2018 Subaru Forester · symptom sheet

Takata airbag inflator recall

55owner reports
35,000median miles
$1,216median quote
0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

55 of the 96 reports of airbag on the 2018 Forester describe Takata airbag recall.

Part of Airbag warning light or recall (96 reports) · also: passenger airbag sensor faults, airbag light on

Tick what matches of 55 reports

there is a Takata recall on the car

the inflator part is not available

the recall was completed

the airbag light is also on

the car is not safe to drive meanwhile

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the airbags covers the 2018 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

What owners paid

11 of the 55 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,483.

$500$1,216$1,483

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

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

118

219

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621

722

823

1224

925

826

What owners wrote

“Airbag on passenger side stopped working last November . Subaru says itâs the switch in the seat and the seat needs replacing at a cost of approximately $1300. This should be part of the recall and be paid for by Subaru.”
Filed Apr 14, 2024

“My srs airbag system has just started going on and off. What I read is there is recall for this. 2018 with heated seats caused by faulty wiring. Yet when I put in my vin shows no recalls. Filed complaint with Subaru they stated basically go get it fixed and will notify you if there is a recall.”
Filed May 9, 2023

“The passenger sensor light is on and Subaru says I need to replace the seat. There was a recall for certain vehicles but my Vin was not part of the recall - however, if the issue persists why isn't the recall expanded? Do we really want drivers like me to have to replace seats because Subaru is not living up to the standards - due to their faulty wiring? Please expand the recall.”
Filed Nov 15, 2022

“My dashboard for the past several months has intermittently indicated that there is an issue with my front passenger airbag. I just discovered there was a recall for this issue for cars manufactured with heated seats the same year as my vehicle but my vehicle is not part of the recall. This recall may need to be expanded.”
Filed Nov 3, 2022

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 55 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.