2012 Subaru Forester Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  125%
• 25k–50k
  250%
• 50k–75k
  00%
• 75k–100k
  125%
• 100k–150k
  00%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Subaru Forester owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

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.

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 …

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.

"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.

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, [phone]) 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). …

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.

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.

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 [phone]) 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.

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, [phone]) 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. Consumer would like to withdraw the complaint stated the dealer would work with the consumer.

Related recalls

Airbag complaints in other Forester years