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).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Subaru Forester airbags problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Subaru Forester, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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
Airbags accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
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).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Two crash narratives describe airbag non-deployments: a driver hit a telephone pole at speed after sliding on ice, with the side curtain airbag not deploying and causing severe head and shoulder injury; another owner had a low-speed parking garage collision that didn't trigger frontal airbags, resulting in head laceration and neck stiffness. A third crash involved a seatbelt latch failure combined with frontal airbag non-deployment during a side-impact, leaving the occupant with severe neck injuries.
The bulk of complaints—roughly a dozen—center on Takata recall campaigns (17V014000, 19V008000, 19V009000) involving defective ammonium nitrate airbags. Owners received recall letters instructing them not to use the front passenger seat, but dealers could not supply replacement parts for months or longer. Several owners reported waiting 9 months to 18 months for parts availability, with dealers making appointments they later cancelled due to supply issues. One owner completed a passenger airbag recall repair in February 2019, only to see the same fault code reappear in July 2022; Subaru told the owner they had already fulfilled the recall and declined further responsibility.
Loaner vehicle policies were inconsistently applied across dealerships, leaving some families unable to operate their vehicles normally during the extended repair delay.
Same Subaru Forester airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Side curtain airbag non-deployment in collision
Driver-side door curtain airbag failed to deploy during impact with a telephone pole after the vehicle hit it sideways at speed following loss of braking control on icy roads.
When: Single incident reported; vehicle operating normally prior
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy on impact with pole; Door and rocker sill bent from impact; Collision force sufficient to cause violent head strike and body pinching
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reported receiving 'usual run around' from Subaru when contacted
Frontal airbag non-deployment in multi-vehicle collision
Passenger-side or driver-side frontal airbag failed to deploy during parking garage collision that impacted multiple vehicles in a chain reaction. Vehicle independently accelerated without warning, causing the initial impact.
When: Approximately 83,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy on impact; Vehicle struck parked car at low speed causing chain reaction with two other vehicles; Owner sustained laceration to head and stiff neck
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to independent yard; not yet repaired as of complaint
Seatbelt and frontal airbag failures during side-impact collision
Seatbelt latch failed to retain occupant and driver-side frontal airbag did not deploy during left-turn side-impact collision at approximately 1 o'clock position. Resulting impact spun vehicle into guard rail.
When: Incident occurred; mileage unknown
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt released/unlatched upon impact; Frontal airbag did not deploy; Substantial interior damage to steering column and gear shift; Owner sustained severe neck injuries attributed to safety system failures
Takata ammonium nitrate airbag defect — parts unavailability (campaign 17V014000)
Passenger-side or driver-side frontal airbag containing ammonium nitrate identified as defective under Takata recall. Subaru issued recall notice but parts were unavailable; some dealers quoted 9 months to 18 months for repair availability. Owners faced extended prohibition on using front seating positions and inconsistent loaner vehicle policies.
When: Recall notifications issued March–September 2017; repair timelines ranged from months to 1.5+ years after notification
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification letter received identifying defective Takata airbag; Dealer unable to provide parts or repair appointments; Manufacturers instructed owners not to use front passenger seat until repair; Inconsistent dealer responsiveness and follow-up
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 17V014000
Repairs/costs cited: Repair parts not available for extended periods; one dealer estimated 1.5+ years. Brake line replacement performed in at least one case (narrative #2), but airbag repair delayed beyond warranty expiration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall (NHTSA Campaign 17V014000); ammonium nitrate defect; manufacturer issued recall letters and dealership appointment scheduling but could not supply parts in timely manner. Loaner vehicle policy stated but inconsistently enforced.
Takata ammonium nitrate airbag defect — parts unavailability (campaign 19V008000 and 19V009000)
Driver-side or passenger-side frontal airbag identified as defective under additional Takata recall campaign. Parts remained on backorder weeks to months after recall notification in 2019, preventing timely repair.
When: Recall notifications issued March 2019; repairs delayed until October 2019 or beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received identifying Takata defect; Dealer reported parts on backorder or unavailable; No owner-reported failure; defect identified via recall campaign
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 19V008000, NHTSA Campaign 19V009000
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable; one dealer quoted October 2019 availability when recall notification issued in March 2019.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall notification; manufacturer did not assist in expediting parts or repair scheduling in some cases.
Recurrent airbag fault code post-recall repair
Passenger-side airbag completed recall repair in February 2019 but displayed identical fault code for faulty airbag in July 2022, suggesting either defective replacement part or incomplete repair.
When: Fault code reappeared 3 years post-recall repair (February 2019 repair; July 2022 complaint)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag fault code displayed by mechanic; Same code as pre-recall failure; No actual airbag deployment failure reported by owner
Codes mentioned: Air bag fault code (specific code not identified in narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Recall repair completed February 2019; owner referred to licensed Subaru facility for re-inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru stated it had complied with recall and declined further responsibility; advised owner to schedule inspection at Subaru facility.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Subaru forester. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17v014000 (air bags). 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 vehicle was taken to putnam Subaru of burlingame (85 california dr, burlingame, ca 94010) and was informed…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Subaru forester. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise that progressed from the brake lines. The dealer (putnam Subaru of burlingame, 85 california dr, burlingame, ca 94010, (650) 558-5628) was informed of the failure when the warranty was available; however, the vehicle was repaired after the warranty expired. Initially, the dealer was…
Takata recall. I was turning left when I was struck by a car going in the opposite direction. According to police the impact was at 01-1 o'clock. . My car was spun into the guard rail causing damage to left front and rt rear of my car. The seat belt latch failed and released the seat belt and the front air bag did not deploy. There is substantial damage to the interior of my car ,steering…
Takata recall.I have been to the dealer several times it has been at least 9 months and they still do not have parts
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 44,750 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
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/2012/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.