2015 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Airbag warning light or recall

98owner reports
72,000median miles
$1,200median quote
15involved a crash

Newest report Jul 1, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

98 of the 606 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Forester.

Tick what matches of 98 reports

the airbag light stays on

passenger seat sensor

the airbag did not deploy in a crash

the recall part is not available

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (46 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the airbags covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

19V-701Oct 3, 2019

Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Forester

PE19-009opened Aug 6, 2019

Airbags · model years 2016 to 2018

Occupant detection system (ods) failure. Closed jan 22, 2020, led to recall 19V-701.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unsta

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

What owners paid

16 of the 98 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,000 to $1,500.

$1,000$1,200$1,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 98,950 miles, from the 41 reports that gave a mileage.

315

216

217

418

1419

2020

821

822

1523

724

1225

326

What owners wrote

“The automatic occupant detection system sensor no longer registers if a passenger is sitting in the front passenger seat, thus the front passengerâs frontal airbag is not turned on when driving with a passenger in the front seat.”
Filed Aug 30, 2023

“Passenger seat airbag is disabled even when there is a passenger present. The passenger seat occupant sensor system appears to be faulty. Check airbag system warning light comes on even if the passenger seat is occupied. The problem is persistent.”
Filed Jun 6, 2023

“Front passenger airbag system turned off. Doesn't recognize a passenger sitting in the seat therefore the seat belt reminder does not chime. There is a warning that does come onto the dash stating that the SRS system needed service. We have brought this vehicle to the dealership there was a tech code of B1650 occupant detection system fault.”
Filed Apr 17, 2023

“I was parking the car it suddenly accelerated jumped the curb and was heading towards the building entrance dore. I could not stop it. To avoid entering the building I turned the vehicle tight and it collided against the wall. The air bags inflated.”
Filed Apr 3, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 15 of 98 reports involved a crash and 11 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.