Car-and-Safety.com

Subaru Outback Air Bags Safety Report | July 01, 2011



Reported on July 01, 2011


THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG INDICATOR RANDOMLY SHOWED THE STATUS 'ON' OR 'OFF' WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT PASSENGER. NO PATTERN COULD BE IDENTIFIED FOR THE INDICATION ALTHOUGH WE TRIED EVERY PERTURBATION OF SITTING, FASTENING SEAT BELT, CLOSING DOOR, STARTING ENGINE, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR(S) WAS REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE, NOW THE INDICATOR NEVER INDICATES 'ON', ALWAYS 'OFF' REGARDLESS OF ACTIONS AS ABOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED A SECOND TIME, THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR(S) WERE BEING INHIBITED BECAUSE OF SEAT COVERS DISTRIBUTING THE WEIGHT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO 'FOOL' THE SENSORS. IT TOOK A 180 LB. PERSON TO ACTIVATE THE SENSOR, [A 170 LB. PERSON DID NOT] WITH THE SEAT COVERS ON, THE SENSORS APPEARED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY WITHOUT THE SEAT COVERS. THIS RAISES THE QUESTION OF WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, ARE LARGE BUTTOCKS REQUIRED GIVEN THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE WEIGHT SENSORS IN THE SEAT, HOW ABOUT A SMALL FRAMED 120 LB ADULT. THE ANSWER IS CLEAR, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON UNLESS MANUALLY TURNED OFF BY THE USER. SUBARU MUST PROVIDE A PROGRAMMING OPTION TO THE OWNER TO DEFAULT THE AIRBAG STATUS TO ALWAYS 'ON'. MY TOYOTA AND HONDA BOTH PROVIDES A KEY LOCK OPTION TO DISABLE THE UNIT, DEFAULT IS, AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED, TO BE 'ON'. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND SUBARU IS OPENING THEMSELVES TO CLASS ACTIONS, AND HEAVEN FORBID THE FIRST ACCIDENT WHEN THE UNIT FAILS TO DEPLOY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ARMED BECAUSE OF QUIRKY WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS. I BELIEVE THAT A PREVENTIVE RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED IF SUBARU DOES NOT UNILATERALLY PROVIDE AN ALWAYS 'ON' DEFAULT OPTION FOR THE VEHICLE.
Make: Subaru
Model: Outback
Manufactured by: SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Year: 2011
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported?
Was a death reported?
Was a fire reported? N
Location: DUFUR OR
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 4S4BRBCC5B3
Mileage:
Speed:
Number of cylinders:
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel:
Was a police report filed?
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
Previous Report:Air Bags Next Report:Engine And Engine Cooling

Join Subaru safety problem discussion



Share, Email, Print