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2009 Subaru Forester airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2009 Subaru Forester have filed 39 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 60,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Q1 52kmed 60kQ3 106kn=9
Complaints
39
Recalls
9
Avg fix
$1,100
airbags complaints on the Subaru Forester, by model year
Of the 39 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Subaru Forester,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
0 (0%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
1 (100%)
75-100k
0 (0%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted.
Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits
and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
All 9 active airbags recalls on this vehicle are classified critical — based on documented crash, fire, or fatality outcomes in NHTSA's record.
Airbags accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators with alternate inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-20.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-20.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Subaru owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Saab owners may contact the Saab Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-20.
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKC-18.
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-18.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-17.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2017. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKB-17.
An explosion of an inflator within the passenger frontal air bag module may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front seat passenger, driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-18.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Subaru will notify their owners. General Motors will notify Saab owners. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2016. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-856-488-8500. Saab owners may contact GM at 1-800-955-9007. Subaru's number for this recall is TKA-16.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented
repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall
(it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service BulletinTKA-20R, TKB-20RDec 2023
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model year Baja vehicles, 2009-2013 model year Forester vehicles, 2004-2011 model year Impreza vehicles, and 2004- 2014 WRX (including STI) vehicles equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger-side frontal air bag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN).
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed, equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side frontal airbag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (certain specific vehicles only).
SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model year Baja vehicles, 2009-2013 model year Forester vehicles, 2004-2011 model year Impreza vehicles, and 2004- 2014 WRX (including STI) vehicles equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger-side frontal air bag containing the propellant Phase Stabilized Ammonium Nitrate (PSAN).
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint across these 39 narratives is the Takata airbag recall parts shortage. Owners repeatedly called dealers after receiving recall notices (campaigns 16V358000 and 17V026000 among others) only to learn replacement parts were unavailable—sometimes indefinitely. Many waited 12 to 16+ months without a concrete timeline for repair. Dealers told owners to stop using the front passenger seat until parts arrived, rendering family vehicles unusable for normal transportation. One owner in Germany waited over a year while a Honda dealer resolved the same recall in six weeks.
Communication failures compounded the delay: some owners discovered active recalls on Subaru's "view all recalls" page despite the main recall section claiming none were open. Recall notices arrived sporadically—every six months in one case—with no resolution. Subaru customer service became unreachable during peak call volume; one owner said they waited weeks for a callback that never came.
Several owners reported airbags that failed to deploy in collisions ranging from 35 mph front-end crashes to 40 mph rear-end impacts and a 55 mph deer strike. In these cases, investigations stalled: Subaru declined on-site inspection and later demanded medical records and police reports before proceeding.
Dealer behavior also drew complaints: one refused recall work on a previously deployed airbag without written justification, another demanded a $200 liability waiver before diagnosing a lighting issue that arose after recall service, and Subaru declined to send a technician to Hawaii, instead requesting customers ship the vehicle at their own cost.
Same Subaru Forester airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag recall parts unavailable / supply delays
Owners received recall notices for defective Takata airbags but dealers could not obtain replacement parts for months or years. Manufacturers and dealers provided no firm timeline for parts availability, leaving vehicles unsafe and the front passenger seat unusable.
When: 2016–2017 recall period and beyond; some complaints span 16+ months of waiting
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts not in stock; Dealers unable to schedule repairs due to parts backorder; Months or years pass with no parts arrival; Dealer gives vague 'we'll call you' responses; No estimated delivery date provided by manufacturer
Repairs/costs cited: Free replacement airbags offered under recall; owners reported waiting over 1 year, 16+ months in one case; some dealers stated parts would not arrive until March 2018 or later
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall notices issued multiple times; Subaru issued interim notices but failed to provide parts; some owners reported Subaru's own letter saying parts were available conflicted with dealer statements that they were not
Airbag non-deployment in collisions
In multiple low-to-moderate speed accidents, front airbags failed to deploy despite impacts meeting deployment criteria, raising questions about airbag system reliability independent of the Takata defect issue.
When: Various mileages: 11,000 miles (2009 collision), 30,000 miles, 81,904 miles, 108,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Frontal collision at 35 mph; airbag did not deploy; Rear-end collision at 40 mph; airbag did not deploy; Deer strike at 55 mph; airbag did not deploy; Brake failure crash; airbag did not deploy
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; one vehicle destroyed and towed; insurance adjuster reports referenced but outcomes not stated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner filed complaint 1-365436785 with Subaru; Subaru initially declined to inspect vehicle and said insurance adjuster report would suffice; later requested medical bills and police report before committing to investigation
Poor manufacturer and dealer communication / recall non-compliance
Subaru's website showed conflicting recall status; recall notices were not sent to all owners; dealers refused to perform recalls or claimed inability to do so without firm cause; manufacturers failed to respond to owner calls or provide updates.
When: 2016 onward
Symptoms owners cite: Subaru website showed 'no open recalls' but clicking 'view all' revealed active recall since July 2016; Owner not notified of recall for 7 months after it was listed; Repeated recall notices every 6 months with no action taken; Dealer claims inability to perform recall despite manufacturer recall letter; High call volume prevented owners from reaching Subaru customer service for weeks; Dealers gave conflicting information: one said parts available, another said back-ordered indefinitely
Codes mentioned:16V358000, 17V026000
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Multiple recall notices issued (16V358000, 17V026000, etc.); Subaru letter stated parts available but dealers contradicted this; no written explanation provided for some refusals; international owner (Germany) experienced 16+ months of delays vs. Honda's 6-week resolution on same issue
Dealer service refusal or obstruction
Some dealers refused to perform recall work, cited deployment history as reason, demanded owner liability waivers, or required customers to travel long distances without providing service at owner's location.
When: 2016 onward
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer refused to replace airbag because it had been previously deployed; Dealer demanded $200 liability waiver before investigating airbag light issue post-recall; Dealer suggested customer ship vehicle 65 miles away rather than service locally; Manufacturer declined to send certified technician to Hawaii location; required vehicle shipment at owner's cost (~$900); Some dealers cited 3–4 day repair time and suggested customer go without vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Mark Shaw Subaru, Denver, CO refused work on deployed airbag with no written documentation; Landers McLarty Subaru, Huntsville, AL claimed parts unavailable despite corporate notice
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru declined to send technician to Hawaii; Subaru customer service took phone number but did not call back in some cases; no formal policy communicated for overseas recall support
Airbag warning light malfunction post-recall
After recall service, airbag warning light continued to turn on and off, but Subaru refused to diagnose or repair without a liability waiver, keeping the issue unresolved.
When: Post-recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light intermittently illuminated after recall work
Repairs/costs cited: $200 liability waiver demanded by Subaru before investigation
Synthesized from 39 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
2 most recent
airbags · 52,000 mi
· filed 12/06/2016
Takata recall last week, I received a letter from Subaru of america telling me that parts are available to replace my defective takata air bag. However, the local dealer (landers mclarty Subaru, huntsville, al) says that parts are not available, and they cannot tell me when parts will be available. I think that landers mclarty Subaru is not being truthful with me - that they are trying to…
airbags
· filed 11/29/2016
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Subaru forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v358000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Part…
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Subaru Forester?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 39 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 52,000 and 106,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 52,000; a quarter make it past 106,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
Yes — 9 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Subaru/Forester.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.