2016 Subaru Forester air bags problems
99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2016 Subaru Forester — 24% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“While driving, the car will beep and display a warning that the SRS system is malfunctioning. It will then turn passenger airbags off, even when there is a passenger sitting in the seat. I took the car in to Subaru of Glendale and was charged over $1000 to replace it, being told that i was not…”
filed Sep 16, 2026
“Vehicle reported an SRS Passenger problem intermittently, as displayed on the dashboard, the car's information system, and a diagnostic trouble code (the car's aftermarket radio is connected to the OBD-II connector and can pull codes). The problem would appear, and then disappear upon subsequent…”
filed Aug 29, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System…Campaign 19V701000 · Oct 3, 2019
Air Bags problems in other Forester years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Forester | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 Forester | 7 | 24% |
| 2023 Forester | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 Forester | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 Forester | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 Forester | 11 | 2% |
| 2019 Forester | 17 | 2% |
| 2018 Forester | 96 | 19% |
| 2017 Forester | 164 | 28% |
| 2015 Forester | 101 | 16% |
| 2014 Forester | 57 | 14% |
| 2013 Forester | 13 | 17% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 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.