR UNTIL JUNE. CANNOT DRIVE WITH SOMEONE IN FRONT SEAT UNTIL THEN. THIS IS NOT IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

NHTSA ID
11190440
Incident
Mar 21, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 14, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 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. THE CONTACT CALLED HANSON SUBARU (2300 CARRIAGE LOOP SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502, (360) 943-2120) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER FOR A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW THE COMPLAINT STATED THE DEALER WOULD WORK WITH THE CONSUMER.*JB

NHTSA ID
11186724
Incident
Jan 9, 2019
Airbags
Filed Mar 9, 2019

TAKATA RECALL: MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO COMPLETE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I CALLED HEUBERGER SUBARU DEALERSHIP IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (888-747-0089) ON FEBRUARY 9 TO SCHEDULE SERVICE FOR TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. SUBARU STATED THAT THEY WOULD ORDER PARTS AND CONTACT ME TO SCHEDULE THE SERVICE WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. I CALLED HEUBERGER SUBARU AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 22, AND SUBARU STATED THAT PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD CONTACT ME LATER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. AS OF MARCH 9, SUBARU STILL HAS NOT SCHEDULED THE RECALL SERVICE, ONE CALENDAR MONTH AFTER THE ORIGINAL REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
11185561
Incident
Feb 9, 2019
Airbags
Filed Jan 22, 2018

TAKATA RECALL

NHTSA ID
11064286
Incident
Jan 20, 2018
Airbags
Filed Dec 22, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUTNAM SUBARU OF BURLINGAME (85 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11056101
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Dec 11, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT PROGRESSED FROM THE BRAKE LINES. THE DEALER (PUTNAM SUBARU OF BURLINGAME, 85 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010, (650) 558-5628) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. INITIALLY, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SECOND TIME, THEY CLEANED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALER FURTHER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF MOISTURE COULD RE-ENTER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE FAILURE TO RECUR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE REMEDY AND PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 1.5 YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BRAKE LINE FAILURE AND HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11054031
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Nov 29, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS TURNING LEFT WHEN I WAS STRUCK BY A CAR GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. ACCORDING TO POLICE THE IMPACT WAS AT 01-1 O'CLOCK. . MY CAR WAS SPUN INTO THE GUARD RAIL CAUSING DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT AND RT REAR OF MY CAR. THE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED AND RELEASED THE SEAT BELT AND THE FRONT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR ,STEERING COLUMN , GEAR SHIFT ,ETC. I SUSTAINED RATHER SEVERE NECK INJURIES WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED IF THE SAFETY SYSTEMS HAD OPERATED.

NHTSA ID
11051371
Incident
Oct 6, 2017
Mileage
38,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2017

TAKATA RECALL.I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST 9 MONTHS AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE PARTS

NHTSA ID
11040957
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Sep 25, 2017

2012 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUBARU SAFETY RECALL TKA17. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR EXCEED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE COMPENSATED. UPDATED 09/25/2017*JS

NHTSA ID
11029772
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Aug 27, 2017

TAKATA RECALL RECOGNITION

NHTSA ID
11020007
Incident
Aug 27, 2017
Airbags
Filed Jun 18, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" RECEIVED LETTER FROM SUBARA OF AMERICA, INC. 3/24/17 IN REFERENCE TO RECALL. INSTRUCTED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. TOOK VEHICLE NEXT DAY TO DEALERSHIP, WHICH STATED THEY HAD REPAIR PARTS AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS WITHIN A WEEK. THE DAY BEFORE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT, SERVICE DEPT. PHONED ME AND SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE REPAIR PARTS. I HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPT WITH PROMISES OF A CALL BACK, WHICH NEVER MATERIALIZE. I BELIEVE THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED AT THIS DEALERSHIP, I AM BEING OVERLOOKED. THIS RECALL EFFECTS MY WIFE WHO HAS WALKING PROBLEMS AND MUST RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT. DEALERSHIP OFFERS A LOANER CAR FOR THESE RECALLS, BUT NEVER RETURNS MY CALLS TO MY CELL PHONE.

NHTSA ID
10995741
Incident
Mar 23, 2017
Mileage
18,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 8, 2017

TAKATA RECALL: I AM WRITING TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS, REGARDING THEIR FAILURE TO FULFILL THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS PART OF THE TAKATA RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 17V-014000). MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALERSHIP, DOWNTOWN SUBARU OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE EITHER SERVICE OR A LOANER VEHICLE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NHTSA'S MANDATED RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS RECALL. I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE MY CAR WITHOUT A PERSON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WHERE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IS INSTALLED, BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I SHARE ONE CAR AND HAVE TWO INFANT CAR SEATS INSTALLED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10984260
Incident
Apr 24, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 22, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V014000 (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
10967844
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 20, 2017

TAKATA RECALL--JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE TODAY IN THE MAIL, MARCH 20, 2017, FROM SUBARU THAT MY FORESTER HAS A DEFECTIVE "PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG CONTAINING...AMMONIUM NITRATE." I AM ADVISED IN THIS LETTER OF THE DANGER THIS PRESENTS, AND THAT "PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME" AND MIGHT NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER." I AM ADVISED, "UNTIL THIS REPAIR IS PERFORMED, DO NOT ALLOW PASSENGERS TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT." HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT???? FOR A PERIOD OF POSSIBLY NINE MONTHS, NO ONE CAN SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SURELY, THE CAR COMPANIES CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS. I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH MY DEALERSHIP. THEY (NO SURPRISE) WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO ME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE, AND I'M A FAN OF SUBARUS.

NHTSA ID
10967258
Incident
Mar 20, 2017
Airbags
Filed Mar 18, 2017

I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER FROM SUBARU AMERICA, WHO DESCRIBED TERRIFYING CONSEQUENCES ABOUT THEIR DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY COULD DO AT THE MOMENT IS JUST TO ADVICE NOT LETTING ANYONE RIDE ON THAT SIDE BEFORE REPAIR. THERE WAS NOT EVEN A DEADLINE FOR SUCH A REPAIR. THIS IS SO DISAPPOINTING SINCE THERE IS NO WAY TO FIT MY FAMILY INTO THE BACK SEATS. THE REALITY IS THAT SUBARU IS STILL PRODUCING NEW VEHICLES WITH COMPETENT AIRBAGS EVERYDAY. THE COMPANY REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER THE FEELINGS OF THEIR CURRENT OWNERS AND TREAT THEM BETTER!

NHTSA ID
10966724
Incident
Mar 18, 2017
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jan 14, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

ME AND MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING 20MPH DOWN A SMALL HILL,A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US,I HIT THE BRAKES,WHICH LOCKED UP AND WE SLID SO I LET OFF THEM IMMEDIATELY,THE ROADS WERE ICY AND SNOWY,SO WE GAINED A LOT OF VELOCITY,WE MISSED HITTING HER BUT WENT SIDEWAYS,A LITTLE AIRBORN AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE.I VIOLENTLY STRUCK MY HEAD OFF THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW,AND MY SHOULDER AND ARM WERE PINCHED BETWEEN MY BODY AND THE DOOR.THE TIRES POPPED,THE FRONT BUMPER CLIPS BROKE.WE BOTH SUFFERED SEAT BELT BRUISES,AND MY DAUGHTER SLAMMED HER KNEE.I HURT MY SHOULDER PRETTY BAD AND MY HEAD STILL HURTS THEY ARE DOING CAT SCANS.MY AIR BAG ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR,WHERE IT STRUCK THE POLE NEVER DEPLOYED.I JUST THANK GOD IT DID NOT HIT ON HER SIDE.BUT WE WERE DEFIANTLY GOING FAST ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THAT SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG IT BENT THE DOOR AND THE ROCKER SILL THE THOUGHT OF IT NOT GOING OFF IS VERY SCARY AND A BIG MALFUNCTION,I'VE BEEN HAVING ENOUGH PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES,SEATBELTS,CAR NOT RUNNING PROPERLY,AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES I REALLY DID NOT NEED THIS AND I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE AND WE WERE VERY LUCKY,WHEN I CONTACTED SUBARU I GOT THE USUAL RUN AROUND.NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.NEEDS SOMEONE TO INTERVENE LIKE YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10672580
Incident
Jan 3, 2015
Mileage
40,000 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .