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2017 Subaru Forester

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Forester years

Owner complaints for the 2017 Subaru Forester are substantially higher than the model-year median of 131.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

321 reports with mileage · 265 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports1 fire reports25 injury reports

What owners actually said

586 reports
18,800 miles · Jan 24, 2020
Power TrainService Brakes

WHEN BREAKING, THE CAR ACELLERATED ON A CITY STREET AND A SECOND TIME IN A VERY BUSY PARKING LOT! FORTUATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT> HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO LATER REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR UNTILL MORE IS INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI #11301737

28,199 miles · Jan 24, 2020
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START UP AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND LOCATED AT BEND 2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START UP AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND LOCATED AT BEND 2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,199.

NHTSA ODI #11301593

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2020
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED FIRST TEAM AUTO MALL DEALER, (6520 PETERS CREEK RD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540) 362-4800) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILAB…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 SUBARU FORESTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 19V701000 (AIR BAGS) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CALLED FIRST TEAM AUTO MALL DEALER, (6520 PETERS CREEK RD, ROANOKE, VA 24019, (540) 362-4800) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE MANUFACTURER FROM THE DEALER WAS PROVIDED TO THE CONTACT ABOUT THE PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECTS.

NHTSA ODI #11299539

21,000 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AFTER YOU TURN THE CAR OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11298021

45,000 miles · Jan 6, 2020
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAME ON WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RESET ON ITS OWN BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THE COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING HAS COME ON AND WON'T GO AWAY. FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER AND THE MANUFACTURER …

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PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CAME ON WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. IT WOULD HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE STATIONARY OR MOVING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD RESET ON ITS OWN BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THE COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING HAS COME ON AND WON'T GO AWAY. FOUND OUT ONLINE THAT IT IS COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SUBARU FORESTER AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO PUT TO TASK AS THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT DOING ENOUGH AND ARE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF PEOPLE. WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SUBARU OF GRAPEVINE) THEY OUTRIGHT WANTED MONEY FOR DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM THEY KNEW WAS PREEXISTING. THIS CLEARLY REFLECTS THE ATTITUDE OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER TOWARDS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11297360

7,000 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Visibility/wiper

SMALL CHIP DRIVING AUG 2017AFTER PARKING TURNED INTO LONG CRACKS JULY 2018 SMALL CHIP DRIVING TURNED INTO LONG CRACK AFTER PARKING

NHTSA ODI #11297010

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD PRESENTED WITH LARGE CRACK OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN ON 4/3/18. WAS REPLACED BY SAFE LITE REPAIR WITH OEM GLASS. CRACKED AGAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND WAS REPLACED BY LOCAL AUTO BODY.

NHTSA ODI #11292192

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2019
Air Bags

2017 SUBARU FORESTER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11290517

29,000 miles · Dec 29, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, 70 MPH, GAS WAS AT ABOUT 1/8 FULL, BUT LOW GAS LIGHT ON. THE GEAR SHIFTER REMAINED IN D AND THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SAID D. THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, 70 MPH, GAS WAS AT ABOUT 1/8 FULL, BUT LOW GAS LIGHT ON. THE GEAR SHIFTER REMAINED IN D AND THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SAID D. THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL, AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON, ALONG WITH POSSIBLY OTHERS. THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW SINCE IT WAS JUST REVVING IN WHAT APPEARED TO BE NEUTRAL WHILE THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. EVENTUALLY I MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS THEN STARTED IT AGAIN. IT STRUGGLED TO START FOR A MOMENT LIKE THE BATTERY WAS LOW OR IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE, BUT STILL STARTED ON THE FIRST TRY. I SHIFTED INTO D AND BEGAN TO MOVE ON THE SHOULDER, BUT WHEN THE CAR WHEN OVER ABOUT 10 OR 15 MPH, IT WOULD REV AND NOT PROVIDE POWER TO THE WHEELS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADDED GAS, TEST DROVE IT, SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, AND NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA ODI #11291876

53,000 miles · Dec 27, 2019
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD IS EXTREMELY BRITTLE AND WILL CRACK ACROSS WITH IMPACTS THAT OTHER CARS CAN SUSTAIN. 3 WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS REQUIRED IN 18 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #11291513

Official recalls

1

19V701000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Oct 3, 2019

Subaru of America, Inc. (Subaru) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Forester vehicles equipped with heated seats. An electrical connection in the front passenger seat for the Occupant Detection System (ODS) may loosen.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connection loosens, the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the ODS sensor mat harness, free of charge. The recall began February 11, 2020. Owners may contact Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614. Subaru's number for this recall is WUM-98.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE19009 · Occupant Detection System (ods) Failure

Opened Aug 6, 2019 · Closed Jan 22, 2020

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags:frontal

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Air Bags

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-009 to investigate 51 complaints and additional Early Warning Report (EWR) data related to allegations of front passenger seat Occupant Detection System (ODS) malfunctions in model year (MY) 2016 through 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles. These vehicles use a capacitive type ODS, which is intended to classify the occupant of the passenger seat as either full-sized, small stature, a child seat or other object. The complaints reported the ODS failed to operate properly, the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) warning light illuminated, and/or the ODS incorrectly suppressed (turned off) the front passenger air bag when the seat was occupied by a full-sized passenger. In a frontal crash that is sufficient to warrant deployment, a suppressed air bag may increase the risk of injury to the occupant of the seat.On August 14, 2019 ODI sent an Information Request (IR) to Subaru requesting information on the subject vehicles and MY 2014-2015 Subaru Forester vehicles.On October 3, 2019, Subaru submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect in the passenger-side front airbag Occupant Detection System (ODS) harness of 366,282 MY 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles equipped with seat heaters.The DIR stated that over time, due to a decrease in contact pressure between the terminals in the ODS sensor mat harness, a temporarily unstable electrical connection may be possible. If the connection is temporarily unstable, the ODS may not properly determine the status of the right front seat occupant. If the ODS is unable to correctly determine the status of the front occupant, the airbag warning light may illuminate, and the front passenger airbag may deactivate even though the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger in the event of a crash.Using vehicle production data and field occurrence frequency, Subaru determined the potentially affected vehicle production range to be between January 20, 2015 ?and August 1, 2017.In addition, Subaru indicated that over 99 percent of the related MY 2015-2018 field reports with vehicles in the production range involved vehicles with seat heaters.NHTSA's analysis of complaint and warranty claim data showed 1,440 of the complaints and 11,672 of the claims involve vehicles with seat heaters that were built within the production range covered by Subaru's recall.In addition, NHTSA's analysis showed a complaint rate of 393.1 per hundred thousand vehicles for the recalled population and 89.0 for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall. Analysis of warranty claim data found a claim rate of 3.2 percent for the recalled population and 0.3 percent for MY 2014 through 2018 vehicles that are not included in the recall.Subaru will instruct owners with Subaru Forester vehicles produced in the affected vehicle production range, to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the sensor mat harness, inspected and replaced with a new part, including the seat cushion assembly, if necessary.Based on ODI's analysis, the actions taken by Subaru mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by ODS sensor mat failures in the subject vehicles. For subject and peer vehicles outside the recall population and those equipped without seat heaters, ODI's analysis indicates that there is currently no safety-related defect trend. Given these circumstances, further use of the agency resources in this matter does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

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