Subaru Forester Passenger Airbag May Deactivate

NHTSA campaign 19V701000 · Reported Oct 3, 2019 · Subaru of America, Inc.

high How serious is it? About this label

If the airbag deactivates while the seat is occupied, that passenger faces an increased risk of injury in a crash. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	19V701000
Reported to NHTSA	Oct 3, 2019
Manufacturer	Subaru of America, Inc.
Part affected	AIR Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2018
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

On certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats, an electrical connection for the front passenger seat's occupant detection system may loosen. If this happens, the front passenger airbag may turn off even though the seat is occupied.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2. Contact a Subaru dealer (1-844-373-6614) to schedule an inspection.
3. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the sensor mat harness free of charge.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 19V701000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2018 Subaru Forester

Who to contact

Subaru — official Subaru recall lookup

Customer service: 1-844-373-6614

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

Other Subaru Forester recalls

Oct 19, 2026Subaru Crosstrek and Forester Front Suspension Joint May Separatecritical
Jul 7, 2026Subaru Ascent and Forester have wrong weight rating labellow
May 28, 2026Subaru Forester Moonroof Glass May Come Loosehigh
Dec 19, 2025Subaru Forester Rear Hatch Support Bracket May Detachhigh
Jun 19, 2025Subaru Forester Child Seat Anchor Bolts May Loosenmedium
Jan 23, 2025Subaru Forester Alloy Wheels May Be Improperly Attachedhigh

All 15 Forester recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Summary: 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.
Safety 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.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.