2002 Subaru Forester Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 11%of 88 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 30,356miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Subaru Forester, 11% of the 88 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 30,356 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My vehicle was broadsided on the left side by another vehicle that failed to stop at a stop sign traveling approximately 30-40 MPH. Damage to the left side of my vehicle extended from the driver's door to the rear left side of the vehicle. The force of the impact spun my vehicle into a tree that damaged the right rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The vehicle is a total loss. Neither left nor right side impact airbags deployed. On november 29, 2004 I notified Subaru of america of the airbag failure. They assigned case #700-407 and senior representative rick pozniak. …”
NHTSA complaint #10102219, filed 2004-12, 25,400 miles“The airbag that is in the center of the steering wheel has a design flaw. The cover section under the the words srs airbag is a weak point it develops a large crack line on the weak spot. Should the airbag be deployed with this crack, the sharp broken pieces could cause serious lacerations to victims. If the broken pieces were to become airborne, they could puncture the large blood vessel in the neck or enter the eyes. …”
NHTSA complaint #10758494, filed 2015-08, 100,000 miles“Airbag dashboard light comes on repeatedly. Dealer has replaced the right and left hand front seat air bag harness connector kit twice (in 2006 at 34,000 miles and again in 2009 at 63,000 miles.) airbag light came on again approximately 6 months later. Dealer will not admit to any responsibility for repeated failure of the same part.”
NHTSA complaint #10379552, filed 2011-01, 62,788 miles“Airbag light will come on when starting the car and will stay on during the time the ignition is on. It will do this for days and then it will work correctly for a few days before repeating the above behavior.”
NHTSA complaint #10045331, filed 2003-11, 8,700 miles“Vehicle involved in accident and air bags did not deploy. The consumer was driving 15 MPH and hit a patch of black ice striking a truck in the opposite lane.”
NHTSA complaint #10037620, filed 2003-08, 19,790 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11005609Jul 15, 2024This announcement provides information on Takata Recall Escalated Towing Program.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 4% |
| 2024 | 7 | 23% |
| 2023 | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 11 | 2% |
| 2019 | 17 | 2% |
| 2018 | 99 | 20% |
| 2017 | 167 | 28% |
| 2016 | 100 | 24% |
| 2015 | 102 | 17% |
| 2014 | 57 | 14% |
| 2013 | 13 | 17% |
| 2012 | 20 | 19% |
| 2011 | 29 | 20% |
| 2010 | 42 | 16% |
| 2009 | 40 | 22% |
| 2008 | 6 | 12% |
| 2007 | 6 | 8% |
| 2006 | 6 | 7% |
| 2005 | 5 | 5% |
| 2004 | 21 | 10% |
| 2003 | 25 | 13% |
| 2002 | 10 | 11% |
| 2001 | 12 | 9% |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
| 1998 | 6 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2002 Subaru Forester
23 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsBrakes
11 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Subaru Forester
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology