2015 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet
Passenger airbag sensor problems
- 49owner reports
- 72,000median miles
- $1,032median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jul 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
49 of the 99 reports of airbag on the 2015 Forester describe passenger airbag sensor faults.
Part of Airbag warning light or recall (99 reports) · also: Takata airbag recall, airbag light on
Tick what matches of 49 reports
Passenger airbag sensor faults on other Forester years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside airbag problems for the passenger seat sensor, the system that decides whether the front passenger airbag should be on or off. Owners here see a "passenger airbag off" light with an adult in the seat, or an airbag warning that comes on when someone sits down.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (25 reports) and the seat cushion (3 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.
An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.
All 3 recalls on the 2015 Subaru Forester, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Forester
Occupant detection system (ods) failure. Closed jan 22, 2020, led to recall 19V-701.
None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.
What owners paid
10 of the 49 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $989 to $1,200.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,125 and 98,950 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2015 Subaru Forester that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Service Information bulletin provides a procedure for diagnosis of Occupant Detection System (ODS) DTC B1760- Sensor Mat Abnormal and/or B1650- Occupant Classification System Malfunction.
What owners wrote
“Passenger airbag sensor intermittently works and turns off when passenger is in the seat. Dashboard light for airbag is constantly on and passenger airbag is constantly off. Issues with seat sensor going off when no one is sitting in the passenger seat. Abs system error message. All identical to recall symptoms.”
Filed Dec 5, 2025
“Passenger airbag says to be checked. Was a recall previously fixed in 2020. Same issue is arising and dealership will not fix for free Passenger airbag is off even with person sitting in it with seatbelt buckled”
Filed Oct 22, 2024
“The passenger airbag kept turning off while someone was sitting ðª n the seat. It would turn off intermittently, but then turned off for a very extended period. Photo attached is a screenshot of a video we took while driving.”
Filed Aug 7, 2024
“The error message for air bag/seat belt warning comes on and off. It turns the passenger side air bag to off. It seems to be activated by weight on the seat.”
Filed Dec 1, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 49 reports involved a crash. 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 79 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 66 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 35 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 27 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 25 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 25 reports