2003 Subaru Forester air bags problems
25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2003 Subaru Forester — 13% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“My mother was pulling her car out of the garage when it suddenly accelerated & shot down the driveway, across the street, thru the neighbor's house and landed in their backyard. The car just missed my father in the driveway and the neighbors in their house. The insurance adjuster said the car was…”
filed Aug 28, 2019
“I was driving at 55 mph when my right front control arm snapped. I looked to ensure no vehicles were coming, and made the decision to turn left to get back on the road with all four tires as I could only turn left. I could not control the vehicle, and the vehicle turned side ways and then rolled…”
filed Jul 31, 2014
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Air Bags problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 5% |
| 2024 Forester | 6 | 21% |
| 2023 Forester | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 Forester | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 Forester | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 Forester | 11 | 2% |
| 2019 Forester | 16 | 2% |
| 2018 Forester | 94 | 19% |
| 2017 Forester | 162 | 28% |
| 2016 Forester | 96 | 24% |
| 2015 Forester | 101 | 16% |
| 2014 Forester | 57 | 14% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2003 Subaru Forester
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.