NHTSA Complaint #11182111 — 2015 SUBARU FORESTER

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FIRST CAME ON AS SOON AS I STARTED MY CAR ONE MORNING IN MID-OCTOBER 2018, IN WHICH I TOOK MY CAR TO SUBARU OF KENNESAW, GA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY FIRST ASKED IF I HAD SPILLED ANYTHING ON THE FRONT SEAT (IN WHICH I RESPONDED "NO") AND THEN ADVISED ME THAT THE WHOLE SEAT BOTTOM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED (ABOUT $989 PARTS AND LABOR) AND THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK-ORDER. I FOLLOWED-UP WITH THEM IN DECEMBER 2018 AND NEVER HEARD BACK. WHEN I RECENTLY WENT THERE FOR AN OIL CHANGE FEBRUARY 18, 2019 THEY BROUGHT THE ISSUE UP TO ME AGAIN, IN WHICH I RESPONDED THAT NOBODY EVER RETURNED MY CALL. THEY CHECKED AGAIN TO SEE IF THEY HAD THE PART BUT STATED IT IS STILL ON A NATIONWIDE BACK-ORDER. WE ARE NOW GOING ON 5+ MONTHS OF MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BEING ON (IT SOMETIMES TURNS OFF INTERMITTENTLY, BUT IN THOSE INSTANCES THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT WILL COME ON AND DING REPEATEDLY UNTIL THE SEATBELT IS PLUGGED IN - EVEN IF THERE IS NO PASSENGER). I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF OTHER CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR ISSUES. SUBARU SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS AND SEEMS VERY UNWILLING TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSORS. IT IS UPSETTING AND DISCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE AROUND THIS LONG WITH A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG/PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR.