Problems · by component

2009 Subaru Forester air bags problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Subaru Forester cite air bags, 22% of all 178 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 9 recalls on this component.

Complaints
40
22% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Airbag lights have been going on and off ever since I took it into to get my airbags recalled and Subaru will not take a look at it with out me signing a form saying I am liable to pay 200 dollars if it happens to be anything else unrelated to the recall warranty.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2025Air bagsODI 11647932
“No local dealer to complete recall NHTSA Recall Number 20V002000. Vehicle is too old, too high miles to be trusted to take on an extended road trip to a dealer. Contacting Subaru wasn’t any help.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2024Air bagsODI 11586148
“2009 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH AIRBAG. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG IS ON RECALL AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII. THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO SEND A CERTIFIED REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO THE CONSUMERS. INSTEAD, THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMERS SEND THE VEHICLE FRO LANA'I, HAWAII TO OAHU, HAWAII TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRIP WOULD COST AT LEAST 900.00 PER OWNER. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE A REPAIR TECHNICIAN TO COME TO LANA'I. *JS *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2021Air bagsODI 11394234
“SUBARU DEALER (MARK SHAW SUBARU 1650 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, PHONE (720) 724-9280) REFUSES TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS ON RECALL BECAUSE IT WAS DEPLOYED. THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON WHY OR WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2020Air bagsODI 11315933
“WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE TAKATA AIRBAG IN OUR 2009 SUBARU FORESTER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. ESPECIALLY FRUSTRATING IS THE FACT THAT, EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO, WE GET A NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS WARNING US ABOUT THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AIRBAG (AS IF WE DIDN'T KNOW) AND URGING US TO CONTACT OUR DEALER FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT. EACH TIME WE GET THAT NOTICE, WE AGAIN CALL OUR DEALER, FOX MOTORS IN MARQUETTE, MICH., AND ARE TOLD THAT OUR REPLACEMENT AIRBAG WILL BE ORDERED. MONTHS PASS WITH NO WORD. THEN WE GET ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. THEN WE CALL FOX MOTORS AGAIN. MONTHS PASS. REPEAT. REPEAT. WE APPRECIATE THE NEED TO REPLACE TAKATA AIRBAGS IN HOT, HUMID PLACES FIRST. IF WE LIVED IN THE SOUTH, WE WOULD CERTAINLY WANT PRIORITY IN THIS DANGEROUS MATTER. BUT IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST TAKATA AIRBAG DEATH, AND FIVE YEARS SINCE TAKATA ADMITTED THE DANGER. PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NORTH DO TRAVEL IN THE SOUTH WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS LURKING IN THEIR DASHBOARDS. IT'S TIME TO GET THIS DONE FOR ALL OF US! AND, ON THE SUBJECT OF RECALLS IN GENERAL: WE ARE SCANDALIZED BY THE FACT THAT TAKATA (OR ITS BANKRUPTCY MANAGER) IS HANDLING THIS DEADLY ISSUE IN SUCH A LEISURELY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2018Air bagsODI 11083426
“TAKATA RECALL. THE VERY DAY THAT I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THAT THIS REPAIR WAS 'URGENT' AND WITH AN EXPLICIT WARNING OF 'DO NOT LET ANYONE RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ' UNTIL THIS REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR, (SERRA OF TRAVERSE CITY MI) AND THE EARLIEST THEY COULD SCHEDULE ME WAS SIXTY (YES, 60) DAYS AWAY!!!! WE ARE A SINGLE CAR FAMILY, AND THIS WOULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON OUR JOBS, AND ASSORTED FAMILY COMMITMENTS. SO I CALLED SUBARU BY THE BAY, A SUBARU DEALER ABOUT 65 MILES AWAY, AND FROM WHOM I HAD NEVER PURCHASED ANYTHING, AND THEY GOT ME IN FOR AIR BAG REPLACEMENT WITHIN FOUR DAYS!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2018Air bagsODI 11081846

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

9 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (STI included), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V001000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V002000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Forester, 2003-2006 Baja, 2004-2011 Impreza, 2004-2014 WRX (including STI), 2003-2014 Legacy and Outback, and 2005-2006 Saab 9-2X vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 2, 2020NHTSA 20V003000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V014000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Tribeca, Impreza, Forester, WRX, Legacy, and Outback vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V013000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, WRX and Outback vehicles, and 2009-2011 Impreza vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 9, 2018NHTSA 18V012000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Baja, 2009 Forester, Legacy and Outback and 2006-2009 Impreza (including WRX and STI models) and Tribeca vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 11, 2017NHTSA 17V026000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Subaru Baja, 2006-2011 Impreza (including WRX and STI models), 2006-2012 Tribeca, 2009-2012 Forester, Legacy, Outback, and 2012 WRX vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Jan 10, 2017NHTSA 17V014000

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Legacy, Outback, 2009-2011 Legacy, Outback, Forester, 2006-2011 Impreza, Tribeca, 2003-2006 Baja, and 2006 Saab 9-2x vehicles originally sold or that have ever been registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." These vehicles may be equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported May 25, 2016NHTSA 16V358000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2009 Forester problem areas