Recall 19V701 covers 366,282 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles with heated seats for a loose occupant-detection connection. Repair is free at any franchised Subaru dealer.
Subaru is recalling 366,282 2015-2018 Forester vehicles with heated seats because a front passenger seat Occupant Detection System connection can loosen, deactivate the passenger airbag while the seat is occupied, and increase injury risk in a crash; the dealer repair will be free once Subaru makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The occupant detection system in the 2015-2018 Subaru Forester uses a sensor mat and wiring harness in the front passenger seat cushion. Its job is to identify whether someone is in that seat so the airbag system can decide how the passenger air bag should respond. This recall applies to Foresters with heated front seats, where the seat cushion assembly uses the affected harness design.
Over time, contact pressure between terminals in the sensor mat harness can drop. That loose connection creates an unstable electrical signal, so the system does not reliably read the right front seat occupant. Subaru says vehicles without the seat heater use a different harness design and are not affected by this defect.
If the connection becomes unstable, the airbag warning light and the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator illuminate. The system also runs a self-check when the ignition is cycled, and it resets if the connection has recovered.
Who's affected?
All 4 Forester model years listed here share the same air bag occupant-classification component.
| 2015 Subaru Forester | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2016 Subaru Forester | air bag system |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | air bag system |
| 2018 Subaru Forester | air bag system |
| Units affected | 366,282 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A loose ODS sensor mat harness connection can shut off the front passenger airbag while someone is sitting there, increasing injury risk in a crash. If the airbag warning light and PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator come on, schedule service and avoid carrying a front passenger until checked. Repair will be free at any franchised Subaru dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Subaru Forester is included in this recall.
- Look for Subaru's February 11, 2020 owner notice before calling for service.
- Contact a franchised Subaru dealer to ask whether the free ODS sensor mat harness inspection and replacement is open for your VIN.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 19V701 when you call.
- Call Subaru customer service at 1-844-373-6614 with questions about Subaru recall WUM-98.
What happens at the repair
Because the final remedy is listed as under development, do not assume the repair can be scheduled until Subaru confirms availability for your VIN. What is known: at the dealer, a Subaru technician will inspect the Occupant Detection System sensor mat harness in the front passenger seat and replace the harness if the connection is loose. Parts and labor are covered under the recall once the repair is available. Subaru's standard reimbursement plan covers documented out-of-pocket repairs tied to this issue. Bring prior repair paperwork to the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 3, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 7, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| October 7, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 29, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| February 11, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V701?
Recall 19V701 covers 366,282 2015-2018 Subaru Forester vehicles with heated seats. A front passenger Occupant Detection System connection can loosen, deactivate the passenger airbag while the seat is occupied, and increase injury risk in a crash. Subaru dealers inspect and replace the ODS sensor mat harness for free when needed.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Subaru Forester is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Forester is included in recall 19V701. If it is, call a franchised Subaru dealer and ask for the WUM-98 recall inspection. The dealer checks the ODS sensor mat harness and replaces it for free if needed.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Subaru to repair the defect at no cost, and Subaru's remedy for recall 19V701 is a free dealer inspection and ODS sensor mat harness replacement when needed. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Subaru dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is loss of front passenger airbag protection in a crash. In recall 19V701, a loose ODS electrical connection can make the system deactivate the passenger airbag even when someone is sitting there, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger.
What if I bought my Subaru Forester used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2015-2018 Forester is included, then reference Subaru recall WUM-98 when you call the dealer service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V701000 |
|---|---|
| Subaru customer service | 1-844-373-6614 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V701 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V701000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →