2003 Subaru Forester Airbags Problems

Your car may experience sudden, unintended acceleration where the engine speeds up on its own even when you're not pressing the gas pedal or when your foot is on the brake. In this case, the vehicle accelerated unexpectedly multiple times over several months, culminating in a serious crash through a neighbor's house. Additionally, the airbags failed to deploy during the collision. This issue may require diagnostic testing of the throttle control system, fuel injectors, and airbag system to identify the root cause.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID HITTING AN ANIMAL HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. THE DETAILS OF THE INJURIES WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 126.000.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON MY SUBARU FORESTER IS ON YET AGAIN. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES. IN READING ONLINE THERE ARE WIRED BROUGHT TOGETHER AT A CONNECTOR THAT WHEN BOTH ENDS ARE PUSHED TOGETHER THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL GO OUT. JUST USING GOOGLE ONLINE TO SEARCH I HAVE COME ACROSS DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS. AS THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPONENT, SUBARU SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO COST. WHY SUBARU COULD NOT HAVE IMPLEMENTED A MUCH MORE SECURE, RELIABLE CONNECTOR FOR SUCH A CRITICAL SAFETY SUBSYSTEM IS BAFFLING AS A MORE RELIABLE CONNECTOR SHOULD NOT COST BUT A COUPLE OF DOLLARS MORE. SUBARU SHOULD BE REPAIRING THIS AT NO CHARGE TO VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

(ALL) THE AIR BAGS FAILED. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR, (FELL) OUT OF THE CARRIER. THE DRIVERS AUTO LOCK ON THE SEATBELT FAILED, THE REAR STORAGE COVER POPPED (OUT) OF ITS HOLDERS, FLEW TO THE FRONT (V'ED), HITTING HER IN THE RT TEMPLE, AS SHE (BOUNCED) BACKED AND FORTH HITTING THE DASH AND CENTER POST DRIVERS DOORS. GEICO (GAVE) ME THE CAR INCASE SUBARU WANTED TO SEND AN INVESTOR. CALLED THEM AT THEIR CORP. #. THREATENED TO SUE ME IF I WENT PUBLIC. HAD TO HIRE A LAWYER IN FAIRBANK. TWO RIVERS WOMAN KILLED IN COLLISION PUBLISHED MARCH 17, 2005 BY [XXX] , STAFF WRITER A VEHICLE COLLISION CLAIMED A WOMAN'S LIFE NEAR 10 MILE CHENA HOT SPRINGS ROAD ABOUT 5 P.M. WEDNESDAY. [XXX], OF TWO RIVERS DIED AFTER SHE LOST CONTROL OF HER SUBARU ON THE SLIPPERY ROAD, VEERED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND WAS STRUCK BY A COMMERCIAL VAN. "HER VEHICLE WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL," SAID ALASKA STATE TROOPER [XXX]. [XXX], WHO WAS DRIVING EAST, STARTED FISHTAILING AND VEERED INTO THE WESTBOUND LANE. THE VAN DRIVER, 51-YEAR-OLD [XXX], WAS DRIVING WEST. [XXX] DIED FROM HEAD INJURIES. THE CRASH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. [XXX]WITH HIS THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE. "I JUST HEARD THIS GOD-AWFUL COMMOTION,"[XXX] SAID. "I HEARD IT, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT." HE USHERED THE THREE CHILDREN, WHO HAD BEEN SLEDDING ON A SNOW BERM, INTO THE HOUSE AND RAN OUT TO THE ROAD. [XXX] PINNED IN VEHICLE. NO PULSE, WASN'T BREATHING. EMERGENCY RESPONDERS HAD TO PRY OFF THE SUBARU'S PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CUT THE SEAT BELT TO FREE. THE COLLISION INFLATED THE VAN'S AIR BAGS AND[XXX] SUSTAINED ONLY MINOR INJURIES, OFFICIALS SAID. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR IN THE SHOP, STILL REMAINS ON. *TR

2003 SUBARU FORESTER. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE HARNESS WIRES WERE CORRODED AND REQUIRED HARNESS REPAIR. SUBARU PARENT COMPANY SAID THERE IS ONLY A 30000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE AIRBAG WIRES.... THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD BE COVERED U DER 100,000 WARRANTY. *TT

I HAVE A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER AND HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON AND GOES OFF BY ITSELF. MOST RECENTLY, IT WENT OFF AFTER I CHANGED THE PASSENGER SEAT POSITION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT IT IS DUE TO THE AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER THE FRONT SEATS BEING JOSTLED OR DETACHED EITHER BY CHANGING SEAT POSITIONS OR SLIDING SOMETHING DOWN ALONGSIDE THE SEAT (LIKE A MAGAZINE OR NEWSPAPER.) I'VE HAD THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FIXED AT CONSIDERABLE COST TO ME. IT'S ANNOYING AND CLEARLY A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE DEALER AT NO CHARGE. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IT WENT OUT ONCE FOR A BIT BUT HAS BEEN ON SINCE. I HAD ONE SERVICE DEPT. SAY THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. THS SUBARU DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE AIR BAG SENSORS UNDER FRONT SEATS.- CAUSED BY CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE SEATS FREQENTLY AND MADE THE WIRES BREAK. I HAVE 88.000 MILES ON MY CAR. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER SO I DO NOT CHANGE MY SEAT POSITION OFTEN. THERE WAS NOTHING NOTED AT TIME OF PURCHASE ABOUT LIMITING CHANGE OF SEAT POSITION. THIS IS ACTUALLY REDICULOS. THEY STATED IT WOULD COST $370 TO FIX AND THEY HAD PACKET PARS AVAILABLE AND COULD EASILY REPLACE THEM. THEY STATED THIS IS AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM - IF SO UNCOMMON PROBLEM WHY DID THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH THESE REPLACEMENT PACKETS? I READ THEY REENGINEERED THIS PART FOR THE NEXT YEAR MODEL. I DID SOME CHECKING AND FOUND SERVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF 2003 FORESTERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT ENOUGHT COMPLAINTS TO FORCE A RECALL. . IT IS A DEFINITE "COMMON" PROBLEM. IN THE END THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $150 AND REPLACED ONLY ONE SENSOR WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ THAT SUCH "SAFETY PARTS" SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST? IS THIS TRUE? THEN I THINK I AM OWED A REFUND I AM PRINTING OUT A FEW OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS AND ALSO THE STATEMENT THAT THIS REPAIR SHOULD COST NOTHING AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. COULD YOU PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I BROUGHT MY CAR TO MY LOCAL SUBARU DEALER. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN EXAMINED THE CAR AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH MY AIRBAG. HOWEVER, UPON EXAMINATION, HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I WAS THEN TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT SINCE IT WAS PROBABLY NOTHING. LUCKILY, THE MANAGER OVERHEARD THE CONVERSATION AND REMEMBERED A SERVICE BULLETIN (#17-07-04) THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED BY SUBARU REGARDING THIS VERY PROBLEM FOR 2003 SUBARU FORESTERS. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT OXIDATION ON THE CONTACTS IN THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THE NECESSARY WORK COMPLETED (PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN) OR ELSE THE AIRBAGS MIGHT NOT ACTIVATE IN AN EMERGENCY. SINCE THIS IS A PROTECTED PART LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE I FEEL THAT IT WAS NOT DESIGNED APPROPRIATELY TO RESIST OXIDATION AND THAT SUCH A FACTORY DEFECT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO OWNERS OF THIS MODEL SUBARU CAR. (WE HAVE A 2001 FORESTER WITH 112,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE.) I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ' ALL RELATED TO THE 2003 FORESTER AND ONLY TO THE 2003 FORESTER. IN FACT, THERE IS A COMPLAINT ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ASSOCIATION WEBSITE HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/CARS/PROBLEMS/COMPLAIN/COMPLAINTSUMMARY.CFM?ODI_ID=10' DATING BACK TO 2005, INVOLVING A DEATH WHEN THE AIR BAGS IN A 2003 FORESTER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. BASED UPON ALL THE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THIS VERY MODEL CAR THAT I SEE ONLINE, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED SUBARU TO EXPLAIN MY CONCERN, THEY REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR, WHICH WAS $186.47. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT I NEED TO ADVISE THIS ASSOCIATION OF THE MATTER AS WELL SINCE I FEAR THIS COULD BE MORE WIDESPREAD THAN IS NOW KNOWN. *TR

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN DRIVERS SEAT IS MOVED. IT APPEARS THAT THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BENEATH THE DRIVERS SEAT IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THIS PROBLEM FOR THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHY NO RECALL? THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CARS SRS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A FEW DAYS AND THEN GO OFF. THIS CONDITION WOULD OCCUR AT RANDOM, WITH NO WARNING. FINALLY THE LIGHT STAYED ON LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT TO THE DEALER. SUBARU DEALER INDICATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR HAD OXIDIZED CONTACTS LEADING TO A FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY CONTACTS "INSIDE" CAR IN A PROTECTED AREA COULD "OXIDIZE", BUT INDICATED THAT THEY HAD LEARNED FROM SERVICE BULLETINS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CARS IN THE NORTHEAST. WIRING HARNESS PART COST $17.13 BUT THE LABOR TO REPLACE WAS $207.13 FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL PART DUE TO SIMPLE OXIDATION, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE PART IS PROTECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE SUGGESTS THAT THE PART WAS NOT DESIGNED APPROPRIATELY TO RESIST OXIDATION/CORROSION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH POSSIBLE INJURY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT BOUGHT A USED CAR FROM A SUBARU DEALER, WHICH HAS A LIMITED WARRANTY FOR 90 DAYS. SHE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NO AIR BAGS IN THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A NON-WORKING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE COST TO REPAIR OR INSTALL THE AIR BAGS IS $1,200. SHE STATED THAT THE DEALER MISREPRESENTED THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,000.

AFTER PICKINGTHE CAR UP FROM AN OIL CHANGE I NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I DROVE THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT FROM ADJUSTING THE SEAT THE WIRES HAD BECOME BENT/LOOSE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT SEAT AND RESOLDER THE WIRES SO THE AIRBAGS COULD FIRE PROPERLY. ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST YOUR SEATS? *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR BOARD WAS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN A CONNECTION AND RECOMMENDED A KIT BE INSTALLED. AFTER THE KIT WAS INSTALLED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF.

2003 FORESTER FOR PAST 2 YEARS THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. SUBARU TECHNICIAN FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR UNDER DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE AND HE PLUGGED IT BACK IN. THAT FIXED IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH. SINCE THEN WHEN LIGHT COMES ON I HAVE TO REACH UNDER SEAT FROM REAR FOOT AREA AND WIGGLE BOTH PLUGS, AIR BAG LIGHT GOES OUT AND WORKS FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN I HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCEDURE. I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF MY AIRBAG BEING DISABLED BY A LOOSE PLUG. WHAT IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AFTER THE PLUG LOOSENED BUT BEFORE I RESTARTED MOTOR (APPARENTLY COMPUTER ONLY CHECKS AIR BAG CIRCUIT EACH TIME CAR IS STARTED AND LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN CONNECTOR BECOMES LOOSE). *JB

MARCH 16TH 2006. 5:00 PM. IT HAD SNOWED EARLIER THAT DAY. WITNESS CLAIMS THE 2003 SUBARU FORESTER SLID IN A CURVE INTO AN ON COMING LANE. UNIT SPUN AROUND AND WAS HIT IN THE LEFT REAR CORNER(TAIL LIGHT SECTION) SHOVING THE REAR BODY PANEL AND QUARTER PANEL INSIDE THE UNIT BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. LEFT REAR TIRE WAS TORN FROM THE UNIT. THE REAR SHADE COVER (CARGO AREA) FLEW OUT OF IT'S HOLDERS NOW BENT IS A (V-SHAPE) AND HIT MY WIFE IN HER RIGHT TEMPLE, ADDING TO THE HEAD TRAUMA SHE RECEIVED WHEN THE SEAT BELTS FAILED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED. HER FOREHEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE LEFT BACK PART OF THE HEAD WAS CRUSHED HITTING THE HINGE PILLAR AND RIGHT TEMPLE WAS BRUISED FROM THE REAR CARGO COVER. IN SECONDS, LEFT HER BLEEDING TO DEATH IN THIS UNIT. I CALLED SUBARU CORP. IN MARCH TO INFORM THEM OF THE ACCIDENT (JUST) IN CASE THEY WANTED TO INVESTIGATE. (NOT INTERESTED) (VERY RUDE) I STILL HAVE THE UNIT HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT. IT'S (SUPPOSE) TO BE THE SAFEST UNIT ON THE ROAD? *JB

WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RECLINED THE CAR SEAT PINCHES THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE VOLTAGE THAT OPERATES THE AIR BAGS. WHEN THE CABLE IS PINCHED IT DEACTIVATES THE AIR BAGS, PREVENTING THEM FROM DEPLOYING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS ASKING $600.00 FOR REPAIRS OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

SUBARU REPLACED REGULAR SEATS WITH LEATHER AFTER MARKET SEATS. ALSO, SUBARU STATED THAT SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS IN REAR MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK