Seat complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 | 1% | 12,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 4% | 30,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% | 46,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 5% | 83,000 miles |
| 2013 | 9 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2012 | 15 | 6% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 3% | 85,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | 51,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | 5,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 1% | 6,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 1% | 105,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 1997 | 3 | 10% | — |
| 1996 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 1995 | 1 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The seat foam has degraded and exposed the metal frame through the seat cover on the driver side front seat. It is not safe to drive with a metal frame being exposed. A service bulletin (12-232-18 dated 2/6/2018) indicates there is an issue with the seat construction that can lead to this defect/degradation but refuse to acknowledge the issue to customers calling it an "outside forces" problem.
The passenger seat sensor has been going off when nothing is in the seat. Because the sensor thinks something is in the seat the airbag for the passenger side is turned on. After going to the dealership, quirk Subaru, in bangor maine, they told me my cell phone was setting off the sensor. Their resolution to this problem, "don't bring your cell phone into the car." the car can be moving or stationary and will randomly turn on. It's gotten worse over the last year happening about 4 times since August of 2018. I have contacted Subaru of America and they told me to go to another dealership to handle the matter. It is my opinion that this poses a risk to occupants inside the vehicle which May LED to an unwanted airbag deployment.
Airbag light comes on (red stick figure getting hit in the face with with airbag) illuminates in dashboard at random times. Passenger airbag is switched to on when no one is in the seat, but turns off when passenger is present. The weight of a cellphone can trigger passenger airbag to come on which they are claiming is normal. When driving alone passenger seatbelt alarm will ding forcing me to keep passenger seatbelt plugged in most of time. Ive taken the car in multiple times to two different Subaru dealership but they both claim everything is working in perfect order. The notes I use to describe this issue is always deleted when I arrive at dealership. I do not even want to drive the vehicle and cant afford the diagnostic fees on top of missing days from work. The issue happens when car is parked or driving. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Subaru Impreza. The contact stated that the air bag indicator did not illuminate when the passenger seat was occupied. The vehicle was taken to metro west Subaru (948 worcester st, natick, ma 01760) where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor on the passenger seat needed to be replaced and a new seat needed to be purchased. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000.
The passenger occupancy detection system is not working, so the passenger air bag is not coming on even when I have an adult passenger. Sometimes, it will register that there is an adult in the seat, but the air bag will not come on, but other times, it doesn't even detect someone is sitting there.
The air bag light and "passenger airbag off" lights on dash come on sometimes when a passenger is in the car. I took my car to the Subaru dealer/service department and they charged me $140 to reset the lights and tell me the solution is to replace the passenger seat for $900.
The Airbag warning light has been lit within the dashboard. The front passenger seat airbag is faulty and is not able to correctly sense when a passenger is within the seat or not, which disables the airbags. This can be deadly to the passenger if in an accident. The issue seems to be in the ODS passenger seat mat that determines when the airbag is active or not. If moisture is able to get within the mat, then it can short the circuit and cause airbags to not deploy. My car was "supposed" to already been fixed with the issue in 2015 on the recall #WQT55, NHTSA Campaign 15V419000, but I don't believe the underlying issue was fixed correctly or the same part has failed again. Looking further into recalls, the exact same issue is happening again with Subarus with #WRA-24 and NHTSA campaign 24V227. The dealer has asked me to pay over $1700 on to replace this part. …
Driving down mountain after day of skiing. Roads were treacherous and icy. 20 minutes into the drive, driver and passenger airbag lights turned on, indicating that airbags would not deploy in the case of a collision. Several months later I was wearing a damp bathing suit while driving and the same situation occurred, indicating that the airbags would not deploy in the event of a collision. On another occasion, I was driving on a hot day with the windows down. I was sweating quite a bit and the airbag light on my Subaru Impreza turned on yet again. This issue was brought up with the dealership while the car was still under warranty. The dealer's service department simply reset the sensor, not solving the issue or comprehending the severity of this issue. …
Related recalls (1)
Seats
On certain sedan and wagon model vehicles, the left front bolt that retains the forward part of the driver's seat to the seat slide rail May loosen. If the seat slide rail bolt loosens, it will eventually fall out, and the seat May separate from the seat slide.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new left hand driver's seat rail mounting bolt. The recall began on August 20, 2004. Owners should contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
Frequently asked questions
Which Subaru Impreza years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (15), 2013 (9) and 2014 (5) model years. Seat complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Subaru Impreza seat problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-342 (seats, Jul 14, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Subaru Impreza seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles; 48% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › head restraint (4 mentions), followed by the front assembly › recliner (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.