Due to limited part supply, the availability of the passenger front seat cushion may not satisfy demand. To reduce extended downtime for the customer, this bulletin announces the diagnostic and repair procedures to be used when DTC B1760 (Occupant Detection Sensor Mat). The use of WUM-98 sensor harness kit should be used in place of the cushion assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Subaru Forester airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2014 Subaru Forester have filed 53 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
53
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Forester | 41 |
| 2011 Forester | 29 |
| 2012 Forester | 20 |
| 2013 Forester | 12 |
| 2014 Forester (this page) | 53 |
| 2015 Forester | 92 |
| 2016 Forester | 86 |
| 2017 Forester | 147 |
| 2018 Forester | 85 |
8crashes
6injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 53 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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.
Takata Front Passenger Airbag Module / Inflator âLike for Likeâ Recall
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Bulletin provides information regarding Event Data Recorder (EDR) functionality which has been incorporated into the airbag system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain Subaru vehicles listed above, equipped with a non-desiccated Takata-sourced passenger side frontal airbag 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
Owners consistently describe a passenger-side occupant detection system (ODS) that intermittently fails to recognize an occupied seat, disabling the airbag without warning. The SRS warning light comes on, the dashboard shows the passenger airbag "OFF" even with someone seated, and the system sometimes false-triggers seatbelt warnings when the seat is empty. These failures occur randomly—sometimes on startup, sometimes while driving—and can last minutes or weeks before resetting on their own, only to recur later.
Dealerships diagnose the problem as a faulty occupant sensor mat or harness under the passenger seat, quoting $900 to $2,100 for a complete seat-bottom replacement. Parts are frequently backordered, leaving owners without working airbags for months. Notably, Subaru issued recall WUM-98 for 2015–2018 Foresters with heated seats for the exact same ODS failure, but 2014 models—which have identical heated-seat architecture and exhibit identical symptoms—were excluded from the recall.
Some owners report that the electrostatic capacitance sensor (Subaru's replacement for older weight sensors) fails to detect occupants using orthopedic seat cushions or wearing wet clothing, a problem the manufacturer acknowledged with no solution. Others document that iPhones or Bluetooth devices placed on the seat can disable the airbag, requiring multiple vehicle restarts to restore function. Several collision reports document airbag non-deployment or delayed deployment at low speeds, resulting in occupant injuries. One owner's steering wheel airbag deployed spontaneously at 5 mph with no impact.
Subaru has not offered recalls, warranty coverage, or repairs at no cost despite acknowledging the issue as "known" among owners. Dealers consistently blame water damage (though owners in dry climates dispute this) and refuse warranty claims.
Same Subaru Forester airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Detection System (ODS) Sensor Malfunction
Passenger-side airbag fails to recognize occupant or intermittently disables when passenger is seated. Owners report SRS warning lights and dashboard alerts indicating airbag system offline. System sometimes shows airbag 'OFF' with passenger present, or 'ON' with no occupant, triggering false seatbelt warnings.
When: Occurs randomly on startup and while driving; some owners report issues lasting weeks to years. One owner documented issue starting ~2 years prior; another over 11 months without resolution.
Symptoms owners cite: SRS airbag system warning light on dashboard; Passenger airbag indicator shows OFF when occupied; Passenger airbag indicator shows ON when seat empty; False seatbelt chime and warning light with empty seat; System may reset after restart but fails intermittently again; Warning appears and disappears unpredictably
Codes mentioned: ODS (Occupant Detection System) sensor failure, Occupant Detection Sensor MATT failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships quote $900–$2,100 for entire passenger seat bottom replacement. One owner reported parts on backorder for 11+ months. Some dealers partially cover cost (~90%). Repair complexity means extended vehicle downtime (parts cited as needing custom fabrication with 1-month lead times). Owner reports dealer replacement of harness under passenger seat in July; airbag light returned October same year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru has recall WUM-98 for 2015–2018 Foresters with heated seats addressing the same ODS sensor issue. 2014 models not included in recall despite identical heated-seat architecture and reported identical failures. Subaru customer service attributed failure to moisture or seat dampness, though owners in dry climates report no spills. Subaru declined warranty coverage and suggested affected passengers sit in rear seat instead. One owner waiting 4+ months for part availability noted Subaru stated it is 'a known issue.'
Electrostatic Capacitance Sensor Incompatibility
Subaru switched from weight-based occupancy sensors to electrostatic capacitance sensors. New sensor fails to detect occupants using seat cushions or wearing wet clothing, leaving passenger airbag disabled.
When: Occurs consistently when seat cushion is in use or passenger wears wet raincoat
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag does not activate when occupant uses orthopedic seat cushion; Passenger airbag disables when occupant wears wet raincoat or wet clothing; No airbag deployment despite occupied seat
Repairs/costs cited: No repair available; system cannot be recalibrated. Subaru advised affected passenger to relocate to rear seat.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru confirmed electrostatic capacitance sensor mandate from NHTSA. Company acknowledged cushion and wet-clothing incompatibility but offered no solution beyond rear-seat relocation.
iPhone/Electronic Device Interference with ODS
Passenger airbag disables when iPhone or other Bluetooth/battery-powered device is held or placed on passenger seat. System requires multiple power cycles (5+ restart cycles) to re-enable.
When: Intermittent; occurs when powered devices are on seat
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag disabled when iPhone on seat; Passenger airbag disabled when any Bluetooth-enabled device on seat; System remains disabled until vehicle restarted 5+ times
Repairs/costs cited: No repair; users must remove devices from seat. Dealers mentioned this may or may not be a factor (one dealer asked if owner charged iPhone on seat; another stated problem specific to iPhones, not Android devices).
Airbag Non-Deployment in Low-Speed Collisions
Steering wheel and knee airbags fail to deploy, or deploy after impact at low speeds (3–5 mph, 35–42 mph). In head-on collision at 45 mph and in 40 mph side-impact, airbags did not deploy, resulting in occupant injuries.
When: During collision events across various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag fails to deploy in collision; Knee airbag fails to deploy in collision; Airbags do not deploy in low-speed impacts (3–5 mph); Owner sustained upper chest injury, contusions, and burns from deploying airbag; Occupant struck steering wheel, knee, pedals due to no airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles declared total loss or sent to body shop; no repair data documented.
Spontaneous Airbag Deployment
Steering wheel airbag deploys without any collision or impact, at very low speed (5 mph) in parking lot without inciting incident.
When: Spontaneous deployment at 5 mph in gas station lot after freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag deploys without collision; Owner sustained hand burn and bruise; Vehicle remains operational after deployment
Synthesized from 53 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 53 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 30 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 44,000 and 110,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 44,000; a quarter make it past 110,000. 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?
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/2014/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.