2019 Subaru Outback

2019 Outback 2.5 Limited purchased new Feb 2019. Driving car with no passengers when Airbag Warning Light and Red Exclamation light came on along with warning message to consult owners manual. Manual says the airbag system is turned off when these lights come on and take car to authorized repair center. Found pulling passenger seat belt out all the way would turn off the lights but then they would turn back on a short time later. Dealer found all harnesses where properly plugged in and no wiring damage. Dealer said vehicle needed a new front passenger occupant detection seat frame as a result of the malfunction. Service advisor stated they have seen several cars with the same fault and that our Outback was not under a manufactures recall for this problem. Dealer was well aware other Subaru models have recalls for this problem. Service advisor recommended contacting NHSTA over this problem since when the airbag system shuts down occupant safety is severely compromised if an accident were to occur. Total cost of repair was $1,922.07

The drivers' seat mounting frame began to fail. This was noticeable because of a squeaking/creaking sound from the seat. The authorized dealer I went to confirmed this was the problem and there is a technical service bulletin from Subaru indicating this is a problem component. Because my car was only a few months out of warranty, I had to pay nearly $1,000 to have this part replaced. I believe driver's seat mounting components are an essential part of the safety of the vehicle but Subaru has not recalled this part which is known by them to fail prematurely.

Driver side seat is sounding like a weak and used bed. I have read on multiple Subaru sites that this has been happening since 2018 on various Subaru vehicles. It's apparently a weld that is weak. This makes it a safety hazard. Due to the fact that Subaru has known about this issue for a year and stilled installed these seats on a 2019 vehicle demonstrates that Subaru has poor quality checks. I asked for a replacement but was quoted over 2k for the replacement. This is just wrong and Subaru needs to replace these seats. If a weld is weak, think what will happen during an accident with that seat.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, TOTALING MY 2019 SUBARU OUTBACK. BOTH MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER REPORTED HITTING THE DASHBOARD OR THE WINDSHIELD. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER'S HEADREST ENDED UP ON THE DRIVER'S LAP. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE FRONT AUTO WAS ABOUT TO START FORWARD OR HAD STARTED FORWARD WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHT HAD JUST TURNED GREEN.. THE POLICE REPORT IS ATTACHED, WITH A LETTER FROM THE MERIDIAN, IDAHO POLICE DEPARTMENT. MY CONCERNS ARE 1) SHOULD THE AIRBAGS HAVE DEPLOYED AND 2) SHOULD THE DRIVER'S HEADREST HAVE DETACHED FROM THE SEAT? IF THE DRIVER'S CONTACT INFO IS NEEDED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

2019 SUBARU OUTBACK 2.5I LIMITED. PURCHASED JANUARY '19. CAR WAS LOCATED BY DEALER AT OTHER DEALERSHIP AND DELIVERED LATE AT NIGHT WITHOUT OWNERS HAVING ABILITY TO TEST DRIVE. WITHIN ONE WEEK OWNERS NOTICED SEAT ISSUE AND CONTACTED DEALER IMMEDIATELY. DRIVER SEAT SLOPE ISSUE: DRIVER SEAT BASE SLOPES FROM LEFT DOWN TO RIGHT APPROX. 3/4"-1". PROBLEM NOTICED IN FIRST MONTH AFTER DELIVERY AND SUBARU WAS NOTIFIED. AREA DEALERS, SUBARU CORPORATE AND FACTORY FIELD ENGINEER (FFE) REFUSE TO PROPERLY CONFRONT/ DIAGNOSE/ REPAIR THE ISSUE. OWNER SHOWED SERVICE TECHNICIANS AND MANAGER AT DEALER USING A 1 FT' BUBBLE LEVEL THAT THE ISSUE IS EVIDENT. ALL SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE ADMITTED TO OWNER THAT THEY SEE THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE FACTS IN THEIR SERVICE INVOICE STATEMENTS. SEAT SLOPE ISSUE CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AS THE DRIVER HAS TO PUSH OFF OF CENTER CONSOLE WHILE LEFT HAND CORNERING AND LONG DISTANCE DRIVING IS NOT PERMISSIBLE AS IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE UNLESS DRIVER USES A TOWEL OR PILLOW TO LEVEL THE SEAT BASE. NORMAL OPERATION INVOLVES DRIVE RESTING ELBO FIRMLY INTO CENTER CONSOLE TO STAY UPRIGHT. OWNERS ARE CONCERNED DUE TO DRIVER ERGONOMICS AND ABILITY OF SAFETY RESTRAINS/AIRBAGS TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED IF IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION IF THE DRIVER IS NOT CENTERED OR POSITIONED PROPERLY IN THE CAR AS DESIGNED AND TESTED FOR IMPACTS. SUBARU CORP. SR. REP. SAYS SUBARU HAS NO PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS OR MEASUREMENTS FOR SUBARU SEATS FOR FFE TO COMPARE SEAT CONSTRUCTION/INSTALL OF MY VEHICLE TO. THE FFE PERFORMED CORPORATE/CUSTOMER INSPECTION USING A CELL PHONE IN A LEATHER CELL PHONE WALLET AND A BUBBLE LEVEL APPLICATION AS HIS REFERENCE FOR DENIAL OF CLAIM. I HAVE PICTURES OF PERSONAL INSPECTION WITH LEVELS AND MEASUREMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.