NHTSA Complaint #11140691 — 2017 SUBARU FORESTER

LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE OF A NEW 2017 SUBARU FORESTER I NOTED PERIODICALLY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND STAY ON WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS DID NOT OCCUR IMMEDIATELY ON SEATING OF THE PASSENGER AND WAS SPORADIC. IT OCCURRED BOTH IN MOTION AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. ONCE LIT IT REMAINED SO UNTIL 2 OR 3 NEW RESTARTS. TAKEN TO DEALER THEY FOUND A CODE VERIFYING THE COMPLAINT. TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A CELLPHONE ON THE SEAT. CELLPHONE REMOVED. SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER HELD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND TOLD A SPECIALIST IN CODES INDICATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO USB CELL PHONE WIRE. THIS WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION. THIS RESULTED IN THEIR SPECIALIST REVIEWING THEIR CODE READING AGAIN. THEY INDICATED A SENSOR FAILURE AND THAT THE PART WOULD TAKE ABOUT A MONTH TO OBTAIN. I COULD DRIVE THE CAR IN THE INTERIM INCLUDING WITH A PASSENGER.. I THEREFORE REQUESTED WRITTEN CERTIFICATION OF THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER SEAT REGARDING THE AIRBAG. THIS RESULTED IN A RENTAL CAR WHICH I HAVE HAD FOR 7 WEEKS. CALLED 2 WEEKS AGO WITH THE RESPONSE THAT THEY WERE WAITING FOR A NEW AIRBAG. I WANT TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE NTSB IS AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH SUBARU AIRBAGS IN THE 2017 FORESTER. HOW THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM IS DEALT WITH IS ALSO A CONCERN. IS A RECALL IN ORDER? *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A NEW VEHICLE AS A SETTLEMENT. *JS *JS