2014 SUBARU IMPREZA Air Bagssensoroccupant Classification Problems

I purchased this vehicle 06/23/2021. I drove it the first time long distance (Concord NH to Stoughton MA) with a passenger for the first time three days after purchase. The passenger air bag is off light came on and would not register my passenger. It worked on and off the entire ride, starting with it working and then would shut off, on the highway, while my passenger never moved from the seat. I called the dealership and they said they would look at it. They did nothing, they blamed it on the seats having been steam cleaned (that dampness messes with the sensors? as if that's a reasonable reason my airbag won't deploy?) I asked if they checked the connections and they just blanket answered that they'd need to see it with the light on, and that 'i'm sure the technician checked everything'. I'm unsure how to do that other...

Airbag notification light sometimes turns to off even when a passenger is in passenger seat. This causes me great concern as if I were in an accident would my passenger be protected? Looks like Subaru issued a recall for the 2012 model but not for the 2014 model. Please help me keep my passenger in the front seat safe and have Subaru fix this known problem.

AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILED. IT DID NOT DETECT A PASSENGER PRESENT DESPITE AN AVERAGE SIZED ADULT BEING IN THE SEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR. THE SAME THING OCCURRED AT ABOUT 75,000 MILES.

IN DECEMBER 2014 AND AGAIN (TWICE) IN JANUARY 2018 I WAS DRIVING (IN MOTION) WITH A PASSENGER WHEN THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM TURNED OFF. THE ONLY VARIABLE I KNOW FOR THE SECOND TIME WAS THAT THE PASSENGER WAS DAMP FROM SNOW-SPORTS. EACH TIME IT PROVED IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE CAR TO RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, SO WE HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION FOR THE PASSENGER. THE FIRST TIME, THE SUBARU DEALERSHIP REPLACED (8/6/15) THE PASSENGER SEAT-BOTTOM WITH SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE; THEY HAVE SAID THEY INTEND TO DO THIS AGAIN. THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS TOLD ME THAT IMPREZA PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSORS CAN TURN OFF WHEN THE SEAT IS DAMP/WET.

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, BOTH WHEN STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

TWO SPECIFIC ISSUES. 1) THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE, ACCORDING TO THE INDICATOR LIGHT, WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. 2) THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE THAT RINGS A BELL IF THE PASSENGER IS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT WILL GO OFF WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT - DANGEROUSLY DISTRACTING FOR THE DRIVER. THE START DATE BELOW IS THE DATE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, AS THE ISSUE HAS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE.

AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF WHEN A PASSENGER GETS IN THE SEAT IF THEY HAVE EVEN A TINY AMOUNT OF MOISTURE....SUCH AS AFTER WORKING OUT AT THE GYM *AND CHANGING CLOTHES*. ALSO IF IT'S RAINING, THE 50' WALK FROM THE HOUSE TO THE CAR PUTS ENOUGH MOISTURE ON THE PASSENGER TO MAKE ALL OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE CAR SHUT OFF. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME TO NOT GET THE SEAT WET. SEVERAL OTHER YEAR MODELS OF SUBARU HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE- THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED.

ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY 2014 IMPREZA STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A SENSOR MALFUNCTION AFTER THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION GOT WET (E.G., BY PEOPLE SITTING IN THE SEAT AFTER EXERCISING OR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN). AN AIRBAG SENSOR SHOULD NOT DISABLE AN AIRBAG BECAUSE OF A WET SEAT. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT, HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED FOR THE 2014 IMPREZA IN ONLINE MESSAGE BOARDS, AND IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE DEFECT THAT PRECIPITATED A 2012 IMPREZA SAFETY RECALL (RECALL #WQT-55, SAFETY CAMPAIGN 15V419000) SUBARU SHOULD RECALL THE 2014 IMPREZA AND PAY FOR THE COST OF REPLACING DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSORS.