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Subaru Forester Passenger Air Bag Occupancy Sensor

25 messages,  Last post on Jul 27, 2009 at 4:24 PM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Car Safety, Wagon

Messages Page 3 of 3

#16 of 25 Re: Airbag Sensor problem [growler5] by p0926

Nov 20, 2007 (1:28 pm)

Replying to: growler5 (Nov 19, 2007 9:54 am)
Correct me if I'm wrong - I thought the major driving force for air bags was to protect those nitwits who have an aversion to buckling up for safety. And that if you are buckled up, you really don't get a whole lot more protection from an airbag.
 
That's essentially correct. Airbags were originally designed to protect an unrestrained occupant. I do know that they've been refined over the years and that while a seatbelt alone will protect you from injury and save your life in many instances, the airbag in conjunction with the seatbelt probably does reduce the odds of injury (like whiplash) even more.
 
With the first generation airbags, it wasn't that uncommon for one to actually injure the occupant and in rare cases, kill them (victims were almost exclusively petite women and small children) but I'm pretty sure those issues have been resolved by reducing the force with which the airbag deploys. However, there's apparently still a danger hence the minimum weight limit.
 
On the otherhand, side-impact and roll-over airbags are virtually always a good to have feature.
 
-Frank

#17 of 25 Re: Airbag Sensor problem [p0926] by paisan

Nov 20, 2007 (7:08 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Nov 20, 2007 1:28 pm)
I recently did a defensive driving course, IIRC they said there hasn't been a single death in an automotive accident in X years where the occupant was wearing a seatbelt. Pretty amazing statistic.
 
-mike

#18 of 25 Re: Airbag Sensor problem [paisan] by p0926

Nov 21, 2007 (9:07 am)

Replying to: paisan (Nov 20, 2007 7:08 pm)
They had to qualify that statement somehow because for certain people still die on a far to regular basis even when wearing seatbelts. You collide head on with another vehicle at highway speeds and neither seatbelts, airbags nor guardian angels are likely going to help you survive.
 
-Frank

#19 of 25 Re: Airbag Sensor problem [p0926] by xwesx

Nov 21, 2007 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: p0926 (Nov 21, 2007 9:07 am)
Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. There must have been some qualification attached to that statement. I can think of a couple crashes locally that killed belted occupants in the last year or less.

#20 of 25 Re: Airbag Sensor problem [xwesx] by paisan

Nov 21, 2007 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Nov 21, 2007 4:20 pm)
Perhaps it was only in NJ, but IIRC it was from the national safety council. I didn't catch all the details so it's definitely viable that there was a footnote.
 
-mike

#21 of 25 occupant detection system by alphie1

Dec 03, 2007 (6:51 pm)

This is terminology SOA uses to describe vehicle equipment which is intended to detect front seat passenger and arm air bag. My experience with an '06 Forester 2.5
X is similar to that reported by others, specifically a 120# 5'5" female often looks at "pass airbag off" light. After multiple trips to dealer and communication with SOA, I also have complained to NHTSA. I consider it incredible that SOA is unwilling/unable to correct this situation.

#22 of 25 Subaru 2008 Impreza air bag failure by jwmoorman

Nov 10, 2008 (6:34 pm)

I bought a 2008 Subaru Impreza in July. After taking it back to the dealer 3 times they said that the front seat passenger air bag was designed not to activate with less than about 125 pounds on the seat. My wife is 5'4" and between 120 and 130 pounds. She is not petite or child sized. The air bag sometimes is on and sometimes is off. It changes randomly and unpredictably. I have complained to NHTSA (complaint # 10245216), Subaru Customer Service (complaint# 1-112807041) , the dealer, the president of Subaru America (Mr. Kunio Ishigami) and have sent a letter to the President of Fuji Heavy Industries (Mr. Ikuo Mori). I would not have bought the car if I had known it would not be safe. The air bag in the 2009 Forester I tested worked perfectly so I know Subaru can design a safe airbag system. If you consider passenger air bags important for safety, don't buy an Impreza.

#23 of 25 We have the same issue... by sildog

Jan 16, 2009 (1:56 pm)

We just realized that our Impreza has the same issue. My wife normally drives the car, but recently, she spent some time in the passenger seat - and the airbag light indicates "off" most of the time. She is 5-4, 110 pounds. Our dealer is planning to "re-program" the system, but I have little hope that this is going to resolve it - unless this involves putting a weight on her seat.
 
I guess I'll keep you posted.

#24 of 25 Re: We have the same issue... [sildog] by ttut

Jul 27, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Replying to: sildog (Jan 16, 2009 1:56 pm)
My 09 Outback has the same problem!!!

#25 of 25 Re: We have the same issue... [ttut] by alphie1

Jul 27, 2009 (4:24 pm)

Replying to: ttut (Jul 27, 2009 12:00 pm)
About 24 months back our '06 Forester was problem for us bigtime. Dealer made extraordinary efforts, zone rep got involved, a generous offer was made to trade the car which I refused since the '08 had same system. Ended up trading the '06 for an early '09. After 18 months and about 16,000 miles the '09 has no problem. Interesting to note that '09 owners manual spends a few pages talking about pax air bag arming while the '06 manual gave the subject short shrift. IMHO this is a very unfortunate situation and I am really sorry to hear folks are still having the problem. Good luck, but based on my experience, I doubt Subaru will be willing/able to correct if it is same situation that existed before.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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