2023 Subaru Forester

Driver and passenger seats are collapsing to the point we are sinking into the seats unevenly and we can feel the hardware in the seats. We have bells that ding intermittently while driving. The dealership stated this is due to the airbag sensors located in the seats. Both seat manufacturer covers are splitting extensively. Due to the defective breakdown/collapsing seats the airbag timing in an accident and deployment in an accident can be affected and/or the airbags could spontaneously deploy. The passenger seat foam and cover was replaced once, vin specific, and is collapsing worse than before. Subaru of America will not acknowledge this defect as it is very expensive and will likely not be a lasting fix as it has happened previously. The seat quality is defective and poses a serious danger to occupants.

The front passenger seat and the seat belt attached to that seat suddenly started making creaking noises as if the seatbelt or the seat itself are not properly secured whenever a passenger is sitting and seatbelt fastened while the vehicle is moving (no noise exists when the seat is empty). The noise is loudest and most prevalent when the weight of the passenger is lower, when outside temperature is cooler, when the vehicle is driven on roads that are not smooth, when the vehicle breaks and is going uphill. The vehicle has not been in any accidents and the noise appeared suddenly without any warning lights or any indications. the vehicle was bought brand new about a year ago and has just under 5000 miles. Since the noise first appeared it has been regularly occurring. The dealership has inspected the vehicle on three occasions but claims they cannot hear it or replicate it despite the fact that they agree that videos shown by the owner clearly point to this noise.

I purchased a new Subaru Forester on February 3, 2023 from Cross Creek Subaru in Fayetteville NC. I noticed that the passenger air bag was off at times with my wife in the passenger seat. I made an appointment to have this fixed, The air bag was always on for her in my F150, Honda CRV and all the other cars we have owned. When I took it in they put some weights on the seat, hooked up to a computer and said that the seat was measuring the weight properly. The air bag was still on some time and off some time with no obvious reason for the difference. The dealer could not find any information as to what weight the air bag should be on. I made another appointment and took it back in on February 21st. They again tested the seat weight measurements and that was working. The had my wife sit on the seat and with her feet on the floor it measured her weight as 97 pounds but the air bag was still off. The service manager told me to contact Subaru of America (800-782-2783) about this problem. I talked to Heath (856-438-2434) about this problem. He called me back a few days later on a recorded line and told me that the air bag should be on when the weight measurements at the seat was from 78 to 80 pounds. My wife weighs 102 to 103. My daughter gave me a 12lb weighted blanket to put on the seat. Even with the extra weight the air bag is off at times. It happens like this. We will got to the grocery store and the air bag is on, and when we get in to come home the air bag is off. This is with my wife not having anything even a pocket book with her. One of the conditions either on or off is not safe, so this car is not safe for us to drive. The service manager Jay at Cross Creek Subaru told me on 3/22/2023 to tell Subaru of America that I wanted to return the car and that he did not know how to fix it. My case number at Subaru of America is 230221-1700488 and I have called and talked to America, Rommel, Linda, Yenisei, and finally Bernadine on 3/22/2023.