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 ↗2017 Subaru Forester airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2017 Subaru Forester have filed 147 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 30,000 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
147
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 Forester | 12 |
| 2014 Forester | 53 |
| 2015 Forester | 92 |
| 2016 Forester | 86 |
| 2017 Forester (this page) | 147 |
| 2018 Forester | 85 |
| 2019 Forester | 14 |
| 2020 Forester | 9 |
12crashes
13injuries
What stands out
Of the 20 model years of Subaru Forester we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 147.
Owners have filed 147 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.
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. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 model year Forester vehicles to replace the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness. A total of 366,282 U.S. vehicles will be affected by this recall.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Owner notification WUM-98 Forester Passenger-side Front Airbag ODS 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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2017 Subaru Forester has a persistent occupant detection system (ODS) sensor failure in the passenger seat that disables the front passenger airbag, sometimes with no warning and sometimes with warning lights. Owners report the airbag indicator switching to "OFF" even when an adult is seated and belted. Some owners experience intermittent failures that resolve after restarting the vehicle; others see the warning light come on constantly. The problem typically manifests as diagnostic code B1760 (occupant detector sensor mat fault) or B1650 (airbag control system malfunction).
Subaru issued Technical Service Bulletin WUM-98 and NHTSA recall 19V-701 (completed before or early in many owners' tenures), which involved replacing the ODS wiring harness. However, numerous owners report the same failure pattern recurring after the recall repair, sometimes months or years later. Dealers consistently quote $1,150–$2,800 to replace the entire passenger seat bottom assembly (which includes the ODS sensor mat), citing the fact that the sensor cannot be serviced separately. Parts are frequently on national backorder for months. Subaru refuses coverage under goodwill programs and warranty once a vehicle is out of warranty or beyond a certain mileage threshold, even when the replacement part itself failed. Owners report dealers initially blaming moisture, spilled beverages, or cell phones—causes owners deny. Several owners describe being told by service managers they see this "all the time," and one reports 73 cushions on backorder for the same issue. The safety risk is concrete: if the warning light is on, the airbag will not deploy in a crash.
Same Subaru Forester airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Front Passenger ODS Sensor Mat Failure – Initial and Recurrent
The occupant detection system sensor in the passenger seat bottom assembly fails to properly detect occupancy or intermittently disables the passenger airbag. This occurs both during initial ownership and after recall repair (WUM-98 / 19V-701). The sensor mat cannot be replaced separately; the entire seat bottom assembly must be replaced.
When: Within first 1–3 years of ownership or 45,000–113,000 miles; can reoccur after recall repair completed in 2020–2021
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag indicator shows 'OFF' even when an adult is seated; SRS warning light illuminates (red light in lower dashboard); Red 'i' icon appears next to odometer; Warning message 'SRS Airbag System Needs to be Checked' displays; Intermittent failures that resolve after restarting vehicle; Failures triggered by passenger weight, posture, or timing of seating (e.g., before or after engine start); Failures more frequent on longer drives; Passenger seatbelt chime may sound without occupant
Codes mentioned: B1760 (Occupant Detector Sensor Mat Fault), B1650 (Airbag Control System Malfunction)
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger seat bottom assembly replacement required. Cost: $1,150–$2,276 (parts + labor). Parts consistently on national backorder for 3–6+ months. Dealers unable to source parts even after extended waits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall WUM-98 / NHTSA 19V-701 completed for 2015–2018 Foresters (involved wiring harness replacement only, not sensor mat replacement). Subaru states recall is 'completed' and denies goodwill coverage after 1 year from recall completion or once out of warranty. Owners report Subaru customer advocacy claims no awareness of 'trending issue,' despite widespread online complaints and multiple class-action lawsuits pending.
Post-Recall Recurrence of ODS Failure
After completion of the WUM-98 recall (harness replacement), the same ODS sensor failure recurs, sometimes years later. Owners report the replaced harness itself failed or the sensor mat (not addressed in the recall) failed again.
When: Months to years after recall completion; documented at 57,096 miles (second failure); 113,000 miles (second failure); 6+ years post-recall
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light returns after being resolved by recall repair; Error codes B1760 or B1650 reappear; Same intermittent or constant 'passenger airbag OFF' behavior as before recall
Codes mentioned: B1760, B1650
Repairs/costs cited: Full seat bottom assembly replacement again needed ($1,150–$2,276). Parts on backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru refuses coverage, citing the original recall as completed and denying further goodwill assistance. No extended coverage offered for recurrent defects on the same component. Some owners forced to contact Subaru corporate; limited escalation.
Airbag Non-Deployment in Actual Crashes
In at least three documented incidents, front passenger airbags failed to deploy during collisions. While some reports do not explicitly confirm the ODS sensor as the cause, owners report the vehicle had a history of ODS warnings or had undergone the recall, raising concern that the sensor defect prevented deployment.
When: During accidents at 50 MPH, 25 MPH, and 35 MPH impact speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger airbag did not deploy despite frontal or side-impact collision severity; Driver and passenger sustained head, neck, back, spinal, whiplash, and facial injuries; Vehicle(s) declared total loss
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were total losses. One owner reported Subaru stated the vehicle was in 'dealer mode' which disabled warning lights. Another owner reported Subaru investigated and claimed no malfunction found despite non-deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One case: Subaru investigated and stated airbags were not malfunctioning despite non-deployment. No recall expansion or corrective action documented. Manufacturer notification occurred after accidents in some cases only.
Synthesized from 147 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Srs airbag system needs to be checked error. Airbag not going on sometimes when passenger is in seat
2017 Subaru forester. Consumer writes in regards to airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair. *js
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Subaru Forester?
It's a meaningful issue. 147 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 76 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 18,000 and 45,000 miles, with the median around 30,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 18,000; a quarter make it past 45,000. 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/2017/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.