Subaru Forester 2018 Airbag Recall: Front Passenger Airbag May Deactivate
Subaru is recalling 2018 Forester vehicles with heated seats due to a risk that the front passenger airbag may deactivate if the seat connection loosens, increasing injury risk in crashes.
Use caution until it’s fixed
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.
What happened, in plain English
Subaru is recalling 2018 Forester vehicles with heated seats because an electrical connection in the front passenger seat could loosen, causing the airbag to deactivate during a crash. This increases the risk of injury to the front passenger if a crash occurs. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1225341-subaru-forester-2018-airbag-recall-front-passenger-airbag-may-deactivate.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1225341-subaru-forester-2018-airbag-recall-front-passenger-airbag-may-deactivate · Updated October 5, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #19V701000
Cite this page
“Subaru Forester 2018 Airbag Recall: Front Passenger Airbag May Deactivate.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1225341-subaru-forester-2018-airbag-recall-front-passenger-airbag-may-deactivate. Based on NHTSA recall #19V701000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V701000).
Why it’s dangerous
If the electrical connection in the front passenger seat loosens, the airbag system may stop working even when the seat is occupied. This means the front passenger could be injured more severely in a crash without airbag protection.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2018 Subaru Forester vehicles with heated seats are affected. Front passenger occupants are at higher risk if the airbag deactivates during a crash.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your 2018 Subaru Forester has heated seats. The recall covers vehicles from 2015-2018 models with this feature.
- Brand
Subaru- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact Subaru Customer Service
Call 1-844-373-6614 to get the recall notification and have the ODS sensor mat harness inspected and replaced if needed.
Get the ODS Sensor Mat Harness Replaced
Dealers will inspect and replace the ODS sensor mat harness at no cost if the connection is loose.
What NHTSA says to do
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.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 11 months.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Keep exploring
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #19V701000 (March 10, 2019)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.