2003 Subaru Forester Air Bags Problems
- 20
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 20 stored complaint records:
- 7 indicate a crash
- 5 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
- 2 indicate a death
What owners report
- warning light · 4 records
- passenger side · 4 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 5 |
| 1–30k mi | 4 |
| 30–60k mi | 3 |
| 100–150k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Air Bags · Vehicle Speed Control
My mother was pulling her car out of the garage when it suddenly accelerated & shot down the driveway, across the street, thru the neighbor's house and landed in their backyard. The car just missed my father in the driveway and the neighbors in their house. The insurance adjuster said the car was airborne when it went thru the front door based on the damage to the front door & the skid marks on the tile in the…
Crash reported
ODI 11252119
Air Bags · Steering · Suspension
I was driving at 55 mph when my right front control arm snapped. I looked to ensure no vehicles were coming, and made the decision to turn left to get back on the road with all four tires as i could only turn left. I could not control the vehicle, and the vehicle turned side ways and then rolled three consecutive times landing on its wheels facing south. I was transported to the hospital . On the way to the hospital…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10617956
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 mph and attempting to avoid hitting an animal he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over three times and crashed. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact was transported to a hospital. The details of the injuries were unknown. The manufacturer was made aware…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10598597
Air Bags
The air bag warning light on my subaru forester is on yet again. It has done this several times. In reading online there are wired brought together at a connector that when both ends are pushed together then the airbag warning light will go out. Just using google online to search i have come across dozens of complaints. As this is a vehicle safety component, subaru should repair this at no cost. Why subaru could not…
ODI 10555207
Air Bags
2003 subaru forester. Passenger side airbag light on. Dealer stated that airbag on passenger side harness wires were corroded and required harness repair. Subaru parent company said there is only a 30000 mile warranty on the airbag wires.... This is a design defect and safety issue. Should be covered u der 100,000 warranty. *tt
ODI 10462559
Air Bags
Air bag light remains on. After 3 attempts to repair in the shop, still remains on. *tr
ODI 10466580
Air Bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 subaru forester. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they advised that the occupancy sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 95,000.
ODI 10491465
Air Bags · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Vehicle Speed Control
2013 subaru. Consumer writes in regards to brake problems. *smd the consumer stated almost from the moment, he purchased the vehicle, he and his wife experienced problems with the brakes. The consumer stated on two occasions, his wife experienced a slow brake response. The consumer stated the first time the incident happened, his wife was driving downhill and when she attempted to apply the brake, the vehicle would…
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10537652
Air Bags
I have a 2003 subaru forester and have had an ongoing problem with the air bag light coming on. Sometimes it comes on and goes off by itself. Most recently, it went off after i changed the passenger seat position. I have been advised that it is due to the airbag sensors under the front seats being jostled or detached either by changing seat positions or sliding something down alongside the seat (like a magazine or…
ODI 10406111
Air Bags · Engine And Engine Cooling
Frontal impact while striking a deer at this speed should have deployed both air bags. The air bag light sometimes would remain on, but mostly it was off. From what i have found through other complaints is that this year vehicle is known for this issue, but a recall has not been issued. Is it going to take a death to force subaru to correct this issue? The other issue found while repairing the vehicle is that both…
Crash reported
ODI 10371528
Air Bags
My check engine light came on and i brought my car to my local subaru dealer. The service technician examined the car and determined that the engine light had come on because of a problem with my airbag. However, upon examination, he was unable to find anything wrong with the airbag and the engine light went off. I was then told not to worry about it since it was probably nothing. Luckily, the manager overheard the…
ODI 10282174
Air Bags
Airbag warning light illuminates when drivers seat is moved. It appears that the electrical connector beneath the drivers seat is defective. I have found many complaints on the internet of this problem for the 2003 subaru forester. It is an obvious manufacturing defect. Why no recall? This is a serious problem with the cars srs. *tr
ODI 10241195
Air Bags
Air bag light would come on and stay on for a few days and then go off. This condition would occur at random, with no warning. Finally the light stayed on long enough for me to get it to the dealer. Subaru dealer indicated that the wiring harness under the driver's seat for the airbag sensor had oxidized contacts leading to a failure of the airbag system. Dealer could not explain why contacts "inside" car in a…
ODI 10209852
Air Bags
After pickingthe car up from an oil change i noticed the air bag light was on. I drove the car back to dealership, and technician told me that from adjusting the seat the wires had become bent/loose, and they would have to take out seat and resolder the wires so the airbags could fire properly. Are you supposed to be able to adjust your seats? *ak
ODI 10196698
Air Bags · Instrument Cluster/Panel
Dt*: the contact stated the air bag light illuminated. The dealership determined the harness assembly underneath the floor board was not long enough to maintain a connection and recommended a kit be installed. After the kit was installed, the air bag light went off.
ODI 10168258
Air Bags
2003 forester for past 2 years the air bag light stays on after starting about once a month. Subaru technician found that the air bag connector under drivers seat was loose and he plugged it back in. That fixed it for about a month. Since then when light comes on i have to reach under seat from rear foot area and wiggle both plugs, air bag light goes out and works for about a month then i have to repeat the…
ODI 10166138
Air Bags · Seat Belts
(all) the air bags failed. The passenger side rear, (fell) out of the carrier. The drivers auto lock on the seatbelt failed, the rear storage cover popped (out) of its holders, flew to the front (v'ed), hitting her in the rt temple, as she (bounced) backed and forth hitting the dash and center post drivers doors. Geico (gave) me the car incase subaru wanted to send an investor. Called them at their corp. #.…
Crash reported · 1 injury · 1 death
ODI 10544615
Air Bags · Front
March 16th 2006. 5:00 pm. It had snowed earlier that day. Witness claims the 2003 subaru forester slid in a curve into an on coming lane. Unit spun around and was hit in the left rear corner(tail light section) shoving the rear body panel and quarter panel inside the unit behind the rear passenger seat. Left rear tire was torn from the unit. The rear shade cover (cargo area) flew out of it's holders now bent is a…
Crash reported · 1 injury · 1 death
ODI 10162162
Air Bags · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Power Window Devices And Controls · Unknown Or Other
This vehicle posed a serious safety problem because the vehicle only had one key hole, but had five doors, the consumer was able to access the vehicle through the drivers side door/key hole. Once the consumer was in the vehicle a lock pad on the door allowed for entry through the other doors, or a key remote. The consumer's lock pad also didn't work temporarily so the consumer couldn't open the hatch. The…
ODI 10044678
Air Bags
Consumer noticed while traveling air bag indicator light stayed on. Dealer had been contacted, technician could not duplicate problem. *ak
ODI 10041973