2013 Subaru Impreza

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V419000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

MULTIPLE SPORADIC ISSUES WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR. 1) WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED WITH SEATBELT FASTENED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, ONCE THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR WILL CHANGE STATUS TO OFF AND A RED AIRBAG/BALLOON INDICATOR LIGHT WILL SHOW ON THE DASH AS IF THERE IS NO-ONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. 2) WHEN SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EXITS THE CAR, AFTER DRIVING AWAY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WILL TURN ON AS IF SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE FASTEN SEAT BELT CHIME WILL CONTINUE SOUNDING EVEN THROUGH THE PASSENGER SEAT IS EMPTY. 3) WITH NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR, IF YOU PLACE A CELL PHONE DIRECTLY ON THE PASSENGER SEAT WHILE IT IS PLUGGED IN TO THE USB PORT CHARGING, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR WILL SWITCH STATUS TO ON AND THE FASTEN SEAT BELT CHIME WILL SOUND. IF YOU PICK UP THE CELL PHONE FROM THE SEAT (STILL PLUGGED IN TO USB PORT CHARGING), THE INDICATOR WILL CHANGE BACK TO OFF AND THE FASTEN SEAT BELT CHIME WILL STOP. IF YOU PLACE THE CELL PHONE BACK ON THE SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WILL SWITCH BACK TO ON AND THE FASTEN SEAT BELT CHIME WILL SOUND. ISSUE #1&#2 SEEM TO OCCUR MOST OFTEN IN HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN. ISSUE #3 OCCURS IF THE CELL PHONE IS GREATER THAN 35% CHARGED.

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ACTIVATES/ ILLUMINATES/ STAYS ON WHEN PASSENGER WITH WET/ MOIST CLOTHING SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT. THIS ALSO OCCURS AFTER CLEANING THE PASSENGER SEAT WITH UPHOLSTERY CLEANER AND THE SEAT HAS NOT FULLY DRIED. UPON READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 2012 MODELS. PLEASE INCLUDE 2013 MODEL AS THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

PASSENGER AIRBAG NOT ENGAGED WHEN THE PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT WITH THE BELT ON/OFF. CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND STARTED ON AGAIN. OCCURS MOST OFTEN IF THE HUMIDITY IS HIGH, SEAT IS MOIST, OR RAINING. BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF SUBARU DEALERSHIP WHILE HAVING SERVICE PERFORMED. WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. RECALL ONLY ISSUED FOR 2012 IMPREZA EVEN THOUGH THE SAME SENSOR AND AIRBAG IS INSTALLED IN THIS MODEL YEAR.

OUR SUBARU IMPREZA AIR BAG & SEAT BELT CENSOR MALFUNCTIONS REGULARLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN NO PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE SENSOR BUZZES TO INDICATE THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER. THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS WHEN MY PURSE IS ON THE SEAT. IT MALFUNCTIONS AND BUZZES WHEN I SIMPLY TOUCH THE SEAT WITH SLIGHT PRESSURE. ONCE IT SEEMED TO GO OFF BECAUSE OF CONDENSATION FROM A COLD BEVERAGE BOTTLE RESTING ON THE SEAT (THAT IS IT BUZZED AFTER THE BOTTLE WAS NO LONGER ON THE SEAT, BUT IT WAS DAMP TO THE TOUCH). CONVERSELY -- AND LESS FREQUENTLY -- THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE SENSOR WILL CHANGE ITS STATUS, SUGGESTING THAT THERE IS NO OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. THIS SEEMS TO IMPLY THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT GO OFF IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MALFUNCTION WITH POTENTIAL TO BE LIFE-THREATENING.