2015 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Seat belt or seat problems

25owner reports
65,000median miles
1involved a crash

Newest report Dec 5, 2025 · checked Sep 9, 2026

25 of the 606 complaints on this car describe seat belt.

Tick what matches of 25 reports

the belt will not latch or release

the belt locks or will not extend

a seat moves or rocks

a seat heater or motor failed

there is a recall

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the buckle (4 reports) and the seat frame or track (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the seats covers the 2015 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the seats on the Forester

PE99-020opened Mar 5, 1999

Seat Belts · model years 1999

Seat belt anchorage separation. Closed mar 26, 1999.

NHTSA summary

ODI HAS ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE SEAT AND CENTER CONSOLE, BECAME DETACHED WHILE DRIVING.IN ADDITION, THE OWNER INSPECTED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND FOUND THAT THE BOLT WAS PARTIALLY BACKED-OUT.THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND HEATED FRONT SEATS.BECAUSE OF THESE OPTIONS, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INSTALLED BY AN OUTSIDE VENDOR AT THE PORT OF ENTRY IN VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.SUBARU STATES THAT A SMALL QUANTITY OF VEHICLES WITH HEATEDFRONT SEATS DID NOT HAVE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY INSTALLED WHEN THEY ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER.THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES WERE SUPPLIED SEPARATELY FROM THE FRONT SEATS AND AN OUTSIDE VENDOR INSTALLED BOTH THE LEATHER SEAT COVERS AND THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES TO THE SEAT FRAME.SUBARU HAS SEARCHED THEIR FILES AND FOUND NO ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS ON FORESTER VEHICLES FOR LOOSE SEAT BELT BOLTS.SUBARU ALSO CONFIRMED THAT WITH THEIR CURRENT QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTIONS THAT SUCH A CONDITION CANNOT GO UNNOTICED IN THE FUTURE.

None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,125 and 80,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.

218

519

320

521

122

323

224

425

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

“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

“SRS airbag light with and without passenger in front passenger seat. Brought to dealer for diagnostic and code B1650 is coming up.”
Filed Oct 18, 2022

“Front passenger seat doesn't detect passenger. Airbags off and come up with warning signs stating that they are off. "SRS airbag system needs to be checked."”
Filed Dec 6, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 25 reports involved a crash and 2 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.