2020 Subaru Outback

I have a occupancy sensor error which has turned off the airbags on the passenger seat. I looked up the issue and found an open recall with Subaru regarding this issue. I spoke with multiple case managers to resolve the issue. They said they have reported the issue to NHTSA but it is not an active recall because they have yet to find a solution. So they have no responsibility to fix the issue at this time. They are unwilling to provide me with an alternate option than driving my car with the exact issue they issued the recall for.

The airbag light came on in my 2020 Subaru Outback in May 2021. I’ve had the vehicle to Reliable Subaru service department four times for repair and each time they were unable to repair the airbag system. The front passenger seat reacts like someone is in the seat even when it is empty. The problem is if a child is in the seat, the airbag will deploy most likely in an impact. The car is available for inspection at anytime.

The contact owned a 2020 Subaru Outback. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, a truck pulled into the roadway and struck the contact's vehicle however none of the airbags deploying. In addition, the lane keep assist system did not chime. No one was injured and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed as destroyed. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

ON DECEMBER 18,2020 I WAS CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I WAS TRAVELING MAYBE 5-10 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. AN AUTOMOBILE STRUCK ME PERPENDICULAR AT 30-40 MPH. THE IMPACT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY TAKEN BY THE DRIVERS DOOR. THE SPEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND WITNESSES. THE CAR WAS STRUCK SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE TIRES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WERE SCUFFED ON THE SIDEWALL FROM THEM ROLLING UNDER THE CAR. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS WINDOW FROM THE IMPACT. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, NO SIDECURTAINS DEPLOYED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE KIA THAT IMPACTED ME. SUBARU TIED MY CAR UP FOR 4 MONTHS AFTER I REQUESTED THEY COME LOOK AT THE CAR TO DETERMINE IF IT ACTED CORRECTLY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THEY DOWNLOADED DATA FROM MY CAR AND HAVE REFUSED TO SHARE IT WITH ME. THEY CLAIM THAT THE IMPACT WAS OBLIQUE. THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DESIGNED NOT TO GO OFF IF IN FACT THIS HAPPENS. THEY ALSO SAY THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL. IT SAYS THAT IF THE IMPACT IS PERPENDICULAR THE AIRBAGS/SIDE CURTAINS SHOULD DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS 3 MONTHS OLD TO THE DAY. INCLUDED ARE PICTURES OF MY CAR SHOWING THE DAMAGE. I ALSO SENT PICTURES OF HOW THE FRONT TIRE WAS BENT FROM THE IMPACT.. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED THE PICTURES OF THE KIA THAT IMPACTED MY SUBARU.

THE BATTERY STARTED FAILING AFTER LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON THE CAR THAT IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. IT LEFT US STRANDED MULTIPLE TIMES AND JUMP START WAS REQUIRED. ONCE UPON JUMP STARTING THE CAR THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. MULTIPLE TIMES THE AIRBAG FAILURE INDICATOR STAYED ON FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP. INITIALLY IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHAT IS GOING ON AS THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE AND THE CAR WAS PRODUCING A CLATTERING NOISE INSTEAD OF THE USUAL STARTING NOISE. EVENTUALLY I TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT IT FAILED. THERE ARE MANY SUCH REPORTS ON THE INTERNET AND ALSO CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST SUBARU DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING DESIGN FLAWS OF THE CAR. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL FORCE SUBARU TO PROPERLY ANALYZE THE PROBLEM, COME UP WITH A PROPER FIX AND ISSUE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH OBVIOUS SAFETY ASPECTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 SUBARU OUTBACK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUBARU OF BEND (2060 NE HWY 20, BEND, OR 97701, (541) 389-3031) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY BEGAN AN INVESTIGATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 520.*CW*JB