2005 Subaru Forester Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 5about this part
- Share
- 5%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 57,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 5 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Subaru Forester, 5% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,000 miles. 5 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.
“Air bag did not open after my car crashed another car and the insurance declared my cart total loss. Both myself and the person in the other car were luckily not seriously injured (just neck whiplash), but I hit the care very hard, I even hurt my knees with the impact and I don't understand why the airbag did not work.”
NHTSA complaint #10272431, filed 2009-05, 46,000 miles“I had just locked my residence gate, leaving my property, I fastened my seatbelt, advanced very slowly, saw that both ways were clear, advanced slowly making a left turn, when I was just 12 feet, the engine began to race and propelled my vehicle forward into a huge tree across the road. I did not confuse the gas pedal with the brake pedal, there was no floor mat impeding my foot-work,I braked then it began racing even faster then I don't remember anything more till after-dark and a fireman told me an ambulance was coming. …”
NHTSA complaint #10671208, filed 2015-01, 131,000 miles“A red light runner impacted my vehicle in an intersection. The point of impact was the right rear of my vehicle. The red light runner was in a 2002 dodge ram 1500 and I estimate the speed between 50 to 60 MPH. The force of the impact drove my vehicle into a car to my left that was waiting to make a left hand turn at the intersection. The stationary vehicle was a 2004 ford bronco. The left side of my vehicle was driven into the left front of this vehicle. My vehicle was undrivable and totalled. There were two rapid lateral impacts to my vehicle yet the airbags did not deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10510628, filed 2013-05, 68,000 miles“Dt: consumer got into car accident and the side air bag on the passengers side of the vehicle did not deploy. While going approximately 15-20 MPH another vehicle hit on the passenger side at 40 MPH/.”
NHTSA complaint #10124358, filed 2005-08, 2,800 miles“Moved car 30’ from gas pumps to air pump. Slowed to almost complete stop to move closer to air tank. Car accelerated at extremely high speed over curb, knocking over air pump. Car proceeded to smash through landscaping shrubs and hit a tree and nearby pole which stopped the car dead. Felt like a fighter plane pushed me. Entire incident probably lasted a minute. Air bags failed to deploy. Car was totaled. I suffered severe facial and othet bruising and have ongoing fatigue and am eadily winded.”
NHTSA complaint #11514233, filed 2023-03Related service bulletins
- 11005609Jul 15, 2024This announcement provides information on Takata Recall Escalated Towing Program.
- 10244915Oct 30, 2023SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. has determined that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2003-2014 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles, 2003-2006 model…
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 2005 Subaru Forester
22 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsElectrical system
3 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsSteering
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 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